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Belfast to Antrim Coast sites by bus

Hi - I'm hoping to get to the Giant's Causeway and the Bushmills Distillery (and, if possible, Dunluce Castle) by public transit from Belfast. Has anyone experience with this? If so, how did it go? I assume one would need to get the bus again to get between sites?
Thanks

Posted by
8566 posts

Galway is in Ireland.

The Giants Causeway is in Northern Ireland.

Different countries. Different transport companies.

From Galway to the Giants Causeway on a bus would take nearly 8 hours and involve many changes.

From Experience visiting and exploring Eire and NI is best done by car. Bus and train travel take too much time.

The freedom to explore by driving, is, from my POV worth it. Over the years Have driven about both countries. Twice with a clutch, once with an automatic.

Use Google maps to calculate distances.

Posted by
65 posts

I made an error in my typing - as the subject line says, I am asking about traveling from BELFAST to the Antrim Coast by bus.
Thanks

Posted by
6384 posts

We had a rental car that made getting to those places easier and it was a long day. While there might be public transportation, I can’t believe it would run that route frequently and you’d spend a lot of time waiting for a bus to arrive since both Dunluce and the Causeway are in the middle of nowhere.

When we drove the Antrim coast we started in Crawfordsburn, 10 miles east of Belfast. We stopped at Carrick A Rede bridge, the Giant’s Causeway, drove past Dunluce castle but didn’t stop, then caught the last tour of the day at Bushmills before spending the night In Portrush. I’m not sure how it could all be done in one day using public transportation.

Posted by
8252 posts

Yes, I have done this and it is quite easy. Don't let those who don't take public transport tell you it is too hard. It is not!
First, you take the train from Belfast to Coleraine. You walk through the train station to the waiting buses and you take the Causeway Rambler ( Ulsterbus 402). This bus will make stops near Dunluce Castle, in Bushmills, and at the Giant's Causeway. I've put the link to it and a few other services below.

https://www.causewaycoastway.com/travel/causeway-buses.php

It is quite easy to walk up to the Giant's Causeway visitor center from Bushmills. There is a paved path that follows the old route of a train/tram line. You could also wait for the next bus.

The Antrim Coast is lovely and well worth a night if you have the time.

Posted by
6384 posts

@carol, I didn’t say it was too difficult, just that you could spend a good deal of time waiting. If it’s easy and I’m wrong, great. The OP just needs to do some research to see if it would work for them based on their schedule. From Bushmills to the Causeway visitor center is 2.6 miles, 3 miles to the causeway itself.

Posted by
136 posts

IF you want to cross the Carrick A Rede bridge, you can not arrive on public transportation. We have now rented a car from Belfast Airport to get to the Antrim Coast and will book a ticket for the bridge shortly. There is parking included with ticket for the rope bridge.

Posted by
65 posts

Thanks for your helpful input. I will definitely be without a car, have traveled on public transit of all kinds all over Europe and beyond - and am a walker, so I should be fine.