Last updated: 25 June 2023
Updated April 2023. With rugged coastlines, stunning castles, craicing fun cities lined with cobblestone streets a visit to Northern Ireland is an experience you’ll never forget. If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Northern Ireland then you’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what we’re going to cover in our post so get ready to discover the top 10 best places to visit in Northern Ireland.
Here’s out list of the BEST places to visit in Northern Ireland
Titanic Belfast
Built on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard, it’s the very same site where the ill-fated RMS Titanic was built. This world-leading visitor attraction and ‘must see’ on any trip to Belfast and Northern Ireland.
To make the most of the experience, and to avoid the crowds, arrive upon opening (9am in the summer months, 10am in the winter).
The fabulous hand-held multi-media guides (£4) are still available in 8 languages, plus visually-impared aid and state-of-the-art British Sign Language visuals. An alternative, you can use your own smartphone and purchase a mobile version of the guide. We’d recommend you BYO headphones to get the best experience.
For children a specially designed multimedia guide to engage and delight throughout their visit is also available.
Titanic Belfast is now open for advanced bookings, meaning you need to book your ticket(s) in advance of visiting.
The Gobbins
The Gobbins is a dramatic Edwardian-era coastal path consisting of a network of walkways and bridges running for 3.2 km (2 miles) which hug the dramatic basalt cliff face.
This extraordinary place is only accessible via a small guided group tour which runs for about 3 hours and covers roughly 5km (3 miles). Access to the lower coastal path involves a steep access path which includes gradients of up to 1:4 in places so may not be suitable for all visitors.
If you’re wondering if you’re fit enough to face the gradient and the terrain, check out our video which should answer all your questions.
Be sure to allow at least an hour for the comprehensive visitors centre which is well worth some of your time.
Giant’s Causeway
This famous Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site signifying the landmark’s global importance.
The causeway site consists of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns.
How the causeway came to exist depends if you like fact or local legend. Scientists say it’s the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption.
The local legend is a bit more lively, with the resident Irish giant Finn McCool building the causeway from chunks of the Antrim coast as a pathway to head to Scotland to have words with his rival, the Scottish giant Benandonner, who was threatening Ireland.
You have the two versions, the stories and the science. We’ll leave you to decide which one you believe to be true.
In addition to the basalt columns, there are numerous must-see sights at the Giant’s Causeway including:
- Finn’s Boot: As the story goes, as Finn fled following the clash with the Scottish giant, Benandonner, and in his retreat he tripped and lost his boot – which is rumoured to be a size 93.5! The boot flew off and landed on the shore.
- The Camel: Finn McCool’s camel. Once a living and lively beast, the camel was turned to stone and forlornly lies along the bottom of the cliffs. Apparently he was the only steed capable of carrying Finn home across long distances. The Camel is actually a basaltic dyke, formed from cooling lava which has pushed its way through other layers of rock.
Visitor Experience tickets (£13) include reserved on-site parking, guided tours with the storytelling team, a hand-held audio guide, access to the Visitor Centre’s exhibition and interpretation area, and use of all facilities including the shop, cafe, loos etc.
Access to the Causeway is free, though parking fee applies per vehicle (£10).
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
This rope bridge links the mainland with the tiny island of Carrick A Rede and was first erected by fishermen in 1755 when they fished for Atlantic salmon. It was a flourishing industry back in the 19th century and even up until the 1960s when catches of up to 300 salmon a day were common.
Spanning 20 metres across, and floating some 30 metres above the rocks below crossing the bridge is not for the faint-hearted. Nowadays the fishing industry has died out and the bridge remains as a tourist attraction which is owned and maintained by the National Trust.
You can access the coastal area with no charge (parking charges apply) however if you want to cross the rope bridge a fee applies (£13.50 adults and £6.75 children).
The rope bridge was closed for quite some time due to the challenges associated with social distancing. The rope bridge has since reopened.
Pre-booking is essential to cross the bridge. Book in advance online to secure your preferred date and time.
Dunluce Castle
Less than 5 miles from the Giant’s Causeway lies Dunluce Castle. Considered by many to be one of the most picturesque and romantic castles on the island of Ireland and definitely one or your top 10 things to do in Northern Ireland.
This now-ruined medieval castle is precariously perched on a cliff edge in County Antrim, the earliest written record of this iconic ruin dates back to 1513.
If it looks familiar it’s because Dunluce castle was used for many of the scenes for the House of Greyjoy, ruler of the Iron Islands, in the TV smash hit, Game of Thrones.
Marble Arch Caves
The Marble Arch Caves are a series of natural limestone caves located near the village of Florencecourt in County Fermanagh.
In 2015, it was awarded UNESCO Global Geoparks status which means it has been identified as an outstanding geological heritage. There are over 50 sites to discover across the Geopark, including major lakes, and winding rivers, rugged outcrops, hidden caves, prehistoric tombs, Iron Age forts, early Christian monasteries which can be accessed all year round.
If you only have a few hours to spare, head straight for the Caves, and join a tour to discover subterranean rivers, winding passages, lofty chambers and an array of delicate cave formations.
Derry~Londonderry
Derry, also known as Londonderry, is the only completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples in Europe.
There’s no better way to experience it for yourself than to stroll the 17th century city walls.
Make the most of your time in Derry by including a walking tour, the city’s museums including the Museum of Free Derry which has become an integral part of Ireland’s radical and civil rights heritage. Be sure to make time for the stunning red-brick, neo-Gothic Guild Hall which will also help understand the dramatic history of this fabulous city.
One of Derry’s most famous recent exports has to be the hit TV show, Derry Girls. Filmed in Derry with many local areas now stops along many popular Derry Girls tours. If you’re a fan then make sure to book yourself on to a private tour of the filming locations.
Causeway Coastal Route
The Causeway Coastal Route scenic drive clings to Northern Ireland’s rugged northern coastline between Belfast city and the Derry~Londonderry, and is as dramatic and inspiring as they come.
It’s easy to spend days meandering through picture-perfect villages, coastal nooks, running along pristine beaches, oo and ahh at the lush deep green Glens of Antrim and the ruined castles teetering on cliff edges.
Hikers and walkers will love the exhilarating cliff top walks with spectacular suspension bridges, caves, steps and tunnels. With inspiration lying around every corner of the Causeway Coastal Route it’s one to allow additional time to explore at a leisurely pace.
Foodie Scene
Northern Ireland’s food scene is thriving so be sure to add foodie experiences to your Northern Ireland top 10.
Discover household names like Abernethy butter (it was served at the Royal wedding don’t you know!), to the humble Comber potato of Country Down, whiskey, apples which make epic homemade jams, but the one thing you cannot miss is experiencing the oh-so delicious Northern Ireland soda bread.
I recommend you spend time with people like Tracey Jeffery who runs Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, a passionate foodie who just loves to share her craft. Tracey welcomed us into her thatched barn on the shores of beautiful Strangford Lough to teach us how to make traditional Irish breads like soda, or wheaten bread, which goes perfectly with some local dulse Abernethy butter, and Tracey’s homemade jams.
If you need a spot of retail therapy, or want to take more of this deliciousness home, shop up a storm at independent stores like Indie Füde in Comber, a deli and store selling wholly Irish small-batch artisanal food and drink, or Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills. Just remember to leave some room in your suitcase for all the goodies you’ll want to take home.
GOT Filming locations
If there was ever a show that did wonders for NI tourism, it’s Game of Thrones.
All eight seasons were filmed in Northern Ireland and you could spend a week just exploring the GOT filming location, hunting down all the doors which were made from felled birch trees from the Dark Hedges which are scattered in pubs and hotels across the island.
If you prefer to jump on a tour there are plenty to choose from. McCombs Coaches run a dedicated GOT tour out of Belfast, there are plenty more where you can don Stark Cloaks, carry swords and shields just like the characters, and recreate epic scenes in this TV hit series.
If you prefer to DIY and make your own tour, Northern Ireland tourism has a wealth of resources dedicated to GOT tourism, or simply stumble on any of these informative boards which pop up all over the place.
Final Thoughts
In my humble opinion, Northern Ireland is best discovered with a combination of time, curiosity, and wheels. Get a car, add an extra day or two and you’ll be glad you did. We hope that this post has helped you build your itinerary for the best places to visit in Northern Ireland and if you have any questions please let us know if the comments below.
