20 Best Places in Northern Ireland to Visit on the Best Road-Trip in the UK…

Exploring Northern Ireland is one of the best road-trips we’ve taken in the UK. From dramatic coastlines and famous filming locations, to complex history and fantastic food and drink, there’s so much to experience! So join us as we take one of the best road-trips in the UK and explore the best places in Northern Ireland to visit…

Day 1: Exploring the Antrim Coast

The Antrim Coast is a great way to start our best road-trip in the UK… starting just outside of Belfast, it’s full of the best places in Northern Ireland to visit...

Discover History at Carrickfergus Castle

We start at Carrickfergus, home to an impressive medieval castle overlooking the harbour. 

Carrickfergus Castle dates back to 1177 and has stood through countless battles and sieges. It's one of the best-preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland and one of the best places to visit in Northern Ireland for history lovers.

With it being Christmas week the castle is closed though so we can’t go inside, but it’s impressive to see from the outside. 

After a quick look around we grab a coffee at Rumours Coffee House, and we’re ready to kick off the day’s adventures on the Antrim Coast.

TrovenTrippers Tip: Don’t miss walking down to the beach and seeing the Castle from the opposite side of the harbour, it’s a great viewing point!

Glenarm and Its Historical Gems

Next we head to Glenarm, a village steeped in history. It’s super quiet and peaceful, and we go inside Saint Patrick’s Church and the 15th-century Glenarm Friary.

The beachfront is also worth a look, and then we stop at Glenarm Castle. The Castle is actually a country estate which you can visit but we decide not to, making do with seeing the gatehouse from the Dungeons & Dragons movie.

TrovenTrippers Tip: Parking is free in the village, and you can easily explore on foot.

Relive Game of Thrones at Carnlough Harbour

Carnlough Harbour, a filming location for Game of Thrones, is up next. It's the spot where Arya Stark emerges from the Braavos Canal after *spoiler alert* being stabbed… one of her key scenes from the series!

The harbour is cool to see and we can almost picture the Titan of Braavos towering over the harbour entrance! Although today there’s just a few small boats and an old-world feel. 

TrovenTrippers Tip: There’s a SPAR shop at the harbour which sells a good selection of hot food as well as the usual supplies, so is a good place to pick up something for lunch.

Enjoy a Picnic at Garron Point

We stop at Garron Point just a few minutes drive up the road for a picnic, with a carpark and a few tables by the rocky coast. 

It’s a great place to stop and admire the views over lunch, although there is a faint smell of sulphur which reminds us of our trip to Iceland and the geothermal areas!

Experience Eerie Beauty at the Hidden Village of Galboly

After lunch, we make our way to the abandoned village of Galboly. It’s a short but steep hike into the hills, but there are stunning views all around! 

And exploring the village of crumbling stone cottages surrounded by the dramatic hills gives an eerie atmosphere, perfect if you enjoy exploring lesser-known places.

TrovenTrippers Tip: Wear sturdy shoes for the hike, and don’t forget your camera for the views. There’s a small layby to park in at the start of the walking trail.

Explore Cushendun Caves

Next, we visit Cushendun Caves, another filming location from Game of Thrones, where Melisandre gives birth to the shadow assassin.

Although the main cave is fenced off so we can’t go inside, the smaller caves and surrounding beach offer plenty to explore.

The dramatic cliffs and sea views make it an unforgettable stop, and it's one of the best places in Northern Ireland to visit for Game of Thrones fans.

TrovenTrippers Tip: A very small number of parking spaces are available near the caves, otherwise there’s a bigger car park on the opposite side of the harbour.

Stunning Sunset at Tor Head

The Torr Head Scenic Route is one of the best parts of the best road-trip in the UK, but the road is narrow and steep and can be a struggle to pass oncoming cars as we find out! 

The effort is worth it though to visit Tor Head, the closest point of Ireland to Scotland, with just 12 miles separating us and the Mull of Kintyre.

At the head there’s a derelict Coastguard station, where we take in the stunning sunset views. The sign says it’s private land and is not open to the public, but there are no markers and we bump into who we think is the owner who’s out shooting… he’s really friendly, and we chat about the area’s history and where we’re from.

Guinness & Irish Stew in Ballycastle

As the day draws to a close, we head to Ballycastle. We enjoy our first Guinness of the trip at The Diamond Bar, and go to nearby Nellie Rua’s for dinner. 

Sneha wants an Irish Stew and the menu just says “you know what it is” in the description… but when it arrives, turns out we didn’t know what it is! To her surprise after her first bite she realises it’s lamb and not beef… the one meat she doesn’t like! So Paul loses the Irish beef burger he ordered, and our usual sharing food policy is abandoned for the night! 

TrovenTrippers Tip: Check what you’re ordering… Irish stew is traditionally mutton or lamb, with potatoes and vegetables.

Glamping with Alpacas

We end the day glamping in Ballycastle at BlackKnowe, toasting marshmallows on a campfire, and we wake up to feed super cute alpacas! For more info see our best places to stay in Northern Ireland section at the end of the blog.

Day 2: Causeway Coast Highlights

While yesterday we explored some of the lesser known best places in Northern Ireland to visit, today we’re going to some of the most famous… driving the famous Causeway Coastal Route.

Walk the Kings Road at The Dark Hedges

We’re up early and start our day at The Dark Hedges, famously known as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones. 

Bregagh Road is lined by huge beech trees planted in the 18th century to impress visitors to Gracehill House, and these trees have become a cultural landmark.

The road was used in Game of Thrones as the Kings Road, with the trees forming an impressive arch overhead, creating a striking and peaceful pathway. It’s the perfect spot for a walk, and our photos can hardly capture the full magic of the place.

TrovenTrippers Tip: Arrive early to avoid crowds. Parking is available at The Hedges Hotel nearby for a fee, but if you arrive early enough, there are a couple of laybys at the very end of the road you can park at for a few minutes.

Feel the Thrill at Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Next, we head to the iconic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, stopping at Portaneevy Car Park & Viewpoint to see the bridge from a distance first (well worth a stop!)

Once at Carrick-a-Rede, we park up and it’s a 15-minute walk to the bridge… with stunning coastal views all the way. 

But crossing the bridge itself is the real thrill. It’s suspended 30-metres above the crashing Atlantic Ocean, and bounces with every step we take across it… Paul isn’t too sure with his fear of heights! 

It’s amazing though definitely one of the best places in Northern Ireland to visit for a thrill!  

TrovenTrippers Tip: Tickets cost £14 for adults to cross the bridge, and booking in advance is a good idea, especially during peak seasons as it’s a popular spot. You can book tickets on the National Trust Website here.

Step into the Iron Islands at Ballintoy Harbour

Ballintoy Harbour is another filming location from Game of Thrones, and it feels as though we’ve stepped into the Iron Islands to visit the Greyjoys. 

It’s very windy today and it’s just starting to rain as we get out of the car. The waves crash against the rocks, making the scenery even more dramatic and breathtaking!

We climb up onto the rocks to get closer and feel the sea spray, and Paul says that the Giant’s Causeway must be good to be better than this place… what an amazing hidden gem, and one of the best places in Northern Ireland to visit for a quieter rugged coastline.

We did plan to visit Dunseverick Castle next, but the rain is getting heavier and heavier as we’re leaving, so we just make a very quick photo stop instead.

TrovenTrippers Tip: The café here is closed in winter, so bring your own snacks if you plan to picnic here.

Be Amazed by the Natural Wonder of the Giant’s Causeway

Our next stop is the big one and probably the best place in Northern Ireland to visit… the Giant’s Causeway. 

We look around the Visitor Centre and learn about its volcanic origins, shop for souvenirs, and grab some lunch in the café to let the rain clear. And then we join a guided walking tour down to the Causeway, which is the best way to experience it. 

Our experienced guide tells us all about the legend of Finn McCool, the giant who built the Giant’s Causeway to cross the sea to Scotland to fight Benandonner. She points out the highlights to see, from Cow’s Bay and Humphrey the Camel, to the Wishing Chair, the Giant’s Boot and the Organ.

But it’s the 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns which are the most famous sight everyone recognises, and walking over them is amazing! With spectacular views all around too, it really is a magical place! 

There are a few different walking trails you can follow and the guided tour takes us on the most popular blue route, so we take the longer red route back despite it starting to get dark. This route takes us up close to the Organ and we climb the 162 Shepherd’s Steps to the top of the cliffs and to see the Causeway from above… highly recommended! 

TrovenTrippers Tip: Entry to the Visitor Centre costs £14, and parking is free with admission. Tickets can be pre-booked on the National Trust website here.

Drinks in Derry / Londonderry

We drive the rest of the Causeway Coastal Route in the dark so don’t get to fully appreciate the scenery, but it’s a fun drive all the same! We’re staying in Derry tonight and head out into the city to see what the nightlife has to offer.

Peadar O'Donnell's is one of the city’s most famous pubs, a traditional Irish pub with great beers, whiskey, live music, and atmosphere. It’s packed being a Saturday night and everyone is in a good mood. We squeeze into a tiny space between 2 big groups and Sneha tries her first Guinness… and really likes it! It’s a great pub and a must visit in Derry!

For dinner we can recommend The Exchange… Chicken Bang Bang Skewers, Stacked Fillet Steak on Champ (mash potato with spring onion), and Blackened Salmon… all delicious!

Day 3: Discovering Derry

Derry/Londonderry has a long and complex history. In the 17th century, it played a key role in the Plantation of Ulster, a settlement programme for English and Scottish Protestants in the area. It was the site of the Siege of Derry in 1689, a defining event in Protestant cultural identity. And during the Troubles, it witnessed Bloody Sunday in 1972, when British soldiers shot and killed 14 unarmed civilians during a civil rights march.

Learn about Derry’s Troubled Past on a Bogside History Tour

What better way to learn about the recent past of Derry than to take a walking tour with someone who lived through the tragic events of Bloody Sunday? 

Our tour is led by Jimmy Toye who shares his personal experiences of Bloody Sunday and living through the Troubles. He really brings the events to life and does a great job of explaining it all and giving a balanced and fair account of a very complicated and divisive situation. And the political murals in the area add another layer of depth to the tour.

Enjoyed isn’t quite the right word to describe the experience of the tour, but it was fascinating hearing Jimmy’s stories and we would definitely recommend it.

TrovenTrippers Tip: The tour costs £13 per person, and make sure you have cash to pay at the end of the tour. The tour can be booked on the Bogside History Tour website here.

Best Brunch in Derry at the Scullery Café

After the walking tour we head back into the city centre and have an amazing brunch at the Scullery Cafe. Steak and cheese toastie, salt & pepper chicken wrap, 2 great coffees… just what we need for the rest of the day exploring Derry!

Walking the Derry City Walls

Derry is Ireland’s only intact walled city so one of the best places to visit in Northern Ireland is definitely the city walls and walking along them.

You can do this on another guided walking tour, but we opt for this walk ourselves. Starting next to the Tower Museum there is a great view of the spectacular Guildhall, and all around the walls are good views of different parts of the city.

The murals continue too, after seeing the Bogside murals this morning we see some Loyalist ones in the Fountain area, as well as more pop culture ones of the Undertones and the Derry Girls… the famous rock band and TV show from the city.

TrovenTrippers Tip: Entry to the walls is free, and there’s a map to follow on the Visit Derry website here or available from the Visit Derry Office in the city centre.

Derry’s History & Culture at the Tower Museum

The Tower Museum in Derry is one of the best things to do in the city and tells the history of the city from its foundation up to today, and includes a Derry Girls Experience with sets and costumes from the show.

While not huge fans of the show, it’s cool to walk around and see, and we hadn’t appreciated the history and connection to the Troubles before. 

TrovenTrippers Tip… Don’t miss going up onto the roof for views of the city and Guildhall

See the Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition at Derry Guildhall

Opposite the Tower Museum is the stunning Victorian Guildhall. We just make it inside before closing, and we see the stained-glass windows, large concert hall and organ, and the Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition honouring John Hume and David Trimble’s role in the Good Friday Agreement which brought an end to the Troubles.

Walk across the Peace Bridge

One of the modern symbols of Derry is the Peace Bridge, a footbridge between the East and West of the city and symbolising reconciliation and bridging the divide between communities.

It’s lit up at night and we walk across to Ebrington Square for a look around.

Day 4: Game of Thrones & Irish Magic

After having visited a lot of Game of Thrones filming locations over the last few days, today we’re going on the Studio Tour to see behind the scenes.

Step into Westeros at the Game of Thrones Studio Tour

For Game of Thrones fans, a visit to the Studio Tour is one of the best places in Northern Ireland to visit and is like a dream come true! And just a warning for this section… it will contain lots of spoilers! 

We have an amazing entrance into the world of Westeros… after a short video, we walk through a tunnel into rising smoke and are greeted by the Night King and the White Walkers… it’s sooo cool! All of the original costumes are here to see, including one of the giants too.

Next is the storyboard and art department where we see how a lot of the scenes were written and made. So much effort goes into every one, the storyboards should be released as graphic novels.

Game of Thrones Sets

We go into Castle Black and see where *spoiler alert* Jon Snow dies and comes back to life. We go into Winterfell and see Ned Stark’s tomb and the Great Hall, with the Stark family behind the head table and famous scenes displayed around the room like when Jamie Lannister knights Brienne of Tarth. And we go into the Dragonstone caves and see Daenerys and Tyrion and Dragon heads.

Game of Thrones Costumes & Props

All around are costumes and props used throughout the series, and then we get to see some of the prosthetics, weapons and special effects used for the White Walkers and Dragons, plus some very realistic looking dead bodies of Jamie and Cersi! 

There are some really cool interactive sections too… we’re added to the Hall of Faces in Braavos, we get to be Brienne of Tarth, and we fight off the White Walkers with a bow and arrow.

And we see more sets of the Red Keep and map courtyard from Kings Landing.

But the best part of the tour is the finale... the giant doors open and we step through... and in front of us is the Iron Throne, complete with Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen standing next to it… amazing!

It reminds us a lot of the Harry Potter Studio Tour we’ve also been to which is also a great day out!

TrovenTrippers Tip: there is a shop at the entrance and exit to pick up souvenirs, and a café half-way through the tour where you can get some food and drinks. We had a Hodor club sandwich which was pretty good. Tickets cost £29.50 for adults and can be purchased on the Game of Thrones Studio website here. Plan for at least two hours to fully explore, although we took way more!

Irish Magic in the Mourne Mountains

At breakfast this morning our host told us about a magic hill in the Mourne Mountains where cars roll uphill! We were a little sceptical but we were planning on driving through the mountains anyway, so we find the spot and try it for ourselves…

I park the car, put it in neutral, and take my foot off the brake… and we roll backwards, uphill… WHAT?!

Whether it’s Irish magic or something else we don’t know, and we won’t spoil the surprise for you either!  

TrovenTrippers Tip: Magic Hill is at Spelga Dam and is a little side road off the main road, if you weren’t looking for it you wouldn’t know it's there!

Tollymore Forest Park

We finish our day at Tollymore Forest Park, another famous filming location for Game of Thrones, Dungeons & Dragons, and other TV shows and movies. 

With towering trees, ancient bridges, and peaceful streams, it’s easy to see why this location is so popular. It’s a beautiful spot to walk around, and a great way to end our day of magic.

TrovenTrippers Tip: The maps at the start of the walking trails aren’t to scale… we were aiming for the Stepping Stones but it was getting really dark so we had to give up and head back to the car before we got lost!

Day 5: Titanic and Belfast

The last stop for our road-trip is in the capital city, Belfast. But this is far from the end of our trip… as we have loads of the best places in Northern Ireland to visit still!

Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic

One of the best places in Northern Ireland to visit is undoubtedly Titanic Belfast. It's a massive, immersive attraction dedicated to the story of the Titanic… from its construction to its tragic end and lasting legacy. But this isn’t just any exhibition… it transports you back in time, making you feel like you’re on board the Titanic, experiencing the excitement of its launch and the heartbreak of its sinking.

We’ve written a full blog about our experience which you can read here…Titanic Belfast… One of the Best Attractions We’ve Ever Visited!

All we’ll say in this blog is… you have to visit it… it’s amazing!!

TrovenTrippers Tip: Give yourself plenty of time to fully experience the Titanic, we easily could have spent all day there!

Best Pubs & Restaurants in Belfast

You won’t struggle to find somewhere to eat or drink in Belfast, there are so many amazing pubs, bars and restaurants!

Probably the most famous is The Crown Liquor Saloon, an elaborately decorated 19th century pub. But while good, it wasn't our favourite.

Instead head to the Cathedral Quarter around Hill Street and Skipper Street, there were so many cool pubs and bars there!

The Duke of York is super cool and seemingly occupies a whole lane, much like Delirium Village we went to in Brussels. Harp Bar is another good pub, the Thirsty Goat has live music and is worth a visit for it’s name alone, The Dirty Onion & Yardbird serves the best chicken in town, and The Cloth Ear is a cosy pub with an open fire and a great cocktail menu!

Walk a little further and you’ll find Muriel’s Café Bar which again has a good selection of cocktails, Bittles Bar which is a very unassuming Irish pub, and McHugh’s which serves delicious food.

One to give a miss though is the Observatory at the top of the Grand Hotel. Sure the views are great, but the cocktails are average, eye-wateringly expensive, and it’s possibly the worst service we’ve ever experienced! We get the wrong cocktails to begin with (as do other tables around us, and we give up on the bar snacks we order (twice!) after waiting for nearly 1 hour (the waiter later admits he forgot to put it through)

TrovenTrippers Tip: Go for a Irish poitin cocktail in the Cloth Ear… poitin was illegal up until 1997 and is known as Irish moonshine!

Day 6: The Best of the Rest in Belfast

It's almost time for us to head home, but we have our one more morning left to see what else Belfast has to offer...

Maggie Mays Café and Murals Tour

After trying all of the pubs and bars above, there’s only 1 way to start the next morning… with an Irish breakfast at Maggie Mays Café.

We have to queue for a while for a table but it’s totally worth it, the coffee is great, the food even better, and you HAVE to try the milkshakes that they're so famous for. We highly recommend the Hair of the Dog!

We have just enough time after brunch to make a quick whistle-stop tour of some of the murals around the city, seeing Solidarity Wall, the Peace Wall, and the Bobby Sands mural.

There are loads more murals, both Loyalist and Unionist to see, and we wish we had time to see more. But we have to make our ferry home, and only just make it back to the dock in time!

TrovenTrippers Tip: For a full tour of the murals consider a Black Taxi Tour, which take you around to see them all and tell you the stories and history behind them.

20 Best Places in Northern Ireland to Visit

Our 6-day road trip across Northern Ireland has been an amazing and unforgettable experience. 

We saw some of the most breath-taking coastlines and dramatic landscapes, learnt about some of the most difficult recent history, and drank the best Guinness anywhere in the UK!

Add in possibly the best attraction we've ever been to in the Titanic, and the Game of Thrones Studio Tour, you have to add Northern Ireland to your UK bucket-list!

Best Places to Stay in Northern Ireland

From cosy countryside cabins to stylish city hotels, we stayed in some incredible places during our Northern Ireland road trip… each one adding something special to our journey! 

Glamping at Black Knowe Farm… Tucked away in the countryside, this cosy glamping cabin was the perfect retreat. Toasting marshmallows over the fire and waking up to feed the alpacas made for such a fun and relaxing stay!

TrovenTrippers Tip: The Alpacas are adorable, and the place offers complimentary Alpacas food for you to feed them.

The AC Marriott Hotel… A sleek and modern hotel in Belfast with fantastic views over the docks and the famous Samson & Goliath cranes. A stylish city break with top-notch comfort!

TrovenTrippers Tip: Whether it was night or day, the far-reaching views were amazing.