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Itinerary suggestions Northern Ireland

Posted by on

Hi, Rick Steves brainiacs—

Family of 4, two college-age sons, traveling to Northern Ireland at the beginning of July. We’re flying in/out of Dublin. My husband wants to see the Giants Causeway, so we’re heading north, and since we’re up there, I want to visit Belfast. We also like to hike or take long walks.

We only have one week because of my son’s summer job. Any thoughts about how long to spend each place — Belfast & Antrim Coast? Also wondering if we might enjoy one of the Game of Thrones tours. We want to see Ireland’s famous natural beauty. We’ll have a car. (I’ve already read Rick’s guidebook but can’t decide how long to spend and where.)

I’d appreciate any thoughts. Thank you!!

Posted by
2554 posts

I'm assuming you will be hiring a car? If so, check the arrangements for hiring in Dublin and travelling into Northern Ireland (they are separate countries...) If there are issues, you may want to catch the bus from Dublin to Belfast and hire a car when you leave Belfast.

Days 1 & 2 Belfast. That gives time to see something of the city, visit Titanic Exhibition... You might also be interested in the Game of Thrones Studio Tour based at Bainbridge about 40-45 min drive SW of Belfast. (The Game of Thrones bus tours from Belfast will cover many of the sights listed for Day 5, so maybe discount them and do under your own steam and at your own pace...)

Day 3 head up the Antrim coast for the Antrim Glens. Each of them is very different and it is worth taking you time and stopping off to enjoy them along the way. If you are wanting to walk, Glenariff is possibly the best with several trails to choose from. One of the best is the waterfalls trail. Cushenden and Cushendahl are attractive small village. Spend the night at possibly Ballycastle.

Day 4 Think about a boat trip to Rathlin Island... Explore on foot - there are plenty of walking trails. Night at Ballycastle

Day 5 - Causeway coast - Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle and Giant's Causeway. The Giant's cCauseway is always busy so try and visit first think or later in teh afternoon when all the visitors are heading back home. Also try and plan for low tide when more of the stones are exposed. At high tifde it can be a bit disappointing. As well as walking down to the stones, consider a walk along the cliffs above the causeway. You look down on the rocks and all the visitors scurrying around a bit like ants. It is an exhillarating walk. If time allows continue to Portrush and Port Stewart. Return to Ballycastle for the night.

Day 6 return to Belfast and drop off the car. Bus back to Dublin

Day 7 Fly out of Dublin (Depending on time of flight, see something of Dublin....)

If you don't want to visit Rathlin Island then look at this...

Day 4 - Causeway coast - Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle and Giant's Causeway. The Giant's cCauseway is always busy so try and visit first think or later in teh afternoon when all the visitors are heading back home. Also try and plan for low tide when more of the stones are exposed. At high tide it can be a bit disappointing. As well as walking down to the stones, consider a walk along the cliffs above the causeway. You look down on the rocks and all the visitors scurrying around a bit like ants. It is an exhillarating walk. Drive to Derry for the night

Day 5 Explore Derry

Day 6 return to Belfast and drop off the car. Bus back to Dublin

Day 7 fly out of Dublin (Depending on time of flight, see something of Dublin....)

Posted by
3117 posts

All good advice from Wasleys.
Some other attractions in the area that might be of interest: There's an abandoned famine village in the Glens of Antrim called Galboly, featuring the ruins of a couple of thatched cottages dating back to the famine years of the 1840's - used to be home to about 60 families.
A good place to stop for lunch is the tea room at Glenarm Castle. There are tours of the castle and there's a very pretty garden there as well.
The hike above the Giant's Causeway is indeed a pleasant one though it can be windy too. If you go far enough to the west you'll get a glimpse of the bay where one of the ships from the 1588 Spanish Armada (the La Girona) foundered. It's artifacts are on display at the Ulster Museum in Belfast. Another Armada ship sank further up the coast and it's artifacts are displayed in the Tower Museum in Derry.

Posted by
300 posts

Good suggestions above, a few additional thoughts from me:
-If you want to see some of the GoT sites on your own, that's pretty easy- including the Dark Hedges, Castle Ward (which you will recognise as half of the entrance to Winterfell, which was digitally doubled), and my favourite, Ballintoy Harbour which was the Iron Islands- a very beautiful location on the coast near Giant's Causeway.
-If you plan to just stay on the Antrim coast I don't have much to add beyond what's been said (except for to visit Bushmill's distillery if you are a whiskey fan)- but if you have time to explore the Down coast (south of Belfast), in addition to coastal scenery you have the Mourne Mountains, which are an excellent example of Ireland's natural beauty and great for long walks. You can visit them on a day trip from Belfast.
-In Belfast, in addition to what's been said I recommend SS Nomadic (White Star Line tender ship), St George's Market (lots of local crafts/products), and the Ulster Museum. If you want a walk in Belfast, I recommend heading up to Cave Hill where you'll have a wonderful view of the city, including the big cranes in the shipyard.
-If you have time to visit other parts of NI, one of the most beautiful areas is Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, which is on two lakes. There's also the Marble Arch caves nearby which I haven't gotten to yet tho they look very cool (you ride thru on a boat).

Northern Ireland is quite compact and you can cover a lot of places in a short time. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Posted by
37 posts

The earlier suggestions for an itinerary are excellent.
I add two other items in case you and your family have these interests.

  1. in the Armagh area, Fort Navan / Navan Center I spent most of a day there (although one could spend 2-3 hours maximum also)
  2. Downpatrick / St. Patrick's burial site / St. Patrick Center / Down Cathedral

These locations might eat up a lot of transit time if trying to travel via bus, however they were definitely doable via car.

(I visited Northern Ireland in June 2024 and enjoyed visiting these places along with the Titanic museum in Belfast and other places.)

Posted by
785 posts

I want to make a pitch for Derry as at least a full day visit, if not an overnight (park at the mall for a day trip). I did the Black Cab Tour in Belfast and stayed in East Belfast (a Unionist area with a big memorial and murals). I found the contrast with the Bogside murals in Derry to be very dramatic. Also, the Museum of Free Derry, which is dedicated to Bloody Sunday, felt very relevant for our times.
I think that with a car, you can see the GoT sights without a tour.

Posted by
2575 posts

I believe you all need the new ETA travel document to enter Northern Ireland and I would take a small amount of money in UK pounds. Highly recommend a black cab tour of the Troubles in Belfast, well worth it.. Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
10 posts

All the suggestions above are great. you say you are going to be there in early July, but if you have flexible time and/or the dates match up, I would offer one more suggestion. If any of your family enjoy professional golf then the Royal Portrush Golf Club is right on the Antrim Coast just 7 miles west of Giant's Causeway. This year, from July 13-20, it is hosting the 153rd Open Championship. Having a pass to a day of golf watching the world's best golfers is a special opportunity if you are a golf fan. https://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/visitors/the-open/

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