Our visit to Northern Ireland was jammed packed and to be honest, a bit rushed. After arriving in country and spending the night in Dublin, we drove from Dublin to Belfast then on to Portrush, where we stayed for 2 nights. We spent 1 more night in Donegal, before driving back south in to the Republic.
If you're eager to explore Northern Ireland, we'd suggest spending 4 days or more, or selecting your top destination, rather than trying to add in a lot of driving.
Google maps will tell you, the drive from Dublin to Belfast should take about 1 hour, 45 minutes and one thing to know about driving in and around Ireland - everything is going to take longer than the map predicts!
Plus, you'll want to allow plenty of time along the way just in case you want to stop at something that strikes your fancy or a pub looks particularly inviting!
New Grange - County Meath
This ancient site (5,200 years old!) is on the way (more or less) of the drive between Dublin and Belfast.
This mysterious passage tomb was built by Stone Age farmers. It is older than the Great Pyramids and Stonehenge. At the winter solstice, the passage way is perfectly aligned so that at sunrise, the central chamber becomes fully illuminated with light.
You are able to explore the visitors center for free.*
If you would like to visit the actual structure, the only access is through a guided tour, which leaves from the visitor's center.
Your best case is to book your tour ahead of time. You can try to schedule a tour the day of your visit, however, you may have to wait longer for there to be spaces available.
Learn more about New Grange here!
*this site is currently closed due to the Covid 19 Pandemic
Belfast
Our time in Belfast was cut short due to a break in of our rental car (more on that story later) - however we did get a chance to stop at a pub and we had a few things planned that we wish we had gotten to do!
Madden's Bar - this pub has varied reviews on TripAdvisor. We found it pleasant and enjoyed sitting outside with a pint.
When our car was broken into, some locals at the bar also shouted at the people and ran them off before potentially more things were taken, so for us, the pub gets a thumbs up! Fair disclaimer however, is that it is a Republican leaning pub, and the reception may not be warm for English visitors.
On our to do list in Belfast for another time:
St. George's Market (Friday/Saturday/Sunday)
Portrush, County Antrim
We stayed in Portrush for 1 full day and 2 nights (again, a bit rushed). We LOVED our day of exploring the wild sites of the coast, and a stop for whiskey didn't hurt either.
Gorgeous and maybe not for the faint of heart, at least the rope bridge part. Even without crossing the bridge, the sites and views are stunning and worth a stop.
We loved crossing the bridge and exploring the island on the other side.
Dress for the weather and possibly damp or slippery steps.
Currently, only the car park is open, due to the pandemic.
Legend has it that the Irish giant Finn MacCool built the Giant's Causeway in order to cross the North Channel and meet face to face with a Scottish giant who had challenged him to a fight.
Whether it was a giant or geology, the causeway is an incredible place to see.
Make a day of it! Plan your trip to the causeway for first thing in the morning and then visit Bushmill's distillery, located about 3 miles down the road on your way home for the evening.
The causeway is open and visits need to be planned in advance. Check out their site to find out more.
During our trip in 2017, Game of Thrones was pretty much in the height of it's being a phenomenon and we needed to see the lane that was featured as The Kings Road in the series.
We had fun attempting ridiculous photos and seeing this famous site. Maybe not worth a drive well out of your way, but fun if it fits in!
Busmill's has been distilling whiskey since 1608 which gives it the distinction of being the oldest licensed distillery in the world (according to their website at least)!
We had a great time touring the distillery and enjoyed relaxing in the cozy restaurant/bar area for a bit afterwards.
Unfortunately the distillery is currently closed for tours. More information can be found here.
tldr - Northern Ireland
Plan 3-4 days. Know driving anywhere will take longer than google maps will predict.
Visit:
Northern Ireland things to know
Northern Ireland is made up of 6 counties (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Derry, Fermanagh, Tyrone) and is a part of the United Kingdom
You'll use pounds, not euros, when in the north
Brexit has further complicated an already complex and often tense relationship between the Republic of Ireland (26 counties in the south) and Northern Ireland
Yorumlar