When I was growing up, most vacations and tours of Ireland focused on the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland was often an afterthought or not even a consideration. But now, thanks to open borders between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, post-’Troubles’ peace, the number of TV shows and films highlighting the area's beauty, and several tourism and regeneration projects, you’ll want to include Northern Ireland as part of your itinerary.

Belfast, Derry (officially Londonderry), Giant’s Causeway, and the Causeway Coastal Route offer a range of must-see stops unlike anywhere else on the Isle.

Black Cab Tour (Belfast)

Allow 2 hours

Learn about ‘The Troubles’ fought between Catholic nationalists and Protestant loyalists in Northern Ireland from those who lived through it. Black Cab tours typically include Catholic and Protestant
drivers—who will each share their perspectives on the conflict during visits to each side’s memorials. See the city’s famous political murals and sign the Peace Wall (some sections stand 25 feet high.) This tour is also a history lesson for everyone, regardless of ancestry.

Titanic Museum Tour (Belfast)

Allow 1.5-2 hours

In my opinion, this self-guided tour is a mixed bag. You’ll learn about the ship-building process and get a good sense of the ship's scale as the ride portion of the tour takes you around multi-story visuals. That said, the ride portion of the tour feels a bit ‘Disney-like.’ According to the Titanic Belfast website, they began a major refresh of the exhibition in January 2023, which will close the exhibition for several months, so stay tuned.

If you have only a half-day in Belfast, I’d recommend the Black Cab Tour over the Titanic Museum Tour.

Giant’s Causeway (Antrim County)

Allow 2-3 hours

This UNESCO World Heritage Site has over 40,000 basalt columns starting at the coast’s edge and running into the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, forming stepping stones and offering a great place for a group photo. Be careful, as the stones and even the 1 km road leading from the visitor’s center to the ocean can be slick if it has rained recently or it’s a misty day. A shuttle bus operates from the visitor center to the water for a small fee each way. This is a good idea for many as the road is somewhat steep and can also be slick on rainy or misty days. It was misting the last time I visited, and on my walk down to the ocean, I slipped a bit even wearing sneakers with decent tread.

Technically, you can visit this site for FREE. That said, there is a fee (11 Euro/pp) for access to the parking lot, visitor center, and an audio guide. If you want to save some money, you can park in the town of Bushmills (only a 2-mile distance) and take a free shuttle bus to/from the site.

Look for the Camel’s Hump and the Chimney Stacks. For fun, and particularly if you are with grandchildren, learn about the legend of the Irish giant Finn MacCool. Hint: It involves him disguising himself as a baby.

Bushmills Distillery (Antrim County)

Allow 1-1.5 hours

Are there any whiskey lovers in the group? The Old Bushmills Distillery is over 400 years old—a license to distill was granted in 1608. You can easily visit the Bushmills Distillery and Giant’s Causeway on the same day. Take a guided tour of the distillery and learn about copper pot stills and the production process of triple-distilled whiskeys. Then, take the free shuttle bus from town to the Giant’s Causeway.

There’s a premium tasting room at the end of the tour where you can pay to check out Original, Black Bush, and 10-, 16-, and 21-year-old single malt Irish whiskey. Note: Children under 8 years of age are not permitted to join the guided tour.

Antrim Coast

Allow 2-4 hours depending on stops

It’s no wonder many of the recognizable Game of Thrones filming locations are in Northern Ireland between Belfast and Derry. The Causeway Coastal Route between the two cities is about 120 miles and is well worth the drive time. If you have additional time (perhaps you are staying in this area for a few nights), there are beautiful walking paths along this coastal route and empty white sandy beaches to experience.

Here are a few sites worth a stop at.

Ballintoy Harbour

This is a small picturesque fishing harbor that was a filming spot for Game of Thrones (Iron Islands.) There are many tidal pools for grandkids to explore, and photographers will love the setting. On my last visit, area school kids were taking kayak lessons, but on previous visits, the harbor was very quiet, with very few visitors.

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

Large buses are no longer allowed at Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. That’s good news for those touring Ireland on their own or taking small van tours because there’s typically a long waiting line to cross this bridge. That can be overwhelming if you’re right behind a busload. Not for the faint of heart, crossing the slightly swaying bridge requires walking about 100 feet above the water. It’s an experience to remember. If you don’t want to walk across (and back!), there’s an excellent photo op of the bridge further up the road.

Dunluce Castle

Some folks love touring every castle on their route, while others are ‘one and done.’ If you are touring the entire Isle, I’d suggest other castles that are more intact or potentially less crowded than this one. That said, if you are only visiting this section of Ireland, by all means, reserve an entrance ticket. How can you visit Ireland without taking in at least one castle?

Magheracross View Point on Dunluce Road (just north of the castle) is a great spot for grabbing a good photo of Dunluce Castle and the coastline.

Derry (a.k.a. Londonderry)

Allow 1.5 hours

Although the city is commonly known as ‘Derry’, its official name is ‘Londonderry’.

Derry/Londonderry has had a long history of sectarian tension and violence. The Apprentice Boys parade, the Battle of the Bogside, and Bloody Sunday all played a key role in The Troubles—and they all took place in Derry.

Derry/Londonderry is also the only completely intact walled city in Ireland, including its original gates. Over 400 years old, the walls form a walkway around the inner city that offers excellent views of the city’s neighborhoods (lots of row houses) and the layout of the original town.

One of the best ways to see the city is on a walking tour. Several are available here, from Martin McCrossan’s walking tour of the walled city (inexpensive and no reservation required) to a Derry Girls tour that takes you to several filming locations of this popular series.

If you’ve recently visited Northern Ireland, what were the highlights of your trip? We’d love to hear from you!