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
Recent articles
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.
Giant’s Causeway – Game Of Thrones Day Trip from Dublin
You depart early morning from Dublin heading North. We will have a comfort break on the way and then head into the Northern Irish countryside. Along the drive you will visit the Dark hedges, a picturesque tree-lined road that looks as if it comes straight out of a story book. The Dark Hedges represents the King’s Road in the famous television series “Game of Thrones” and is an avenue of beech trees with branches hanging over the road.. Next we visit and cross Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge which connects a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm between the mainland and a small island that has been used over the years by fishermen to place netting to capture migrating salmon. Following a 20 minute scenic cliff walk, you can traverse the bridge to the island with its abundance of birdlife, and to enjoy the spectacular coastal views from a different vantage point. After lunch it is time for The Giants Causeway which is the highlight of the trip . This UNESCO World Heritage site consists of a series of over 40,000 hexagonal shaped rocks that looks like a grand set of stairs leading into the sea, the formation of which has been astounding generations. These awe-inspiring stones have resulted in inspiring many a myth and stories surrounding their origin, some of which your guide will just to be happy tell you in full technicolour! After the amazing Giants Causeway we continue to the spectacular Dunluce Castle, precariously perched on Cliffside , once home of the notorious McDonnell clan! This tour includes a self guided tour of Dunluce where you will get an insight to its fascinating history and the peerless family who owned it. Finally, you will arrive back in Dublin at around dinner time to reminisce about your northern adventure.
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.
Belfast Day Trip from Dublin
Starting from a central Dublin location, your day trip departs early to beat the traffic on the drive north to Belfast. In the mid-morning, you’ll enter Northern Ireland and reach Belfast, the country’s capital city. Here you will have a guided coach tour of Belfast City, where you'll be shown the Belfast peace walls that act as peace lines between the Catholic and Protestant communities. Look out for the wall murals that tell stories of community disputes from both sides of the fence. After a light-hearted introduction into the perils of Belfast politics, you’ll have approximately one hour to spend at leisure, and your guide will happily offer directions to recommended lunch spots. Suggested Belfast attractions for you to see include Belfast Cathedral (also known as St Anne’s Cathedral), or the landmark site of Belfast City Hall on Donegal Square. After lunch, your guide will take you to the HMS Caroline. This is a real life combat ship that served in both WW1 and WW2. She was the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland still afloat. Afterwards , you will get to see the highlight of the tour, the Titanic Experience Tour. Here you will learn all about Titanic’s tragic maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Sadly all great adventures must come to an end. However the memories will last a lifetime so sit back while your guide plays some traditional music and enjoy reminiscing about your day tour to the north as you make your way back to Dublin.
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.