Belfast & Giant's Causeway: Full-Day Coastal Tour

One Day, Six Castles & the Giant's Causeway from Belfast

You get picked up from your hotel, driven through the glens and along the Antrim Coast, and shown six castles (most from viewpoints, two from the road), the Giant's Causeway, and the Carrick-a-Rede viewpoint, with a lunch break in Ballycastle. The guide adjusts the route for weather and season, so you see what's safe and open that day, which means you're not paying for a fixed itinerary you might not get.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Carrickfergus Castle15m
2. Cushendunpassing by
3. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge10m
4. Giant's Causeway45m
5. Dunluce Castle15m

Northern Ireland Coastal Highlights Tour

• Optional Belfast city highlights tour
• Photo stop at Carrickfergus Castle
• View Glenarm Castle and Barbican
• Stop in Carnlough for views and coffee
• Drive through Glenariff Forest Park
• Stop at Agnew's Field and Redbay Castle ruins
• Pass through Cushendall and Cushendun village
• Drive Torr Head Scenic Route to Murlough Bay
• Visit limestone cliffs and shoreline bay
• Lunch or dinner in Ballycastle
• Visit Kinbane Castle ruins
• View Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge from lookout
• Explore Giant's Causeway basalt columns
• Stop at Dunluce Castle ruins

The experience

You've just landed or checked into your Belfast hotel, and you've got one day to see the North Coast. The tour picks you up from your accommodation in Belfast or nearby, and for the next eight to ten hours you're moving: past Carrickfergus Castle on the lough, inland through the Nine Glens of Antrim where the landscape shifts from industrial to wild, then out onto the Causeway Coastal Route where the cliffs take over. Your guide handles the driving and the timing. You handle the camera and the questions. The itinerary shifts with weather and season, so what you see depends partly on the day itself. Some stops are optional, some only happen if conditions allow, and that's actually the point. You're not locked into a fixed script.

The main attractions are Dunluce Castle (a ruin perched on a cliff, 250 years in the making, no entry fee but ten minutes of pure photography), the Giant's Causeway with its 40,000 basalt columns (the only UNESCO site in Northern Ireland, and yes, it gets crowded, but the guide times the stop to catch it quieter), and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, though you won't cross it. Instead you view it from Portaneevy Lookout Point above, which saves three hours and still gives you the panorama across to Scotland. In between are smaller stops: Glenarm Castle (viewed from above because it's a private home), Carnlough with its limestone harbour and Game of Thrones filming location, Cushendun if the weather holds (a National Trust village with half-slated cottages), and Ballycastle for lunch at one of the local seafood restaurants. The Torr Head Scenic Route curves along high cliffs if conditions permit. Murlough Bay and Kinbane Castle appear or don't depending on season and road access. Nothing is guaranteed except the Giant's Causeway and the drive itself.

Lunch happens in Ballycastle, where you choose and pay separately: the tour stops there, but the meal isn't included. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. The group stays small (maximum three people per booking), so it doesn't feel like a coach tour. Pickup is available from Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, or surrounding accommodation. If you're not in Belfast, note that some stops (the Belfast city highlights, Carrickfergus Castle) don't happen on departures from Derry. The tour doesn't run on Mondays. Dress for the weather. This coast is exposed, and the itinerary changes if rain or wind makes a road unsafe or a viewpoint inaccessible.

What’s included

• Your day includes round-trip hotel or accommodation pickup from Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, or surrounding areas, transportation throughout the tour, bottled water, and stops at multiple attractions including the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede viewpoint, Dunluce Castle, Glenarm Castle viewpoint, and several villages along the Causeway Coastal Route.
• Lunch is at your own cost in Ballycastle.
• The itinerary is guided and flexible, adjusting for weather, season, and road conditions.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (10 to 85 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by InSite Tours Ireland

Is this one for you?Book this if you have one day in Northern Ireland and want to see the North Coast without arranging your own transport, timing the stops, or worrying about which roads are passable. The guide handles the route changes so you just show up and follow along.

Traveler reviews

4.88★★★★★★★★★★

185 verified traveler reviews

5 ★177

4 ★1

3 ★2

2 ★2

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge crossing included?

No. The tour views it from Portaneevy Lookout Point above, which takes minutes instead of hours and still shows the bridge and the coastline toward Scotland.

Do I need to pay for lunch separately?

Yes. The tour stops in Ballycastle for lunch, but you choose and pay for your meal at one of the local restaurants. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.

Can I do this tour if I'm staying in Derry instead of Belfast?

Yes, pickup is available from Derry/Londonderry and surrounding areas. However, the Belfast city highlights and Carrickfergus Castle stops don't happen on departures from Derry.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The itinerary changes depending on weather and road conditions. Some stops (like the Torr Head Scenic Route and Murlough Bay) only happen if conditions are safe. The Giant's Causeway and main attractions are still visited.

How many people can book together?

A minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 3 people per booking.

Does the tour operate on Mondays?

No. The Carrickfergus Castle stop is not offered on Mondays, and the tour does not run that day.

Can I bring children?

Yes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Infant seats and prams are available. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.