Giant's Causeway Day Trip from Belfast: Game of Thrones locations

Seven hours along the Antrim Coast: basalt columns, rope bridge, distillery and four Game of Thrones locations

A private day trip from Belfast to Giant's Causeway and the Antrim Coast, with a local guide, hotel pickup and stops at Dunluce Castle, Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Ballintoy Harbour. The drive itself takes over an hour, then the guide narrates the landscape and local myths as you move between six major stops, each tied to either the geology or the HBO drama filmed here.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Dark Hedges20m · entry included
2. Old Bushmills Distillery1h
3. Dunluce Castle20m · entry included
4. Giant's Causeway1h 10m
5. Ballintoy Harbour40m · entry included
6. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge30m

Antrim Coast and Game of Thrones Tour

• Drive from Belfast to Antrim Coast
• Visit Dark Hedges (King’s Road)
• Explore Bushmills Distillery
• Tour Dunluce Castle (House of Greyjoy)
• See Giant's Causeway basalt columns
• Stop at White Park Bay (Dragon Stone)
• Visit Ballintoy Harbour (Iron Islands)
• View Sandy Bay Cave
• Visit Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
• Optional Belfast sightseeing tour
• Return to Belfast for departure

The experience

You start from your Belfast hotel and drive north along the Antrim Coast road for just over an hour. The guide talks through the emerald countryside and the stories behind the landscape as the scenery shifts at every turn. By the time you reach the first stop, the coastal cliffs have opened up a different world from the city.

The day moves through Dark Hedges (the King's Road where Arya Stark fled in the show), Old Bushmills Distillery founded in 1608 where you can taste a free sample of the 12-year malt, and Dunluce Castle, the ruined fortress that stood in for the Greyjoy stronghold. Ballintoy Harbour, built to export lime, appears as Lordsport in the later seasons. White Park Bay and Sandy Bay Cave round out the Game of Thrones locations. The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, a 20-metre span 98 feet high that fishermen used for over a century, sits at the edge of the day. The walk down is steep and the crossing itself is not for the faint of heart, but the photograph from the vantage point is worth the effort.

Giant's Causeway itself (the 30,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by an ancient volcanic eruption) is the centerpiece. You can walk the free public pathway to the stones or pay to enter the visitor centre. A shuttle bus runs the 1-kilometre distance if you need it. The tour wraps with a Belfast sightseeing pass if time allows before your return, though the guide watches the clock to get you back to your ship or hotel on schedule.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Belfast.
• a local Blue Badge guide with live commentary on board.
• the seven-hour tour of the Antrim Coast and Giant's Causeway.
• stops at Dark Hedges, Old Bushmills Distillery, Dunluce Castle, Ballintoy Harbour, White Park Bay, Sandy Bay Cave and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
• a free whiskey sample at Bushmills.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 37 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Belfast means you do not need a car or a rental to reach the Antrim Coast. The guide handles the drive and the timing so you arrive back for your ship departure or evening plans. The seven-hour span fits a full day without an overnight, and the fixed route covers the major Game of Thrones sites and the causeway in one loop.

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Top questions

What is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge actually like to cross?

Carrick-a-Rede is a 20-metre bridge suspended 98 feet above the water, built by fishermen over a century ago to reach the salmon. The walk down involves steep steps over roughly 1 kilometre, so it is not suitable for anyone uncomfortable with heights or steep terrain. The bridge itself costs £9 per person to cross. A vantage point nearby offers a photograph of the bridge if you prefer not to walk it.

Can I visit the Old Bushmills Distillery on this tour?

Old Bushmills Distillery is a photo stop where you can buy a bottle and taste a free sample of the 12-year malt whiskey. A full distillery tour is available for £12 per person, but it takes an hour plus up to 45 minutes of waiting time, which cuts significantly into the seven-hour tour duration. The distillery does not open until noon on Sundays.

Do I have to pay extra to see Giant's Causeway?

Giant's Causeway itself is free to reach via the public pathway. The visitor centre costs £12 per person to enter, and a shuttle bus from the visitor centre to the causeway stones costs £2 each way if you need it. Both are optional.

How much of the day is spent driving versus at the stops?

The drive from Belfast to the first location takes over an hour. The remaining time is split among six major stops (Dark Hedges, Bushmills, Dunluce Castle, Ballintoy Harbour, Carrick-a-Rede and Giant's Causeway) with the guide narrating the landscape and local stories throughout the drive itself.

What Game of Thrones locations does this tour include?

The tour passes Dark Hedges (King's Road, where Arya Stark flees), Dunluce Castle (the Greyjoy stronghold), Ballintoy Harbour (Lordsport and the Iron Islands baptism scene), White Park Bay (Dragonstone), Sandy Bay Cave (the Red Witch's fire scene) and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (Renly's camp and the shadow baby murder). These are stops on the route, not separate excursions.