Explore the Best of Donegal With This Local Guide

Donegal is a county you sense your way through, more than plan your way through. Roads narrow without warning; beaches appear where you didn’t expect them; fishing villages hum with quiet purpose, while inland villages hold fast to craft and conversation.

This guide isn’t about ticking off landmarks. It’s about moving slowly through places that still feel lived in, and where food, landscape, and community shape the day as much as the decadent scenery.

Donegal Town

Donegal Town makes for an easy first stop, grounding you in history and rhythm. A walk around Donegal Castle will give context to the county’s past, with stone walls and quiet courtyards that feel more reflective than imposing.

Afterward, you might duck into Olde Castle Seafood Bar for a bowl of seafood chowder. It’s the kind of meal that naturally slows you down – rich, warming, and deeply satisfying.

The town’s position on Donegal Bay means the light is always shifting, making even a short stroll after your meal feel like time well spent.

Killybegs

Killybegs is one of Ireland’s most important fishing ports, and it shows. Boats come and go throughout the day; nets dry along the quay; and the seafood is unmistakably fresh.

Just outside town, Fintra Beach opens into a wide, quiet bay backed by dunes and headlands. It’s an easy place to linger, especially later in the day when the beach empties and the tide pulls gently toward the Atlantic.

A little further along the coast, St. John’s Point paints one of the prettiest sunsets in the county. The narrow headland stretches into the open water and, as the light fades, the sea and sky soften together, setting you up for the perfect evening ahead.

Ardara

Ardara brings you inland, away from the salt air and into the heart of one of Donegal’s finest craft villages. The village is best known for its textile tradition, and a visit to Triona Design makes that history tangible.

Tweeds and woven pieces are rooted in place, made with care rather than trends in mind.

When it’s time to eat, Ardara’s pubs and small restaurants are happy to serve you an unhurried meal that suits the village. Sitting down for dinner here feels like a restful reprieve, rather than a quick stop, a reminder that Donegal’s interior has its own quiet pull.

Glencolmcille

Glencolmcille sits at the edge of the county, intentionally rather than remotely. The village opens onto a wide, curving beach backed by hills, with just enough houses and cafés to feel anchored but not busy.

This is a place where the day naturally slows down a little. Walks along the strand might stretch longer than expected as the tide pulls back and the light continues to change color. Inland, the narrow roads rise gently into the open country, revealing showstopping views.

Glencolmcille will suit you beautifully if you’re happy to linger and let the place set the pace.