Stunning Photos You'll Wish You'd Taken In Derry Northern Ireland

Situated in the West of the region, Derry is Northern Ireland’s second-largest city and lies on the Irish border along the beautiful River Foyle. With an entire city, mountain range and river all in one place, any photographer must put this location on their must-see list.

Peace Bridge

Stand at either end of this 235-metre bridge and you’ll get a glorious view of the River Foyle running through Derry, plus a view of the opposite city side. The curved shape on the footbridge was built to flow with the river below and enhance the landscape surrounding it – new and old combined – making it a great memory from Northern Ireland to take home.

Derry Wall and City-scape

City of Culture Festival

The UK City of Culture was awarded to Derry in 2013, awakening the entertainers and artists of Northern Ireland’s second-biggest city to take part in a multi-day festival. From fireworks and carnival parades to street art and performances, the celebration left a lasting legacy on both communities in the city. If you missed it, you’ll get a similar experience every Halloween during the Carnival parade which travels across the Peace Bridge.

St Columb’s Cathedral

This Cathedral was the first of its kind to be erected in Ireland, after the ‘Planter’s Gothic’ period. The building is adored for its history; it was built by the finest masons in the city immediately following the Plantation of Ulster, 1613. Today, it is paramount to the beach building process in Derry, and in Northern Ireland.

Derry City Centre

Much like the streets of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, the cobbled streets of Derry’s Centre are worth a visit. There’s traditional Irish pubs, retail shopping and heaps of Derry’s local charm, making this a popular destination for photographers and tourists alike.

River Foyle

The Central Sperrins are at the heart of County Derry – you can get some great shots of them at Strabane and Dunamanagh, on the River Foyle. The entire span of the River Foyle is a great place to get a panoramic photographs and the Sperrin mountains have some fantastic reservoir spots to explore. You can also visit Glenelly Valley, an area formed by the Ice Age, now home to cycle routes, and nearby attraction, Glenroan Portal Tomb.

Bogside Murals

The Northern Irish Troubles may have concentrated in the regional’s capital, but they are believed to have ignited in Derry, between the Nationalist and Unionist communities. From August 12-14, 1969, violence erupted in the Catholic Bogside district of the city, when a Unionist parade passed through into the predominantly Nationalist area. Violence continued between Catholic citizens and the local police for three days, until the British Army were deployed to calm the riots. The sensitive beginnings of this recent conflict are illustrated throughout the Bogside area, which is situated outside the city walls.

The Burren

This area in the Southside of The Sperrins is famed for its lakes and sandy eskers, situated in one of Northern Ireland’s OANB’s (Outstanding Area of Natual Beauty). The glaciated surroundings, spring colours and Sawel Mountain point – Northern Ireland’s highest point at 678 metres – make this a must-visit for budding photographers.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.