I talk a lot about my travels around the globe, but what about the less-far-flung adventures? For short-haul travel outside of mainland UK a lot of people forget about what is on our doorstep, namely the beautiful sights of Northern Ireland. Home of Game of Thrones filming locations and the famous Causeway Coast, here’s what we got up to during our Northern Ireland road trip, completed in one weekend (meaning you can do it without using your annual leave!), how we got there, how we got around, what we saw and everything in between.
How to Plan a Road Trip Around Northern Ireland
Our trip to Northern Ireland was a birthday surprise, where I revealed each section of the trip in stages (yes, I had a lot of envelopes) including the destination at the airport so I had to plan each aspect to make sure everything was booked and would go to plan. However, because Northern Ireland is so easy to access from mainland UK and so easy to get around, this is definitely a trip where you can wing it as you go along.
Where to Stay in Northern Ireland
Once you’re out of the centre of Belfast there are SO MANY smaller hotels and country hotels with huge grounds you can book into. However, I can’t recommend the hotel we stayed in on our trip enough so I’m going to drop it here for you to check out. Dunadry Hotel and Gardens in County Antrim was absolutely stunning, the most relaxing stay and had lots of great food options, just a short drive from the airport but still close enough to use as a base for the main sights of Northern Ireland.
Getting to Northern Ireland
Whilst you can take your own car across on the ferry, it does tend to cost quite a bit and adds a lot of travel time onto your trip meaning it isn’t the best option for a weekend trip. There are tons of flights out to Belfast International from airports such as Manchester and Liverpool for pennies and with a super-short flight (around 45 minutes), getting there is a breeze. Looking online as I type, flights from Manchester on a Friday returning on a Sunday on a weekend in early September will set you back around £30pp for a return trip making Belfast and Northern Ireland a great budget-friendly trip.
Once you land in Belfast, it’s time to get your onward transport. If you’re staying in Belfast you can catch the airport bus into the centre for around £9 then pick up your car once you get there. However, I would recommend staying outside of Belfast itself as there are some beautiful rural hotels where you can easily park your car, stroll around the grounds and be within easy reach of the Causeway Coast and sights often for a much lower price point. There are plenty of car rental places in the airport, just be sure to take a CREDIT card with you for pickup, or you’ll be charged a huge ‘deposit’ on your debit card and insurance (this is often not disclosed during the rental booking, and we’ve been burned!).
Tip: If you’re thinking of driving south in your rental car, make sure you have the right insurance to cover it as you’re not automatically covered for driving in the Republic of Ireland once you cross the border from the north and vice versa!
Once you have your car, you’re on your way and ready to discover the sights of Northern Ireland on your road trip.
A very soggy me on the Giant’s Causeway, I’m sure it has a weather system of its own!
Top Things to See in Northern Ireland
Whether you are just hopping across on a day trip or spending a long weekend driving around Northern Ireland, here are some of my favourite things to do during a visit.
- Wander the Giant’s Causeway and surrounding trails (busy. but worth it!)
- Visit the Titanic Museum in Belfast
- Drive the Causeway Coast and stop off at the lovely beaches and viewing spots
- Explore the Game of Thrones filming locations including the Dark Hedges and studio tour
- Walk the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (approach with caution if you’re scared of heights)
- Wander one of the beautiful National Trust properties (included in your membership for free if you’re a member!)
Our Exact 3-Day Northern Ireland Road Trip Itinerary
During our last trip to Northern Ireland we didn’t include Belfast itself but drove along the coastline, exploring some of the more rural sites and beautiful landscapes. Here is our exact NI itinerary for our last 3-day road trip along the coast.
Day 1:
Fly in to Belfast Airport (we flew into Belfast Int. from Manchester, pick up the hire car and head to our hotel for the night
Day 2:
Breakfast in the hotel and a drive to the Giant’s Causeway for a very wet walk along the rocks and a hike around the local area. Wander around the town of Bushmills and grab a bite to eat at one of the lovely cafés. Explore Dunluce Castle before heading to the Game of Thrones filming location where The Dark Hedges were filmed in Game of Thrones for a meander down the road. Head to a local restaurant for something to eat before turning in for the night.
Day 3:
After breakfast, head for the coast again to explore the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge across the water (National Trust) and a wander around the area to take in the sea views. Head along the Causeway Coast to take in the beautiful views with a stop off at one of the beaches along the way for a paddle. Explore Carrickfergus Castle and all its history and grab a bite to eat before heading back to the airport for a late flight home.
Listen to Me Chatting All Things Northern Ireland on BBC Radio Stoke’s Travel Segment
Want to hear more about the best way to see Northern Ireland and what you need to see whilst you’re there? I recently chatted to Liz Ellis on BBC Radio Stoke about my trip, listen in on the link below!
>> Listen in at around 2.22.30 here on BBC Sounds <<
Have you visited Northern Ireland before? Where are some of your favourite places to explore? Let me know so I can check them on during my next trip!
Study . Work . Travel . Blog 