Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a famous rope bridge near Ballintoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below.

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The Dark Hedges

One of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland and a popular attraction for tourists from across the world.

Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

Giant's Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is also known as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in Irish and tha Giant’s Causey in Ulster-Scots. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, the Giant’s Causeway was named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom

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Dunluce Castle

The iconic ruin of Dunluce Castle bears witness to a long and tumultuous history. First built on the dramatic coastal cliffs of north Antrim by the MacQuillan family around 1500, the earliest written record of the castle was in 1513.

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Ballintoy Harbour

Ballintoy Harbour can be discovered in the picturesque village of Ballintoy. Known as a ‘raised beach’, it is located alongside the B15 coast road, 17 miles north-east of Coleraine and five miles west of Ballycastle.
It has been used as a filming location in HBO’s epic series Game of Thrones. This stunning harbour location has been used for exterior Pyke shots and as the Iron Islands.

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Bushmills Distillery

Let’s us take you to Ireland’s oldest whiskey distillery. Whiskey-making tours with tasting session in centuries-old building with legendary resident ghost.

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North Coast Day Trips

Giant's Causeway

Giant’s Causeway is a cluster of approximately 40,000 basalt columns rising out of the sea on the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. These rock formations get their name from an old legend stating that Irish warrior Finn McCool built the path across the sea to face his Scottish rival, Benandonner. There are several variations of the story from this point but each one ends with Finn dressing as a baby and scaring off Benandonner, who thinks the disguised Finn is actually the child of a giant and is too afraid to face his opponent. On his way back to Scotland, Benandonner tears up the path behind him, leaving just what exists today on the Northern Irish coast and the Scottish island of Staffa, which has similar rock formations.

While the legend makes for an interesting story, geologists have a different explanation for the creation of the Giant’s Causeway: volcanic activity. According to them, millions of years ago a volcanic eruption produced a lava flow that cooled quickly from both the top and sides, shaping the lava into hexagonal columns. Now declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thousands of tourists visit Giant’s Causeway each year to marvel at and photograph this natural wonder.

Old Bushmills Distillery

Bushmills Distillery is the oldest working distillery in Ireland. Founded in 1608, it has been known as the Old Bushmills Distillery since 1784. A fire destroyed the distillery in 1880, but it was rebuilt, and the 1890s proved to be a heyday for the company as it won numerous prizes, including the only gold medal for whiskey at the 1889 Paris Expo.

Visitors to the distillery can take a guided tour and then leave with a bottle of Distillery Reserve 12-year Single Malt Whiskey, only available from the gift shop. Tours start at the mash house, where the distilling process begins, and continue on to the still house, where whiskeys are distilled three times. The tour concludes in the bottling hall, where whiskey is bottled before being sent all around the world.

Carrickfergus Castle

At more than 800 years old, Carrickfergus Castle is one of the best preserved medieval structures in Ireland. Located in the town of Carrickfergus about 10 miles north of Belfast, it was built between 1177 and 1195 by the Norman lord John deCourcy. Additions to the castle were made in 1216 and again in 1226, when the walls were extended to completely encircle all of the rock where the castle stood. Over the centuries, the castle was used as protection against attacks from the Scots, Irish, English and French. Later, it was used as a garrison during the First World War and as an air raid shelter during World War II.

Ownership of the castle was transferred from the army to the government of Northern Ireland in 1928, and at that time, many additions to the castle were removed in order to restore it to its original appearance. Exhibits in the castle today attempt to show what life was like during medieval times.

Dunluce Castle

Surrounded by 100-foot cliffs on all sides, Dunluce Castle commands a dramatic location on the North Antrim Coast. One of the most picturesque castles in Northern Ireland, it may date as far back as the 14th century, although records only confirm its existence back to 1513, when it belonged to the MacQuillen clan. Later the headquarters of the MacDonnell clan, the castle was surrounded by a village until a fire wiped it out in 1641.

Today, the mainland courtyard of the castle leads downhill to a narrow crossing where you’ll find buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Dunluce Castle is thought to have been the inspiration for Cair Paravel in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia and has been the site of movies such as Jackie Chan’s The Medallion. On a clear day, you can see across the sea to Islay.

Dark Hedges

Fifty miles northwest of Belfast, off the Antrim Coastal Road, you will find one of the most unique and most photographed attractions in Northern Ireland: a row of trees known as the Dark Hedges. Planted by the Stuart family back in the 18th century, these beech trees are now overgrown and intertwined, creating a tunnel along the stretch of Bregagh Road that once led to Gracehill, the Stuart family manor.

Legend has it that the trees are haunted by a mysterious gray lady who weaves in and out of the trees at dusk. In addition to being a popular subject to artists, the trees also serve as a frequent backdrop for wedding photographs and have been use for scenes in the show Game of Thrones, representing the Kings Road.

Ballintoy Harbour

The village of Ballintoy was featured as the fictional town of Lordsport in the second season of the Game of Thrones television series. The area around Ballintoy offers exceptional walking, with stunning scenery steeped in history and folklore. Ballintoy Harbour is known for its annual dawn service on Easter Sunday, which has become a tradition recognized by people of all ages and denominations.

Ballintoy Harbour is still a working harbor for local fishermen, who are well regarded for their skills as boatsmen due to the dangerous waters. Due to its location and natural defenses, Ballintoy Harbour is one of the best locations to see the fury of Atlantic storms up close. Watching the basalt islets that abound in the area allow you to see the areas of the most dangerous swells and tidal currents.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Considered one of the world’s scariest bridges, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is not for the faint of heart. Spanning a chasm that is almost 100 feet deep and nearly 70 feet wide, this Northern Ireland bridge connects Carrick-a-Rede Island to the mainland and attracts a quarter of a million visitors every year. The original structure was built by fishermen more than 300 years ago, and as recently as the 1970s, the bridge had only one handrail and large gaps between the slats.

The current bridge is less than 10 years old and is made of wire and Douglas fir. There is no record of anyone falling off the bridge, but it is not uncommon for visitors to get cold feet after crossing once, requiring a boat to bring them back to the mainland. Aside from the treacherous structure, the surrounding area is designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest due to its unique flora and fauna.

Giant's Causeway

Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

Ballintoy Harbour

Dunluce Castle

The Dark Hedges

Bushmills Distillery

Game of Thrones Tours

Full day guided bus tour from Belfast visiting filming locations from HBO’s Game of Thrones. We travel around Northern Ireland stopping at key locations sights of this epic drama viewed in over 199 countries around the world . With these tours you have your personal guide and transport to give you 5 star treatment as you visit Kings Landing, Stormlands and Winterfell just to name a few. Explore the ancient Cushendun Caves and discover well-known spots from the series such as the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Dunluce Castle, as well as the UNESCO–listed Giant’s Causeway, which shares the same otherworldly feel as the filming spots.

Tour Highlights

Departing from your location, you’ll head to the location where Ned Stark beheads a member of the Night’s Watch at the beginning of the series, and where Daenerys is captured by the Dothraki in season five. Take a short stop at a location from season six, before heading off to the caves where Red Priestess Melisandre of Asshai gave birth to her murderous shadow assassin. Remember that the night is dark and full of terrors. You can choose from a variety of lunch locations. Your journey continues with a visit to the camp of Renly Baratheon of Storm’s End, and gives you the chance to cross the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The next destination is Lordsport, the port town on the island of Pyke, in the Iron Islands, to witness where Theon Greyjoy would return to his family and betray those who raised him. A crucial part of any trip to Northern Ireland is to see the UNESCO–listed Giant’s Causeway. Although it hasn’t been featured in Game of Thrones, the spectacular site is a must see. Visit Dunluce Castle, the 17th century ruins that were used as the exterior of the House of Greyjoy on the show. The journey back to Belfast includes one final stop at the Dark Hedge, with its natural archway of intertwined trees. The road is one of Northern Ireland’s most photographed locations and the place where Arya Stark dressed as a boy to escape from King’s Landing.

Do not book a tour guide. Your chauffeur driver is also an experienced tour guide.

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Junction od Dee St and Newtownards Road East Belfast April 2008.

Belfast Peace Wall and Mural Tours

Every city has it’s own unique style, unique shopping but Belfast city has a unique and dark past after emerging from 30 years of conflict.

Northern Ireland has become famous for the murals painted in almost every area of the country. They often depict the history and political views of both traditions and are a way of marking territory. These wall paintings often look intimidating but they have become as much of a tourist attraction as many of the regular attractions within Belfast and beyond.

Our Guides are knowledgable in all aspects of the Northern Ireland conflict and can give you an in-depth information about the murals as you tour them and the peace walls.

The tour includes the main Belfast Peace Wall separating the Loyalist Shankill Road and the Republic Falls Road areas. The wall has been signed by both the Dalai Lama and President Clinton.

Belfast Sightseeing Day Trips

Titanic Belfast

Since opening its doors in 2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage, Titanic Belfast has rocketed to the top of Northern Ireland’s list of tourist attractions, drawing over 1 million visitors in its first year. It seems fitting that the city should host the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience; after all, Belfast was where the world’s most luxurious ship was built and first launched.

Today, the area of Belfast Harbor that once housed the RMS Titanic has been renamed the Titanic Quarter and is dominated by the towering silver façade of the Titanic Belfast, a remarkable building fashioned from four ship-hull-shaped wings. The futuristic building is home to the state-of-the-art Titanic Belfast exhibition, which spreads over six floors and includes interactive discovery zones, full-scale reconstructions, real-life accounts and mind-blowing special effects.

From the first talks of building an unsinkable ship to the construction by Harland and Wolff and subsequent launch in early 20th-century Belfast, to the tragic events that unfolded on April 15, 1912, the Titanic Belfast unveils the all-too-short history of the notorious ship, step by step. Highlights include the Ocean Exploration Centre, with live links to modern underwater explorations; a display of artifacts pulled from the wreckage of the Titanic; and the luxury Titanic Banqueting Hall.

St Anne's Cathedral

Unlike the chief churches of other European cities, St Anne’s Cathedral (often just called Belfast Cathedral) doesn’t have a history stretching back far into the Renaissance or Middle Ages. It was begun in 1899 and, although basically finished in the 1980s, still lacks some finishing touches (like a steeple!)

Outside, it’s a looming pile of stone, basically neo-Romanesque in style. Inside, it’s intricately patterned, with black-and-white marble floors representing the paths of virtue and vice; immense stained glass windows; carvings depicting Belfast life; and a wondrous mosaic, made by two sisters out of countless pieces of colored glass.

Queen's University Belfast

Just as Dublin has Trinity, so Belfast has Queen’s. It’s the city’s top university and a center of green and calm. Neo-Gothic and neo-Tudor buildings mingle with less majestic fare. Over 20,000 students attend, so if you come in term-time there’s plenty of people-watching to be done as the campus goes about its business.

It was founded in 1849 and its main building was designed by Charles Lanyon. However, the main pleasure for the visitor is less its history and more just strolling around the grounds enjoying the tranquil enclave and the toney streets surrounding the campus.

Belfast Botanic Gardens & Palm House

Wet and cold? Spend an afternoon in Belfast Botanical Gardens and be transported to a friendlier climate. Established in 1828, the Gardens are probably most famous for their Palm House, which was built soon after. The Palm House, designed by Charles Lanyon, is of gracefully curved steel and glass with a birdcage dome and filled with seasonal displays and, in the ‘stove wing’, a mini-jungle.

The gardens also have a Tropical Ravine – a building with a bridge overlooking tropical varieties like banana, cinammon and orchids – an alpine garden, sculptures and rose beds.

Titanic Quarter

No ship is more famous than the luxurious Titanic and nowhere on earth is better equipped to tell its story than the Titanic Quarter of Belfast. This 185-acre waterfront attraction is home to dozens of historical landmarks, a film studio and the largest collection of Titanic-themed artifacts on earth.

Travelers to Titanic Quarter can venture off on historic walking tours or visit Titanic’s Dock and Pump-House for an up close look at the old-school maritime operations. Visitors can also explore the berths of the famous Nomadic, the last remaining White Star Line ship on earth. Travelers are transported more than 100 years back in time after boarding the newly restored ship.

Belfast Castle

Belfast Castle sits high above the city on Cave Hill, looking the very picture of baronial splendor (it’s built in the Scottish Baronial style, like the Queen’s house Balmoral).

There’s been a castle on this site since the 12th century, but this one dates from the 1860s. It was built by the 3rd Marquis of Donegall. It went wildly over budget and, as the Marquis’ fortunes had changed, nearly didn’t get finished at all.

Today it’s a working castle, earning its keep with wedding receptions, conferences, an antique store and an adventure playground. At the visitors center you can find out all about the history of the Castle Hill site.

Noticed a cat motif around the place? It’s all down to a legend that says all will be well with the castle’s residents as long as there is a white cat in situ.

Crown Liquor Saloon

It’s like a museum – where you can drink stout. This 1826 fantasy beguiles the eye with every glance. Look up – there’s a pressed ceiling. There to your left? Brocaded walls and patterned tiles. To the right? Smoked glass screens and stained glass windows. Not to mention gunmetal plates (once used to strike matches) and antique bells (once used to summon your next drink).

Mosaics, carved wooden swans, mirrors, a red granite bar with a heated foot rest – it will spoil you for sodden beer mats and pokies for ever more. This temple to the art of conviviality was actually made by Italian crafstmen who were in Ireland to make Catholic churches. The owner of the Crown convinced them to do some work on the side for him. The result? Somewhere St Peter would be happy to take a tipple.

Stormont Estate and Parliament Buildings

The Stormont Estate and Parliament buildings are home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is responsible for making laws transferred to local jurisdiction and for providing oversight on the work of ministers and government departments. It previously housed the now defunct Parliament of Northern Ireland.

The large Stormont Estate technically includes Northern Ireland’s main government buildings and comprising 407 acres of land open to the public 365 days a year. On the estate grounds, you can take off on walking trails and woodland walks, entertain the kids at the adventure playground or visit the historic sculptures and monuments.

The Parliament buildings are open to the public, where you can attend debates and watch committee hearings, or go on a guided tour of the “House on the Hill.” There are also 600 events held annually here, including fundraisers, dinners and concerts.

Victoria Square Shopping Centre

The Victoria Square Shopping Centre is one of the biggest and most expensive developments in Northern Ireland. It includes both residential and commercial space, with the British department store House of Fraser as its anchor tenant. The square’s iconic feature is undoubtedly its glass dome that offers panoramic 360-degree views of the city. The 35-meter diameter dome has two covered, multi-level streets linking in, and an ornate Jaffee Fountain sits below the dome in what is the hub of the entire area.

Daily tours of the dome are offered, with guides providing information on some of the sights to see. Important buildings like Belfast Castle, Harland & Wolff Cranes, Belfast City Hall, Belfast Courts of Justice and the Albert Clock are some to be pointed out.

Retail outlets spread out over four floors include Fossil, H&M, Apple, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Hugo Boss and more, while entertainment outlets like Odeon Cinemas, restaurants and bars are also part of the commercial space at Victoria Square.

Crumlin Road Jail/Gaol

Crumlin Road features two imposing structures of Belfast’s criminal justice system, the Crumlin Road Gaol (Jail) and Courthouse. The jail opened in 1845 and the courthouse five years later, though neither have been in service since the late 1990ss. Crumlin Road Jail is the only Victorian-era prison remaining in Northern Ireland and is commonly referred to as “The Crum.”

The Crumlin Road Gaol is a black basalt and red sandstone structure of four wings branching out from a central circle. The jail has been the site of numerous breakouts, bombings and protests over the years, and despite being referred to as the Alcatraz of Europe, there were a number of successful escape attempts, the first in 1866. It has housed such notable inmates as Ian Paisley, Eamon de Valera, Michael Stone and Lenny Murphy. Gallows were not included in the original design, meaning executions took place in public view. In 1901, an execution chamber was built and utilized until 1961, when hangings stopped.

The Crumlin Road Courthouse stands opposite the jail and is in disrepair today. It has a tunnel that connects the two buildings and was once used to transport prisoners from prison to court. The site is now a tourist destination where visitors can tour the facility. At present, the courthouse is in a state of disrepair while awaiting plans for its future use.

Belfast City Hall

Belfast City Hall was built to commemorate the event of Belfast becoming a city, having been granted the status in 1888 by Queen Victoria in recognition of the contributions of Belfast in the industries of linen, rope, tobacco, engineering and shipbuilding. This imposing structure of Portland stone has a copper dome topping out at 173 feet high, as well as a statue of Queen Victoria celebrating her jubilee standing out front.

Many other statues and monuments can be found on the surrounding grounds, including the Thane Memorial for the victims of the Titanic sinking, which was expanded in 2012 to become the Titanic Memorial Garden. The memorial garden contains a nine-meter-long plinth containing bronze plaques with the names of all of the victims and was the first memorial to include the names of all who died, both crew members and passengers. You can also find memorials commemorating the soldiers of the Boer War and Korean War, and another for the American Expeditionary Force, the first American troops to arrive in Europe for World War II in 1942.

Titanic's Dock and Pump-House

This historical site is the first and last dock of the world famous Titanic. In April of 1912 the massive cruise-liner shored up to set sail from the Belfast port and never returned. Today, visitors can explore the shipyard where this behemoth of a boat came to life. The dry dock and pump-house are perfectly preserved and expert guides unlock a mystical world where engineers built an “unsinkable” ship and the well-to-do embarked on a journey from which they would not return.

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