Top 25 Unforgettable Experiences in Northern Ireland

To fully appreciate Northern Ireland’s renowned coastal landscapes and historic towns, careful planning is essential due to the extensive array of attractions available.

The scenic routes, such as the Causeway Coastal Route, guide travelers to volcanic formations including the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway, while also leading to remarkable beaches, glens, cliffs, and historic castles.

Fans of Game of Thrones may already recognize that Northern Ireland served as a prominent filming location for various outdoor scenes, featuring Winterfell and the Iron Islands.

Castle Ward has frequently been a filming site and hosts an annual Game of Thrones Festival every September.

In Derry, surrounded by 17th-century fortifications, historical sieges unfolded, while impressive estates such as Mount Stewart and Castle Coole reflect the affluence of Northern Ireland’s landed gentry.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Northern Ireland:

1. Giant’s Causeway

Visual representations can hardly capture the astonishing scale and uniqueness of these interconnected red basalt columns, formed following a volcanic occurrence 60 million years ago.

The maritime environment enhances the experience, with waves continually crashing against the rocks, complemented by multilingual audio guides that provide insights into the site.

A recently opened visitor center, revealed in 2012, features advanced displays that educate visitors on the geological significance and the folklore surrounding the Irish giant who constructed the causeway to confront his Scottish adversary.

The Giant’s Causeway consists of 40,000 columns, predominantly with perfectly hexagonal cross-sections, reaching heights of up to 12 meters.

Behind this awe-inspiring formation lie cliffs of solidified lava, measuring up to 28 meters in thickness, serving as a formidable counterpart to the causeway.

Select from several available tours online.

2. Castle Ward

Lord Bangor and Lady Ann Bligh had distinct architectural preferences, resulting in a dual-styled reconstruction of this estate in the 1760s.

The southwest facade features Lady Ann Bligh’s preferred Palladian architectural style, showcasing iconic columns that support a triangular pediment.

Conversely, the northeast side reveals ogival windows, pinnacles, crockets, and merlons, reflecting Lord Bangor’s admiration for Gothic Revival architecture.

Situated on the southern banks of Strangford Lough, the grounds served as a filming location for Game of Thrones, complemented by the historical farmyard that represented Winterfell in Season One.

A guided tour of the house is available, granting access to the grounds, which include a magnificent formal “Sunken Garden” built in 1864, an operational corn mill, a neo-Gothic tower house (referred to as Winterfell Tower), and a Victorian-era laundry.

3. Castle Coole

In stark contrast to Northern Ireland’s abandoned historical sites, Castle Coole is a splendid Neoclassical mansion set within a 490-hectare estate.

Constructed at the conclusion of the 18th century for Armar Lowry-Corry, the 1st Earl Belmore, this residence was designed by the esteemed English architect James Wyatt.

The exterior is composed of white limestone sourced from Portland in Dorset, featuring a portico supported by four Ionic columns along with Doric colonnades adorning its wings.

The Regency-period interior decoration is refined yet captivating.

A guided tour allows visitors to explore an 80-meter tunnel connecting the stable yard to the house, designed to keep staff out of sight.

The tour also includes a state bedroom furnished in 1821, prepared for a visit from King George IV, who ultimately did not arrive.

4. Causeway Coastal Route

Perched along the Atlantic and North Channel coast between Belfast and Derry, the Causeway Coastal Route meanders through weathered coastal vistas, connecting numerous natural and constructed landmarks.

Simply adhere to the A2 road, and you will encounter expansive beaches, towering cliffs, gorse-covered valleys, tranquil hamlets, gusty ruins, Neolithic standing stones, and quaint fishing villages.

Every time you resume your journey, the temptation to pause for an additional photograph or to explore another cliff-side pathway refreshed by wildflowers becomes irresistible.

Many of the noteworthy attractions mentioned herein are located along this route, requiring up to five days to fully immerse oneself in the experience.

Additionally, there are nine shorter paths leading towards the picturesque countryside inland.

5. Titanic Belfast

Inaugurated in 2012, Titanic Belfast is an award-winning attraction situated at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard, where the RMS Titanic was constructed and launched in 1912. Few vessels in history generate as much curiosity as this ill-fated passenger ship, and the nine galleries provide a comprehensive account of the ship’s story alongside its sister ships, the HMHS Britannic and RMS Olympic.

These exhibits are immersive and interactive, transporting visitors into the bustling atmosphere of early 20th-century Belfast’s shipyards followed by the luxury of the Titanic’s meticulously reconstructed cabins and iconic staircase.

The building is characterized by textured cladding and a silhouette reminiscent of ship bows, purposefully designed to create a “Guggenheim” effect that attracts tourists to Belfast.

6. Ballintoy Harbour

As a requisite stop along the Causeway Coastal Route, Ballintoy Harbour is located adjacent to the village of the same name, situated eight kilometers west of Ballycastle.

This naturally formed harbor is nestled in a long, narrow recess of the coastline, bordered by majestic chalk and basalt cliffs.

The dark rocks and turbulent waters impart a moody ambience, perfectly embodying the Isle of Pyke from the Iron Islands featured in Game of Thrones.

Scenes featuring the character Theon were filmed at this location in 2011. Nearby, there is an inviting café, and the village, located a kilometer away, is home to a charming whitewashed church perched atop a cliff.

7. Mount Stewart

The esteemed Marquesses of Londonderry established their family residence at Mount Stewart, positioned on the eastern edge of Strangford Lough.

The current Neoclassical structure was built during the 1820s and 1830s, revealing the history of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, whose descendants continue to play a role in the political and social fabric of the United Kingdom.

After a thorough restoration, the National Trust reopened the estate in 2015, returning the interiors to their 1920-1950 design.

Visitors can admire spaces including the Billiards Room, Central Hall, Dining Room, Sitting Rooms, Breakfast Room, and a stately Bedroom Suite, which once accommodated Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.

The standout attraction is undoubtedly Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart’s opulent Spanish, Italian, Shamrock, and Sunken Gardens, established in the 1920s and proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their exceptional quality.

8. Derry City Walls

Derry is often referred to as the Maiden City for valid reasons.

In the 1610s, a defensive wall system spanning 1.6 kilometers was constructed by “The Honourable Irish Society” to safeguard English and Scottish settlers in this Renaissance-era city.

These fortifications remain intact today; indeed, they have never been breached, even after enduring several sieges, including one that lasted over 100 days in 1689. The ramparts feature four principal gates adorned with Renaissance reliefs and provide a walkway offering views of the inner city, which retains its early-17th-century street layout.

As you traverse the area, the extent of the city’s defenses becomes strikingly evident, with 24 cannons visible through the embrasures, all restored in 2005 and traceable to their original foundries.

9. Ulster American Folk Park

During the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of individuals departed Ulster for America.

This open-air museum features 30 historical structures that narrate the story of Irish emigration and provide a glimpse into everyday life on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Old World section includes a bank, school, printing press, and the authentic childhood residence of Thomas Mellon, founder of Pittsburgh’s Mellon Bank.

The New World segment contains a full-scale replica of an immigrant ship and a street scene showcasing a genuine shop interior from Virginia.

Visitors can also explore an Appalachian log cabin from Pennsylvania and a plantation home from Tennessee.

Throughout the park, actors in period costumes offer historical anecdotes, demonstrate traditional crafts, and provide food from various eras.

10. Crumlin Road Gaol

The roster of individuals confined within this 19th-century facility serves as a microcosm of Northern Ireland’s historical narrative throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Among the estimated 25,000 inmates were murderers, republicans, loyalists, and suffragettes.

Crumlin Road Gaol operated from 1846 to 1996 and is connected to the adjacent courthouse in North Belfast via a tunnel.

Guided tours include a visit to this tunnel and the cells, alongside accounts of hunger strikes, riots, and escapes that occurred within these walls during its operational years.

Your journey takes a haunting turn upon entering the Condemned Man’s Cell, where 17 inmates met their fate by hanging.

In addition to welcoming visitors by day, the gaol also serves as a venue for live music events, corporate dinners, and weddings.

11. Castlewellan Forest Park

Northern Ireland’s National Arboretum was established within this 450-hectare park in County Down.

The park features both formal and informal gardens, incorporating sculptures, fountains, and floral borders in addition to an ornamental lake extending 1.6 kilometers.

At the center lies the walled Annesley garden from the 1850s, which hosts maples and conifers imported from Japan, along with rhododendrons from China, eucryphias from Chile, athrotaxis cypresses from Australia, and Giant sequoias from North America.

The Peace Maze, planted between 2000 and 2001, contains 6,000 yew trees and was recognized as the largest permanent hedge maze globally until 2007. The Gothic Revival Castlewellan Castle, constructed in the 1850s by the Annesley family, serves as another focal point of the park.

12. Ulster Museum

The Ulster Museum in Belfast offers a delightful assortment of artifacts across various fields, including archaeology, fine arts, applied arts, ethnography, and natural history.

Located at the northwestern corner of the Botanic Gardens, the museum underwent a significant renovation about a decade ago.

There is much to discover, from a hoard of polished Neolithic axes and the Egyptian mummy Takabuti to the 1720s Kildare Toilet Service composed of 28 pieces of gilt silver, including caskets and perfume bottles.

Visitors should also take note of the Girona Salamander from a Spanish Armada shipwreck, a cross-section of a Seymchan meteorite, the skeleton of an Edmontosaurus dinosaur, Bronze Age gold jewelry, and stunning pieces by renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly.

13. Dunluce Castle

There are few ruins as picturesque as this 16th-century castle perched on cliffs in northern County Antrim.

Constructed on a dramatic basalt outcrop, Dunluce Castle was established by the McQuillans and later seized by the MacDonnells, who triumphed in two clan battles during the 1500s.

The MacDonnells retain ownership of the site today but abandoned it after the Battle of Boyne in 1690. In the early 1600s, when the MacDonnells were granted the title of Earls of County Antrim, a small settlement emerged behind the castle.

This town was destroyed by Cromwell following the Irish Uprising of 1641, and ongoing excavations are revealing its network of cobbled streets.

14. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Managed by the National Trust, this bridge, made from Douglas fir and wire cables, was constructed in 2008. However, it represents the most recent in a series of bridges that have crossed the gap between the mainland and the small volcanic island of Carrickarede.

The initial bridges were erected by fishermen during the 18th century to catch salmon migrating through the area to spawn in the rivers Bush and Bann.

This bridge is positioned 30 meters above ground, offering a dramatic view of a stunning seascape; if you are fearless of heights, you can gaze back toward the dark basalt cliffs on the main coastline.

The island formed as a result of significant volcanic activity 60 million years ago, and from this volcanic rock, one can observe the Scottish coast and the nearby outline of Rathlin Island.

15. Carrickfergus Castle

Located in County Antrim, Carrickfergus Castle stands as the most intact example of Norman military architecture in Northern Ireland.

Founded in 1170, the castle boasts a defensible location on the northern shore of Belfast Lough, historically surrounded by water on three sides.

Controlling this castle equated to controlling a vital port, and over its 850-year existence, the stronghold has resisted assaults from English, Irish, Scottish, and French forces, and played a role in a skirmish with American commander John Paul Jones during the War of Independence.

Guided tours lead you through winding passages and stairs, showcasing 13th-century defensive architecture, including murder holes, ribbed vault remains, and portcullises.

Subsequent modifications incorporated cannon embrasures adapted for artillery in the 16th and 17th centuries, and these cannons remain on site.

16. Slieve Gallion

Situated on the eastern slope of the Sperrin Mountains in County Londonderry, this mountain is recognized for its “High Scenic Value” by the Northern Ireland Planning Service.

Slieve Gallion is a volcanic plug with two peaks that rise abruptly from the otherwise flat and verdant landscape, characterized by spruce forests and small farms separated by hedgerows and dry-stone walls.

The highest peak, located to the southwest at Glenarudda Mountain and Tintagh Mountain, reaches an elevation of 528 meters.

No advanced mountaineering skills are required to reach this summit, as a parking area is conveniently located near the top.

At the summit, visitors can relish breathtaking views encompassing the Glens of Antrim, Lough Neagh, and the Belfast Hills, alongside countless grazing sheep.

17. Marble Arch Caves

Located in County Fermanagh, the limestone Marble Arch Caves are considered among Europe’s premier show caves.

Stretching to 94 meters deep and 11.5 kilometers long, this represents the longest cave system in Northern Ireland and boasts the most remarkable karst formation in Great Britain.

This fascinating subterranean realm features meandering passages, immense chambers, rivers, and waterfalls.

Above you, stalactites and calcite formations are visible, highlighted by engaging and knowledgeable guides during a 75-minute tour covering a trail of 1.5 kilometers.

The caves are part of a UNESCO Global Geopark, which encompasses a broad area of County Fermanagh and County Cavan, and includes over 50 sites comprising wetlands, waterfalls, forests, and scenic viewpoints.

18. Enniskillen Castle

This castle was established next to the River Erne in the 16th century by Gaelic Lord Hugh Maguire.

The strategic positioning of the castle was intentional, as it was designed to safeguard the Sligo Road, one of the few pathways into Ulster.

Modeled after Scottish fortresses, Enniskillen Castle is fortified with a curtain wall reinforced by bartizans and turrets, enclosing a central tower keep.

After the castle was converted into an English garrison fort in the 17th century, barracks were built within the bailey.

The castle reopened in 2016 following a restoration that houses two museums.

The largest, the Fermanagh County Museum, details the history of the Maguire family and exhibits the county’s natural history, early rural traditions, and crafts.

The Inniskillings Museum has a military focus, displaying medals, flags, uniforms, weapons, and other items linked to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, an infantry regiment in the British army from 1881 to 1968.

19. Glens of Antrim

Declared an “area of outstanding natural beauty” in Antrim County, the Glens of Antrim consist of nine deep valleys descending from the Antrim Plateau to the coastline.

These valleys have inspired countless songs and poems, with each possessing its unique charm and narrative.

Within a mere 50 square kilometers lies a remarkable diversity of glacial valleys, bogs, mountain streams, tundra plateaus, waterfalls, deciduous and coniferous forests, and towering cliffs.

Evidence of human presence, both modern and prehistoric, is prevalent, featuring quaint villages, isolated cottages, dry-stone walls, cairns, and ancient stone monuments.

20. Ballycastle Beach

Another popular destination along the Causeway Coastal Route, Ballycastle Beach is a sweeping 1.2-kilometer stretch of sandy and pebbled shoreline adjacent to the coastal village of the same name.

The beach is bordered by the pier of Ballycastle’s marina to the west and the rugged Pans Rock to the east.

On a calm summer day, it is an inviting spot to dip your toes into the North Channel.

The village side features a promenade with green spaces, playgrounds for children, and pubs, all elevated to allow views of the beach and, on clear days, the Mull of Kintyre in the distance.

Directly behind is Ballycastle Golf Club, founded in 1890, offering both gentle parkland and challenging links holes.

21. Old Bushmills Distillery

Ireland’s oldest operational whiskey distillery is located in County Antrim along the rugged North Coast.

The landowner received permission to produce whiskey from King James I in 1608, leading to the establishment of the Bushmills brand in 1784. Excepting a fire in 1885, the distillery has been continuously operational for over 230 years, producing five award-winning whiskies.

Bushmills offers single malt whiskeys aged 10, 16, and 21 years, in addition to a unique 12-year reserve available exclusively for tasting and purchase at the distillery.

Consequently, enthusiasts are bound to be captivated at the site, engaging in tours, absorbing the ambiance, partaking in guided tasting sessions, and exploring the range available in the distillery shop.

22. Cliffs of Magho

Accessing this breathtaking viewpoint on the northern edge of Lough Navar Forest can be accomplished by either foot or vehicle.

These cliffs belong to a limestone escarpment that overlooks the western shore of Lower Lough Erne, which is part of Ireland’s fourth-largest lake system.

Should you opt to walk, there is a 200-meter climb, encompassing 370 steps, traversing enchanting woods and featuring numerous benches along the route for resting.

The vantage from the summit offers unparalleled views of the lake, its islands, and, on clear days, the Blue Mountains and Slieve League located to the west in County Donegal.

The wet calcareous rocks at these cliffs are home to a unique black moss that cannot be found anywhere else in the United Kingdom.

23. Inch Abbey

Established in 1177 by Norman knight John de Courcy, this monastery located west of present-day Downpatrick was closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid-16th century and has since fallen into ruin for over 450 years.

Despite this, the site offers much of interest, with the decaying abbey church and its monastic buildings situated in a picturesque valley between two drumlins (egg-shaped hills). Still visible within the former chancel are lancet windows, as well as remnants of sedilia and a piscina on the south chancel wall.

Near the river, traces of additional structures, such as an infirmary and a bakehouse, characterized by their ovens, can be discerned.

In a nod to Game of Thrones, it is worth noting that Robb Stark camped here in Season One of the series.

24. HMS Caroline

Docked in the Titanic Quarter at Belfast Harbour, HMS Caroline, a C-Class Light Cruiser, was commissioned in 1914. It is the last surviving vessel from the 1916 Battle of Jutland during World War I and served as the Royal Navy’s headquarters in Belfast Harbour for many years following the conflict.

HMS Caroline was not officially decommissioned until 2011, and after several years of restoration, it reopened as a museum ship in 2016. Visitors can experience a film that depicts the chaos and sounds of the Battle of Jutland, while the cabins, mess, and engine room have been meticulously restored to reveal intricate details.

The signal school provides an introduction to naval communication, and the torpedo school features interactive displays involving weaponry and maritime conflict, allowing visitors to design their own “dazzle camouflage.”

25. Kinbane Castle

Translating to “White Head,” Kinbane Castle derives its name from the narrow white limestone crag that serves as its base.

This romantic ruin, constructed in 1547, is located five kilometers west of Ballycastle.

Its lord was Colla MacDonnell during a time when the MacDonnell clan had significant control over the coastal regions.

Almost immediately after its construction, the castle faced sieges from the English in 1551 and 1558. The hollow below the castle is referred to as the Hollow of the English, possibly alluding to a massacre involving besieging English soldiers killed by local clansmen responding to a distress signal.

The descent from the cliffs is remarkable, with rugged formations, crashing waves, and the hauntingly beautiful decaying tower surely captivating any visitor.