The Telegraph: Mid range: City Hotel (028 7136 5800; cityhotelderry.com) occupies a prime city-centre location. Quality rooms, with pool and gym on offer, too. Ask for a room with river views. Doubles from £64.
The Telegraph: Stroll along to the atmospheric old-school pub, Peadar O’Donnell’s (peadars-gweedorebar.com), for a pint of the black stuff and perhaps some live Irish music.
The Telegraph: Slip around the corner to The Exchange (028 7127 3990; exchangerestaurant.com; mains from £12) for a relaxed, informal dinner. Try the Jamaican jerk chicken; there is a good wine list, too.
The Telegraph: Sample the city’s burgeoning cultural life at The Playhouse (02871 268 027; derryplayhouse.co.uk), which offers a vibrant mix of theatre and dance.
The Telegraph: Guildhall Square is the heart of the city: the sandstone walls of the Edwardian Guildhall, with its historical links to London, has beautiful historical stained glass windows.
The Telegraph: St Columb’s Cathedral (028 7126 2746; stcolumbscathedral.org) is the city’s oldest and most significant building. The cathedral and city were founded by London merchants in 1613.
The Telegraph: The Museum of Free Derry (028 7136 0880; museumoffreederry.org; £3) offers the best opportunity to take in the different narratives that make up this city’s compelling and difficult history.
The Telegraph: The Stirling Prize-nominated Culturlann (028 7126 4132; culturlann-doire.ie; free) comes as something of a shock: its emphatically modern lines stand out amid these elegant, harmonious urban terraces.
The Telegraph: Return to the river, crossing the Peace Bridge to Ebrington. The former arrmy parade ground has been turned into a new public square, complete with café and wide views across the city and river.
The Telegraph: Ian Orr, the chef at Brown’s (028 7134 5180; brownsrestaurant.com), was named Irish Chef of the Year. The focus here is on local produce, from Donegal seafood to Fermanagh lamb. Mains from £15.