Cheap flights from Dublin to Donegal

The weeks either side of Christmas, through the October to December stretch, are the pricier part of the calendar shown here, so the shoulder weeks around them are where to look first. January is the cheapest month on this route, and the run through to May stays represented in the price table. Weekday departures usually beat weekend ones, and once school holidays approach in spring, fares firm up again.

What separates the two carriers here is scale, not class. Aer Lingus flies the route as the flag carrier from Dublin, while Emerald Airlines operates the sector as its regional partner on the same direct run. Both are full-service in the sense that cabin baggage is part of the fare, so unlike the low-cost routes out of Dublin to places such as Krakow or Budapest, you are not nickel-and-dimed for a carry-on. Check each fare's checked-bag allowance before paying, since that is where the two differ most.

If your flight lands late in the day, plan the onward drive before you fly, because public transport options into Donegal town thin out towards evening. Donegal airport is a small field close to the town itself, so the transfer is short by regional standards, with taxis and hire cars as the usual ways in. Book a car in advance if you are heading on to the coast, since availability at a small airport is tighter than at Dublin.

Currency

EUR (€)

Power sockets

Type G · 230 V

Language

Irish, English

Emergency number

112

Calling code

+353

Internet domain

.ie

EU / Schengen

EU member

Population of Donegal

161 k

Time zone

UTC+00 (Europe/Dublin)

Country facts: Wikidata

• On a short domestic hop, check whether your ticket is on one booking, because a separate connecting ticket through Dublin leaves no protection if the first leg slips.
• Confirm what baggage the fare includes, since the two carriers on this route include cabin bags but checked bags are priced separately.
• Check the exact departure point in Dublin, as the city's flights leave from a single airport but terminals and check-in cut-off times still vary by carrier.
• No passport is needed between the two cities, but carry photo ID because airlines on Irish domestic routes ask for it.
• Compare January and May in the price calendar, since the cheap window does not run evenly across the months shown.