northern ireland tour map

Tourist Map of Northern Ireland

Explore Northern Ireland with our interactive tourist map highlighting the key tourist attractions and regions so you can start to plan your visit!

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Northern Ireland tourist map

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Maps of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom , shares its western and southern borders with the Republic of Ireland (which is separate from Northern Ireland and is formally known as Ireland), while the North Channel separates it from Scotland to the east. Occupying a total area of approximately 5,460 square miles, the region is characterized by diverse geographical features, ranging from mountains and plateaus to lowlands and water bodies.

In terms of elevation, Slieve Donard stands out as the highest point in Northern Ireland, reaching a peak of 2,789 feet. This mountain is located within the Mourne Mountains, a granite mountain range in County Down, known for its rugged beauty and scenic landscapes. The Mourne Mountains play a vital role in defining Northern Ireland's topography as they give way to the Sperrin Mountains in the west. The Sperrin Mountains, formed predominantly of schist and quartzite, are less imposing than the Mournes, with the highest peak, Sawel Mountain, reaching 2,224 feet.

The Antrim Plateau, situated in the northeast, constitutes another important geographical region in Northern Ireland. This basaltic plateau is renowned for its unique geological formations, such as the Giant's Causeway , which comprises around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. These columns formed as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption, drawing tourists from around the world to marvel at the striking landscape.

Northern Ireland's lowlands can be found primarily in the east and southeast, dominated by the fertile Lagan Valley. This valley extends from the city of Lisburn to the capital, Belfast, on the eastern coast. The Lagan River, which flows through the valley, serves as an essential water source for the region, supporting agriculture, industry, and residential needs. In addition to the Lagan River, the Foyle, Bann, and Blackwater Rivers are other major waterways that contribute to the region's hydrological system.

As for bodies of water, Northern Ireland boasts numerous lakes, known locally as loughs. Among these, Lough Neagh is the largest, covering an area of approximately 151 square miles. Not only is Lough Neagh the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles , but it also serves as a crucial habitat for various bird species and supports the local fishing industry. Other notable loughs include Lough Erne, which consists of two connected lakes, Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne, and the coastal loughs of Strangford Lough and Belfast Lough.

Northern Ireland is administratively divided into 26 districts and 6 historic counties. In alphabetical order, these districts are Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon, and South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtonabbey, North Down, Omagh and Strabane.

The 6 historical counties: County Antrim, County Down, County Armagh, County Londonderry, County Fermanagh, and County Tyrone are no longer used for administrative purposes.

Covering an area of 14,130 sq. km, Northern Ireland is a constitutionally distinct region of the United Kingdom. Located on the eastern coast of Northern Ireland, along the banks of River Lagan is Belfast – the capital and the largest city of Northern Ireland. Belfast serves as a major commercial, educational, shopping and business center of Northern Ireland.

Where is Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland is a constitutionally distinct region of the United Kingdom, located in the northeastern part of the island of Ireland. It is geographically positioned in the Northern and Western hemispheres of the Earth. Northern Ireland is bordered by the Republic of Ireland in the south and west. In the east, it is separated from Scotland by the North Channel. Northern Ireland is separated from England and Wales in the east and southeast by the Irish Sea. In the north, it is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

Regional Maps : Map of Europe

Outline Map of Northern Ireland

The above blank map represents Northern Ireland, a constitutionally distinct region of the United Kingdom, located in the northeastern part of the island of Ireland. The above map can be downloaded, printed, and used for geography education purposes like map-pointing and coloring activities.

The above outline map represents Northern Ireland, a constitutionally distinct region of the United Kingdom, located in the northeastern part of the island of Ireland.

This page was last updated on April 24, 2023

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One Week in Northern Ireland

Touring Northern Ireland in a Week

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Northern Ireland has a turbulent political history and incredibly beautiful scenery. So beautiful, in fact, that there are several "Game of Thrones" filming locations across the region. Whether you want to see what Belfast has to offer, or if you're interested in gorgeous views, Northern Ireland delivers.

If you only have a week to explore the best of Northern Ireland, fear not. This complete itinerary will guide you around the area with suggestions for where to go and what to do.

Day 1 - Arriving in Belfast

The best way to arrive in Northern Ireland for your week-long vacation is to fly directly into Belfast International Airport . Most flights arrive during the day, meaning you will have enough time to pick up your rental car and make your way to Northern Ireland's capital city, Belfast . The airport is actually located near Lough Neagh and you should expect at least 30 minutes drive to the city. Have a look around the city center and maybe enjoy a drink in style at the historic Crown Liquor Saloon. Plan for an early night in order to rest up for the true Irish vacation to come.

Day 2 - Drive the Coast Road to the Giant's Causeway

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Start early from Belfast and take the winding coastal road up north. You will soon reach Carrickfergus with its magnificent medieval castle. Carry on northwards via Larne, following the A2 to Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway , one of Ireland's most important sights . When you arrive it is time to stretch your legs. You have the option to take the Cliff Walk and enjoy the view of the Causeway and (if you are lucky) the Scottish coast to the Northwest. Or stroll down to the Causeway proper, a bus will take you back up again to the visitor center if you can't face the steep road back up or (even worse) the hundreds of steps up to the Cliff Walk. If you have some time drive to the Old Bushmills Distillery, tours are offered every day. Spend the night in or near Bushmills in a B&B or book ahead to stay at the classic Causeway Hotel, overlooking the 40,000 basalt columns that make up this must-see natural wonder.

Day 3 - Tour the Antrim Coast to Derry

The next day, leave the village of Bushmills and take the coastal road westwards, staying on the A2 all the time. You will soon pass Carrick-a-Rede with its incredible rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, the famous white rocks, some pretty seaside resorts, and the huge Downhill Estate with its precariously located Mussenden Temple (" Game of Thrones " fans take note—this was one of the Irish filming locations). With only a week to see Northern Ireland, keep driving on to Derry and have a walk on Derry City's historic walls . An overnight stay in or near Derry will give you an opportunity to recover.

Day 4 - Down to Omagh and Enniskillen

Alain Le Garsmeur / Getty Images

Midway through your one week in Northern Ireland, take the road south via Strabane, the A5 will bring you to Omagh. Here you can visit the quirky Ulster American Folk Park with its Irish and American homesteads and the truly impressive recreation of an emigrant ship. Then take the N32 to Enniskillen and enjoy the Lough Erne scenery, maybe taking in a boat trip to Devenish Island as well. Enniskillen usually has some lively evening entertainment in the pubs, making it a good place for an overnight stay.

Day 5 - Via Armagh to Belfast

Shaun Egan / Getty Images

With a few days left to finish your road trip tour of Northern Ireland, you might decide to visit the Marble Arch Caves or Florence Court in the morning or drive straight on. Take the N34 south and cross the border into the Republic of Ireland. A look at the round tower in Clones and at the market town of Monaghan are a good idea—as is stocking up on petrol for the lower price. From Monaghan take the N12/A3 to Armagh, the "Cathedral City". After visiting one (or indeed both) cathedrals hit the A3 and then the M1 to bring you back to Belfast. Note that the next day is optional depending on your schedule—you might want to take the A26 straight to Belfast International Airport and stay nearby if you are short on vacation time.

Day 6 - Belfast

Reading Tom / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Unless you are already flying out today you should take a closer look at the City of Belfast and its attractions—including the celebrated Titanic museum . Or drive out to Holywood and visit the huge Ulster Folk and Transport Museum , stepping back in time. In the evening drive out towards Belfast International Airport and stay nearby to save yourself the trouble of having to make the traffic-prone drive the next day.

Day 7 - Flying Home

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Seven days in Ireland go too quickly! Today you will be heading back on a flight out of Belfast International Airport—have a last look at the huge Lough Neagh when taking off, with a little luck and a bit of sunny weather, you might also get splendid views of the Irish coastline, any which direction you are going!

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Northern Ireland

An exploding food scene, hip cities and the stunning Causeway Coast: there's plenty to pull visitors to the North. When you cross from the Republic into Northern Ireland you'll notice a couple of changes: the road signs are in miles and the prices are in pounds sterling – you're in the UK. At the time of research, there was no border checkpoint and not even a sign to mark the crossing point.

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Northern Ireland and beyond

The Perfect 3, 4 or 5 Days in Northern Ireland Itinerary

Last Updated on February 12, 2024

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Planning out a Northern Ireland itinerary is an excellent option for those who want to see more of this area than a simple day trip along the Causeway Coastal Route or a day or two exploring Belfast.

If you have 3, 4 or 5 days to dedicate to exploring Northern Ireland, you can see a lot of the country and experience some of the island of Ireland’s most incredible scenery and learn about the heartbreaking recent history.

If you’re planning on visiting Northern Ireland and are curious about what to see and do here, this route will help you map out up to five days of exploring this corner of the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Northern Ireland?

Before jumping into this route, you’re likely wondering how many days to spend in Northern Ireland. This can really depend on what kind of trip you’re after, however, if you’re interested in spending time in the city along with seeing the iconic natural sites, then plan to spend at least 3 days in Northern Ireland.

With 3 days, you will have the time to explore Belfast and learn about that city while also having time to get to take in the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway and some of the other highlights of the Antrim Coast.

However, if you have 4 days in Northern Ireland, you will have more time to take your time on the Causeway Coast and to spend time at attractions other than the Giant’s Causeway.

For those who want quite a holistic experience, then plan to spend 5 days. This will allow you to add on a visit to the city of Derry and learn about the history here.

Getting To & Around Northern Ireland

There are a range of options available for you when it comes to arriving in Northern Ireland. First and foremost, Belfast is home to its own international airport that connects it to a number of destinations within the UK, Europe and further afield.

Though flying into Belfast is certainly an option, you will find that there are far more flight options going into Dublin airport. Dublin is located only about a 2-hour drive from Belfast and there are also lots of stops along the way . The two cities are also well-connected by bus or train.

It’s worth noting that there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and it is likely you won’t even notice that you’ve crossed. However, if you are driving, keep in mind that speed limits in Northern Ireland are listed in miles per hour while they’re listed in kilometres per hour in the republic.

It’s also possible to arrive into Belfast via ferry from Liverpool in England and from the village of Cairnryan in Scotland.

Once in Northern Ireland, you’ll be wondering how to get around whilst there. In Belfast and Derry, you can certainly plan to get around on foot and via public transport – in fact, it’s probably easier than planning on driving.

Those venturing outside of the cities have a couple of options. The easiest and most convenient option to get around is by having your own vehicle as it will give you the flexibility to visit where you want when you want without having to reckon with bus timetables and routes. Doing a Northern Ireland road trip is easygoing, fun and incredibly scenic and generally the most recommended option.

And if you’ve decided that a Northern Ireland road trip itinerary is the choice for you, you can browse car hire options on Rentalcars.com to compare prices across major companies.

However, you can also get around regional Northern Ireland by bus and train, where applicable. For instance, there is a regional bus system connecting the sites along the coastline so it is possible to travel independently in this area even if you don’t drive.

3, 4 or 5 Days in Northern Ireland Itinerary

Without further ado, here is how to spend 3 to 5 days exploring Northern Ireland. This route is meant to be built upon each day so if you’re only seeing Northern Ireland in 3 days, then plan to spend the first 2 in Belfast before heading onto the Causeway Coast. And if you’re spending 4 days, it’s best to leave a visit to Derry for another time.

Day 1 – Belfast

Begin your time in Northern Ireland in the capital city of Belfast . Though this city has a bit of a dark reputation and something of a rough-around-the-edges vibe, it’s very much worth exploring and it has a lot to offer visitors – especially for those interested in learning more about its recent history.

On your first day in Belfast, make sure to learn as much about the history of the city as possible by embarking on a black cab tour . On these tours, you can learn about the Troubles from knowledgeable guides and also get a good feel for the geography of this divided city.

After your tour, head to Belfast City Hall and then visit the historic Crumlin Road Gaol before rounding out your day.

Where to Stay in Belfast

The Warren Belfast – Those looking for luxury will love this plush, centrally-located hotel in the heart of Belfast. They have several luxe rooms to choose from, great amenities, breakfast each morning and an unbeatable location in the Queen’s Quarter

Central Belfast Apartments: Citygate – If you’re looking for a self-catering option while visiting Belfast, then these apartments are the perfect choice. Centrally located, they have many fully-furnished flats available along with free parking for guests.

Vagabonds – Budget and solo travellers will love this cool, highly-rated hostel in Belfast. Offering both private rooms and dorms, there are also clean facilities and great common areas making it easy to meet other travellers.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Belfast hotels!

Day 2 – Belfast

On day 2, it’s time to visit one of the Northern Irish capital’s top museums – the Titanic Belfast. The infamous ocean liner was actually constructed in Belfast before it embarked on its fateful 1912 journey across the Atlantic.

This iceberg-shaped museum will take you through a range of exhibits explaining all there is to know about the Titanic and the history surrounding both the construction of the ship itself and also some information about the crash and its repercussions. It’s truly a great experience to have while in Belfast. You can book tickets in advance here.

Spend the rest of your day in Belfast exploring some of the sites that you didn’t make it to the first day. For instance, you can grab a bit to eat at St George’s Market, get the views from the Victoria Square Dome or even head to CS Lewis Square to take in some statues dedicated to the late children’s author and theologian.

Day 3 – Causeway Coast

On day 3 of this trip, it’s time to head out of the city and make your way to the north of the country – to the iconic Causeway Coast. We highly recommend leaving Belfast as early as possible to make it to the Giant’s Causeway before the tour buses arrive – it takes about an hour to drive here from the capital.

If you don’t have a car, there are a number of guided tour options such as this full-day tour or this full-day tour that will pick you up from Belfast in the morning.

The Giant’s Causeway is the name for a collection of roughly 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns that were likely formed as part of an ancient volcanic eruption.

However, in Irish myth, it is said to have been formed when an Irish giant built a causeway in order to fight a Scottish giant — there are similar rock formations on the island of Staffa just off the Hebridean Isle of Mull in Scotland.

Note that the Causeway is free to enter, however, it is not free to park at the visitor’s centre or go inside unless you’ve paid for that. If you’re up for a bit of a (beautiful) walk, we recommend parking at the Salmon Rock Beach car park in the town of Portballintrae and walking to the Giant’s Causeway – that way you can visit entirely for free!

Plan to spend a couple of hours at the Giant’s Causeway as there is more here than just the rock formations. Take the time to walk on all of the trails and really take in the views of this gorgeous place. It’s a truly spectacular experience and an essential inclusion on any Northern Ireland road trip itinerary.

After visiting the Giant’s Causeway, you can take the time to take in some other sites on the Northern Ireland Coast. Head over to the town of Bushmills and tour the Bushmills distillery. You can also make your way over to some viewpoints and maybe even go on a few more walks.

If you’re only spending 3 days in Northern Ireland and want to maximise your time here, you can take in some of the other sites in this area, such as the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges. However, if you are planning a 4- or 5-day itinerary, then you can take your time more at go at a slower pace.

End your day in the town of Portrush. This makes a great base in the area and the town itself is a popular seaside resort complete with its own amusement park and lovely beach. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants to unwind in at the end of the day with a pint of Guinness and a good meal.

Where to Stay on the Causeway Coast

Anvershiel House – Located in the town of Portrush, this bed and breakfast is an excellent mid-range option for those exploring this part of Northern Ireland. They offer several clean and bright rooms, an excellent breakfast available in the mornings, and a location within walking distance of the beach and town centre.

Elephant Rock Hotel – Those looking for a luxury hotel while on the Causeway Coast will love this chic hotel in Portrush. Centrally located, they have a range of lovely rooms to choose from, an on-site restaurant and bar along with plenty of other great amenities.

Causeway Hotel – If you’d like to stay within a stone’s throw of the Giant’s Causeway and see it without the tour buses, then this hotel is a great option. Located adjacent to the visitor’s centre, booking a night here will also grant you free entry to the centre along with plenty of other perks.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Causeway Coast hotels!

Day 4 – Causeway Coast

Those who have more time to devote to the Causeway Coast will be energised to hit the road early and start exploring again.

Start your day by touring the lovely and striking Dunluce Castle. This ruined castle is perched on striking cliffs not far at all from the town of Portrush and it makes for an excellent place to visit.

Next, you can make your way over to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. This place was used as a filming location for the HBO series Game of Thrones and it is now very popular amongst visitors – so make sure to book your tickets online in advance and also to arrive relatively early if you want to beat the crowds.

You can spend a fair amount of time hiking around here and it’s worth doing this on your second day so that you don’t feel rushed.

Of course, no visit to this area of Northern Ireland is complete without heading to the Dark Hedges. Again, this was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones and it is an incredibly popular tourist attraction. It’s simply a country laneway that is lined with intertwining trees.

Keep in mind that it is definitely a lot more beautiful in the late spring and summertime when there are leaves on the trees and it can seem a bit lacklustre in the winter to about mid-May.

Day 5 – Derry

If you’ve got five days to devote to your Northern Ireland road trip, then make sure not to miss the city of Derry (Londonderry). As Northern Ireland’s second-largest city, Derry can be overlooked by visitors here, however, it has a lot to offer visitors and can provide important cultural context.

Though the city has been popularised as a destination because of the sitcom Derry Girls (you can even tour filming locations ), it doesn’t get the same amount of attention as Belfast.

Derry is a small city and you can certainly take in the majority of the sites and points of interest within the confines of a day. Take the time to walk the city walls – Derry is, in fact, the only walled city in Ireland and this is a great thing to do here.

Of course, no visit to Derry is really complete without taking the time to learn about the city’s more recent history and what life was like during the Troubles. You can visit the Bloody Sunday memorial to learn more about the 1972 massacre and you can also opt to take a walking tour of the Bogside murals with a knowledgeable local guide.

Those who want to learn even more about the city’s history will also find the Free Derry Museum interesting.

Another top Derry attraction is the Peace Bridge. The pedestrianised bridge connects the majority Unionist east side of the city to the majority Republican west side of the city and was meant to be an emblem of bridging the gap of a centuries-long political divide.

Have More Time?

If you have more time after this Northern Ireland itinerary, why not continue on from Derry into the Republic and visit County Donegal ?

If you’re coming from Northern Ireland and only have a day, then driving the Inishowen 100 is an excellent way to explore this part of northwestern Ireland. However, you could easily spend more time exploring this area, as well.

You can reach the town of Muff in County Donegal in about 15 minutes or you can drive north and take the ferry across Lough Foyle to the town of Greencastle. The latter option would also give you the opportunity to make a stop at Mussenden Temple.

For those who want to tour more of the Emerald Isle, then consider heading further south and enjoying some of (or the entirety of) the Wild Atlantic Wa y. County Donegal is absolutely gorgeous, but other highlights include Benbulben in County Sligo, Achill Island in County Mayo, Connemara in County Galway and more.

When planning a trip to Northern Ireland, you may not realise just how much this small country has to offer visitors. From vibrant and historic cities to some of the most spectacular natural scenery there is to offer in this world, spending a few days exploring Northern Ireland is never a bad idea.

Are you planning to visit Northern Ireland? Have any questions about this route? Let us know in the comments!

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About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Hi, I enjoy reading your travel blogs and find them informative. Living in Northern Ireland I’d like to let you know that not only do we have an airport some 20 miles away from the city centre but there is also George Best Airport less than 2 miles from the City Centre and is great for those arriving to the city for its convenience. Also please note that St George’s market is only open from Friday to Sunday . I have seen many disappointed tourists arrive to the market on other days only to find it closed. Finally if you are travelling from Britain and have a National Trust membership this will allow free entry at the Causeway centre and other attractions – their website would provide more detail.

Thanks for those insights, Barbara!

Thank you so much Barbara Would not have thought about our N T membership. We are thinking about driving, any suggestions??

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13 incredible northern ireland road trip stops you won’t want to miss.

Even though I’ve been all over Ireland, I especially like the northern part. I have a soft spot for that area because my grandfather is from there, but it’s also one of the most beautiful places in the country. Almost everywhere you drive, you can see the ocean on one side. A Northern Ireland road trip is something I always recommend that people add to their itinerary.

While the rest of Ireland has its share of beautiful sights, Northern Ireland has a special kind of charm that can’t be found anywhere else. A road trip around Northern Ireland is a must for any tourist because of the stunning scenery you’ll see along the way and all the charming towns you can explore.

I last visited the area in the fall time, and a drive along the coast of Northern Ireland during that season was incredible. I loved taking pictures of the leaves changing colors and the misty mornings and smelling the fresh ocean air. This article will give you helpful tips on how to take a Northern Ireland drive and where to stop during your journey.

This post was first written in 2021 and last updated in March 2023.

Table of Contents

Tips for Driving the Northern Ireland Coastal Route

If you’re driving yourself around your Northern Ireland itinerary map, be sure to read up on road rules to avoid getting into any sticky situations. I have some helpful tips on how to drive in Ireland if it’s your first time.

• You’ll need a valid driver’s license to drive in the UK (but you don’t need any further permits besides that). You should also note that cell phone use while driving is not permitted, and you’ll be driving on the left-hand side of the road.
• Some of the roads up here are pretty narrow, so make sure to take your time when going around the corner. Like most places in Ireland, livestock on the road is a real threat, so you don’t want to speed and hit any sheep!
• You should also note that Northern Ireland is actually part of the United Kingdom, not Ireland . That means that if you’ve been driving around Ireland paying in euros, you’ll now be paying in pounds . The conversion is different, so take a minute to familiarize yourself with it before you buy something.

While I highly recommend renting a car so you can see all of these spots, there are plenty of tours in the area if you want someone else to drive you to a few of these destinations.

How many days do I need for Northern Ireland?

How long you spend on your Northern Ireland road trip depends on exactly how many activities you do, but I recommend spending at least three days in the area to fully explore it. That way, you can take your time at places you like on your road trip in Northern Ireland and not feel rushed driving around.

What’s the best time for a Northern Ireland road trip?

You can drive around Northern Ireland any time of the year – they don’t typically get snow, so you don’t need to worry about that. However, visiting Ireland during winter often brings windy, rainy days, so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you mainly plan on being outside.

I’ve been here in the dead of winter before, and it was manageable when I brought all my essentials from my list of things to pack for Ireland in winter (especially a warm coat, raincoat, and rain boots!). Also, there’s no better place to end a rainy day than in a cozy Irish pub, which you can find anywhere you look.

How long does it take to drive around Northern Ireland?

If you choose to stick to the Causeway Coastal Route and follow the roads down all the way past Belfast, it will take you about six hours . Keep in mind that this is only sticking to the roads by the ocean, so there are many ways to make this shorter if you get onto a main highway. This time also doesn’t include any stops, which you’ll want to do on your Northern Ireland driving tour.

Northern Ireland road trip map

I find it helpful to look at a map when planning out a trip, so here’s a map of all the stops you’ll make on a Northern Ireland coastal route. You can use this to help you plan out your Northern Ireland road trip itinerary and decide how many of these stops you want to make, whether you spend 7 days in Ireland or longer.

13 Fun Stops on a Northern Ireland Road Trip

While the drive through Northern Ireland is an experience in itself, there are so many amazing places to stop and explore as you pass them by. If you’re looking for where to visit in Northern Ireland, we’ve compiled a spectacular guide of Irish landmarks , viewpoints, and other important places to see. 

This is by no means the complete list, but you definitely should not miss the following places. 

1. Mussenden Temple

Location : Sea Coast Rd, Coleraine

Open : 10 am to 5 pm 

Cost : From £5.00 per person

This striking, dramatic structure on a 120 ft cliff top offers unbelievable views over the Atlantic Ocean and is the first stop on your Northern Ireland scenic drive. It’s a popular spot for weddings and a great place to do an impromptu vacation photoshoot when looking for picturesque places to visit in Northern Ireland.

You can browse inside the temple and Hezlett House or enjoy the outdoor space. Family picnics, dog walks, and an easy 2-hour walk down the Downhill Demesne Walking Trail are all possible activities here. You’ll love putting this on a trip for 6 days around Ireland .

2. Glens of Antrim

Location : A region of County Antrim

Open : 24 hours

Cost : Free to explore

Found less than 50 kilometers north of Belfast and taking up around 130 kilometers of cliffs and open hills, the Glens of Antrim are a must-see on a North Ireland road trip.

This large area consists of 9 Glens, each with its own character and stand-out features. These include stunning beaches, miles of gorgeous hiking trails, and even a hotel that hosts a friendly ghost resident. 

The Glens and their name meanings are: 

• Glenarm – valley of the army
• Glencloy – valley of the dykes
• Glenariff – valley of the plough
• Glenballyemon – Edwardstown Glen
• Glenaan – valley of the little fords
• Glencorp – valley of the dead
• Glendun – brown valley
• Glenshesk – valley of the sedge
• Glentaisie – named after Taisie, princess of Rathlin Island

3. The Dark Hedges

Location : Bregagh Rd, Stranocum

Cost : Free (public road)

Way back in the eighteenth century, the Stuart family in Ballymoney planted a row of beech trees on either side of the road leading to their home. They did this in an effort to impress their visitors (which I’m sure worked).

Now, everyone living in and visiting Northern Ireland enjoys and admires this stunning road. The trees make such a pretty sight that they’ve attracted Hollywood attention as well. The Dark Hedges was used as a filming location for an episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones , making it a bucket list item for fans of the show when on a Northern Ireland road trip.

You cannot drive through the hedges anymore, so you’ll need to find a parking spot to stop at to take photos. I saw multiple people make this mistake before they were waived off the road (make sure to know what not to do as a tourist in Ireland before visiting).

Or, if you have some spare time, book yourself into one of the nearby accommodations, such as an Irish country house hotel , and enjoy easy access and free parking. 

This is one of the most popular Northern Ireland road trips, so get here early. I recommend going during spring in Ireland to beat the crowds.

If you want more knowledgeable information during your visit when looking for what to do in Northern Ireland, consider booking a guided tour of the Dark Hedges . 

4. Glenarm Castle

Location : 2 Castle Lane, Glenarm

Open : Every day, 9 am to 5 pm

Cost : £10 for adults for access to the garden

One of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful estates, Glenarm Castle, was first built in the seventeenth century by Randal McDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim. The castle has been the ancestral seat of the McDonnell family ever since. 

Today, visitors can stop by and explore the castle and its brilliant walled garden. The Woodlands Walk also offers a birds-eye view of the garden and plenty of opportunities to view wildlife. Sneak a peek at the resident Shorthorn cows, squirrels, rabbits, and beautiful flowers and plants.

On the castle grounds is also a tea room, milk parlor, potting shed, and a castle gift shop, so I recommend stopping here when driving in Northern Ireland.

While you can’t stay here, there are plenty of castle hotels in Ireland where you can book a room at.

Make sure to book your car rental in advance! I love using Discover Cars when I travel.

5. The Gobbins Cliff Path

Location : Turn off from Gobbins Road, Larne

Open : Tours available from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm

Cost : £20 for adults, £14.50 for children and seniors

The Gobbins Cliff Path is a stunning stop, providing unparalleled views and a slight sense of adventure, so you’ll want to stop here when touring Northern Ireland by car. You’ll park your car in one of the allocated parking spaces and then check-in for your tour, which you can reserve in advance . There are many steps and a steep incline at the end, so you’d need to be able to manage this. 

Do the walk with a tour guide, and you’ll get a detailed history and explanation of the area and its significance. If you’re an avid bird watcher, you’ll want to try and make this trip sometime between May and August in Ireland . This time of year is when you’ll be treated to a stunning sight of migrating birds. 

This is a popular day tour from Belfast that you can check out.

6. Carrick-a-Rede Bridge

Location : Near Ballintoy in County Antrim

Cost : Adults £13.50, Children £6.75

One of my favorite Northern Ireland places to visit, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge is picturesque and fascinating. Brave this 20m-long rope bridge hanging 30m above the sea and discover what life was like for Northern Ireland fishermen many years ago (as well as learn other fun facts about Ireland ). You can still see the remains of an old cabin there, which I couldn’t fathom living at with how windy it was when I visited.

The bridge was built as a way for salmon fishers to get onto the small island of Carrick-a-Rede. It was quite rickety and undoubtedly a little dangerous when people first used it 350 years ago. However, it’s now been restored, and although it may still feel rocky, it’s safe for visitors to cross (and a fun kid activity in Ireland ). 

You can reach the bridge from the striking Northern Ireland coastal route, which is wheelchair accessible. However, the bridge itself is not as accessible. You’ll love adding this to your list as one of the most scenic drives around Northern Ireland.

Note – it’s important to pre-book your ticket if you want to cross the bridge.

7. Cushendun Village

Location : County Antrim

Open : 24 hours, but best to visit during the day

This area is one of the most stunning places to go in Northern Ireland. It’s a quaint little coastal village in County Antrim that you’ll want to stop at on your Northern Ireland road trip. The entire town is in a conservation area that the National Trust manages. 

Although it’s small, there are many shops and pubs in the village (perfect for trying a traditional Irish drink ), so you can easily spend a day here getting to know the locals. Visit the beachfront, stroll one of the scenic paths, and stop by the harbor.

There are also the Castle Carra ruins and Cushendun Caves to add to your itinerary. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you may recognize the Cushendun Caves as one of the GOT filming locations in Ireland . You’ll love putting this on your Northern Ireland driving itinerary.

Book a room at Glenn Eireann House to explore the town more if you feel like staying the night. 

8. Rathlin Island

Location : Off the coast of County Antrim

Open : Ferry times vary between 8:00 am – 12:00 pm & 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Cost : Ferry costs are £12 per adult return and £6 per child return (5-15); under 5 are free

Take a break from scenic drives in Northern Ireland and hop on a ferry to Rathlin Island. Here, you can park your car and discover the island home to a growing population of around 140 people. 

The island is small but offers visitors the chance to cycle, do bus and walking tours, visit the Seabird Center, and check out the Boathouse Visitor Centre. There is also an outdoor gym, a children’s playground, and shops and restaurants.

Discover the island’s beauty, happen upon the many shipwrecks, and admire the basking seals as you make your way around this 10-kilometer-long piece of green land. 

9. Dunluce Castle

Location : 87 Dunluce Rd, Bushmills

Open : March to October daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm & November to February daily from 9:30 am to 4 pm

Cost : £6.00 per adult, £4 for kids 5-17 years old

A scenic and romantic Irish castle, Dunluce was built between the 1400s and 1600s. It was originally built by the most powerful earl of the time, Richard Od de Burgh. He selected a magnificent spot right on the cliff edge overlooking the striking Irish seas. 

The MacDonnell clan seized the castle and was also home to the McQuillans and a group of Scottish settlers throughout the years. History is abundant in these walls, and it’s like stepping through time when you visit here. 

The castle is mostly in ruins now, but there is still much left to admire and discover. It’s a great place to bring the family and spend a couple of hours soaking in the beauty. I loved walking through the ruins and trying to imagine what it was like living on this castle right on the cliff back in the day.

This is a good time in your trip to pull out your Irish voltage converter and charge your camera.

10. Roe Valley Country Park

Location : 41 Dogleap Rd, Limavady

Open : Daily 9 am to 7 pm 

Cost : Free entrance

Step out of the car and stretch your legs with an outdoor experience at Roe Valley Country Park. This large and open woodland area offers so much green space and fresh air, so it’s a must on any Ireland road trip . 

The park is home to part of the Roe River, and visitors can enjoy a load of fun activities here. These include fishing, canoeing, rock climbing, orienteering, and viewing the many cute critters living in the park. 

There is Ritters Tea Room for refreshments and a museum and countryside center that details the area’s heritage. 

11. Giant’s Causeway

Location : 44 Causeway Road, Bushmills

Open : Dawn to dusk

Cost : Adult £13.50, Children £6.75 for parking and tour, free to walk down otherwise

Just a little way from Cushendun Village, Giant’s Causeway is a wonder in its own right on your Northern Ireland road trip. This spot draws in thousands of visitors every year, attracting them with its unique look and picturesque views. 

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come here the first time I visited Ireland due to how touristy, but I do recommend it – this is definitely one of the more unique rock formations in the country. It was fun walking among the different rock columns, and I almost thought they didn’t look natural because they were so different.

Giant’s Causeway is an area made up of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns created by the flow of balsamic lava around 6 million years ago. The hexagon shapes of these stone columns look almost other-worldly. It’s no wonder that the Irish know this as their own ‘8th World Wonder’.

To visit one of the best Northern Ireland scenic drives , you can park in one of the parking spots nearby and walk one of the three trails in the area. Stop to take in the scenery, snap photos, and fully absorb this wonder.  It’s also a fun thing to do with kids near Belfast.

If you’re visiting Ireland without a car during this trip (although I highly recommend it for this itinerary), there are plenty of tours from Belfast that will take you here.

This attraction is a popular place to go while on a guided tour .

12. Bushmills Village

Location : On the north coast of County Antrim

Cost : Free

Another welcoming village to visit on your Northern Ireland road trip is Bushmills. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve driven into a time-traveling portal as you enter the village, as it hasn’t fully joined the 21st century yet. However, this is what gives it all of its charm. 

The town is home to around 1,295 inhabitants and is about 100 kilometers from Belfast. There’s a whiskey distillery, a war memorial named The Diamond, and the Bushmills Railway tram, which can take you right to Giant’s Causeway for the day. 

If you’re visiting during June in Ireland , be sure to check out the annual Bushmills Live event at the distillery. There are plenty of places to buy Irish souvenirs if you need something to take home.

This is one of the best places to visit in Ireland in November , so you can stay a bit drier.

Book one of the hotels in Bushmills and spend some time exploring the streets as well as the beauty surrounding the village when you’re there.

13. Belfast

Location : County Antrim/County Down

A must-see is the Titanic Quarter, where you can stop at the very spot where the massive ship was built. There are also many shops, restaurants, and landmarks to be found – so a walking tour of the city is a great idea. You’ll love trying some of the traditional Irish foods you’ll find in the city, and you may want to know the difference between Dublin and Belfast before you go.

Stroll through the Botanical Gardens, see the Queen’s University, and go watch a Belfast Giant’s game at the SSE Arena. There are also many things to do with kids in Belfast that you’ll want to check out.

Spend more time exploring the area and stay the night at Radisson Blue Hotel Belfast , a modern hotel in the fun Gasworks neighborhood.

Whether you see all of these places or just some, you’ll remember your Northern Ireland road trip for a long time!

Marissa became obsessed with Ireland when she first visited in 2015, and has been back numerous times since to explore more of the Emerald Isle. She started this site to help others plan their trip to Ireland based off her experiences.

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"From the stunning, secluded lakes of Fermanagh to the monumental steps of the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland affords luscious green scenery, charming countryside, vital cities and friendly locals"

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See the City Hall in Belfast

Originally built to celebrate Belfast’s new status as a city, the City Hall is one of the most beloved   Belfast tourist attractions. We’ll show you around this grand monument to history, or you can relax on the grassy grounds, with the Belfast Wheel in the background.

Walk on the Derry City Walls

We’ll take you on a journey through history to the Derry City Walls, one of the most historically important   places to visit in Northern Ireland. Surrounding the old city center of Derry, the city walls are a 17th-century fortification with panoramic views of the region. Incredibly, most of the original structure is still standing.

Feel the Irish Spirit at St George's Market

Completed in 1896, St George’s Market is the last surviving Victorian market in Belfast and one of the oldest   Belfast attractions. There are markets every Friday and Sunday and you can explore local produce, secondhand treasures, traditional arts and crafts, Irish homewares, and live music in this beautiful building.

Explore the town of Donegal

With its wild mountains, sandy beaches and glittering lakes, Donegal is one of the most remarkable places in Europe. The scenic highlight of any Northern Ireland travel experience, we’ll take you through pretty Donegal Town, with a serene harbor, the 15th-century Donegal Abbey and the ancient Donegal Castle.

Admire 40,000 basalt columns at Giant's Causeway

Take a drive with Trafalgar up the gorgeous Antrim coastal road to the Giant’s Causeway, where you can see the natural spectacle of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. It’s one of the most iconic things to do in Northern Ireland, and your trip will also ‘Make a Difference' by helping to preserve this natural wonder.

Our top 5 things to do in Northern Ireland

We show you the best things to do in Belfast and beyond, from the ancient Derry City Walls to the spectacular natural columns of the Giant’s Causeway.

Ulster Museum

Located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, the Ulster Museum is a vast display of fine art, botany, geology, culture and local and European history. It’s the largest museum in Northern Ireland with everything from dinosaur skeletons to an ancient Egyptian mummy.

The Titanic Belfast is an incredible museum, dedicated to telling the story of the Titanic, from her design and construction in Belfast in the early 1900s to her disastrous voyage. Located in the Belfast docklands, where the original Titanic was launched, you can explore over nine interactive galleries.

Downpatrick

Down County Museum

We’ll take you back through 9,000 years of history at the Down County Museum, a former prison now dedicated to documenting the history of Downpatrick. You can visit the original cells used to house prisoners in the early 1800s, and learn the legendary history of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Best museums in Northern Ireland

Our  Belfast tours  take in the best museums and galleries in Northern Ireland. See an ancient Egyptian mummy at the Botanic gardens and discover the vivid history of the Titanic.

Ardglass potted herring

This classic Northern Irish dish consists of Ardglass herrings rolled in a dish with vinegar, spice berries, raw onions, salt and pepper. It’s baked until the top of the fish becomes crispy, then served with crusty bread and butter to mop up the tasty juices.

One of the most well-loved dishes in Northern Ireland, Ulster fry is a traditional cooked breakfast with griddle breads (potato bread and soda bread fried until golden), small pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms, served with tea and toast.

Traditionally found in the north midlands such as Fermanagh and Donegal, Boxty is a Northern Irish potato pancake made with a blend of grated raw potatoes and cooked mashed potatoes with flour and buttermilk. Served with a smear of butter, this is a delicious favorite.

Best food in Northern Ireland

Our trips will let you in on the best places to try Northern Irish cuisine, filled with grilled bread, potato pancakes, bacon and sausages, and generous dollops of creamy butter.

What to pack for Northern Ireland

Water and windproof jacket

Northern Ireland is one of the wettest and windiest regions in Europe, with temperatures averaging just 15°C (59°F) in summer. Stay cosy with a sturdy jacket and warm layers.

A big appetite

With a hearty cuisine filled with delicious breads, meats, pancakes and potatoes in every form, you’ll need to bring your appetite for a tour of Northern Ireland.

Although the Republic of Ireland (the southern partition of Ireland) uses the Euro, Northern Ireland uses the Pound sterling, so you’ll need to change currencies at the border.

An adaptor plug

Voltage in Northern Ireland is 230V, and the sockets are of Type G, with standard British 3-pin plugs.

Northern Ireland is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the world, and you’ll want to bring a camera to capture all of this wild beauty.

Pack for sustainable travel

Consider your environmental impact when you next take a trip and go single-use-plastic-free by packing a reusable water bottle, a steel straw, your own shopping bags and reusable toiletry bottles.

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Home » Itineraries » Northern Ireland and Ireland Driving Itinerary

Northern Ireland and Ireland Driving Itinerary

Ireland is a magical place full of striking landscapes, beautiful coastline, and the nicest people we’ve met anywhere in the world. There’s a reason it’s on so many people’s bucket lists. During our first Ireland trip, we hadn’t even left before we began talking about when we could return to see other parts of the country plus Northern Ireland, too. We finally had the opportunity to make our 11-day trip to the Emerald Isle a reality. Here’s our Northern Ireland and Ireland road trip itinerary to help you plan your travels.

An important note for drivers: a good GPS that allows you to input coordinates will go a long way with this route.

Driving Tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland

Day 1: celtic ruins west of dublin, day 2: the countryside, day 3: dublin, day 4: powerscourt and dublin distilleries, day 5: belfast, day 6: belfast and portrush, day 7: drive the antrim coast, day 8: derry, day 9: donegal and lough eske, day 10: slieve league and sligo, day 11: back to dublin, ireland travel recommendations.

Arriving in Dublin, we immediately rented a car to head around Dublin on the M50 beltway and then the R115 (the Old Military Road) up over Sally Gap and into the Wicklow Mountains in the direction of Kilkenny. The landscape in this part of the country is beautiful, as you pass mountain streams and wind through patches of forest and up and down the undulating hills. Everything is just so green.

We stopped in the mountains to explore the Celtic ruins in the Irish countryside . Glendalough, known for its round tower, was a monastic settlement founded in the 6th century. Although it is a popular place, we were nearly alone as we explored the grounds of Glendalough, marveling at its old tombstones and Celtic crosses.

Our next stop was Baltinglass Abbey, a 12th century ruin which was once one of the richest churches in Europe. The first night was in the medieval city of Kilkenny at the Alcantra B&B.

Our Irish road trip continued as we headed out on the scenic R697 to the Priory of Kells. The 12th-century ruin—one of our favorites—was the largest and most important Augustinian monastic site in Ireland . Currently undergoing restoration, it’s a magnificent sight to see.

After a stop at Knockdrinna cheese shop in Stoneyford to pick up a picnic, we were off to our next destination on our Ireland itinerary. We took the picnic over to Jerpoint Abbey, eating under the majestic tower.

In the afternoon, our destination was the Rock of Cashel. We took the scenic drive R691 over to the ancient hilltop site where we walked the grounds for about an hour, seeing the Round Tower, the Romanesque Chapel, and other important ruins along the way. In the afternoon, we took the M8 back to Dublin.

With two tours and a an awesome dinner show, we squeezed every moment out of the third day of our Ireland travel itinerary.

The day began with a walking tour of some cool, unexpected sights in Dublin with Le Cool Dublin. The beauty of this tour is that it changes every time. Its goal is to show visitors what’s hip and now in the city, so you may meet artists, visit markets, and see street art like we did, or you may see something completely different. A Le Cool tour is an awesome way to experience the city.

Because we hadn’t gotten enough steps in yet, we set out on an informative historical walking tour of Dublin in the afternoon. We saw Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, and many of the other can’t-miss Dublin sights. It was a perfect complement to our morning of more local Dublin experiences.

In the evening, we finished up our day of walking with entertainment. The Dublin House Party is a unique combination of a hearty Irish dinner and a show featuring some of the best Irish musicians and dancers in the city. What could be a cheesy experience is instead very well-done, showing visitors the importance of Irish music and the fun that goes along with it. The Dublin House Party is great for couples and families.

Our day began at the peaceful Powerscourt Estate and Gardens . About an hour south of Dublin, the sprawling estate is a brilliant place to enjoy nature. It tops National Geographic’s list of the world’s best gardens.

Punctuated by fountains, ponds, and an endless number of trees and flowers, the 47 acres of gardens at Powerscourt are a lovely place to wander. Amidst a setting of 200-year-old trees, you’ll even find Ireland’s highest waterfall.

In the afternoon, we returned to Dublin to imbibe at The Jameson Distillery Bow St. and the Guinness Storehouse …because that’s what you do in Ireland.

At Jameson Distillery, begun on Bow Street in 1780, we got a sense for the history of the place and what was required when John Jameson started distilling here over 200 years ago. It was a great crash course in making one of the whiskeys that Ireland is so famous for. Plus, we got to do a comparative tasting of their wares.

The Guinness Storehouse is the most popular tourist attraction in Dublin for good reason. This seven-floor experience takes you through all the steps of brewing Ireland’s iconic dark beer. We saw displays about all of its ingredients and the history of the beverage, culminating in the opportunity to pour our own pint on the top floor, which has a great view over the city.

We woke up early and set out driving from Dublin to Belfast on the M1. As soon as we arrived in Northern Ireland, we got busy sightseeing.

It was lunch time, so it was a perfect excuse for one of our favorite activities–visiting local markets around the world. St. George’s Market in Belfast has operated at the same site for an incredible 400 years. One of Belfast’s oldest attractions, St. George’s showcases the best in Northern Irish products. From food stands to fresh produce, the market has a little bit of everything delicious with a heavy dose of national pride thrown in.

The second stop on our Northern Ireland trip was Titanic Belfast. The leading tourist attraction in the world, the Titanic Museum tells the story of the ill-fated ship on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard (its builder). The fascinating museum has exhibits about the building and launch of the Titanic as well as vivid accounts of its sinking and the aftermath of the disaster.

Day six began with our highly-anticipated Black Cab Tour of the Troubles murals of Belfast with Paddy Campbell. Driving along the Shankill Road and other areas of Belfast, we saw mural after mural commemorating historical figures and participants in the decades of conflict that ripped apart communities in Northern Ireland.

Paddy presented an unbiased look at the issues on both sides–the mostly Protestant Unionists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and the mostly Catholic Republicans who wanted Northern Ireland to become part of a united Ireland–which is a hard thing to do in a place that was as politically charged as Belfast. At the end, we got to guess his affiliation. We guessed wrong. We couldn’t recommend this eye-opening tour more.

After lunch, we left Belfast headed north on the M2/A26 in the general direction of the Antrim Coast. We took a brief detour to the Dark Hedges to take some photos in this spot made famous thanks to its haunting beauty and its cameo as the Kings Road in the Game of Thrones .

We arrived in Portrush for the evening.

We left Portrush heading even further north on the Causeway Road to Giant’s Causeway. In the drizzle, the spectacular basalt columns of the Causeway took on a moody feeling as we watched the waves crash nearby. We spent at least an hour just climbing up and down the unique formation. Giant’s Causeway is not to be missed on any trip to Northern Ireland.

Nearby, we visited the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. First erected by salmon fishermen in 1755, the bridge hangs (apparently precariously) between rocky outcroppings in the north Atlantic. Crossing is an adventure and not for the faint-hearted, but if the winds are calm, it’s not as scary as it looks.

After spending much of the rainy day outside, we visited The Old Bushmills distillery to warm up in the late afternoon. Unlike Jameson, which we visited in Dublin, Old Bushmills is also a working distillery, so the smell of sweet mash hung in the air as we toured the factory. We saw the whole distillation and bottling process and ended with a perfect hot toddy in their tasting room.

It was a long, windy, wet day of amazing sights, culminating at a night at the charming Caw Cottage.

We woke up in Derry and actually stayed there for the full day – one of the only nights on our whole trip that we spent two nights in the same town.

We began the day with a rainy but thought-provoking tour of the Troubles Murals of the town. As in Belfast, Derry is filled with murals depicting imagery from both sides of the conflict. There are the Union Jacks of the Unionists and murals showing Republicans alongside civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.

Many of the murals in Derry are in the Bogside neighborhood where a group of artworks is dedicated to protesters who were killed on what is known as Bloody Sunday. British soldiers killed 14 people that day and wounded another 12—the incident is the subject of U2’s “Sunday, Bloody Sunday.”

After seeing the murals, we joined in on a great historical tour of the city which took us by the top sights and allowed us to walk on part of the city’s 17th-century walls.

In the evening, we decided it was time for a bit of Irish music and made our way to Peadar O’Donnell’s bar.

Leaving Derry (and beautiful Northern Ireland) on the N13/N56 road, we drove the rugged coast of the Donegal peninsula, part of the Wild Atlantic Way route . Our plan for the day was simply to drive and watch the landscape change, stopping in any village that caught our attention.

Along our drive, we encountered massive cliffs plunging into the ocean, small towns with picture-perfect harbors, and miles and miles of countryside turning from green to gold under the early autumn sun. It was absolutely gorgeous.

We spent the afternoon and night enjoying the luxurious Lough Eske Castle . This 5-star castle hotel, which traces its roots back to the 15th century, offers an immersive guest experience with an amazing spa, fabulous restaurant, and packages that include access to local parks and other castles. A night here is the height of luxury.

We spent the morning at Lough Eske Castle enjoying the sprawling grounds and their gourmet breakfast. Sooner than we were ready to leave (we would never have been ready), it was time to go again. This time, our destination was Slieve League.

Driving west along the N56/R263 road, we approached the giant cliffs of Slieve League (Sliabh Liag, in Gaelic), which are three times higher than their more well-known cousins at the Cliffs of Moher. From the top, there are magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Sligo Mountains, and Donegal Bay. It’s one of the must see places in Ireland .

Another beautiful drive south found us in county Sligo. It was already late afternoon by the time we arrived. We had planned to visit the ancient Sligo Abbey, but it was under construction, so we went to St. Columba’s Church in nearby Drumcliffe instead. The small church with the bright stained glass is the final resting place of literary giant W.B. Yeats.

Markree Castle Hotel, another brilliant, ancient castle, was our home for the night in Sligo.

In the morning, we visited Carrowmore, the largest cemetery of megalithic tombs in Ireland. All the monuments here are estimated to be at least 5000 years old, which is mind-blowing. We didn’t find them quite as impressive as the huge megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange, but they are certainly worth a visit if your Ireland travels take you through Sligo.

After our visit to Carrowmore , we turned back on the N4 road toward Dublin. We returned the rental car at the airport and spent our final night in the capital. The evening was spent at the Brazen Head, Dublin’s oldest pub, seeing a dinner show about the history, myths, and fairy tales of this beautiful island.

Hotels : Ireland is quite challenging in terms of accommodations. Unlike most countries, there are not a large number of big hotels. Instead, Ireland is full of a small, boutique hotels and B&Bs. We recommend looking at Booking.com for hotels, inns and B&Bs.

Rental Car : We recommend renting cars from brand name, larger international companies, or a comparison site like Auto Europe , which is known for its service. If you have a problem, they tend to be more reliable. Before you go, we recommend getting a copy of our book, The Essential Guide to Driving Abroad , which demystifies and simplifies the process of renting overseas.

Travel Insurance : Ireland is an amazing destination! While the country is extremely safe, car accidents are common. For this trip, we bought travel insurance from Travel Guard , which can provide you with coverage for unexpected medical expenses while on a trip because you never know what can happen.

Booking through these sites may earn us a few pennies, at no additional cost to you.

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Karen Keene

Wednesday 31st of May 2023

Can you get around Ireland via train vs. renting a car to see the sights?

Lance Longwell

Thursday 1st of June 2023

Yes, but it really isn't recommended. The trains in Ireland connect most of the major cities and some spots in between. But they really don't service the countryside very well at all. If you want to see Ireland (AND you really don't want to drive), consider the bus. Bus travel in Ireland is efficient and inexpensive, and goes where the trains do not.

Abby Cooper

Sunday 15th of March 2020

This looks absolutely amazing! Very descriptive and your photos are beautiful. Giants Causeway is on my top ten list!

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Northern Ireland Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Northern Ireland. We've got 12 adventures going to Northern Ireland, starting from just 2 days in length, and the longest tour is 8 days. The most popular month to go is June, which has the largest number of tour departures.

12 Northern Ireland tour packages with 12 reviews

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3-Day Discover Northern Ireland Small-Group Tour from Dublin

Rabbies Driver/Guide Marcus was awesome, accommodation was great, sites visited were beautiful, would not hesitate to recommend this tour

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Dublin, Belfast & Causeway Coast Small Group Rail Tour

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3 Day Causeway Coast, Derry & Fermanagh Lakelands from Belfast

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Discover Northern Ireland Tour 2024

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Discover Northern Ireland Tour [2024] currently has a limited number of spaces available.

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The best of Northern Ireland in under a week

Over six comfortably-paced days, the Discover Northern Ireland Tour introduces you to the culture and countryside of Northern Ireland. Immerse yourself in the lives and histories of its people. Witness with wonderment the beauty of the wild northern coastline. This tour is fully inclusive, with no hidden extras or optional extras. Six days of discovery, and five nights of relaxation in the luxury of our hand-picked four-star hotels.

• 26 guests maximum
• Fully Inclusive Package
• Arrival & Departure in Dublin

Tour Gallery

• Belfast City Tour

On Day Two you will visit the the City of Belfast. The only city on the island of Ireland to have embraced the Industrial Revolution. You will meet up with your local Belfast City Guide who will explain all about the history of this once troubled city.

Titanic Exhibition

On Day Two you will also visit Titanic Belfast. You will have the opportunity to learn the history of the world's most famous ship, The Titanic. Completed in 1912 on Harland & Wolff's shipyard.

Derry/Londonderry

On Day Three you will visit Derry/Londonderry, a captivating city enclosed within ancient walls, possessing a rich and diverse past.

Old Bushmills Distillery

On Day Three you will also visit the Old Bushmills Distillery. It is the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Given a Grant to Distil in 1608 but thought to have been producing whiskey 200 years prior to that.

The Giant's Causeway

Day Three will also take you to The Giant's Causeway. One of Northern Ireland's most stunning sights. No amount of photographs can ever do the Giants Causeway justice. 37,000 basalt columns extend from cliffs down into the sea.

• Ulster American Folk Park

On Day Four you will visit the Ulster American Folk Park. Here you will hear the reasons why 2 million people left Ulster for America during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.

Cruise Lough Erne

On Day Five you will embark on the Lough Erne Cruise. Here you can enjoy the natural and historic sights of Northern Ireland on a leisurely cruise on picturesque Lough Erne.

• Devenish Island

On Day Five you will also visit Devenish Island. A stand-out feature of your cruise of Lough Erne. During the 6th Century, St. Molaise founded a monastery here which later became a centre of scholarship.

• Trim Castle

Day Five will also take you to Trim Castle. This is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30 year period until its completion in 1206.

Tour Itinerary

Six days of remarkable locations and unforgettable experiences await on the Discover Northern Ireland Tour. Click on the days below to find out what adventures you can look forward to on each day of your tour.

Day 1: Arrival (Dublin)

Day 1 itinerary.

Welcome - On arrival in Dublin Airport, reclaim your baggage and enter the Arrivals Hall. Here, you will meet your Irish tour guide (who is also your driver). There will be three group transfers this morning between 7:00 am and 1200 noon. To ensure a smooth start to your tour, it is advisable to aim for an arrival time in Dublin Airport before 11:00 am, as clearing immigration and reclaiming baggage typically takes around 1 hour.

Board your luxury air-conditioned coach and make the short transfer to your hotel where you can relax and unwind after your flight.

3:00 PM Check-in time. Hotel reception will store your luggage prior to Check-in.

At 6:00 PM this evening all participants will gather for dinner in the hotel restaurant where you can become acquainted with your fellow travellers.

Dine & Overnight at the Clayton Hotel Charlemont .

Included Today

• Welcome Dinner

Clayton Hotel Charlemont

Day 2: titanic belfast & belfast city tour, day 2 itinerary.

After some much-needed sleep and a hearty full Irish breakfast, we will depart for Northern Ireland. The province of Northern Ireland was created with the partition of the island of Ireland in 1921.

Your destination today will be Belfast City , the only city in Ireland to fully experience the Industrial Revolution. Linen, rope making, tobacco and most famously shipbuilding including the building of the Titanic Belfast on the Harland & Wolff shipyard, were the main industries. The Troubles took their toll on the economic life of Belfast, but the past fifteen years of peace have returned much prosperity, while the genuine friendliness of the city never left.

Travelling north, your route today will take you through County Meath & County Louth. On arrival in Belfast, visit the Titanic Belfast . The world’s largest Titanic-themed visitor attraction, located on the very slipways where she was built in the heart of Belfast. In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of Belfast City with a specialised step on local Belfast City Guide to see and hear all about the history of this once troubled city — including the Belfast Murals of the Loyalist Shankill Road and Nationalist Falls Road.

Tonight you will overnight & dine at the Clayton Hotel Belfast in Belfast City .

• Irish Breakfast
• Evening Dinner
• Titanic Belfast

Clayton Hotel Belfast

Day 3: bushmills distillery & giant's causeway, day 3 itinerary.

This morning after breakfast, you will depart for Derry/Londonderry City .

Our route today will take you via the spectacular Antrim Coastal Route through the nine Glens of Antrim and picturesque villages of Ballygalley, Carnlough, Cushendall and Cushendun to Ballycastle. Continue onto Bushmills.

Here you will visit the Bushmills Distillery . Known around the world as the oldest licensed distillery. We will stop here for a whiskey tasting. Its grant to distil whiskey was given in 1608, but it is believed that the spirit was probably made here 200 years before that!

Further north, on the coast, you will visit Giant's Causeway . This prehistoric geological phenomenon is the subject of many myths and legends. There are an estimated 37,000 basalt columns extending from cliffs down into the sea.

This afternoon you will continue west to Derry/Londonderry City for an overnight stay at the Maldron Hotel Derry . Dine at the hotel tonight.

• Bushmills Distillery
• Giant's Causeway

Maldron Hotel Derry

Day 4: derry city tour & ulster american folk park, day 4 itinerary.

This morning, after breakfast, you will be joined by a specialised local guide for a walking tour of Derry/Londonderry City . The city fortifications are amongst the best preserved in Europe and were completed in 1618 to defend the city from Gaelic chieftains in Donegal.

We will depart for the beautiful town of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, which occupies an island between Upper and Lower Lough Erne.

Your route will take you via Strabane and Omagh in County Tyrone, to the Ulster American Folk Park . An open-air museum located on the restored boyhood home of Judge Thomas Mellon, founder of the Pittsburgh banking dynasty. The Park's permanent exhibition, called 'Emigrants', examines why two million people left Ulster for America during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.

Dinner and overnight will be in the Westville Hotel located in the heart of Enniskillen's waterside historic quarter.

• Derry Walking Tour

Westville Hotel

Day 5: lough erne cruise & trim castle, day 5 itinerary.

After breakfast this morning, enjoy a Lough Erne Cruise . Boasting a rich combination of natural and historic sights, a haven for many species of water birds.

You will visit Devenish Island, where St. Molaise founded a monastery in the Sixth Century. The most spectacular sight on this tiny, windswept island is a perfectly preserved Twelfth Century round tower that stands 82ft high.

Your journey through Northern Ireland ends today when you cross the border into County Cavan and travel through the rounded hills called Drumlins that are typical of the border region between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The route will take you through Meath, known as the Royal County due to its history as the seat of the High King of Ireland. Your last stop today will be at Trim Castle . The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30-year period and finished it in 1206. Trim Castle was also a film location for the movie "Braveheart".

• Lough Erne Cruise

Day 6: Departure (Dublin)

Day 6: departure.

Today marks the end of the Discover Northern Ireland Tour.

After the final Irish breakfast this morning transfer by taxi (not included) to Dublin Airport for your return flight home. Turas sàbhailte dhuibh (safe journey).

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We are still Ireland's best-reviewed tour operator, with 97.3% five-star reviews.

Kathy Polcrack

May 2024  •  Discover Northern Ireland

I did the Northern Ireland tour. Tour went very smoothly; lovely accommodations, good food, very comfortable bus, and our guide, Colm Clarke, had an encyclopedic knowledge of Irish history. The step on guides in Belfast and Derry explained “the troubles” clearly and with no bias. This is a great tour at a very reasonable price. Good value. I would travel with this company again. No complaints.

herb chemerika

October 2023  •  Discover Northern Ireland

we did the discover northern Ireland tour on September 6Th Coln Clarke was the Bus tour guide /driver he was wonderful very knowledgeable about Irish history he also had a great sense of humor the trip was great the hotels ,meals and services was top notch the Tours in Belfast , the walking tours of Derry all gave a insight to the troubled times the tours of the titanic memorial was super all in all well worth the price and would recommend this trip

Robin Henry

We took the Northern Ireland tour this time and to our amazement, Colm Clarke was again our driver and guide. It truly felt like returning to see old friends. The tour was great, again Colm was so and made things so fun. Our guide in Belfast, Nollaig, was full of information and kept things lively even while talking about things like The Troubles. In Derry, our guide was Theresa, again a knowledgeable and passionate guide. We loved Bushmill's and Giant's Causeway. The Lough Erne Cruise and the trip to Devinish Island was almost magical with the mist rising up off the river as the sun got higher. Shannon set us up with a private tour from our wish list after Northern Ireland and it was everything we could have hoped for. We got to stay in the places we wanted to explore, stayed at great placed and the food was unbelievable good. We saw a lot in 6 days - Kilkenny Castle, Cobh and the Titanic Museum and the statue of Annie Moore, then on to Kinsale and the Lusitania Museum and Old Head, all the shops (such wonderful little hidden gems. Then we went to Dingle Peninsula and spent 2 days in a delightful BNB and explored. Our last days, we revisited the Cliffs of Moher and then to Galway and a day on the largest Aran Island. We couldn't have asked for a better day - water calm, no wind, and sunny. Our driver and Guide, Pat C. was great. He stopped for photos and had suggestions for others, always made sure we were well settled in our hotels and knew his stuff. Thanks for making our trip to Ireland, once again, a delightful and experience packed trip. We'll be back!

Alan Leathem

September 2023  •  Discover Northern Ireland

This is my second tour with this company. I did the Northern Ireland tour in September and Colm was the guide driver of the bus. He brought Irish history alive. The additional guides we had in Belfast and Derry were fabulous sharing their knowledge of these two cities and 'The Troubles'. Great hotels and meals also included in the tour. I would recommend this company and this tour.

Philip Mcmahon

July 2023  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland tour was great!

Steve Warfield

We took the Northern Ireland tour in early July 2023, and it was a fantastic experience. Setting aside the fantastic price, our tour bus was spacious, clean, and, comfortable, as were all our hotel accomodations. The breakfasts and dinners were consistently excellently tasting, and there were numerous choices for both. Our driver/tour guide, George, was definitely one of the best we have experienced in our travels, as he was personable, highly knowledgeable, and a very skilled driver. The excursions were included in the tour price (as was the lodging and morning/evening meal) and there was more than enough time at each location to do some exploring after the day had come to an end.

Jennifer MacLeod

October 2022  •  Discover Northern Ireland

My husband and I travelled to Northern Ireland with My Ireland Tours in September 2022. Our driver/tour guide, Garey, provided very concise instructions as well as informative commentary every step of the way. We had two interesting activities every day. While I booked the tour primarily for the Giants Causeway, every part of the trip provided us with fabulous scenery. The drive along the Antrim coast was spectacular. The Step-on Guides in Belfast and Derry were very informative, as they helped us to understand the turmoil in their cities. The travel between each stop was reasonable and we always arrived at our final destination in good time. Having our breakfast and evening meal included in our tour simplified everything. Lunch stops included the Titanic Experience, the Giants Causeway and the Ulster American Folk Park. We cannot praise Garey enough for the way he took charge of our group and his amazing talent for maneuvering the full-size coach. It would have been a far more stressful journey if we had attempted to do it on our own. The ease with which our booking was managed was also great. Kevin kept us posted on the payment deadline and ensured that our arrival and departure information was complete. Although we arrived two days early, he arranged for us to remain in the same room when we joined the tour group. If you haven't been to Ireland before I would highly recommend using My Ireland Tours. Your vacation will be trouble free.

July 2022  •  Discover Northern Ireland

In the past five years I have used My Ireland Tour twice, and they do not disappoint. First you can design your own itinerary, if you desire, if you do they will help you with suggestions, that will enhance your trip. They will book you into hotels that have great reputations, sometimes even 5 star at a reasonable trip cost. Last, they provide well respected tour guide drivers in great coaches. A great tour guide/driver makes all the difference in a tour. The most recent tour of Northern Ireland with driver guide Raymond Wilson was truly a great experience. The support and communication with the office staff was always helpful and professional. I would never consider a trip to Ireland without using My Ireland Tours.

Michael Hughes

May 2022  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Delayed by the pandemic, we've finally been able to take our THIRD tour with My Ireland Tour. This time we went to Northern Ireland and the experience was as wonderful, if not more so, than our previous two tours. As has been the case in all of our previous tours with My Ireland Tours, the superb service came into play even before our trip began. The staff provided all of the assistance we needed to arrange our journey and guided us skillfully through all of the new processes and procedures for travel. The tour itself was absolutely delightful! Our driver / guide, Garey, was knowledgeable and entertaining. He demonstrated great skill driving the coach on the sometimes narrow roads of the countryside and through the congestion and tight quarters on the cities. The schedule provided ample time to enjoy each of the sites that we visited and the walking tour of Derry was a highlight of the tour. We continue to prefer My Ireland Tour because of the value for money, excellent customer service, well crafted tours, smaller group sizes and superb driver / guides. When it comes time for our fourth visit, we won't look to any other tour company for our travel needs!

My very first trip with my ireland tours..booked a northern Ireland tour with them..was a little apprehensive as being a single elderly lady traveling on my own was not sure how it would be..I can't tell you it was one of the best tours I have taken..from the very start..the prompt interaction with eric via email was very reasureing as all my questions were answered promptly..it was good to be met by our guide/driver Garry at dublin airport..after that it was smooth sailing all the way to Northern Ireland! He took good care of us and gave us a full insight into the Irish way of life with stories and historical details of the places we visited..we were kept at very good comfortable hotels each night..all in all..a great memorable trip..will definitely book with them again..many thanks

October 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Tour of Northern Ireland. Brilliantly organised, right amount of time in each place. Led by Kieran who was extremely knowledgeable and personable. Very safe and professional driving. Good attention to detail throughout. Hotels of good standard. May well choose your company for another trip. Thank you.

Bob and Verna Wiebe

August 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Our experience with our My Ireland tour of Northern Ireland was very good. We appreciated the well planned itinerary, which included interesting stops as well as some down time each day. The accommodations and food exceeded expectations. Our specialty guides were very informative and personable. Our bus driver/guide was outstanding, one of a kind – do you get me? We will take a piece of Northern Ireland home with us in our hearts.

Julie Heiple

March 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

What a marvelous experience! My husband and I were on the 5 day Northern Ireland tour from March 20-25, 2019 and enjoyed every minute of it! Our tour guide, Nigel O'Connor, was so professional and attentive to the group, always conscious of our schedule for the day but also allowing for slight changes as necessary. For example, two guests wanted to attend St. Michael's early mass one morning and that request was accommodated with an alternate pick up location for them. Thanks so much for a terrific, memorable vacation!

Brenda Holden

October 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

On our 24 day trek through the UK, Chuck and I picked up the Northern Ireland Tour through My Ireland Tours at the Belfast Titanic and continued on with the group of 26. Our driver /guide Nigel was entertaining and knowledgable about the history of the area we travelled through and answered questions for us. The countryside was spectacular, the people of Ireland warm and welcoming and the bus family entertaining. This was our first group trip in our 64 years and we both enjoyed leaving the thinking to a well organized company to do that for us for part of our trip. Cead Mile Failte is just one Gaelic saying we learned, but to all of you Go Raibh Maith Agat.

Alice Williams

September 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Northern Ireland with My Ireland Tours. Accomodations were excellent and the driver was very knowledgeable and entertaining.

July 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

What a great tour. We were fortunate enough to meet our daughter and son-in-law for the Northern Ireland tour. The weather was great, the food was good, and the scenery was fantastic. Our driver guide was David Breen. His knowledge and driving skills were brilliant. He was patient, informative, and funny. Not mentioned on the website is an included train ride along the coast from Coleraine to Derry-beautiful. We met some very nice people on our tour, as well as in the places we visited.

Teresa Donohue

30 October 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

We took a tour of Northern Ireland, and it was wonderful! Harry (the hat) our tour guide and bus driver was very good. He was knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor, and was totally unflappable. The tour guide we had in Derry (Ronan) was also very good during our walking tour. The hotels were great - very nice rooms and meals. Although, the menu offerings at each hotel were either the same or very similar so we were definitely ready for something else by the end of the tour. We will definitely utilize this tour company again!

Julie Magee Heiple

29 March 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

What a marvelous experience! My husband and I were on the 5 day Northern Ireland tour from March 20-25, 2019 and enjoyed every minute of it! Our tour guide, Nigel O'Connor, was so professional and attentive to the group, always conscious of our schedule for the day but also allowing for slight changes as necessary. For example, two guests wanted to attend St. Michael's early mass one morning and that request was accommodated with an alternate pick up location for them. The tour was just the right pace with drives no more than 2 hours at a time with an opportunity to stop and stretch once during the drive. The sites we visited were beyond our expectations... Titanic museum in Belfast, Giants Causeway, Derry/Londonderry wall tour, boat tour on Loche Erne, and Trim Castle were all highlights. Our accommodations and the meals were exceptional every night. Thanks so much for a terrific, memorable vacation!

Rita Donahue

10 October 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

I usually travel on my own with friends, but this Northern Ireland tour was way beyond my expectations. Nigel was an excellent tour guide and Peter, our guide in Derry, explained everything for me about The Troubles and how the area has moved forward. All the hotels were top notch, and plenty of choices for breakfast and dinner. I especially liked the train ride from Coleraine to Derry. I chatted with a Irish woman on her way home from work. The people on this tour were so friendly and fun to be with on each of the outings and we had wonderful conversations at meal times. I highly recommend this tour and My Ireland Tour.

Joanne Philips

25 August 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

We were thrilled with our Northern Ireland Tour thanks to our fantastic guide and driver, Barry Loe. He took excellent care of us and provided great information. We highly recommend both the tour and Barry to anyone considering touring Northern Ireland. Also,there were only 12 of us on the tour, making it a great experience.

Margie Boeangiu

09 August 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

After a lot of research with different tour companies, we decided to book the 6 day Discover Northern Ireland tour with .My Ireland Tour.. It was well worth it. Very well organised from the moment we were picked up from the airport. All local guides that the company used were amazing, as we were also pleased with our driver/guide Roy. The sights were well chosen, and the country is absolutely fascinating. It was a wonderful trip, also because we got to meet other group members from all over the world.

Popular on this tour

Acting as a memorial of the ill-fated ship and a symbol of Belfast's past. Read more...

See how Belfast grew from its past political & religious divisions. Read more...

Derry City & Walls

Enjoy a tour of this historic city alongside a specialist guide. Read more...

Enjoy a little taste of history in Ireland's oldest licensed distillery. Read more...

40,000 basalt columns make up this UNESCO World Heritage site. Read more...

Cruise the serene waters of Lough Erne to the holy Devenish Island. Read more...

Prices, Availability & Payment

Reviews • What's included • Other tours

Payment terms

For payment terms click here . Alternatively, you can also view our full terms and conditions .

Flexible Cancellations

We have added extra flexibility to our cancellation timeline. This means you can now make unlimited changes to your chosen tour up to 60 days before your arrival . Our cancellation timeline is as follows. For more details, see our terms and conditions .

Up to 60 days before the start of tour:

The Deposit is non-refundable. However, before 60 days you can make unlimited changes for free, including changing your tour dates (including transferring to a tour in 2025), changing your tour and changing tour participants.

59 to 40 days before start of tour:

25% of total price is forfeited on cancellation

39 to 14 days before start of tour:

50% of total price is forfeited on cancellation

Less than 14 days before start of tour:

100% of total price is forfeited on cancellation

The Deposit for the Discover Northern Ireland Tour 2024 is €250 per person.

Single Occupancy Supplement

For guests who are travelling alone and are therefore not sharing a room, the single occupancy supplement for the Discover Northern Ireland Tour 2024 is €250.

Balance Payments:

The full balance is due 60 days before your tour.

All payments are in Euros.

Credit Cards & Fees:

We do not charge any fees for paying by credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Children's Rate:

Children ages 8 yrs - 17 yrs inclusive receive a 10% discount on the prices. Children must share a room with a least 1 adult. Our tours do not cater for children 7 yrs or younger. You must be 18 or over to travel on our adults-only tours.

Participant Cancellation:

Once a partial or full payment has been made, cancellations will only be accepted in writing (either by email or standard mail) to My Ireland Tour. Cancellation terms will be applied based on the date that the written cancellation is received and based on the following dates prior to tour commencement. Cancellation fees apply as indicated below. All cancellation fees include the initial deposit.

About your Tour Guide

45% of our reviews mention their tour guide by name

Perhaps the most vital ingredient of any tour is your tour guide. Acting not only as your guide but also as your driver, their knowledge and experience, passion and personality form the foundation on which any successful tour is built.

That's why we only work with the very best guides in Ireland. As our past guests know, our tour guides are a big reason why we're Ireland's best-rated tour operator, with 1342 five-star reviews out of a possible 1378.

Irish born and bred

All of our driver-guides were born in Ireland and have lived here all their lives. What's more, they are passionate about our country, its culture and its heritage.

Qualified and experienced

Our driver-guides are qualified, experienced professionals who are committed to impeccable customer care and making your vacation memorable for all the right reasons.

Experts in Irish history & culture

Our driver-guides are true experts in their field. Their knowledge of Irish history, culture (and where to get the best pint of Guinness) is second to none.

Committed to your safety and care

Your safety and comfort are paramount to us and to all our driver-guides. All our guides are experienced coach drivers with impeccable safety records.

Tour accommodation

The hotels on this tour offer amazing quality and value to match. We are very selective in getting just the right accommodation for each specific tour, and we are very proud of the selection of hotels we have put together. Some of these hotels are family-owned, just like ourselves, and we have a long-standing relationship with them all.

Tour Vehicles

On a tour vacation, the journey can be just as important as the destination. That's why our tour buses are all of the highest standards, both in terms of luxury and reliability.

We choose our tour vehicles carefully. All our tour buses offer plenty of space to spread out, tinted windows, air conditioning and on-board fridges. It's what you should expect.

We deliberately leave some seats empty. In fact, we use 34-seater coaches, but limit the number of participants to 26. That's because we want all of our guests to be able to spread out, relax and enjoy the journey. This smaller group size is a core principle in our tours.

Please note: the bus shown in the gallery is one of the 34-seater coaches used on our tours for max. 26 guests. For any reason, should one of these become unavailable for your tour, we will endeavour to provide an equally luxurious and comfortable touring bus.

What's included in my vacation?

Tour attractions, hospitality.

• 5 nights accommodation
• 5 Full Irish Breakfasts
• 5 Evening Meals
• Irish Tour Guide
• Airport Arrival Transfers
• All local taxes
• Porterage of one suitcase per person
• Luxury Air-Conditioned Coach

Not Included

• Airport Departure Transfer on Day 6
• Airfares to and from Ireland
• Gratuity for your Tour Guide
• Travel Insurance (required)
• Beverages, except Tea / Coffee with Breakfast & Evening Dinner
• Room Service
• Telephone Charges

• Sample Itineraries
• Transport Options
• Genealogy Tours

Other 2024 Tour Packages

• Iconic Britain and Ireland (18 Days)
• Iconic Britain Tour (10 Days)
• Iconic Ireland and Scotland Tour (14 Days)
• 14-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland (14 Days)
• 10-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland (10 Days)
• 8-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland (8 Days)
• 6-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland (6 Days)
• Deluxe Irish Castles Tour (10 Days)
• Historic Irish Castle Tour (7 Days)
• Ancient Ireland & Scotland Tour (13 Days)
• Ancient Ireland Tour (8 Days)

2025 Tour Packages

• Iconic Ireland & Scotland Tour (14 Days)
• Highlights of Ireland and Scotland Tour (9 Days)
• Discover Northern Ireland (6 Days)

Adare Village and Thatched Cottages

About Adare Village and Thatched Cottages

Adare is a small town in Co. Limerick, known for its quaint and colourful thatched cottages. Adare is considered to be one of Ireland's most beautiful towns so stop and take in the view. Don't forget your camera today - the perfect chance to capture the essence of old Ireland.

Explore Adare Village along the Wild Atlantic Way .

• Belfast City

About Belfast City

Since peace returned to Belfast in the late 1990s, Northern Ireland's capital has undergone an astonishing transformation. Once tied in with sectarian violence and, perhaps cruelly, lumped in with Bosnia, Beiruit and Baghdad on the list of places for globe-trotting tourists to avoid, the city is now a modern, thriving and cosmopolitan hub of hotels, restaurants and family-friendly attractions.

Find out more

Belfast Tour & Murals

About Belfast Tour & Murals

You will be joined by a local specialist guide on a city tour of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. You will see and hear all about the history of this once troubled city including the murals of the Loyalist Shankill Road and Nationalist Falls Road.

Black Taxi Tour Belfast

About Black Taxi Tour Belfast

Take a journey through this once troubled city. See the murals of the Loyalist Shankill Road & Nationalist Falls Road. The Troubles took their toll on the economic life of Belfast, but the past ten years of peace have returned much prosperity while the genuine friendliness of the city never left.

• Blarney Woollen Mills

About Blarney Woollen Mills

Originally built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was mainly used for the spinning and weaving of wool. After it closed in 1973, it reopened in 1975 — as an Irish heritage shop.

Visit their website...

About Bushmills Distillery

In the village of Bushmills, you will visit the old distillery, which was first permitted to distill whiskey in 1608 by King James I. Enjoy a whiskey tasting in what is thought to be the oldest licensed distillery in the world. Although its grant to distill was given in 1608, it is believed that the spirit was probably made here 200 years before that!

Culloden Battlefield

About Culloden Battlefield

The Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre commemorates the last pitched battle fought on British soil, in April 1746. Learn more about the Jacobite intent to overthrow the House of Hanover and return the House of Stuart to the British throne.

Derry / Londonderry City

About Derry / Londonderry City

Although Derry's recent transformation is perhaps less dramatic than that of Belfast, visitors who come to Derry expecting a city still darkened by the long shadows of The Troubles will almost certainly be pleasantly surprised. In anticipation of the city's status as UK City of Culture 2013, Derry received considerable investment and underwent a rejuvenating makeover. The famous city walls are up to 8 metres in height and, in places, are 9 metres wide. They were completed in 1618 and were never breached.

Derry City Tour & Fortifications

About Derry City Tour & Fortifications

You will be joined by a local specialist guide on a city tour of Derry and the famous city walls. The city fortifications are among the best-preserved in Europe and were completed in 1618 to defend the city from Gaelic chieftains in Donegal. Standing at up to 25 feet tall and thirty feet wide, it is little wonder that these fortifications were never breached.

About The Giant's Causeway

Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage site, known in Gaelic as Clochán na bhFomhórach or Clochán an Aifir, The Giant's Causeway is an area of 40,000 basalt columns, formed into a regular interlocking pattern by an ancient volcanic lava flow.

Glenveagh Castle

About Glenveagh Castle

Located within Glenveagh National Park, Glenveagh Castle was built by Captain John George Adair between 1870 and 1873. Having made his fortune through land speculation in America, Adair return to Ireland and began large amounts of land in County Donegal. The castle was built in the Scottish Baronial style and is surrounded by a garden and commands stunning views of the nearby mountains, lakes, woodlands and valleys.

Highland Folk Museum

About Highland Folk Museum

About Highland Folk Museum is a museum and open-air attraction located in the Scottish Highlands. It is designed to showcase the domestic and working lives of the early highland people.

King John's Castle

About King John's Castle

Located alongside the River Shannon in County Limerick, on King's Island. Dating back to 922, to a time when Vikings were the inhabitants of the island (Thormodr Helgason, the Viking sea-king, built the first settlement here. The castle itself was built in 1200, under the instruction of King John of England.

Lough Erne Boast Cruise

About Lough Erne Boast Cruise

To reach the Devenish Island monastic site, we will be travelling by boat across the beautiful Lough Erne, a journey taken by all visitors to this sacred place across the centuries, from faithful pilgrims to marauding invaders.

About Moriarty's

Located close to the Killarney National Park, Moriarty's is an Authentic Irish Gift Store and Restaurant. Hand crafted Irish jewellery, Waterford Crystal and classic and modern tweed fashions and furnishings are all on offer at the gift store. The restaurant is an 85 seater offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Mount Congreve Gardens

About Mount Congreve Gardens

Mount Congreve Gardens. Located in Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Mount Congreve Gardens is an 18th century Georgian estate and mansion. It was designed by the same architect that created both of Waterford's cathedrals, John Roberts.

Mount Stewart House & Gardens

About Mount Stewart House & Gardens

Recently recognised as being one of the top 10 gardens in the world, Mount Stewart is a rich tapestry of planting plant life and stunning walking trails. The house dates back to the 19th century, and was the Irish seat of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family.

Muckross House

About Muckross House

Located on the grounds of the expansive and idyllic Killarney National Park. Muckross House, and its 11,000-acre grounds, was donated to the Irish state in 1932.

Muckross House Traditional Farms

About Muckross House Traditional Farms

Located on the grounds of the picturesque Muckross House and its impeccable gardens. Take a step back in time and see the Irish farming lifestyle of the 1930s and '40s. A time when the horse was responsible for much of the labour and the weather was the be all and end all in terms of production.

The Quiet Man Museum

About The Quiet Man Museum

The Quiet Man Museum. A reproduction of the quaint thatched cottage from the John Wayne starring, John Ford directed movie of the same name. all costumes, artefacts and furnishings have been recreated in precise detail, to reflect the setting of the 1952 classic. Located in the picturesque village of Cong, County Mayo.

Titanic Belfast Exhibition

About Titanic Belfast Exhibition

An extensive multimedia tribute to the world's most famous ocean liner. The Titanic Experience is located at the top of the slipway from which the ship made its first and only descent into the Belfast Lough and the waters of the Irish Sea beyond. Opened in 2012 for the centenary of the ship's launch and tragic demise, the museum has rapidly become Ulster's most visited tourist destination, outstripping even The Giant's Causeway.

About Trim Castle

Located in County Meath, Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30 year period, finished in 1206.

About Ulster American Folk Park

Ulster American Folk Park, in County Tyrone, is an open-air museum located on the restored boyhood home of Judge Thomas Mellon, founder of the Pittsburgh banking dynasty. The Park's permanent exhibition, called 'Emigrants', examines the reasons why two million people left Ulster for America during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.

About Clayton Hotel Belfast

Clayton Hotel Belfast is located a short walk from the centre of Belfast City, close to the Botanic railway station and the Grand Opera House. Warmly decorated rooms and a fitness centre with an indoor pool and hot tub.

About Clayton Hotel Charlemont

With a location along the Grand Canal and a short walk to the city centre, Clayton Hotel Charlemont is a modern hotel in an ideal location for visitors to the city. Warm, comfortable rooms, a chic bar and a top class restaurant.

About Maldron Hotel Derry

Maldron Hotel Derry is a laidback, casual hotel in the centre of Derry City. Ideal for a quick stop or for a relaxing weekend stay. It's also the ideal location for anyone exploring the attractions of the city.

About Westville Hotel

Located just outside the idyllic town of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, Westville Hotel is a modern, stylish hotel with a relaxed atmosphere, a cosy bar and a chic terrace restaurant.

18-Day Iconic Britain & Ireland Tour

• 34 attractions
• Max. 26 ppl

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime 18-day adventure as you behold the most famous and captivating attractions that Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England have to offer.

• Free time in London
• Shakespeare's Birthplace
• Manchester River Cruise
• Tour of York City
• York Minster
• Jedburgh Abbey
• Tour of Edinburgh City
• Holyrood Palace
• Tour of Glasgow City
• Tour of Belfast City
• Kylemore Abbey
• Cliffs of Moher
• Ring Of Kerry
• Blarney Castle
• Irish Emigration Museum
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Guinness Storehouse
• Departure flight home

10-Day Iconic Britain Tour

• 14 attractions

Embark on a unique and unforgettable 10-day journey as you explore the most renowned and captivating attractions that England and Scotland have to offer.

• Roman Baths
• Broadway to Cheltenham Railway
• Afternoon Tea at Broadway Hotel
• Chatsworth House
• Edinburgh Castle
• Stirling Castle
• Loch Lomond Cruise
• Glasgow City

14-Day Iconic Ireland & Scotland Tour

• 25 attractions

Discover the best of Ireland and Scotland with this unforgettable 14-day tour. Compare the cultures of these historic Gaelic nations during a magical fortnight.

• Arrival at Edinburgh Airport
• St. Andrews Golf Club
• Kingsbarns Distillery Tour
• Loch Ness cruise
• Glasgow Cathedral
• Belleek Pottery
• Sheepdog Demo
• Blind Piper Pub
• Rock of Cashel

14-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland

Discover the Island of Ireland, North and South with this unforgettable 14-day tour. Spend 4 days in Ulster, and 10 more in Eire.

• Belfast Murals
• Hillsborough Castle & Gardens
• Derry City Walls
• Jameson Distillery Midleton

10-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland

• 22 attractions

Experience all that is Ireland in this 10-day adventure. Ireland's best-loved attractions and its best-kept secrets, including the Wild Atlantic Way.

• Dublin Airport
• Clonmacnoise
• Free time in Galway City
• Killary Fjord
• Free time in Cork City
• Charles Fort
• Irish National Stud
• Traditional Farm Lunch

8-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland

• 17 attractions

Take in the essence of captivating Ireland as you embark on an unforgettable 8-day adventure, immersing yourself in the Emerald Isle's beauty and charm.

• Mikey Ryan's Bar
• Killarney National Park
• Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory
• Galway City
• Free time in Dublin City
• St Patrick's Cathedral

• 13 attractions

Experience the true essence of Ireland in under a week. Ireland's unmissable destinations and the Wild Atlantic Way in one unforgettable hub-and-spoke tour.

• Glendalough Monastic Site
• Ring of Kerry

Ancient Ireland Tour

• 19 attractions

An exclusive tour capped at max. 8 guests, travelling through the idyllic scenes of The Wild Atlantic Way. Including an overnight stay in an Irish castle.

• Dublin Airport arrival
• Waterford Crystal
• Kilkenny Castle

Ancient Ireland & Scotland Tour

• 24 attractions

Embark on a unique and intimate journey through the Celtic heartlands of Ireland and Scotland on this exclusive tour designed for a maximum of 8 guests.

• Arrival in Edinburgh Airport
• Edinburgh City tour
• Dalwhinnie Distillery
• Eilean Donan Castle
• Isle of Skye
• Glasgow City tour
• Belfast City tour
• Derry City tour
• Dublin City tour

Deluxe Castle Tour

Live like royalty for 10 days across Ireland, staying in real Irish castles and country manors. Enjoy the finest all-inclusive tour Ireland has to offer.

• Lough Eske Castle
• Derry City Tour
• Free time in Derry City

Historic Irish Castle Tour

• 15 attractions

A truly unique tour of Ireland. Visit the must-see attractions whilst discovering unique experiences beyond the tourist trail. All woven together by Ireland's historic castles.

• Pearse Lyons Distillery
• Traditional Music Night

Discover Northern Ireland Tour

• 8 attractions

Northern Ireland's natural beauty awaits on this six-day fully-inclusive tour of Ulster. Picturesque towns, untamed coastlines and friendly locals await.

• Derry City walking tour

9-Day Highlights of Ireland & Scotland Tour

Explore the wonders of Ireland and Scotland on this remarkable 9-day tour. Immerse yourself in the rich cultures of these historic Gaelic nations as you embark on a captivating journey.

• Cruise Loch Lomond
• Clydeside Distillery Tour
• Glasgow City Tour
• Ferry to Belfast
• Glenshane Country Farm
• Giants Causeway
• Hillsborough Castle
• Carlingford Lough Ferry
• Farewell dinner and show

My Ireland Tour:

My Ireland Tour is a family business based right here in County Cork. Thanks for visiting our website: we're thrilled that you're interested in visiting the country we call home. As an independent Irish business, we're proud that we can give each guest the kind of service that has made us Ireland's top-rated tour operator. We hope to offer you a real Irish welcome soon. Our family business (My Ireland Tour Limited) is registered in Ireland, Company Number 547775.

Contact Us:

• 5 Church Hill  Carrigaline  Co. Cork  P43 X376  Ireland

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• Northern Ireland
• Plan The Ultimate Road Trip...

Plan the Ultimate Road Trip Through Northern Ireland

Bag a set of wheels – the coast of Northern Ireland is road-trip heaven. It’s reasonably sized, so your journeys are short, which means more time to stop and explore. Pack your swimmers and walking boots – there are beautiful beaches and nature reserves to explore – and don’t forget a smart outfit or two, the cities offer plenty of culture. To help you plan your next adventure, here is how to create the ultimate road trip in Northern Ireland.

Which route should i take.

Take the Causeway Coastal Route – the most exciting road trip in Northern Ireland – from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry. It hits many of the major coastal stop-offs, including National Trust sites and a handful of Game of Thrones filming locations. It’s also relatively short, meaning there’s flexibility should you wish to stay a day or two longer in a destination. The following five-day itinerary, though, will serve most road-trippers well.

Top tip: No matter when you plan to come – though you will aim for the summer months ideally – you’ll need to pack for a variety of weather conditions. Northern Ireland is famous for its unpredictable skies, so pack for light rain, afternoon heat, spring showers and wind.

Day 1: Start your road trip with a cultural excursion in Belfast

Start your trip in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Stroll through the cobbled streets of the Cathedral Quarter and enjoy an Ulster fry-up in St George’s Market. Before you drive out of town, grab a picture of Samson and Goliath – two giant, yellow shipbuilding cranes that have become a quirky tourist attraction.

A 30-minute ride will take you to Carrickfergus, the first stop of the tour and a town home to one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland. Having survived 800 years – plus numerous assaults by the Scots, Irish, English and French – it now houses an interesting collection of historical artefacts and cannons.

Then head 20 minutes north to The Gobbins, a 2mi (3km) walk along the cliffs of Islandmagee. It’s a rather spectacular route carved into the cliffside more than a century ago for Edwardian tourists.

See the route for Day 1 .

Day 2: Discover the Glens of Antrim

Day 2 starts at Glenarm Castle and Gardens , a horticulturist’s dream. You can explore the oldest walled gardens in Ireland and enjoy a 19th-century afternoon tea in the Mushroom House. Come in May to walk among thousands of tulips during the annual tulip festival.

Next, head to the Glens of Antrim. There are nine glens to explore; stop at Glenarm and tackle the walking trails of Glenarm Forest. If you stroll by the river, keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers and otters.

Then travel to Cushendun, a beautiful harbour town modelled on Cornish villages, to visit Glenmona House, a grand estate and home to the endangered red squirrel.

See the route for Day 2 , including several alternative routes through the Glens of Antrim.

Day 3: Head up North

Things are about to get windy as you head north up the coast. Your first stop of the day is at Torr Head, an enchanting cove only 13mi (18km) across the sea from Scotland. This was a lookout for Atlantic and transatlantic ships two centuries ago, and has fantastic views of Rathlin Island. Bring your binoculars to spot the puffin population on Rathlin and dolphins and porpoises in the water.

Your next destination, Ballintoy, the fictional capital of Pyke and (in real life) home to beautiful church buildings and a harbour, actually featured in a Game of Thrones episode. White Park Bay, a short walk from Ballintoy, has a sandy beach, rocky shores and views of the Causeway coast.

See the route for Day 3 .

Day 4: Explore myths and legends at the Giant’s Causeway

Day 4 will see the longest drive on the entire Causeway route, at just under four hours. However, you’ll also arrive at Unesco-listed heritage site the Giant’s Causeway, a phenomenal 40,000-basalt-rock formation. Legend says that it was created by Irish giant Finn MacCool (Fionn mac Cumhaill in Gaelic) to meet his Scottish enemy.

Top tip: park in the nearby town of Bushmills and take the shuttle bus – it will save time. Also remember, you don’t need to pay to visit the Giant’s Causeway. Enter via the alternative route by the Visitors Centre to avoid the fee.

When you have fully explored the site, drive to Dunluce Castle, another Game of Thrones location. Today it’s one of the most photographed ruins in Northern Ireland and a favourite for location scouts (it also hosted Jackie Chan’s 2003 film The Medallion ).

See the route for Day 4 .

Day 5: Finish the trip in Derry/Londonderry

First up today is Downhill Demesne, a National Trust site with the ruins of an 18th-century mansion, the cliffside Mussenden Temple (modelled on the Temple of Vesta in Rome) and a walled garden. From here, travel inland to Roe Valley Country Park, with more wildlife than you can count and more forest than you can hike. The park is on the outer region of Limavady, on the west coast.

The last stop is the border city of Derry/Londonderry. Explore the 400-year-old city walls and step across the S-shaped Peace Bridge (an acknowledgement that the road to peace is never a simple one).

See the route for Day 5 .

Where to stay on a road trip in Northern Ireland?

1. the fitzwilliam hotel, for a cosy start in belfast.

Upon entering the Fitzwilliam, you’ll be greeted by an open fire framed by tall bookshelves and beige sofas – it feels like a home from home. The location is perfect too; just a couple of steps from the grand Opera Hall and only five minutes to Donegall Place, the main shopping street in Belfast.

2. Slieve Donard Hotel and Spa, for countryside relaxation

The award-winning Slieve Donard Hotel and Spa, sat at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, is on 2.5ha (6 acres) of beautiful private gardens. If you can drag yourself from the hotel, you’ll find heaps of local attractions and nature spots showcasing the best of the Northern Irish countryside. After a day exploring, fuel up on grub from one of the many hotel restaurants.

Start planning your adventure in Ireland today.

Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.

Our immersive trips , led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>

All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.

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The Story Behind Northern Ireland's Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail

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The dirty onion: the irish bar with a menu for dogs.

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The Best Day Trips in Northern Ireland

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Map of Ireland with places to visit

With our interactive Ireland map, all the must-see attractions in Ireland and Northern Ireland are just one click away. Here you’ll find a comprehensive overview of scenic highlights, cliffs, beaches, castles, antiquities, gardens and much more. 

Meeting of the Waters & Old Weir Bridge

The National Monument

Nano Nagle Bridge

White Strand Beach

White Strand Bay

Vartry Reservoir

Vandeleur Walled Garden

Trinity College

Tourmakeady Waterfall

Torc Mountain Walk

Three Castle Head

St. Lua’s Oratory

St. Flannan’s Oratory

St. Brendan’s Well

Srahwee Wedge Tomb

Spinc and Glenealo Valley

Sketrick Castle

Cloghleagh Bridge & Shankill River

Seven Heads Bay

Sandycove Beach

Reefert Church

Ravensdale Dolmen

Rath Strand

Pulleen Loop Walk

Pulleen Harbour Bog

Powerscourt Waterfall

Port an Dorais

Pincher Bay

Old Bawn Beach

Nun’s Cove

Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

Mullinhassig Wood & Poulanassig Waterfall

Muckross Lake

Muckross House & Gardens

Muckross Friary

Mornington Strand

Moone High Cross

Moloney’s Strand

Glendalough Miners Village

Mahon Falls

Loughane More Ring Fort

Lough Currane

Looscaunagh Lough

Long Woman’s Grave

Lissadell House & Gardens

Lettergesh Beach

Kockaunaniller Cliffs

Carlingford Castle

Kindred Spirits

Kilmacduagh Monastery & Round Tower

Killiney Beach

Kilcummin Bay Beach

Kilcooley Abbey

Kells Priory

Jameson Distillery Midleton

Enniscrone Castle

Hussey’s Folly

Huntington Castle and Gardens

Purteen Harbour

Grotto & Slate Quarry

Golden Castle

Glengarriff Nature Reserve

Glenarm Valley

Glenballyeamon

Gleensk Viaduct

Glebe Stone Circles

Glassilaun Beach

Glanleam Beach

Galley Cove

Split Rock / Fionn Mac Cumhal’s Stone

Eyrephort Beach

English Market in Cork

Dunworley Beach

Dunworley Bay

Dunbrody Castle

Dunany Beach

Dromineer Castle

Dingle Lighthouse

Dhurode Mine Powder House

Derryveagh Mountains

Cuas Pier Caves

Creagh Graveyard

Craigs Lower Passage Tomb

Courtown Beach

Shankill Beach

Coom Wedge Tomb

Cockle Row Cottages

Clonegal Bridge

Castlehaven Strand

Castledermot Friary

Castledermot Round Tower & High Crosses

Cashel Murphy

Carrowmore Lake

Carrowmore Beach

Carnivan Bay

Cahersiveen

Cahermore Pier

Burren Perfumery

Bunowen Castle

Brownshill Dolmen

Brigit’s Garden

Blarney Castle

Blackstairs Mountains

Bird Island

Bellacragher Bay

Barryscourt Castle

Barry’s Cove

Bishop’s Quarter Beach

Ballyvaughan

Ballymoney Beach

Ballymalis Castle

Ballydavid Cliff Walk

Ballinskelligs Pier

Tinnaberna Bay Beach

Dolmen of the Four Maols

Ardmore Point

Annascaul Lake

An Bhinn Dubh

Altagore Cashel

Ahakista Pier

High Mournes Scenic Loop

Coomhola Bridge

St Vincent’s Bridge

Shandon Bridge

Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral

Shandon Bells and Tower – St. Anne’s Church

Toe Head Signal Tower

Benvoy Strand

Roaringwater Bay

Wynn’s Castle

Warren Beach

Grand Canal

Urris Hills

Twelve Bens

Tranabo Cove

Tralong Bay

Traloher Strand

Torc Waterfall

Addergoole Titanic Memorial Park

The Gearagh

Tetrapod Footprints

Templetown Church

Temple of Deen

Pigeon Hole Cave and Teach Aille Cave

Swiss Cottage

St. Saviour’s Priory

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Sigginstown Castle

Shronebirrane Stone Circle

Sherkin Island

Sheen Falls

Rosscarbery

Rossbrin Castle

Ross Errilly Friary

Ross Castle

Rock Art at Letter West

Reenroe Beach / Inny Strand

Rattoo Round Tower

Rathlin Island

Rathfran Priory

Rabbit Island

Puffin Island

Puck’s Castle

Glengarriff

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Poulgorm Bridge

Owenahincha

The Old Barracks

Northburgh Castle

National Museum of Ireland

National Library of Ireland

Mount Gabriel

Mount Errigal

The Mottee Stone

Moll’s Gap

Memorial Garden in Kilmore Quay

Meeting of the Waters

Maynooth Castle

Mare’s Tail Waterfall

Magilligan Point

Macroom Castle

Loughareema

Lough Corrib

Lough Caragh

Lough Aughawoolia

Lough Abisdealy

Long Strand

Leacanabuaile Stone Fort

Lauragh Forest

Larrybane Quarry

Ladies’ View

Labbacallee Wedge Tomb

Kylemore Abbey

Knightstown

King John’s Castle

Kilmakilloge Church and Cemetery

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilcoe Castle

Kilcatherine Church and Cemetery

Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve

Macgillycuddy’s Reeks

Kerry Highlands

Kenmare Stone Circle

Kenmare River

Keelbeg Pier

Kealkill Stone Circle

John D’Arcy Monument

Jerpoint Abbey

Holy Island

Hill of Tara

Guinness Storehouse

Grange Stone Circle

Gougane Barra

Goat Island

Glenveagh National Park

Glenmore Valley

Gleninagh Castle

Glencar Waterfall

Glenbeg Lough

Glen of Aherlow

Gleesk Pier

Glanworth Castle

Glanmore Lake

Garnish Beach

Gap of Dunloe

Foilhommerum Bay

Ferrycarrig Tower House

Ferns Cathedral

Ferns Castle

Glenariff Forest Park

Errew Abbey

Enniscorthy Castle

Dwyer-McAllister Cottage

Scotsman’s Bay – Dún Laoghaire

Merrion Square

Half Penny Bridge

Dublin Castle

Drumlohan Ogham Stones and Souterrain

Downhill Beach

Downeen Castle

Doonbeg Castle

Doonagore Castle

Dooks Beach

Desmond Castle Adare

Derrynane Beg Ogham Stone

Derrynane House

Derrymore Beach

Derryclare Lough

Derreen Garden

Cranny Falls

Craggaunowen

Courtmacsherry Woods

Coppinger’s Court

Coosacuslaun Bay

Coomasaharn Lake

Cloonsharragh Standing Stones

Cloonee Lough

Clontygora Court Tomb

Clonca Church and High Cross

Clogher Strand

Glenevin Waterfall

Causeway Coast Way

Causestown Castle

Castletownshend

Castlepoint

Castlehaven Bay

Castlefreke Woods

Cashelkeelty Stone Circles

Carton House

Carrowmore High Crosses

Carrigaphooca Castle

Carriganass Castle

Carrigadrohid Castle

Carlingford Lough

Cahir Castle

Caha Mountains

Old Bushmills Distillery

Burrishoole Abbey

Buncrana Bridge

Bunagee Old Pier

Bonane Heritage Park

Boheh Stone

Bocan Stone Circle

Blennerville Windmill

The Blasket Centre

Blackstones Bridge

Black Valley

Bishop’s Quarter

Beltany Stone Circle

Beaghmore Stone Circles

Barnancleeve Gap

Barloge Creek

Barley Lake

Bantry House and Gardens

Banagher Old Church

Dún na Séad Castle

Church Strand Bay

Ballyrisode Beach

Ballynahinch Castle

Ballylinchy Signal Tower

Ballylahan Castle

Ballydonegan Beach

Ballydehob Viaduct

Ballycrovane Harbour

Ballycorus Leadmines

Ballybrack Dolmen

Ballaghisheen Pass

Ballaghbeama Gap

Aughadown Church and Graveyard

Athgreany Piper’s Stones

Ardmore Beach

Ashford Castle

Ardclinis Church

Ardgroom Stone Circle

Annagh Killadangan Archaeological Complex

Garrykennedy

Dark Hedges

Downhill Demense and Hezlett House

Dalkey Island

Dalkey Castle

Trawnamoe Cove

Brown’s Bay

Hill of Uisneach

Titanic Belfast

Rogerstown Estuary

Bannow Church

Priest’s Leap

Glanteenassig Forest Park

Dysert O’Dea

Abbey Island

Christ Church Cathedral

Reginald’s Tower

Athassel Priory

Rock of Cashel

Clonmacnoise

Portumna Castle and Gardens

Rock of Dunamase

Kilkenny Castle

Mellifont Abbey

Trim Castle

Hill of Slane

Monasterboice

Powerscourt Gardens

Castle Roche

Glendalough

Bloody Foreland

Ballyhiernan Bay

Isle of Doagh

Kinnagoe Bay

Inishowen Head

Mussenden Temple

Londonderry

Whiterocks Beach

Whiterocks Bay

Dunluce Castle

Giant‘s Causeway

Dunseverick Castle

Dunseverick Falls

White Park Bay

Ballintoy Harbour

Carrick-a-Rede

Kinbane Castle

Ballycastle Beach

Bonamargy Friary

Murlough Bay

Torr Head Scenic Route

Layd Old Church

Red Bay Castle

Garron Point

Carnlough Harbour

Walled Garden at Glenarm Castle

Glenarm Harbour

Antrim Coast Road

Ballygalley

The Maidens

Blackhead Lighthouse

Gobbins Cliff Path

Carrickfergus Castle

Belfast Castle

Cave Hill and McArts Fort – Belfast

Donaghadee Lighthouse

Kearney Village

Mount Stewart House and Gardens

Scrabo Tower

Lightship L.V. Petrel

Strangford Lough

Nendrum Monastic Site

St. Patrick‘s Grave in Downpatrick

Down Cathedral in Downpatrick

Castle Ward

Killard National Nature Reserve

Ardtole Church in Ardglass

St John‘s Point Lighthouse

Rossglass Beach

Dundrum Castle

Murlough National Nature Reserve

Annalong Cornmill

Silent Valley in Mourne Mountains

Greencastle

Cloughmore Stone

Narrow Water Keep

Flagstaff Viewpoint

Cooley Mountains

Carlingford

Kilwirra Church

Proleek Dolmen

Carrig Cultra Wetlands near Blackrock

Dromiskin Monastery

Salterstown Pier

Port Beach or Lurganboy Beach

Termonfeckin Castle

Baltray Beach

Drogheda Port East Lighthouse

Laytown Beach

Balbriggan Harbour

Ardgillan Castle

Red Island Skerries

St. Patrick‘s Footprint in Skerries

Skerries Mills

Skerries Islands

Loughshinny

Lusk Round Tower

Tower Bay Beach

Donabate to Portrane Cliff Walk

Balcarrick Beach Donabate

Malahide Castle

Malahide Estuary

The Velvet Strand in Portmarnock

Howth Lighthouse

Howth Castle

St. Mary’s Abbey in Howth

Baily Lighthouse at Howth Head

Martello Tower in Sutton

North Bull Wall

Dollymount Strand and Bull Island

Wooden Bridge in Clontarf

Clontarf Pier

River Liffey

Samuel Beckett Bridge

Great South Wall

Seapoint Beach

Forty Foot in Sandycove

James Joyce Tower in Sandycove

Bullock Harbour

Coliemore Harbour

Sorrento Park

Killiney Hill

The Pyramid at Killiney Hill

The Obelisk at Killiney Hill

Bray Cliff Walk

Six Mile Point Newcastle

Wicklow Harbour

Black Castle Wicklow

Wicklow Head

Brittas Bay

Redcross River

Arklow Harbour

Clogga Strand

Kilmichael Point

Courtown Harbour

Norman Motte Glasscarrig

Cahore Beach

Curracloe Beach

Raven Nature Reserve

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

Burrow Peninsula Rosslare

Rosslare Strand

Johnstown Castle

Our Lady‘s Island

Tacumshane Windmill

Ishartmon Church

Kilmore Quay

Shell Cottage

Bannow Island

Woods at Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey

Shipwrecks near Saltmills

Fethard Quay

Baginbun Head

Hook Lighthouse

St Dubhán‘s Church

Duncannon Fort

Ballyhack Castle

Dunbrody Abbey

Dunmore East

Metal Man Tramore

Garrus Strand

Kilfarrasy Strand

Dunhill Castle

Dunabrattin Bay

Tankardstown Copper Mines

Bunmahon Bay

Ballydowane Bay

Ballyvoony Cove

Stradbally Cove

Ballinacourty Lighthouse

Waterford Greenway

Dungarvan Castle

Davitt‘s Quay Dungarvan

Dungarvan Harbour

Helvick Head

Ballyquin Strand

Ardmore Cliff Walk

Ardmore Round Tower

Youghal Clock Gate Tower

Youghal Lighthouse

Garryvoe Beach

Ballymaloe Cookery School

Ballymaloe House

Ballycotton Lighthouse

Ballycotton Cliff Walk

Ballycroneen

Cloyne Round Tower

Roches Point

Little Island

Fota Island Castle

Fota Arboretum and Gardens

River Lee at Passage West

River Owenabue

Roberts‘ Cove

Myrtleville Beach

Tracton Woods

Rocky Bay Beach

Nohoval Cove

Charles Fort

James‘s Fort Kinsale

Lough Foyle

Dunmanus Bay

Barley Cove

Toormore Bay

Altar Wedge Tomb

Baltimore Beacon

Gurranes Stone Row

Raheen Tower House

Drombeg Stone Circle

Galley Head

Inchydoney Island

Timoleague Abbey

Harbour View

Courtmacsherry Bay

White Strand Garrylucas

Old Head of Kinsale

Ringrone Castle

Kinsale Harbour

Sheep‘s Head

Seefin Viewpoint

Garinish Island – Ilnacullin

Seal Harbour

Dunboy Castle

Pulleen Harbour

Firkeel Bay

Dursey Island

Dursey Sound

Ballydonegan Bay

Ballydonegan

Allihies Copper Mines

Ring of Beara

Hag of Beara

Kilmakilloge

Ardea Castle

Staigue Fort

White Strand

O’Carroll’s Cove

Lamb‘s Head

Derrynane Beach

Coomakesta Pass

Eightercua Stone Row

Ballinskelligs Bay

St. Finian‘s Bay

Coomanaspig Pass

Kerry Cliffs

Skellig Michael

Geokaun Mountain

Cromwell Point Lighthouse

Ballycarbery Castle

Cahergal Stone Fort

Mountain Stage

Rossbeigh Strand

Minard Castle

Kinard Beach

Dingle Town

Dunbeg Fort

Fahan Group

Slea Head Drive

Coumeenoole Bay

Great Blasket Island

Blasket Sound

Dunquin Pier

Clogher Head

Smerwick Harbour

Reask Monastic Site

Wine Strand

Gallarus Oratory

Dooneen Pier

Brandon Point

Fermoyle Strand

Castlegregory

Fenit Beach

Ballyheigue Beach

Ballybunion

Bromore Cliffs

Carrigafoyle Castle

Killimer – Tarbert Ferry

Scattery Island

Shannon Estuary

Carrigaholt Castle

Bridges of Ross

Kilkee Cliffs

White Strand Dunbeg

Doolin Pier

Fanore Beach

Limestone Coast of The Burren

Ballyvaughan Pier

Shanmuckinish Castle

Finavarra Point

Finavarra House

Flaggy Shore

Tawnagh Mill

Dunguaire Castle

Rinville Park

Silverstrand Beach

Spiddal Pier

Ballynahown Pier

Coral Beach

Lettermore Causeway

Illaunnaginga

Pearse‘s Cottage

Gorteen Bay

Aillebrack Beach

Derrigimlagh

Clifden Castle

Omey Island

Knockbrack Megalithic Tomb

Connemara National Park

Rinvyle Point

Rosroe Quay

Killary Harbour

Aasleagh Falls

Doolough Valley

Silver Strand

Carrownisky Strand

Old Head Beach

National Famine Memorial

Croagh Patrick

Carraigahowley Castle

Mulranny Beach

Corraun Peninsula

Kildavnet Castle

Atlantic Drive

Ashleam Bay

Minaun Heights

Trawmore Bay

Moyteogue Head

Achill Head

Deserted Village Achill Island

Doogort Beach

Doohoma Head

Claggan Island

Annagh Head

Doonamo Point

Ballyglass Lighthouse

Benwee Head

Céide Fields

Bunatrahir Bay

Downpatrick Head

Lackan Strand

Moyne Friary

Rosserk Friary

Ballina Quay

Easky Beach

Aughris Head

Dunmoran Strand

Culleenamore Strand

The Fairy Glen

Rosses Point

Raghly Harbour

Streedagh Point

Mullaghmore Head

Tullan Strand

Ballyshannon

Kilbarron Castle

Rossnowlagh Beach

Murvagh Beach

St. John‘s Point

Fintragh Bay

Muckross Head

Teelin Pier

Slieve League

Glengesh Pass

Maghera Beach

Loughros Beg Bay

Kilclooney Dolmen

Fall Island

Carrickfin Beach

Illannamarve

Dunmore Strand

Cara Na Mara Bunbeg

Tory Island

Marblehill Beach

Tranarossan Bay

Boyeeghter Bay

Donaghmore Strand

Kinny Lough

Great Pollet Arch

Ballymastocker Bay

Lough Swilly

Burt Castle

Grianán of Aileach

Inch Island

Lisfanon Beach

Dunree Head

Gap of Mamore

Tullagh Bay

Carrickabraghy Castle

Trawbreaga Bay

Culdaff Beach

Magilligan Point View

Five Fingers Strand

National Wax Museum

Uragh Stone Circle

Keem Strand

Cliffs of Moher

Interactive Ireland Map with sights and attractions

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Game of Thrones Ireland: 16 Filming Locations From The Show (+ Handy Map)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: February 1, 2024

Although the show finished well over 10 years ago, each week, without fail, we get emails looking for info on the Game of Thrones Ireland connection.

In a nutshell, a whopping 25 different locations in Northern Ireland were used during the filming of the hit HBO series.

Some, like Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges , are well known while others, like the beautiful Tollymore Forest Park and Inch Abbey, tend to get missed.

In the guide below, you’ll discover where to find the different Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations, what scenes they appeared in along with info on Game of Thrones tours.

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows about the Game of Thrones Ireland connection

Click to enlarge map

Below, you’ll find some quick info about the Game of Thrones Northern Ireland connection that’s worth a quick read before you scroll on past to see the locations.

1. Why Ireland

According to reports, the Game of Thrones Ireland connection could have easily been a Scottish one instead! It’s said that the producers were debating both places, but that Northern Ireland offered incentives (finance, tax relief, studio space and location access) to secure the deal.

2. The filming locations

Although there were reports of 25 Game of Thrones Ireland locations , the main ones are Tollymore Forest Park, Inch Abbey, Castle Ward, Toome Canal, Slemish Mountain, the Glens of Antrim, Cushendun Caves, Murlough Bay, Ballintoy Harbour and The Dark Hedges. Discover more below.

3. The writers met in college in Dublin

Yep, randomly enough, two of the writers for the show, Dan Weiss and David Benioff, met in Dublin while studying at Trinity College in 1995.

Game of Thrones filming locations Ireland map

The map above has the various Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations plotted out on it. As you can see, the bulk are in Antrim and Down.

However, there’s also one (Pollnagollum Cave) over in County Fermanagh. The only thing this map leaves out is the studios in Belfast where certain scenes were recorded.

An overview of each of the Game of Thrones filming locations in Ireland

Photos via Shutterstock

It’s time to dive into the different Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland, and there’s plenty to get through.

Below, you’ll discover the places that were used to depict everywhere from Lordsport Harbour and The Stormlands to Dothraki Sea, Slaver’s Bay and more.

1. Murlough Bay (Slaver’s Bay)

The first of our Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations is the glorious Murlough Bay – arguably one of the most overlooked of the many Antrim Coast attractions .

It was here that Tyrion Lannister and Jorah Mormont happened upon on their way to Meereen. Alas, there journey hit a bump when they encountered slavers.

There’s a lovely ramble at Murlough Bay that’ll treat you to views of everything from the Scottish Islands to Rathlin Island on a clear day.

2. Fair Head (Dragonstone Cliffs)

The towering Fair Head Cliffs stand just up along the coast from Murlough Bay where the measure a dizzying 600 feet in height.

The cliffs were used to depict Dragonstone and it was here, on Antrim’s blustery coast, that Jon Snow had an encounter with Daenerys… and her big aul dragon!

If you visit, you’re a stone’s throw from both Torr Head and the town of Ballycastle , where you can grab a bite to eat, if you fancy.

3. Larrybane Quarry (Renly Baratheon’s Camp)

The next Game of Thrones Ireland location is the often-overlooked Larrybane Quarry , which can be found a short distance from the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge .

The quarry was used at Renly Baratheon’s Camp (a section of the Stormlands) and the scene showed Renly and his queen, Margaery Tyrell, watching a battle .

It was also at Larrybane Quarry that Renly met with Catelyn Stark . Now, a warning – this is one of several Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland that doesn’t really resemble what was shown in the show.

4. Ballintoy Harbour (Lordsport Harbour)

Westward from Larrybane Quarry lies Ballintoy Harbour . After descending a steep and narrow road (and I mean narrow)  you’ll reach a small fishing harbour.

The well-protected bay shields the harbour, nearly enclosing it on all sides and making for a very scenic rest stop. Ballintoy was used to depict Lordsport Harbour in Season 2 .

It was at Ballintoy that Theon Greyjoy returned home. It was at Ballintoy that Theon Greyjoy returned home. You’ll find a plaque at the harbour with info on the scene.

5. The Dark Hedges (Road from King’s Landing)

The Dark Hedges are arguably the Game of Thrones Ireland location that receives the most attention online. The trees here were planted in 1775 by James Stuart to make the approach to his Georgian estate more impressive.

The Dark Hedges were used Season 2, episode 1: On the King’ s Road to depict, unsurprisingly enough, the King’s Road.

The scene that they feature in shows Arya Stark escaping from the King’s Landing and travelling with the Night’s Watch, dressed as a boy. You’ll find it a stone’s throw from the Old Bushmills Distillery .

6. Portstewart Strand (Dorne Coast)

Portstewart Strand in Derry is arguably one of the best beaches in Northern Ireland, and it was here, on the nearly 2 miles of glorious sand, that Jamie and Bronn got into a bit of bother .

The pair were captured at Portstewart by some Dornish soldiers. It was also here were Ellaria and the Sand Snakes discussed a going up against the Lannisters .

There’s plenty of things to do in Derry after you visit Portstewart, from the historic Derry City to our next, very close by attraction.

7. Downhill Beach (Dragonstone)

You’ll find few temples in Ireland (or anywhere, really!) with a location as dramatic as Mussenden – a replica of Rome’s Temple of Vesta .

The temple offers a magnificent view over Downhill Beach, which is right next to Portstewart Strand.

If you cast your mind back, it was at Mussenden Temple that Stannis Baratheon rejected the old gods of Westeros and is proclaimed of the Lord of Light.

8. Cushendun Caves (The Stormlands / Shadow Creature Scene)

The Cushendun Caves are another of the better-known Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations, and a quick glance above should give you an idea as to why.

Formed over a period of 400 million years , the caves can be found a stones throw from the little village of Cushendun , designed in the style of a Cornish village.

The Cushendun Caves were made famous by Game of Thrones in Season 2 Episode 4 where they were used as the Shadow creature’s birth site .

9. Castle Ward (Winterfell)

Photos courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland

You’ll find the 16th-century Castle Ward , which was the backdrop for the series pilot and a chunk of season one, just 40 minutes from Belfast.

Castle Ward was used as ‘Winterfell’ – the home of the Stark family . Its towering medieval walls and now-iconic castle tower gate made it an ideal shooting location for the show.

It’s also here that you’ll find what is arguably the most popular Game of Thrones tour Northern Ireland has to offer. More on the tours later in the guide.

10. Inch Abbey (Riverrun)

You’ll discover the ruins of Inch Abbey situated on the northern bank of the Quoile River, where it has been since the 12th or 13th century.

You might recognise Inch Abbey as the setting for the Riverlands scenes , i.e. the beginning of the War of the Five Kings.

If you visit when the weather’s fine, keep an eye out for Downpatrick Cathedral. It’s said that this is where St. Patrick is buried.

11. Dunluce Castle (Pyke Castle)

Home to the House of Greyjoy , GOT fans may not immediately recognise Dunluce Castle as the filming location for Castle Greyjoy, AKA Pyke Castle. This is due to the fact that a fair sprinkling of CGI was used.

However, as you near the ancient castle – originally dating back to the 13th century – you’ll soon see how and why they filmed these scenes here.

Similar to nearby Kinbane Castle and Dunseverick Castle , the ruins of Dunluce Castle are located right next to the sea.

12. Tollymore Forest Park (The Haunted Forest)

Tollymore Forest Park is another of our favoiurite places to visit in Northern Ireland – few parks on earth pack a punch like this place.

This expanse of forest is home to medieval gates, bridges that look like they’ve been plucked from Lord of The Rigs and endless, beautiful red woods.

The park was used to portray The Haunted Forest and it was here where the Starks met their baby Direwolves for the very first time.

13. Slemish Mountain (Dothraki Sea)

Our next Game of Thrones Northern Ireland location has a mighty tale attached to it – it was here, on Slemish Mountain , where St. Patrick was taken…

After he was kidnapped by pirates as a kid! It’s right below the mountain that you’ll find Shillanavogy Valley, which was used to portray Dothraki Sea in the show.

It featured in a scene where Khal Drogo travelled to see his new wife, Vaes Dothrak (it was the land here that he rode across !).

14. Glenariff Forest Park (Runestone)

You’ll find our next location, Glenariff Forest Park , tucked away in the Glens of Antrim , where it’s home to woodland, waterfalls and stunning scenery.

It was here (or Galboly, to be specific) that was used as Runestone in the show . It was Runestone where Lord Yohn Royce took Robyn Arryn.

There was also a scene where Sansa Stark watched as Robyn Arryn tried his hand at dueling. There’s some great walks to tackle here!

15. Binevenagh

Binevenagh Mountain is a Game of Thrones Northern Ireland location that many miss! It was here that Daenerys fled to with her dragon after escaping Meereen.

Binevenagh sits at the outermost edge of the breath-taking Antrim Plateau, and those that conquer the hike here will be treated to views out over Armagh and Derry.

When you finish up, you’re a short spin away from Downhill Beach and Portstewart Strand. You’re also a handy 40-minute drive from the lovely little town of Portrush .

16. Pollnagollum Cave

Our final Game of Thrones Northern Ireland location takes us out to County Fermanagh and into the Marble Arch Caves Geopark (not far from the Cuilcagh boardwalk ).

It’s here that you’ll also find Pollnagollum Cave, where it’s hidden away behind a waterfall. It was here that the Brotherhood Without Banners hid from the forces of Lannister.

There’s plenty of unique things to do in Fermanagh , and the walk out to see the waterfall is just one of them!

Game of Thrones tours from Belfast

Thanks to the Game of Thrones Northern Ireland connection, a handful of tours have sprung up that make the perfect day trip from Belfast .

We’ve featured several of them in this guide over the years, but only one has maintained consistently good reviews – this one (affiliate link).

This is a 9-hour tour that’ll take you to everywhere from Dunluce Castle and Ballintoy Harbour to popular locations that weren’t used during filming, like Carrickfergus Castle and the Giant’s Causeway .

Review wise, they’ve racked up 4.6/5 from 890+ reviews, at the time of typing.

Check prices + read reviews here

Game of Thrones Northern Ireland FAQs

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from where can you get a Game of Thrones filming locations Ireland map to what scenes were shot here.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What is the Game of Thrones Ireland connection?

The Game of Thrones Ireland connection is that many scenes for the HBO series were shot here over a number of years, for example, Ballintoy Harbour and Cushendun Caves.

Where are the Game of Thrones filming locations in Ireland?

The main Game of Thrones Ireland locations are: Tollymore Forest Park, Inch Abbey, Castle Ward, Toome Canal, Slemish Mountain and the Glens of Antrim. See above for the rest.

Where was Game of Thrones filmed?

Although there’s a strong Game of Thrones Ireland link, the show was filmed across the world, with locations in Malta, Iceland, Croatia and more.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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‘Extreme’ solar storm triggers Northern Lights as far south as Florida Friday

Skies across the u.s. lit in a spectacular colorful glow not seen in years to decades as massive solar flares slammed into earth on friday, triggering "extreme" levels of geomagnetic activity. and the show may not be over for a while..

Strongest solar action in a decade impacting Earth right now

Aurora viewers will want to keep their eyes to the sky this weekend as a solar flare from the Sun is impacting Earth right now. Current forecasts indicate this storm will continue into Saturday morning across North America.

Skies across the U.S. were lit in a spectacular, colorful glow at levels not seen in years or decades as massive solar flares slammed into Earth on Friday.

Northern Light displays, typically relegated to states along the Canadian border during a typical geomagnetic storm, reached as far as the Gulf Coast Friday night, with pink, green and purple skies reported in Florida, Texas and Alabama. 

The SWPC says satellites observed conditions that reached level 5 on their 5-point scale of geomagnetic activity on Friday evening, noted as an "extreme" event and the first such storm to reach that level since October 2003.  While conditions have since drifted back to a level 4 storm Saturday morning, more geomagnetic activity is heading Earth's way over the weekend from additional solar flares, possibly lasting into early next week.

NOAA observed yet another massive X-class solar flare released from the Sun on Friday evening, rating it as X5.4 on their scale, among the strongest flares of recent activity. 

10 May 2024, Brandenburg, Sieversdorf: Light green and violet-reddish auroras glow in the night sky in the Oder-Spree district of East Brandenburg. The northern lights (aurora borealis) are produced by a cloud of electrically charged particles from a solar storm in the earth's atmosphere. (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)

A brilliant display of the Aurora Australis (aka the "Southern Lights") over New Zealand as a severe geomagnetic storm reaches Earth on May 10, 2024.  (@AndrewDickson13 via X)

Northern Lights from Missoula, Montana during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (NWS Missoula)

Northern Lights from Seattle during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (NWS Seattle)

Northern Lights from Great Falls, Montana during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (NWS Great Falls, Montana)

Northern Lights from Mukilteo, Washington during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (Scott Sistek)

10 May 2024, Baden-Württemberg, Freiburg: Northern lights appear over the Dreisamtal valley in the Black Forest near Freiburg. (Photo by Valentin Gensch/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Northern Lights from Shreveport, Louisiana during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (NWS Shreveport)

FOX Weather Storm Tracker Mark Sudduth caught a stunning view of the aurora over South Carolina while in a plane. (Mark Sudduth)

View from Concord, N.C. (Jay Caceres)

Outside of the NWS office in Caribou, Maine. ( )

Northern lights or aurora borealis illuminate the night sky over a camper's tent north of San Francisco in Middletown, California on May 11, 2024. The most powerful solar storm in more than two decades struck Earth, triggering spectacular celestial light shows from Tasmania to Britain -- and threatening possible disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Northern Lights from Reno, Nevada during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (NWS Reno)

Northern Lights from Riverton, Wyoming during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (NWS Riverton)

Northern Lights from Great Falls, Montana during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. ( )

Northern Lights from Hastings, Nebraska during an extreme geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. (NWS Hastings)

Forecasters at the NWS office in Calera, AL saw the aurora and the space station. (@NWSBirmingham)

Clear skies led the Northern Lights to be visible in Texas and New Mexico (@NWSElPaso)

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon over Basingstoke in Hampshire. Picture date: Friday May 10, 2024. (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)

SEE MORE: EXTREME GEOMAGNETIC STORM TRIGGERS JAW-DROPPING AURORAS AROUND THE WORLD

Aside from brilliant and widespread displays of the aurora, geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations, the SWPC says. The last time Earth experienced a Level 5 geomagnetic event, there were power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.

THE HISTORY OF EARTH'S GREATEST SOLAR STORMS

"We have notified all of our infrastructure operators that we coordinate with, such as satellite operators, communication folks, and of course, the power grid here in North America," SWPC coordinator Shawn Dahl said Friday. "So they are able and prepared to take mitigation efforts as much as possible throughout this event if it should unfold to the levels that we currently are anticipating."

SpaceX's Starlink service warned on its website Saturday morning that it was experiencing "degraded service," though it didn't give further details. Yet SpaceX head Elon Musk had earlier posted on X that the Starlink satellites were under a lot of pressure due to the geomagnetic storm and were still holding up.

Massive sunspot 17 times the size of Earth creating multiple flares

Two massive sunspots have recently merged and spit out at least three X-class (largest) and several M-class (second-largest) solar flares . According to NOAA, the explosive acceleration of charged and superheated plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection or CME, speeds through space and expands. 

The new sunspot is 17 times the diameter of the Earth.

"These two sunspot clusters are magnetically complex and much larger than Earth. Together they have been the source of frequent M-class flares (minor to moderate)," stated the Space Weather Prediction Center. "RGN 3664 (the combined sunspot region) continues to grow and increase in magnetic complexity and has evolved into a higher threat of increased solar flare risk."

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured these images of the solar flares — as seen in the bright flashes in the left image (May 8 flare) and the right image (May 7 flare). The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in orange.

(NASA/SDO / NOAA)

Amid the multiple solar flares, NOAA space weather forecasters have observed at least seven CMEs from the sun, with the first impacts arriving early Friday afternoon ET. Heightened solar conditions are expected to persist perhaps as long as Sunday.

"This is an unusual and potentially historic event," the SPWC stated.

WHAT IS A GEOMAGNETIC STORM?

Another sunspot also released strong CMEs this week and continues to be active. According to NOAA, the bulk of five CMEs will collide with Earth in a glancing blow as early as midday Friday through Sunday.

How flares can set off geomagnetic storms

"Flares are when the sun brightens, and we see the radiation, and that's kind of the muzzle flash," explained Professor Peter Becker of George Mason University in an earlier interview. "And then the cannon shot is the coronal mass ejection (CME) . So, we can see the flash, but then the coronal mass ejection can go off in some random direction in space, but we can tell when they're actually going to head towards Earth. And that gives us about 18 hours of warning, maybe 24 hours of warning before those particles get to Earth and start messing with Earth's magnetic field." 

SOLAR SUPERSTORM COULD ‘WIPE OUT THE INTERNET’ FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS, SCIENTIST SAYS

An illustration of Earth's magnetic field shielding our planet from solar particles.

(NASA/GSFC/SVS / NASA)

NOAA warns of a wide area blackout of high-frequency radio communications for hours. The geomagnetic storm could also cause widespread voltage irregularities in power systems, which trigger false alarms on security devices, cause drag on low earth orbit satellites preventing them from orienting and cause range errors and a loss-of-lock for GPS systems.

X-class solar flares are the largest explosions in the solar system. According to NASA, the biggest X-class flares can produce as much energy as 1 billion atomic bombs. M-class flares are the second-strongest flares, and they can cause minor radiation storms and harm astronauts.

Solar cycle peaking , making solar storms more plentiful

Tree rings and ice cores are evidence of much larger solar superstorms in the past. 

In 1859, the great Carrington Event, generally regarded as Earth's greatest solar storm in recent history, covered nearly the entire planet in aurora.  About 14,000 years ago, a solar flare, possibly hundreds of times stronger than the Carrington flare, impacted Earth. 

Northern lights visible from Europe

Friday's aurora was visible across much of Europe. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center classified the event as a G5, the highest level on its geomagnetic storm scale.  

NOAA forecasts the current 11-year solar cycle to peak sometime in 2024 or early 2025, and solar activity is likely to remain active for the next several months or even a few years. 

NOAA PREDICTS STRONGER PEAK OF SOLAR ACTIVITY IN 2024 THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED

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Money blog: 'Extremely worrying' mortgage trend revealed in new report; a third of people make this mistake when booking their holiday - and how to avoid it

A third of travellers are making the same mistake when going on holiday, figures show. Read about this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news in the Money blog - and leave a comment or your money problem in the box below.

Thursday 16 May 2024 20:00, UK

• 'Extremely worrying' mortgage trend revealed by new government data
• Almost a third of travellers make this insurance mistake - here's what you need to know
• How much the price of packed lunches has soared - and the cheapest supermarkets to buy a healthy one
• Major firms release financial updates
• UK economy in safe hands 'whoever wins' election, top bank chief tells Sky News

Essential reads

• How much do buskers actually make - and what's it like?
• The best bank accounts for your kids
• Basically...  What is PIP - and what could government changes mean?
• How to make sure your car passes its MOT
• Cheap Eats:  Michelin-star chef reveals his top steals in London - including an unbeatable sub sandwich
• Money Problem: My workplace wants to pay us by the minute - what can I do?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Landlords selling properties "represent the single biggest threat to renters", according to the UK's landlord association.

Government data shows 5,790 households were threatened with homelessness between October to December last year due to receiving a notice to end an assured shorthold tenancy (this ends a person's tenancy).

And the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has said 45% have been left needing help because their landlord planned to sell the property in the second half of 2023.

Separately, data from Rightmove found that 50,000 rental properties were needed to bring the supply of rental homes back to pre-pandemic levels.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said the only answer was to "ensure responsible landlords have the confidence to stay in the market and sustain tenancies".

He said it was "vital" the Renters Reform Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords, "worked for landlords as well as tenants".

"Landlords selling up is the single biggest challenge renters face," Mr Beadle said.

Around 16% of high net worth shoppers have cut spending on luxury goods, research shows - with Burberry among the companies seemingly taking a hit.

Data from wealth management firm Saltus , which surveyed 2,000 Britons who had assets of more than £250,000, found 16.29% of respondents had cut down on their personal spending in response to the current high interest rate environment and/or the impact of the rising cost of living.

And 15.78%, said they had cut down on luxury items and designer clothes. 

Meanwhile, just 9.42% of respondents said the current environment had not impacted their lifestyle.

The figures follow data this week from designer store Burberry - which reported a 34% drop in annual operating profit.

Mike Stimpson, partner at Saltus, said high net worth individuals were having to "prioritise spending on essential costs including mortgages and supporting their families". 

"While this reduction is not limited entirely to personal spending on luxury items, it is inevitable that brands like Burberry feel the impact, although different businesses will clearly respond differently to these pressures," he said.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is hiring 2,500 "external agents" to crackdown on "benefit cheats".

The extra staff will check millions of Universal Credit claims for accuracy as part of the government's new fraud plan.

Combined with the DWP's own internal agents tackling fraud, this will take the headcount to nearly 6,000 people.

In addition to this, the DWP is introducing a new civil penalty to punish fraudsters, and investing £70m into advanced data analytics to catch those who "exploit the natural compassion and generosity of the British people".

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride, said: "We are scaling up the fight against those stealing from the taxpayer, building on our success in stopping £18bn going into the wrong hands in 2022-23.

"With new legal powers, better data and thousands of additional staff, our comprehensive plan ensures we have the necessary tools to tackle the scourge of benefit fraud."

With the new 15 hours a week free childcare funding coming into effect this week for children aged between 9-23 months, research shows grandparents still play a key role in helping with costs.

In April, all two-year-olds from eligible working families became entitled to 15 hours free childcare each week. 

And as of this week, eligible working parents of children aged between 9-23 months are also able to apply to claim the same from September.

The government plans to increase this to 30 hours a week from September 2025.

However, grandparents still play a key role and therefore are still likely to be called upon for help from parents, according to data from the finance firm SunLife .

Data shows that half of the UK's 14 million grandparents provide childcare for their grandchildren during the working week and this rises to 55% of those with grandchildren under the age of one.

On average, the UK's grandparents spend between 22-24 hours a week providing free childcare for grandchildren under three-years-old.

So how much are grandparents saving their families and what if they were paid?

Research suggests grandparents are saving parents around £250 a week in childcare costs on average - this means that collectively, grandparents are saving their families £96bn in equivalent childcare costs every year. 

SunLife's grandparent salary calculator, which uses the average pay for the many roles grandparents are taking to calculate what their "grandparent salary" would be, has also found that if grandparents were paid for the 22 hours a week they would receive an annual salary of £13,188.

Victoria Heath, chief marketing officer at SunLife, said it was   "no wonder" one in five grandparents felt their children would struggle financially without their help.

She said research showed that 13% of grandparents felt they were relied on too much for childcare, and 14% loved doing it but felt it was too much at their age.

"Having said that, most (59%) grandparents who do provide childcare say they love helping out, so it is likely they will still play a key role, because whether they are still 'needed' or not, they are certainly still wanted, and most are more than happy to do it," Ms Heath added.

How can you apply for the 15 hours free childcare?

To apply for the funding you'll need the following: 

• National Insurance number;
• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you're self-employed;
• the UK birth certificate reference number of any children you're applying for;
• the date you started or are due to start work.

Then, you'll need to go onto the gov.uk website and start an application.

It usually takes 20 minutes to apply and once your application has been approved, you'll get a code for free childcare to give to your childcare provider.

Mortgage possession actions have continued to rise and are currently above the previous year's levels, according to data from the Ministry of Justice .

The latest data shows mortgage claims, orders, warrants and repossessions have continued their gradual upward trend and claims are at their highest since 2019.

When compared to the same quarter in 2023, mortgage possession claims increased from 4,035 to 5,182 - this is a rise of 28%.

Meanwhile, mortgage orders increased from 2,532 to 3,019, warrants from 2,636 to 2,881 and repossessions by county court bailiffs from 729 to 759.

Landlord possession claims also increased from 23,389 to 24,874 when compared to the same quarter last year.

Craig Fish, director at Lodestone mortgages and protection, told Newspage things "need to change and quickly before it's too late".

"Though this data makes hard reading and is extremely worrying, it's not unexpected due to the significantly higher interest rate environment in which borrowers now find themselves," he said.

And Ben Perks, managing director at Orchard Financial Advisers, said he was "concerned these figures will continue to rise". 

He told Newspage: "The Bank of England seems totally oblivious to the plight of the average mortgage borrower, but hopefully this data will kick their hesitancy to drop the base rate firmly into touch. The time to act is now."

Tesco has recalled its sandwich pickle over fears it may contain glass.

The supermarket has pulled its 295g jars of Tesco Sandwich Pickle with the batch code 3254 and best before date of 11 September 2025 due to the concerns of glass traces.

The Food Standards Agency has said on its website: "This product may contain pieces of glass which makes it unsafe to eat."

Last year, the supermarket chain had to recall pastry products, including sausage rolls and steak and ale pies, over fears they contained pieces of metal and plastic.

A Tesco spokesperson told Sky News: "We've been made aware that a specific date/batch code of Tesco Sandwich Pickle may contain small pieces of glass. Therefore, this product could pose a safety risk if consumed.

"Please do not consume this product and instead return any affected product to store where a full refund will be given. No receipt is required.

"Tesco apologises to our customers for any inconvenience caused."

By Ed Clowes, news reporter

The FTSE 100 has remained stable out of the gate this morning after hitting a record high on Wednesday as better-than-expected inflation data in the US raised hopes of an interest rate cut in September.

It's been a busy start to the day with financial updates from BT Group, Premier Foods, Sage Group, and easyJet.

We'll start with easyJet, after the airline announced that its chief executive officer, Johan Lundgren, would step down in January 2025.

Mr Lundgren, who has served as CEO since 2017, will be replaced by the carrier's finance boss Kenton Jarvis.

In a financial update on its performance throughout the first half of the year, easyJet reported slightly higher revenues than anticipated, while cutting its losses compared to the same period last year.

The airline's share price fell by 6% in early trading this morning.

Elsewhere, telecoms giant BT said it had completed a £3bn cost-cutting programme ahead of schedule, and announced a further £3bn in planned savings by 2029.

The company told Sky News that the planned reductions in spending would not lead to more job losses, after BT announced last year that it would eliminate 55,000 roles.

Incoming boss Allison Kirkby said she wanted the business to prioritise the UK, with some analysts expecting BT to look at the futures of its Italian, Irish, and American divisions.

And last but not least, one of Europe's largest sellers of Rolex watches has said that sales in the UK are still down because some tourists don't want to buy here "due to the lack of VAT free shopping".

Nice for some.

The price of a healthy packed lunch has soared by around 45%, according to new research.

A lunch of wholemeal bread and fruit is more expensive for parents to put together than less nutritious versions with chocolate spread and crisps, The Food Foundation charity has found.

Unhealthy lunches for the research were made up of white bread with chocolate spread instead of wholemeal with cheese, flavoured yoghurt rather than a plain, unsweetened version and snacks such as crisps as opposed to the four portions of fruit and vegetables incorporated into the healthy lunch.

And when it came to the cheapest supermarket to buy a healthy packed lunch, Tesco topped the list with a weekly cost of £8.56 as of this month.

Morrisons was the most expensive retailer, with the price of a healthy packed lunch per week coming in at £11.72, although this was down slightly from £11.80 in October.

The equivalent cost at Sainsbury's was £10.47, Aldi was £10.08 and Asda was £9.18.

Research also showed the largest price rise in recent months was at Sainsbury's, where customers have to spend 9% more than they did at the start of the academic year in September (£9.61) for the same packed lunch.

Shona Goudie, policy and advocacy manager at The Food Foundation, said, the government's stringent eligibility criteria to qualify for free school meals was "leaving hundreds of thousands of children" who are living in poverty "at risk of malnutrition".

"No one should be priced out of being able to provide healthy food for their children and retailers need to do more to support families to afford the food they need," she said.

By Bhvishya Patel , Money team

We spoke to three buskers to find out what it's like performing on the street in the UK.

Amir, 29, came to UK from Pakistan with passion for music

Amir Hashmi moved to the UK in 2022 to study, said he began busking in central London 10 months ago because "music was his passion".

"In Pakistan there are many problems so I decided to leave and move to London. I feel I can do better in London than my country," he said.

He said busking was now his primary income but at times he did jobs at warehouses to get by.

"I never started this for money, I started because it is my passion but now this is my main job as well," he said.

Amir, who often performs in the capital's Piccadilly Circus or along Oxford Street, said often he returned home with just £10-15 in his pocket after a day's busking.

He said: "Many times I sleep without food and sometimes I sleep on the floor of the road when I have no shelter.

"I don't have my own place to live but I have friends who often let me stay with them. They don't charge me any rent - they look after me.

"Sometimes I do private shows for income but it's very hard because the cost of living is increasing. If I go somewhere then most of the time I prefer to walk. I walk with my speakers and carry my gear."

Despite his financial struggles, Amir said he wanted to continue performing on the street as his "goal was to make people happy".

He said: "With busking, there is no stage and you can just start performing. Whenever I am performing, I connect with the people who have come to listen. If I feel people are not enjoying it, I change the song and try and make them happy."

Earlier this year, Amir recorded a song with Neha Nazneen Shakil, a Malayalam actress from India, who approached the singer three months ago in Oxford Street.

"I wrote that song 12 years ago and after all these years my song has been recorded now in London," he added.

Jade, 24, quit retail to busk

Jade Thornton, from Amersham, started busking in 2017 with a friend after leaving college at the age of 17 and quickly realised it was something she enjoyed doing and could make a living from.

She began doing it full-time at the end of 2018 but when the pandemic hit she described becoming "unemployed overnight" and having to take up retail jobs to support herself.

"I chose not to go to university - I just thought it wasn't for me so I went straight into some part-time retail jobs," she said.

"I take my cap off to anyone who does retail - it is one of the most gruelling jobs. People who do retail don't get nearly as much respect as they deserve. 

"Some of the customers I was facing were not that kind and I thought this is making me miserable, so I just thought 'if I don't leave now then when?'"

As the global economy slowly began to recover, she decided to leave retail and pursue music full-time in 2022.

"It is hard to switch off - I do busking but I am constantly messaging clients, writing set lists and learning songs," she said.

When it came to finances, Jade said there was no average to how much she could earn but it could fluctuate from £15-100 day-to-day depending on a number of factors.

"It relies on the time of month, whether the sun is out, if people have been paid, if Christmas is on the way or if Christmas has just passed," she explained.

The musician said she did struggle initially when she began busking but her parents were always supportive.

She said: "You obviously get a few questions from people asking 'are you sure you want to quit your job and sing on the street?'

"I lived at home for a long time and I'm grateful my parents could support me in that way because I know not everyone has that opportunity."

While performing outdoors is now Jade's full-time job, she said some months were more difficult to make money than others.

"If I'm being brutally honest in months like January and February it would be super difficult. This year I had enough gigs in December to cover me for January," she said.

"Last year from June-July and December I did not have to go busking because I got so many gigs through busking. I'm part of a lot of online agencies and I also do lots of pub gigs, weddings, birthdays and other events."

Jade noted though that the cost of living crisis had made things harder.

She said: "A few pub gigs I've had have been cancelled because they've had to rethink their strategies but if somebody cancels then I can just go out busking. There has been a slight dent when it comes to finances but that's from COVID as well - with COVID I was unemployed overnight."

The young musician went on to say she was "very grateful" when somebody did tip her and even small gestures like sitting, listening or just a smile were "currencies in themselves".

"It's escapism for me as a singer and then it's escapism for the audience as well," she added.

"Children also have such a great time listening to buskers and some may not have an opportunity for many reasons to go and see live music so if they can come across it in the street and that can spark something that's a wonderful thing to think I'm a little part of that."

Charlotte, 34, long-time busker

Charlotte Campbell, 34, who usually busks along the Southbank or in the London Underground, said she started busking during the 2012 London Olympics and while "busking used to be enough", more recently she has had to take on more gigs in the evening.

"A typical day is usually busking until around 6pm and then a gig in the evening - 8pm onwards," she said.

"I could still probably make a living from busking but I've taken on more paid gigs since the pandemic because everything became so uncertain. I think that uncertainty has just carried through now - that seems to be the way of life now."

The musician said tips for her CDs, which she puts on display during her performances, ranged between £5-10 and in the current cashless climate a card reader was "essential".

She said she pre-sets her card reader to £3 when playing on the Southbank and £2 when busking inside the London Underground "because people are rushing".

While she described her earnings as a "trade secret", she said the busker income had "definitely gone down" but this was due to a few factors - the pandemic, people carrying less cash and the cost of living crisis.

"Also, a lots of pitches have closed which means there are a lot more buskers trying to compete for one spot so all of those things have impacted my living as a busker," she said.

"I would say even though my income is primarily from busking I have had to subsidise it with more paid gigs than before. I just haven't felt as secure in my living from busking in the last couple of years.

"Most of the gigs I have are booked by people who have seen me busking so indirectly busking is my entire career- if I don't busk I wouldn't get the gigs I play in the evening. So directly and indirectly busking is my entire income."

In spite of uncertainty, she said it was freeing to be able to go out and perform for people in an intimate way.

"You are not up on a stage and there is no separation between you and them.  It's a really great connection you can make - I want to be able to hold onto that," she added.

Every Thursday  Savings Champion founder Anna Bowes  gives us an insight into the savings market and how to make the most of your money. Today she's focusing on children's accounts...

While the rates on adult savings accounts have risen and fallen over the course of 2024, the top rates on accounts for children have remained stable - but are pretty competitive once again, as other account rates have started to fall. 

And there are plenty of different types of savings accounts to choose from, from the tax free Junior ISA, to children's regular savings accounts, fixed term bonds and easy access accounts.

Those who are able to start saving for their children early, could significantly improve their financial health in the future – especially when taking compounding interest into consideration.

If you were to save £50 a month from birth, you could give them a gift of more than £17,250 at age 18, assuming a tax-free interest rate of 4.95% - which is currently the top Junior ISA rate available.

If you, your friends and family were able to gift a total of £9,000 a year to a child (the current Junior ISA allowance), at the same rate, you could give them almost £265,000 when they reach 18. 

Now that's a gift worth having!

Children have their own personal allowance, so for the majority there will be no tax to pay on their savings interest. 

However, parents should be aware that there may be a tax liability to themselves on the interest earned on any money they gift to their children, until they reach the age of 18. 

If the gross interest earned is less than £100 for each parent's gift, it will be treated as the child’s under a 'de minimis' rule. 

This means that provided the interest earned does not make the child a taxpayer, they will be able to offset this against their personal tax allowance, so it will often be free of tax. 

But if the interest is more than £100 for each parent's gift, then it will be treated as that parent’s interest for tax purposes and therefore they may need to pay tax at their marginal rate - if it takes them above their Personal Allowance and/or Personal Savings Allowance.

Gifts from any other family members or friends will not be viewed in the same way. Instead, any interest earned will be treated as belonging to the child themselves and therefore can be earned tax free if they are non-taxpayers.

The exception to this rule is on funds deposited into a JISA, Child Trust Fund or NS&I Premium Bonds.  The returns from these are tax free for all.

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