From Belfast-Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Dark Hedges tour
Description
Discover the best of Northern Ireland on a relaxed, well-paced 6-hour tour from Belfast. This experience gives you plenty of time at the attractions that truly matter—no rushing, just exploring. Stand in awe at the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, capture stunning photos at the cliffside ruins of Dunluce Castle, and stroll beneath the hauntingly beautiful Dark Hedges, made famous by Game of Thrones. All this while taking in the scenic drive through the rolling Antrim countryside. It’s the perfect blend of iconic sights and laid-back travel.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Perched dramatically on a basalt outcrop along the north coast of Antrim, Dunluce Castle was once the seat of the MacDonnell clan and has stood as a striking coastal fortress since the 13th century. With a rich history shaped by Viking, medieval, and later influences, the castle remains one of the most iconic landmarks on the Antrim Coast. Its rugged setting overlooking the North Atlantic has made it famous not only in Irish history but also in popular culture, featuring in Game of Thrones as Pyke and inspiring C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia. Please note: this is a photo stop only. There is no entry to the castle included, but there will be time to take photos and enjoy the views.
Spend 1.5 hours exploring the iconic Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by ancient volcanic activity. Often called the 8th wonder of the world, it’s a place of stunning natural beauty and legendary folklore. According to myth, the giant Finn McCool built the Causeway to confront his Scottish rival—only to outsmart him in a clever twist that saved Ireland. Whether you're here for the geology or the legends, this stop is truly unforgettable.
Enjoy a 10–15 minute stop at the hauntingly beautiful Dark Hedges, made famous as a filming location for Game of Thrones. Planted over 270 years ago by the Stuart family to line the entrance to Gracehill Manor, these intertwining beech trees have become one of the most photographed spots in Northern Ireland. Whether you're a fan of the show or just love a good photo, this enchanting avenue is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour is not recommended for small children. However, if your child is accustomed to long bus journeys (up to 2 hours between stops and up to 9 hours total) and is comfortable walking for extended periods, they are welcome to join. Please book one seat per child and bring an appropriate child seat with you.
- Please note that the bus will depart promptly at the scheduled time and will not wait for late passengers, even if you call the office in advance—punctuality is essential. Additionally, for the safety and comfort of all guests, any passenger who is visibly intoxicated at any point during the tour will not be permitted to board or reboard the bus.
- The pick up point is in the Belfast City Centre so there is no parking available for passengers to leave their cars for the entire day.
- Use the bathroom prior to coming to the pick up point. Bring a packed lunch and also wear comfortable clothing, comfortable shoes as well as a rainproof jacket.
- This tour departs from Dublin, but passengers joining in Belfast have the option to book a return seat to Dublin on the same day if they wish.
Reviews(211)
Experience is EXACLTY as described ...plus very punctual and yet you see everything with no rushing Bus driver and guide were exceptional
Be on time and recheck if pick up area is changed. They do not email you or call you. They use WhatsApp to reach you. If you don’t have or use WhatsApp, too bad, you lose. We thought we were in the right place but got left behind.
The sites were well worth this trip! Be sure to bring rain wear since you will get wet. The gent who did the tour was not easy to find as he had no sign indicating it was him and was doing nothing to inform everyone he was there. Another person informed me since they asked some others and were informed it was the gentleman sitting there watching everyone try to find him. The guide was otherwise very informative and even bought us some chips to try. It started the tour on the wrong foot, but all the sites were so incredible, and the Titanic museum is good.
Don't trust emails you get changing your pick up... even 1hr before departure. Viator simply lies. Their their party operators won't answer phone calls. But more importantly Viator won't have your back. Shady untrustworthy company 126%
Hi there I am a bit confused with your review as we emailed you on 30th July to confirm the new pickup(Your tour was scheduled for the 3rd Aug) You then confirmed on the same day that you received the update - not 1 hr before like you claimed. Then on the day you were a No Show and now you are blaming other parties because of your lack of timekeeping? Best Regards
This was a great experience. We had Ollie as our tour guide and he did a great job of sharing stories to inform us. He’s also a great singer! The time at Giant’s Causeway was wonderful. We would have liked more time there, but understand time constraints. The dark hedges were neat, but maybe didn’t need as much time there. Would recommend to anyone looking to explore the causeway.
We had a great day! Perfect family tour-and a very knowledgeable guide Q10- quiggs helped us learn and know what historical or even mythological influences shaped N Ireland. Only drawback was not getting very close to Dunluce castle. But we just lived our tour guide who kept us entertained and informed!
Hi Thanks for the review and we are glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Regards Finn McCools
This guide, Quiggs, was full of relevant information early in the day. Later in the day, it was nothing but soapbox politics. Sorry, not for me.
Hi there As this is a tour covering Belfast and Northern ireland you would expect a bit of political history/context as that was/is a major part of the history in Northern ireland. But apologies , as we know it is hard to satisfy everyone on the tour.
Wonderful trip, excellent organization, precise timing, Peter the guide was experienced, friendly, well-prepared, who made us feel at ease and provided plenty of good music during the tour, Thomas the driver conducted the journey excellently, highly recommended.
The tour with Rowan and Neil was fantastic! Rowan is a good mix of fun and information. It kept our tour entertained but also gave us little breaks to just enjoy the scenery. Neil did fantastic driving on the small back roads and was obviously confident! Would definitely recommend doing the tour!
A tiring tour, about 13 hours long. For that, you get something offered. The Giant's Causeway, the Titanic Museum, and some of Belfast are shown. Very good, the ride with Peter & Anil was an experience. Peter speaks very quickly, so some remarks are probably only understandable by locals/native speakers. For the information of all EU citizens: Anyone traveling on the roads of the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland does not need an ETA. The border is as "soft" as between Germany and the Netherlands. If the color of the signs and the distance indications did not change, one would hardly notice it.
