Tour bus or train from Belfast to Giant's Causeway

Posted by adornbusch70 (Minnesota) on 04/19/25 09:20 PM

We will be going to Northern Ireland next year for 6 days, but not renting a car. Would you recommend utilizing a tour bus from Belfast to Giant's Causeway, or could we take a train and stay overnight in smaller towns along the way and maybe experience small pubs with live music? I get a little car sick on busses, so was hoping there would be trains to take most of the way, and at the same time experience more of the local life? Let me know if I'm living in a dream world!

Any experience with the Ulster American Folk Park, or Pogue's Historical Cottage? Can we get to those places by train, tour bus, or cab?

Any recommendations for clean places to stay (3 people) on a budget in Belfast and Antrim? Thanks much!

Posted by G3rryCee

Bellingham, WA

04/20/25 03:45 PM

823 posts

You're not living in a dream world, but it will be hard to avoid taking buses.
Here is a link to the system map for trains in NI, which are operated by Translink:
https://www.translink.co.uk/route-maps
And here is The Man in Seat 61's page on taking the train from Belfast to GC:
https://www.seat61.com/places-of-interest/belfast-to-the-giants-causeway.html
Paddywagon runs a bus tour from Belfast to Giant's Causeway. It's all day and includes the Dun Luce Castle and the Dark Hedges (from Game of Thrones), plus a stop for lunch. I wouldn't recommend it for you if you get sick on buses.
For the Folk Park, you'd need to take a bus to Omagh. The one from Belfast takes two hours, but there is a shorter one (an hour) from Derry, maybe also from Coleraine or Antrim. Again, check with Translink. According to the Folk Park website, the bus from Belfast drops off right there. Omagh has taxi service, as would Coleraine and Antrim, I expect.

Posted by scalespaul82

04/21/25 05:14 PM

8 posts

you can go via public transport , no need to take tours to the giants causeway its very easy to do via public transport below is how you do just that
1) Catch a Train From Belfast Grand central Station to COLERAINE on the Derry/Londonderry line
2) after 1 hr 25 min train ride get off in Coleraine and go into the combined railway/bus station come down the steps in front of the Ground coffee shop (inside the station itself) and turn left and walk to the bottom of the building this is were the buses depart from and catch the 402 Ulsterbus service to Ballycastle this will stop at the Giants causeway
all public transport in Northern Ireland is operated by "Translink" (www.translink.co.uk) ticket wise if you purchase a Zone 4 "I-link" card at the ticket office in Grand Central Station the cost is £19 (19 British Pounds) for 1 days unlimited travel anywhere on any bus or train all day unlimited in Northern Ireland , if you go to www.translink.co.uk and put into the Journey planner selecting both train and bus options "THE AIRD THE NOOK GIANTS CAUSEWAY" AND "GRAND CENTRAL STATION" As your starting point this will plan your journey for you, (selecting date and time as well ) Public Transport in the UK is clean and safe if you are worried about that I use Public Transport in Northern Ireland all the time ( i am from Northern Ireland )

Posted by adornbusch70 OP

Minnesota

04/21/25 05:23 PM

4 posts

Oh my goodness, what awesome information! Thank you so much! Would this train by chance stop in Antrim also? We are considering staying in or around Antrim for 3 days, therefore going to Giant's Causeway from Antrim one day, and Ulster American Folk Park another day. The day pass is Exactly what I was hoping for, this is fantastic news! Thank you!