Northern Ireland
is ancient rocks and great legends
is river reflections
is a trip into myth
Welcome to Northern Ireland
An exploding food scene, hip cities and the stunning Causeway Coast: there's plenty to pull visitors to the North. When you cross from the Republic into Northern Ireland you'll notice a couple of changes: the road signs are in miles and the prices are in pounds sterling – you're in the UK. At the time of research, there was no border checkpoint and not even a sign to mark the crossing point.
Top experiences in Northern Ireland
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Northern Ireland activities
Giant’s Causeway and Northern Ireland Day Tour from Dublin
In the early morning, your guide will pick you up from selected centrally located pickup points and then drive you north out of the city by luxury coach. After a journey of roughly two hours, arrive in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, in time for your black cab tour.On a route around the city, listen to your guide talk through the highs and lows of Belfast’s fascinating political history. Hear of its industrial roots, the past four decades of civil unrest, and of its current regeneration; many say the city’s heyday is still to come.Look out for several of the top Belfast attractions, like the Harland and Wolff shipyard, where the Titanic was built, and Belfast Docks, where numerous ships were made in the city's industrial days. See political murals as you pass through the Falls and Shankill neighborhoods where Belfast’s Unionist and Nationalist cultures live on opposing sides of the divide. Pull over for a closer look at several key locations, including the Peace Wall, where you can sign your name next to legendary peacemakers, such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton.After a break to take refreshments in the city (own expense), leave Belfast behind and hit the road to the Northern Irish coast. Following a route known as the Antrim Coastal Drive, pass spectacular scenery including stony shores, densely wooded glens and picture-perfect harbors. Pause to marvel at Dunluce Castle, a medieval ruin perched precariously atop a bluff on the coast. Fans of hit TV show Game of Thrones may recognize it as the setting for the House of Greyjoy.After driving for roughly two hours, arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Giant’s Causeway, where you’ll have two hours to explore at leisure. Created more than 60 million years ago after a series of volcanic eruptions, the causeway is best known for its distinctive rock formations that span nearly 18 miles (29 km) of coastline. Continue on to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which links the mainland to Carrick-a-Rede Island. Steel yourself for a heart-stopping walk across the swaying bridge, as the Atlantic Ocean waves pound into the cliffs below. The surrounding headlands were also used for filming several Game of Thrones scenes. On the journey back to Dublin take a brief stop in the pretty town of Castlebelingham to stretch your legs, before arriving back to central Dublin in the evening.
Belfast to Giant’s Causeway Full-Day Guided Sightseeing Tour
Leave central Belfast in the morning and head to the first stop is Carrickfergus Castle -- a striking Norman castle that’s said to be one of the best preserved in Northern Ireland. Enjoy a photo stop here, and hear from your guide how it was built in the 12th century to guard the approach to Belfast Lough. Head northeast along the Antrim Coast by luxury coach. To the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, an exhilarating crossing that connects the mainland to Carrick-a-Rede Island. Feeling brave? Take a walk across it (own expense) and try hard not to look down at the 100-foot (30-meter) drop! If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on dry land, your guide will point you in the right direction for a bracing walk along the magnificent headland. We have lunch in the lovely village of Ballintoy in a local pub offering home made traditional food. Hop back on board your bus and continue to the Old Bushmills Distillery, where the famous Bushmills Irish whiskey is produced. Browse tempting wares in the gift shop and then head off to see the incredible Giant’s Causeway! As Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Giant’s Causeway is sure to impress! The fascinating natural wonder consists of hexagonal rock columns that somehow fit together like a baffling puzzle. Climb the ancient stones that line the coastline, and hear the myths surrounding their appearance from a professional National Trust guide. A popular tale is that the rocks were created as giant stepping stones for the fabled Irish giant Finn Mac Cool, so that he could cross the sea to Scotland. After enjoying Giant’s Causeway, board your coach and travel south, stopping to admire the ancient ruins of Dunluce Castle, a once-important medieval stronghold. After a short walk around, return to central Belfast where your tour ends.
'Game of Thrones' and Giant's Causeway Day Tour from Belfast
Hop aboard your coach at your central Belfast hotel, and travel along the scenic Causeway Coastal Route. As you travel north, your guide will talk to you about the popular Game of Thrones TV series, adapted from George Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Stop in the town of Cushendun and walk to the caves where Melisandre of Asshai gave birth to her ‘shadow baby’ who went on to slay Renly Baratheon. Hear tales of the power struggles, battles and trysts between the noble families of Westeros, and learn all about the exploits of King Joffrey Baratheon.Travel by coach to Ballycastle to see where Varys was born as a slave in the Free Cities, and after stretching your legs on a stroll, travel to the Dark Hedges road. With its natural archway of intertwined trees, the road is one of Northern Ireland’s most photographed locations and the place where Arya Stark dressed as a boy to escape from King’s Landing. Pose for pictures, and then continue your journey north.The next destination is larrybane Quarry right next to the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge – an iconic crossing that connects the mainland to Carrick-a-Rede Island. While not used in Game of Thrones, the bridge is framed by magnificent headland that provided a backdrop for several scenes. After a quick photo stop, continue to the fishing village of Ballintoy for lunch (own expense), and then travel to the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway,While the location hasn’t been used in Game of Thrones, the site is the Causeway Coast’s showpiece, and it’s well worth visiting while in the area. Walk around admiring the hexagonal rock columns and gaze out at the crashing waves along the dramatic coastline.Board your coach and travel back to Belfast, your tour then finishes in the early evening in the center of Belfast.
Titanic Belfast Experience and Giant's Causeway from Dublin
Start the day with pickup from select Dublin hotels in the early morning and head north out of the city by luxury coach. After roughly two hours, arrive in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland and home to the Titanic Visitor Experience – your first stop of the day. Living up to the hype that surrounded its opening in early 2012, this must-see center allows you to relive the intriguing Titanic story on the very site where the ship was built.As you walk through the exhibition’s galleries, learn about the ship’s creation, her fateful voyage and final resting place on the bed of the Atlantic Ocean. Explore the center’s interactive discovery zones, and encounter special effects, dark rides and full-scale reconstructions as you learn everything there is to know about the Titanic. Visit the on-site Ocean Exploration Centre, where you’ll discover the sophisticated technologies that track the behavior of oceans and seabeds today.After a break to take lunch at the center (own expense), leave the city lights of Belfast behind and hit the road to the Northern Irish coast. Following a route known as the Antrim Coastal Drive, pass spectacular scenery including rocky shores, wooded glens and quaint harbors. Stop to admire the romantic views of the ruins of the 15th-century Dunluce Castle, which rest at the edge of a dramatic cliff. Fans of hit TV show Game of Thrones may recognize this as the setting of the House of Greyjoy.After traveling for roughly two hours, arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Giant’s Causeway, where you’ll have two hours to explore at leisure. Created more than 60 million years ago after a series of volcanic eruptions, the causeway is famous for its distinctive rock formations that span nearly 18 miles (29 km) of dramatic coastline.After exploring this incredible site, meet your guide and embark on an exhilarating walk across the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which is suspended over an intimidating chasm between the mainland and Carrick-a-Rede Island. The surrounding headlands were used as a filming location for Game of Thrones.Come later afternoon, begin the journey home. Take a brief stop in the pretty town of Castlebelingham to stretch your legs, before arriving in Dublin in the evening.
Titanic Belfast Admission Ticket with SS Nomadic Access
Head inside Titanic Belfast with your entrance ticket and explore the exciting attraction at your own pace, browsing the extensive exhibitions that comprise the Titanic Visitor Experience. The impressive structure stands on the very ground where the famous Titanic ship was built over a century ago. Walk through the Titanic Belfast's giant atrium and gaze around at the four hull-shaped wings that house the Titanic Visitor Experience. Head inside the exhibition and explore nine large galleries with state-of-the-art interactive discovery zones that tell the fateful story of the Titanic, from her launch, maiden voyage and subsequent place in history. Besides gleaming details about the fascinating ship, learn how Belfast was a boomtown at the turn of the century. See exhibits about Harland and Wolff, the shipping supremos who built the Titanic along with other great vessels of her time.Walk through a reconstruction of the original shipyard and slipways, and have a go on the impressive Shipyard Ride -- an attraction that uses special effects and animations to recreate shipbuilding in the early 1900s. At the end of the Titanic Visitor Experience is the Ocean Exploration Centre, another fascinating interactive exhibition that focuses on oceanography and marine research. Browse the audiovisual presentations and learn how oceans and seabeds behave. How long you spend inside Titanic Belfast is up to you -- many visitors find two hours sufficient to see all the exhibitions. If you are hungry or want a drink, head to the on-site Bistro 41 or Gallery Café. Food and drinks are payable at your own expense.
Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge Tour from Dublin
Meet your guide in central Dublin start your day. To break up the drive on the way, we will stop at a service station so you can get some coffee or breakfast. Occasionally we will pick up a few more passengers from Belfast on the way as well.You'll get to experience the beautiful location of Giant's Causeway for around 1.5 - 2 hours. This must-see World Heritage Site is Northern Ireland's most popular visitor attraction, and for good reason. Magnificent seascape and of course the awe-inspiring hexagonal/polygonal stone columns that form the legendary Causeway itself, some of which reach 40 feet (12 meters) into the air. The Giant’s Causeway was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986. Here you can have a sit down lunch if you prefer. The extra lunch stop time is added into the Causeway stop.You then get on the coastal route and go through beautiful coastal towns like Ballycastle where you will enjoy fantastic view of islands just off the coast like Sheep Island, Rathlin Island or maybe even a glimpse of Scotland.The next stop is Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. CarrickaRede is an abandoned fishing island located just a few miles from the Giant’s Causeway. This 90ft deep, 60ft wide (27m deep, 18m wide) chasm is traversed by a traditionally built rope bridge which rewards the daring visitor with arguably the best views in the country. Spend approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes there. When the weather is nice and the bridge is open, you can cross the Rope Bridge for free!The Dark Hedges, will be a 20 to 30-minute stop. The Dark Hedges were planted 270 years ago by the Stuart family as a driveway to their mansion Gracehill Manor. It is now the most photographed natural phenomenon in Northern Ireland.Another unique part of the tour will be going across the Glens of Antrim with amazing panoramic views, instead of driving around them, on the way back to Belfast.Last stop of the day is Belfast. You will spend approximately 1.5 hours here. Belfast has a very compact city centre as a legacy of the Troubles, also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict. Visit the Crown bar, Big Fish, Albert’s Clock and many more attractions in the city centre while you do some shopping or buy snacks for your way back to Dublin.You will return to Dublin at approximately 7:30pm/ 8:30pm*Please note that all times are approximate. The locations might be visited in a different order, depends on traffic and weather.