The Ultimate Northern Ireland Bucket List of Best Things to Do

Our Top Places To Visit In Northern Ireland

Making our way to the north during our visit in Ireland was a top priority. We made sure to plan some time while there – spending 6 nights in the country and we definitely could have spent more. There are so many things to do in Northern Ireland it deserves a trip all on its own.

We were pleasantly surprised by the natural locations, the vibrant cities and the important history to learn here. This is a list of the best places that we think you should include on your Northern Ireland Bucket List.

Top Tourist Attractions In Northern Ireland

Capital City Of Belfast

Starting in the capital – Belfast city is a fantastic place to begin your trip in the north. To be honest, we were pleasantly surprised by the lively vibe of this city centre. Perhaps having read many news reports over the years that centred on the Troubles we were not exactly sure what to expect.

The city is very walkable and has several nice buildings worth visiting on a self-guided tour including:

• Ulster Hall – a famous concert hall hosting rock bands from around the world
• Albert Memorial Clock – a memorial to Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert
• City Hall – impressive, ornate building with lovely gardens and memorials on the grounds

And recently the waterfront area has been revitalized. Donegal Quay is a perfect place to stroll with lots of park areas and numerous art installations.  Make sure to plan some time in Belfast.

✅ If you are interested in learning about Belfast’s history combined with a great walking tour, check out this 5 star tour option that will provide a fantastic background.

Titanic Belfast

Likely one of the most popular things to do in Belfast, the Titanic Museum is a must-see while in the city. One of the best museums that we have visited, it is a beautiful building with thoughtful and informative exhibitions.

This incredible attraction leads visitors through the industries of the city during its development, the growth of the ship-building trade, and the plans and building of the infamous ship.

It was fascinating to see the care that was evident in the selection of tableware, linens and artwork on the vessel. Everything was meticulously chosen and perfectly presented onboard. 

Details on the passengers, along with their personal effects were on display and it was evident that the lead up to the departure was highly anticipated by everyone. The events while onboard during the abbreviated voyage were short-lived due to the demise of the ship which is covered in full detail.

The exhibits do a good job following the sinking of the ship and telling of the rescue efforts, the horrendous loss of life and the survivors. It then goes on to detail what changed in the cruising industry as a result of the disaster and how things have improved since that time.

It is a carefully curated collection of artifacts, memorabilia and historical information about a devastating event and is perfectly located in the exact spot where the ship was created. This was a definite highlight when visiting Northern Ireland.

✅ Since this is a very popular sight in Belfast be sure to pre-book your tickets here. This ticket also provides access to the SS Nomadic across the street.

St George’s Market

If visiting Belfast on the weekend, be sure to stop into the St George’s Market open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This is a wonderful place whose history dates to the early 1600s. 

There are hundreds of stalls for fresh fish, fruits and vegetables and many local specialties of the region. Belfast residents come here for their shopping and also for socializing. 

It is also one of the best places to visit and purchase souvenirs as there are handicrafts, artwork and jewelry made by artisans from the area. 

Going during the lunchtime period is a perfect idea since you can take out made-to-order sandwiches, hot items and bakery sweets and enjoy the complimentary live entertainment of a local group. 

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Belfast Black Taxi Tour

We always like to learn about a place that we are visiting and an excellent way to do this in Belfast, is through a Black Taxi Tour. This is a truly unique experience while in the city. 

Taking a tour allows visitors to hear from a local guide about that difficult time.  Our guide lived through this period as a child and witnessed first hand the devastation that the people of Northern Ireland lived through daily. He presented the facts in a non-biased way and spoke frankly about what happened and where the country is now from a political perspective.

These stories were told amongst several stops to see elaborate murals and memorials on both sides of the city. Driving through neighbourhoods and learning about the people who continue to live here was sobering but also hopeful to see things in a better state nowadays.

We spent some time at the Peace Wall and expressed our wishes for continued peace with our signatures. It was an amazing tour and highly recommended to thoroughly understand this time in history.

✅ This is the tour company that we used for our tour. It was one of the highlights of our time in Belfast and we highly recommend it.

Cathedral Quarter in Belfast

For something a little lighter we would suggest visiting the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast. First, you can see the actual cathedral in this area called St Anne’s. It is not super old but is nice to look at since it was built in a Romanesque style.

The outside has a huge Celtic cross and is suggested to be the largest in Northern Ireland. It is worth making your way around the side of the building to have a look.

In the Cathedral Quarter, you have your choice of many different places to check out. Many of the buildings date back to the 1600s and 1700s and have been converted into locations with large courtyards. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming.  Be sure to visit one of our favourites:

• Duke of York
• The Dirty Onion
• Thirsty Goat

Glass of Thrones Walking Trail

For those who are Game of Thrones fans, be sure to check out the Glass of Thrones walking trail. This is a trail along the waterfront where six panels made of stained glass have been permanently installed.

Depending on how much time you have you can visit one or all six. No matter how long you take, walking along both sides of the river is time well spent. Here is a list of where you can find each panel:

• Outside the AC Hotel – dedicated to House Stark
• At the bottom of Lagan Weir Bridge – dedicated to House Baratheon
• Odyssey Point – dedicated to House Targaryen
• SS Nomadic – dedicated to the White Walkers
• Titanic Slipways – dedicated to the Iron Throne – with a built-in seat!
• HMS Caroline – dedicated to the House Lannister

Cushendun Caves

Moving away from the city and out to the Antrim coast, the scenery starts to be quite lovely. A notable spot to visit is the Cushendun Caves. These caves were formed over 400 million years ago. Over this time, the natural erosion of the wind and sea has created interesting hollows in the cliff. 

It is an easy 5-10 minute walk from the car park, although over some uneven ground so be sure to have proper footwear. The caves are not large but have interesting texture and colour to them.

While the geology of the caves is interesting, most people come here since it is a Game of Thrones filming location.

There is a very memorable scene in season two when Melisandre birthed a creepy shadow baby. And the location was used again in season eight when Jaime Lannister and Euron Greyjoy have a violent battle leading to Euron’s death.

It is a pretty cool place to visit especially if you are a GOT fan since the scenes are easily imagined when visiting the caves.

Causeway Coastal Route – Torr Head Scenic Route

Northern Ireland has some incredibly beautiful scenery and fortunately, there is the Causeway Coastal Route that can be driven to see much of it.  The Causeway is extensive and runs from Belfast to Derry for 190 kms. 

Along the causeway are nine minor routes that branch off in a loop and provide some additional sightseeing along the way. 

Our guide for the day took us on the Torr Head Scenic Route which is easily accessible from Cushendun and ends at Ballycastle. This drive is 22 kms and reaches along the northern part of the island.

This whole area has amazing vistas and is one of the most beautiful that we visited. The road is a two way but to us it seemed questionable at times! It is also recommended that visitors take a guide to visit this area as the road is quite windy and narrow in sections and not suitable for larger vehicles.

It is very rural here and you will see farmhouses, pastures and sheep along the road. It gives you a nice glimpse into life in these parts. And at Torr Head are the ruins of an ancient fort sitting high on a hill. 

The cliffs provide spectacular views and on a clear day, you can see across the North Channel to Scotland. This loop drive is a wonderful hidden gem of the area.

Carrick-a-Rede Bridge

Once you have exited the Torr Head Scenic Route you can carry on to a unique attraction in Northern Ireland – the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

We think this is one of the best things to do in the region. The rope bridge is accessed from the car park by a stony pathway and many steps that wind along the coast for 1 km. But take your time as there are beautiful views to admire along the way.

Once you reach the end of the path, you will wait your turn to cross the suspension bridge that reaches from the mainland to an island 30m above the water. 

The walk is not long – only 20m across – but the experience of swaying in the breeze while looking down over the dramatic crevice below is amazing.

Once you cross onto the island, the sweeping views of the sea are awesome. There is nothing on the island but lots of greenery and moss. It is a lovely spot to just sit down and enjoy your surroundings.

Ballintoy Harbour

A very picturesque spot to visit along the coast is the lovely harbour of Ballintoy. It is a steep drive down to the edge of the water but worth it to see the surrounding scenery.

Visitors can see the water crashing against the rocks, large sea stacks and the busyness of a working harbour. 

And this is also another Game of Thrones filming location for multiple seasons and is known as the site of the Iron Islands. Fans will remember many scenes with Theon in this area.  

✅ If you are interested in taking a private tour of the beautiful sights of Northern Ireland with a Game of Thrones twist, the only tour you should consider is this one. We had the most amazing day with Flip who was a stand in for Hodor on GOT. As a local he provided an incredible day of sightseeing and behind the scenes stories.

Giant’s Causeway

Probably the biggest tourist attraction in Northern Ireland is the Giant’s Causeway. This amazing location, that is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, can be visited on its own or by guided tour. Having a guide is recommended to really gain an understanding of what you are observing.

The Causeway dates back 60 million years. At that time the continents were shifting away from each other and cracks and rifts were being created on the surface of the earth.  As these volcanic eruptions were happening, molten rock and lava were rising up out of the crevices.

The evidence of these geologic formations is even seen along the downhill walk to the sea from the car park. Along the cliffs, the layers of ash can be viewed easily and is pretty easy to imagine how this whole area came to be.

Alternatively one can choose to entertain the legend that says a giant Finn McCool made the causeway so he could fight his Scottish rival Benandonner. It is said that after they had a difficult meeting that McCool tore up the causeway as he ran back and the remains are what we see today.

✅ If you have limited time but want to enjoy the major sights of the coast, then this is the perfect private tour for you. It covers everything there is to see and includes pick-up from Belfast.

Whiskey at Bushmills

For those who enjoy Irish Whiskey, we suggest visiting the Bushmills Distillery. This is considered to be the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, dating back over 400 years.

Bushmills has been making its whiskey with the same process since it started in 1608. There was a time in the 1700s when a tax was imposed on malted barley and many distilleries started using unmalted barley or other grains. Bushmills didn’t and prides themselves on remaining true to their superior process.

Taking a tour of the distillery is quite interesting. While you can’t take pictures inside (since its process is proprietary) it is quite the manufacturing process to observe.

A dedicated tour guide takes guests through the factory explaining the process of making whiskey. Here one can see the massive copper stills where the whiskey is distilled three times – a signature process of Bushmills.

At the end of the tour, there is a tasting room where you can try a variety of the distillery’s best whiskeys. For those who aren’t fond of straight whiskey, they do offer a whiskey punch that is a little gentler.

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle was built between the 15th and 17th centuries on the original site of an ancient fort. It was quite magnificent in its day and that is still evident even though only the ruins remain now.

Two clans – MacDonnell and McQuillan resided here and they had a very turbulent history. The story of its history and details of the structure are available on placards throughout the castle grounds.

As you cross the bridge that connects the rock the castle is perched upon, it is easy to imagine what it must have been like to live in this grand structure. And be sure to peek outside some of the window openings to see the incredible views of the surrounding cliffs and the beautiful blue sea. These are some of the best vistas in this coastal area.

Golfing

There are some world renowned golf courses located in Northern Ireland and Denis being an avid golfer, visited two of them.

Royal Portrush Golf Club

Portrush was founded in 1888 and was where the first amateur and professional tournaments were held. Since that time it has hosted more than 60 championships throughout its lengthy history.

Portrush holds two courses onsite – the Dunluce Links and the Valley Links. The Dunluce is rated as one of the top 10 courses in the world and receives its name from the Dunluce Castle which resides just up the coast from the course location.

This is an extremely challenging course with its long links and sweeping views of the ocean that will host the British Open in 2025.

Port Stewart Golf Club

Dating back to 1894, the Port Stewart Golf Club has three courses to choose from – The Old Course, The Strand and The Riverside Course. 

Denis chose to play The Strand and raved about the overall experience at the course. The course is stunningly beautiful with large mounds, rolling hills, deep and gangly fescue and views out over the sea.  

The mandatory and endlessly patient caddy was an indispensable blessing.  He provided tips on landing areas, located mishit shots and provided accurate readings of the slippery and undulating greens.

Coastal Areas

Along the coast are some incredible places with stunning scenery. Be sure to take some time to visit some of the areas along the water.

Whiterocks Beach

This is a large beach with massive limestone cliffs. The beach area is large and stretches between Dunluce Castle and Curran Strand. It is particularly popular with surfers due to its windy location and great surf conditions.

Portrush Harbour

The harbour of Portrush is a picturesque location with fishing boats nestled down below the houses that surround the cove created by breakwaters. There are many restaurants and shops available and it’s a great area to go for a leisurely walk.

Depending on the time of year, there is also a great beach – West Strand Beach which many people visit in the summer months. It is a large, wide beach with easy access from the town of Portrush.

Dark Hedges

During your time in Northern Ireland, make a quick stop at the Dark Hedges. The pedestrian avenue of Bregagh Road is a pretty sight to see. Its unique trees were planted in the 1700s as an entryway to a grand mansion. The trees have now grown to create a covered walkway – we have seen something similar in São Miguel in the Azores.

This is a very popular place since it was another Game of Thrones filming location. It is easily recognizable as the King’s Road that Arya Stark travelled in Season 2, Episode 1. But even if you aren’t interested in GOT, the trees are worth seeing for their mysterious look.

Peace Bridge

When visiting Derry, visitors will notice a striking icon spanning the River Foyle and connecting Ebrington Square with the city centre of Derry. The Peace Bridge is 235 metres long and is only used for biking and walking.

It was built in 2011 and its beautiful design is a symbol for overcoming adversity as it connects two communities that have reconciled. You can see wonderful views of the city when on the bridge so it is a nice place for a leisurely walk.

City Walls in Derry

Walking around Derry you will see the extensive walls that surround the city that date to the 1600s and were meant to protect the city at the time. Derry is the only completely walled city in Ireland and the walls are considered to be one of the best preserved structures in all of Europe.

Reaching 1.5 kms, you can walk around the perimeter and see the entire city located within the enclosure. Seven gates provide access to the inner city with four of them from the original design.

Be sure to check them out – since they are an important part of Northern Ireland’s history.

Museum of Free Derry

This Museum is an important part of the civil rights history in Ireland. Here you can learn about the struggles that the communities fought to overcome and maintain their rights. It houses artifacts and tells the story of this very dark period when working-class people began to protest against the oppression they had been living under for many years.

It is also the site of Bloody Sunday when a peaceful demonstration in 1972 became a disaster zone as the British Army killed and injured many unarmed people walking in protest. This was an extremely disturbing event that changed lives forever. A moving and critical portrayal of Northern Ireland’s history can be further understood here.

Tours are offered by locals who were there during the actual day’s events. It is a very sobering experience as they relay specifics of what took place.

FAQs

What Is The Best Thing Of Northern Ireland?

The raw, natural beauty is one of Northern Ireland’s best features. The coastal areas along with the green countryside make this one of the best places to go. Combine this with friendly people, a great pub scene and some important historical sites, it is an all around wonderful place to visit.  

What Is The Most Beautiful Part Of Northern Ireland?

The most beautiful part of Northern Ireland is along the coast. Steep cliffs, green hills and the ocean water make for some stunning scenery.

How Many Days Do You Need In Northern Ireland?

If you want to visit most of the Northern Ireland tourist attractions we would recommend you give yourself 5-6 days. This will allow for some time in the cities but also the ability to wander the coastal areas and see some of the spectacular scenery across Northern Ireland.

Places To Stay In Northern Ireland 

To make things easier, spreading out your overnights will allow for less travelling back and forth. This is ideally done by staying in Belfast, somewhere along the coast such as Portrush and perhaps Derry.

We stayed at the Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast. This was a wonderful property, in a great location. The rooms were very modern, clean and spacious. There was also a restaurant and bar on site. 

On the coast, we stayed at the Anversheil House in Portrush. This was a smaller bed and breakfast with a lovely owner. The rooms were simple but adequate for our purposes. And we could walk into the town within 15 minutes. And the breakfast at this location was great!

The Final Word…Planning Your Northern Ireland Bucket List

When planning an Irish bucket list be sure to include this beautiful country on your itinerary. There is so much to learn from a historical perspective and incredible things to see. From busy cities and numerous outdoor activities to stunning scenery and Games of Thrones filming locations, there is truly something for everyone.