Northern Ireland has undergone an extraordinary transformation in the years since the Belfast Agreement of 1998. Once avoided by most international visitors, it is now one of the most compelling destinations in the British Isles — home to the world's largest Titanic visitor experience, the spectacular Causeway Coast, a walled city whose history spans four centuries of conflict and reconciliation, and more Game of Thrones filming locations than anywhere else on earth.
The region divides naturally into four areas. Belfast is a proper city with a Victorian centre, excellent restaurants and a museum scene anchored by Titanic Belfast — the best museum in Ireland. The Causeway Coast 90 minutes north takes in the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle and Old Bushmills Distillery on one outstanding coastal drive. Derry/Londonderry in the northwest is the only completely walled city in Ireland, with the Bogside murals telling the story of the Troubles directly below the city walls. Further afield, the Glens of Antrim and Rathlin Island offer genuine solitude.
A long weekend covers Belfast and the Causeway Coast. Five days adds Derry and the Antrim Glens. Note: Northern Ireland uses pounds sterling (GBP), not euros — and is part of the United Kingdom. The border with the Republic is entirely frictionless with no passport checks, but you will need sterling once you're north of it.
Suggested itinerary
Belfast — arrival
Fly into Belfast City Airport (BHD) — 10 minutes from the city centre. Titanic Belfast in the afternoon: nine galleries in a building shaped like ship prows, built on the exact slipway where Titanic was launched. Evening in the Cathedral Quarter — the Duke of York and John Hewitt are the standout pubs.
Causeway Coast day trip
90 min from BelfastDrive north on the A2. Giant's Causeway in the morning — arrive before 10am to beat coach tours. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (pre-book). Dunluce Castle perched on its sea stack. Old Bushmills Distillery for the late afternoon tour. Dark Hedges on the way back — the Game of Thrones King's Road is 10 min inland. Return to Belfast.
Derry/Londonderry
75 min from BelfastDrive west on the A6. Walk the Derry City Walls — a free 1.5 km circuit with the Bogside murals visible below. The Museum of Free Derry on Glenfada Park covers the Troubles in detail. The city has an excellent restaurant scene and is worth an overnight rather than a day trip.
Antrim Glens or Rathlin Island
Option A: Rathlin Island — ferry from Ballycastle (45 min), seabird cliffs at the West Light RSPB reserve (May–August). Option B: Drive the nine Glens of Antrim coast road south from Ballycastle through Cushendall and Carnlough — one of Northern Ireland's great scenic drives. Return to Belfast for an evening departure.
Highlights
- Titanic Belfast — nine immersive galleries on the exact slipway where RMS Titanic was built; widely regarded as one of the best museums in Ireland
- Giant's Causeway — 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns on the north Antrim coast; UNESCO World Heritage Site, free to access at any time
- Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge — rope bridge slung between sea stacks 30 metres above the Atlantic — book ahead, as tickets sell out weeks in advance in summer
- Derry/Londonderry city walls — the only completely intact walled city in Ireland; free to walk, with the powerful Bogside murals visible below
- Game of Thrones Studio Tour — the official tour at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge with original sets, props and costumes from all eight seasons
- Old Bushmills Distillery — the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, in continuous operation on the Causeway Coast since 1608
- Dunluce Castle — a ruined medieval castle perched on a basalt sea stack; one of the most dramatically sited historic buildings in Ireland
- Rathlin Island — Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island, with tens of thousands of nesting seabirds at the West Light cliffs in summer
Attractions in this guide
Titanic Belfast
Antrim
Giant's Causeway
Antrim
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Antrim
Dunluce Castle
Antrim
Game of Thrones Studio Tour
Down
Derry City Walls
Derry
Old Bushmills Distillery
Antrim
Rathlin Island
Antrim
Local tips
- →Currency is pounds sterling (GBP) — exchange euros before crossing the border, or withdraw from a Belfast ATM on arrival
- →Belfast is significantly cheaper than Dublin for accommodation — comparable hotels typically cost 30–40% less
- →The Game of Thrones outdoor filming locations across Antrim (Ballintoy Harbour, Cushendun Caves, Murlough Bay, Dark Hedges) are free and accessible year-round without booking
- →The Causeway Coastal Route (A2) from Belfast takes a full day done properly — start early and allow time at each stop rather than rushing
- →Book Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in advance — it sells out in summer and is the most booked-out single attraction on the north coast
- →Derry is an hour from Belfast by car — doable as a day trip but an overnight stay gives you the city's excellent restaurants and evening atmosphere
Ready to go?
Plan your Northern Ireland trip
Best time to visit
April – October (Giant's Causeway is year-round; seabird season at Rathlin is May–August)
Getting there
Fly into Belfast City Airport (BHD, 10 minutes from city centre) or Belfast International (BFS, 30 minutes). Direct flights from London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Amsterdam. A hire car is recommended for the Causeway Coast — Belfast city itself is walkable and has good public transport.
Region
Northern Ireland
Attractions covered
8 in this guide
