Giants Causeway Day Tour from Belfast: 40,000 Columns

Eight hours on the Antrim Coast Road, from basalt columns to whiskey distillery, at your own pace

A private day tour from Belfast to the Giant's Causeway and five other north coast stops, with a local driver-guide, luxury Mercedes-Benz transport and hotel pickup. You walk among 40,000 interlocking basalt columns at the UNESCO site, cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge if you book ahead, tour the Old Bushmills Distillery tasting room, and stop for photos at Dunluce Castle ruins and the Dark Hedges. The route follows the Antrim Coast Road, one of the world's top five great road journeys. Lunch is at your own expense at the Causeway Hotel. Entrance to the Giant's Causeway visitor center costs extra.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Antrim Coast Road1h
2. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge1h 30m
3. Giant's Causeway1m
4. Old Bushmills Distillery30m
5. Dunluce Castle15m
6. Dark Hedges30m

Explore Giants Causeway and North Coast

• Pickup from your location in Belfast
• Drive along Antrim Coast Road
• Stop at Carnlough fishing village
• Drive along Causeway Coastal route
• Visit Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge area
• Photo stop at scenic beach tip of Ireland
• Explore Giant's Causeway basalt columns
• Lunch break at Causeway Hotel
• Visit Old Bushmills Distillery tasting room
• Photo stop at Dunluce Castle ruins
• Visit Dark Hedges Game of Thrones site
• Return drive to Belfast in luxury vehicle

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in Belfast, then heads north through County Antrim farmland toward the coast. The Antrim Coast Road itself is the draw here: windswept cliffs, unspoiled beaches and views that on clear days reach Scotland. You'll stop in Carnlough, a nineteenth-century fishing village with a working harbour, before the road opens onto the dramatic Causeway Coastal route between Ballycastle and Dunluce.

The Giant's Causeway is the centerpiece: 40,000 interlocking basalt columns rising from the shore, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only one in Ireland. You walk out among the stones at your own pace. The visitor center with café, shop and audio guide is separate and costs extra. Lunch follows at the Causeway Hotel beside the site, on your own dime. After eating, the tour moves to Old Bushmills Distillery, operating since 1608 and the oldest working distillery in Ireland, where you can visit the tasting room.

The remaining stops are photo breaks: Dunluce Castle ruins perched on the cliffs, and the Dark Hedges, a tree-lined avenue used as the King's Road in Game of Thrones. If you want to cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, a 75-foot span over a chasm, you'll need to book your ticket ahead and let the operator know your arrival time. There's a one-mile walk from the car park if you have mobility concerns or small children. If crossing doesn't appeal, you can stop at the viewing point for photos instead. The return to Belfast is a relaxed drive in the luxury vehicle.

What’s included

• Private tour exclusively for your group.
• luxury Mercedes-Benz V-Class transport.
• hotel or cruise terminal pickup and drop-off within Belfast.
• professional local driver-guide speaking English.
• stops at the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge viewpoint, Old Bushmills Distillery, Dunluce Castle, and the Dark Hedges.
• a photo stop at a scenic beach on the north coast.
• and the Antrim Coast Road drive itself.

Options for this experience

2 options

1-4 PassengersUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · 07:00, 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Private tour for 1-4 passengers: every tour is private and reserved exclusively for your party, giving a personal experience. Lasts 8 hours. Travel in a Mercedes-Benz V-Class, a luxurious and roomy MPV that seats up to 7 passengers in comfort. Pickup is included.

5-7 PassengersUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English · 07:00, 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Private tour for 5-7 passengers: every tour is private and reserved exclusively for your party, giving a personal experience. Lasts 9 hours. Travel in a Mercedes-Benz V-Class, a luxurious and roomy MPV that seats up to 7 passengers in comfort. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Belfast Tours NI

Is this one for you?Book the five to seven passenger option if your group fills the van. The one to four passenger option works for smaller parties or families. Either way, the private format and flexible itinerary let you linger at the Giant's Causeway or skip the Carrick-a-Rede crossing if the weather turns or your interests shift during the day.

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Top questions

Can I cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge on this tour?

Crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is possible if you pre-book your ticket and notify the operator of your expected arrival time before purchasing. The bridge may close due to weather or repairs. If you prefer not to cross, the tour stops at the viewing point for photos instead. A one-mile walk from the car park is required to reach the bridge.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The private tour includes the driver-guide, luxury Mercedes-Benz transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, and access to all five stops. Food and drinks are not included. Lunch at the Causeway Hotel is at your own expense. Entrance to the Giant's Causeway visitor center, the Old Bushmills Distillery tasting room, and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge tickets are separate purchases.

How many people can fit in the vehicle?

The luxury Mercedes-Benz V-Class seats up to seven passengers. You can book for one to four people or five to seven people. The price varies by group size.

Does the tour work for families with small children?

Yes. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. The one-mile walk to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge may be difficult with a stroller that can't handle unpaved pathways, but the tour can stop at the viewing point instead. The tour suits all fitness levels.

What is the Antrim Coast Road like?

The Antrim Coast Road hugs the coastline and is rated as one of the world's top five great road journeys. It passes rugged cliffs, unspoiled beaches, and sweeping ocean views. On clear days you can see Scotland from the road.

What happened at the Dark Hedges and why is it called that?

The Dark Hedges is a tree-lined avenue in County Antrim used as the King's Road in Game of Thrones season 2. The trees are supposedly haunted by the Grey Lady, a lost spirit from an abandoned graveyard said to appear at dusk among the branches.