Giants Causeway and Castles from Belfast: Guided Tour





Description
Discover the wonders of Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast on our award-winning full-day Giant’s Causeway tour from Belfast. Departing daily at 9 AM, this unforgettable tour blends history, natural beauty, and iconic landmarks into one seamless adventure. Highlights: The Dark Hedges – Wander beneath the mystical avenue of 300-year-old beech trees, famously featured as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones. Dunluce Castle – Admire or explore the dramatic cliffside ruins, rich with legend and breathtaking coastal views. Carrickfergus Castle – Step back in time at this historic Norman fortress, with optional entry to explore its stone walls and battlements. Giant’s Causeway – Stand among 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. Perfect for history enthusiasts, nature lovers, and Game of Thrones fans, this tour offers captivating stories, stunning scenery, and unforgettable photo opportunities at every stop.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure begins at Carrickfergus Castle, one of the most impressive and best-preserved medieval castles in Ireland. Built in 1177, this formidable fortress has withstood sieges and battles from the Scots, Irish, English, and French for over 800 years. Stroll along the ancient stone walls and battlements, and take in sweeping views across the harbor. Don’t miss the striking statue of King William III, commemorating his historic landing here in 1690. You can choose to explore inside the castle (entry optional) to uncover its fascinating past, or simply wander the scenic grounds, capturing postcard-perfect photos and perhaps enjoying a coffee break before the next leg of your journey.
Sit back and soak up the beauty of the legendary Antrim Coast. Enjoy a scenic coastal drive through some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes. Pass through charming seaside villages like Ballygally, where colorful cottages and quiet shores capture the essence of coastal life. Marvel at the towering cliffs, golden beaches, and panoramic Atlantic views that make this route one of the most breathtaking in the world — a perfect opportunity for stunning photos and peaceful moments along the way.
Gaze upon the elegance of Glenarm Castle – where history meets breathtaking coastal scenery. As the journey continues along the Antrim Coast, enjoy sweeping views of Glenarm Castle, one of Northern Ireland’s most storied estates. Set amid rolling green hills and overlooking Glenarm Bay, this 17th-century castle remains one of Ireland’s oldest continuously inhabited homes. This drive-by stop perfectly blends heritage and natural beauty, with the castle’s graceful architecture framed by the unspoiled coastal landscape — an ideal spot for photos and a moment to take in the timeless charm of the Antrim shoreline.
Discover the charm of Carnlough Harbour – where coastal beauty meets television fame. Journey through the picturesque fishing village of Carnlough, nestled along the breathtaking Antrim Coast. Fans of Game of Thrones may recognize this quaint harbor from Season 6, where Arya Stark makes her daring escape — bringing a touch of fantasy to this real-world gem. Beyond its screen stardom, Carnlough Harbour delights with its colorful fishing boats, historic stone buildings, and rugged shoreline views. It’s the perfect place to pause for photos, breathe in the fresh sea air, and soak up the peaceful charm of Northern Ireland’s coast.
Experience the magic of the Glens of Antrim – nine valleys of storybook beauty. Travel through the Glens of Antrim, a breathtaking series of nine lush valleys that sweep from the rugged Antrim Plateau down to the sparkling coastline. Each glen tells its own tale, rich with local legend, charm, and natural wonder. As you wind through this enchanting landscape, take in rolling green hills, cascading streams, and panoramic coastal views that make this region one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic and scenic treasures. Don’t forget your camera — every turn reveals another picture-perfect moment along this unforgettable stretch of the Antrim Coast.
Marvel at the dramatic Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge viewpoint. Pause at the iconic Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge viewpoint, perched above the 75-foot chasm separating the mainland from Carrick Island. While this tour does not include crossing the bridge, the viewpoint alone offers stunning panoramas of jagged cliffs, turquoise Atlantic waters, and the rugged coastline. It’s an ideal stop for photos, soaking in the fresh sea air, and taking a moment to appreciate the raw, dramatic beauty of Northern Ireland’s coast.
Step into the enchanting Dark Hedges – a natural wonder with a touch of TV magic. Visit the Dark Hedges, a dramatic avenue of 300-year-old beech trees that fans of Game of Thrones will instantly recognize as the Kingsroad, where Arya Stark made her daring escape. Even beyond its on-screen fame, this leafy tunnel offers a magical, almost otherworldly atmosphere, perfect for stunning photos and peaceful strolls. After exploring, pause for a delicious lunch at the nearby Hedges Hotel, where great food meets spectacular scenery. Recharge and savor the views before continuing your journey along the breathtaking Antrim Coast.
Catch a glimpse of the world-famous Old Bushmills Distillery. Drive past Old Bushmills Distillery, Ireland’s oldest working whiskey distillery, crafting premium whiskey since 1608. While this tour does not include a distillery visit, you’ll have the chance to admire this iconic landmark, learn about its fascinating history, and capture photos of the historic buildings set against the stunning Antrim Coast scenery.
Explore the dramatic Dunluce Castle – a cliffside medieval masterpiece. Stop at Dunluce Castle, perched precariously on a cliff overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognize it as the House of Greyjoy, while all visitors can appreciate its rich history, legend, and breathtaking coastal vistas. Guests can choose to explore the castle ruins or simply admire them from the outside. Either way, this stop offers a spectacular backdrop for photos and a chance to experience one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic landmarks.
End your journey at the breathtaking Giant’s Causeway – a natural wonder like no other. Arrive at the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic landmarks. Marvel at 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed by ancient volcanic activity, and hear the legend of Finn McCool, the mythical giant said to have created this extraordinary landscape. With free admission, you’ll have plenty of time to walk among the columns, capture unforgettable photos, and soak in the dramatic coastal scenery. This unforgettable stop is truly the highlight of the tour and a must-see for every visitor to Northern Ireland.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(1,499)
The driver was very informative with the background on all the places we visited. He also communicated very well on what time we needed to be aboard the bus and what we could expect at the places we stopped
The tour guide, Troy, puts his heart and soul into this tour and provides the ultimate example of the craic. Beautiful views. Possibly the only, very slight, disappointment was the giants causeway was smaller than expected!
Mark, our driver, was excellent with a great sense of humour! Perfect balance of telling us about the area and attractions versus leaving us to just enjoy the journey. He also kept the group aware of running to time. A long day but the trip included several attractions.
Excellent trip with variety. Loved The Giant’s Causeway. The driver just didn’t stop talking for the whole trip! Some bits were very interesting, but when it’s constant, you switch off. Definitely recommend the day though. Thank you
Fantastic tour with just the right amount of time at all locations. The weather was definitely on our side with gorgeous sunshine but that star of the trip is Stuart. What a brilliant bloke, he drove the bus while keeping up such an engaging commentary and was just so much fun to listen to. We already thought he was excellent but he managed to go up to GOAT level when we got stuck coming home because the police had closed the main road. Stuart must have been so stressed as we had cruise passengers onboard who were basically not going to get back to the ship in time. So he asked everyone if we’d mind detouring to the port, which we duly did. We were late getting back to Belfast centre but for me the view of the ship was worth it and I’m so glad the passengers made their sailing. Stuart was late to his next job but honestly what a legend to go out of his way like that to help. 5 star trip 5 star staff 10/10 recommend.
Stuart was a great tour guide but with the rain and fog, it was difficult to see much of anything. I personally think this excursion would only be worth it on a sunny day.
Stuart was a great tour guide and gave commentary throughout the tour. He went out of his way to help us when we were running late.
This was one of the best tours I've ever done, and it was also the highlight of my entire trip to Ireland. The Antrim Coast is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The Giants Causeway was so nice to visit and all it really wasn't very crowded. I highly recommend visiting. The lunch was a carvery and it was excellent, and the price was very reasonable, it was only about £20. The guide was excellent, too. I also felt like I had enough time everywhere.
The tour itself was good however we were supposed to pass by 2 castles and basically we only saw them from a distance and not really pointed out. The guide, although very nice, was not very helpful in directing us appropriately. Also at the causeway … which was free… we were supposed to have free admission which we did not have and so could not go into gift shop and cafe
Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour overall. We would like to clarify that our itinerary allows approximately 30 minutes at each castle stop, which provides time for guests to get off the coach, explore the grounds, take photographs, and learn about the site. We are sorry if this was not your experience on the day. Regarding the Giant's Causeway, the free admission included with our tour is access to the Causeway stones themselves. Entry to the Visitor Centre, gift shop, and café is operated separately by the site and requires an additional ticket purchase. As this is an optional extra cost, we do not advertise Visitor Centre admission as being included in the tour. We would appreciate the opportunity to investigate your comments regarding the castle visits further. Could you please contact us directly with the date you travelled and the name of your driver/guide? This will allow us to review the tour and address any concerns with the team involved. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience.
It was a fun filled day with good stories, history and laughter. 👏🏻👏🏻to our tour guide Leesa and driver Jon.
Hi Many thanks for taking the time to review your experience with us. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour with us. Thank you.



