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Best Places to Visit in Northern Ireland

Giant’s Causeway is consistently one of the Best Places to Visit in Northern Ireland. Various locals and tourists from all over the world come to visit this place to witness the 40000 protruding basalt hexagons that have systematically spaced columns.

The formation of the Giant’s Causeway is due to the windy coast of the region. You will be surprised to know that the prominent TV series, Game of Thrones, shot some of the scenes in this place.

Best Time to Visit: Early morning before 9:30 am or later in the evening after 6 pm.

How to Reach: 
- Direct Bus: You can also take a direct bus from Belfast once a day to Giant’s Causeway.
- Train & Bus: The combination of train and bus, starting from Central Belfast or Dublin is another way of reaching Giant’s Causeway.
- Car: You can also take a scenic coastal route by car from Belfast or Dublin.

The quirky Ballintoy Harbour is one of the most famous and Best Places to Visit in Northern Ireland. It is home to wonderful cliff tops, rocky islands, and sea stacks. The village is among those places where only a few people live and was built around a single street.

The prominent church, Ballintoy Parish Church, is located around one kilometer from the harbor. The place is a considerable stopover if anybody is undertaking the coastal route. During April through November, the area experiences butterfly season when several species of these animals are witnessed.

Best Time to Visit: April to September

How to Reach: 
- Train: The shortest journey to Ballintoy Harbour is via train from Belfast. You can also catch a train from Dublin to reach Ballintoy Harbour.

Another most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland, The Dark Hedges is a spectacular lining of beech trees that become prominent due to its appearance in various TV shows, including Game of Thrones.

The trees surround both sides of the Bregagh Road, which forms an imposing tunnel along the roadway. The way leads up to the gates of Gracehill House. Thousands of visitors gather around this one of the Best Places to see in Northern Ireland due to its popularity as a Game of Thrones scenic location.

Best Time to Visit: Sunrise and sunset

How to Reach: 
- Public Bus or Taxi: Take a 10-minutes taxi ride from Ballymoney train station or travel by bus for 2.5 hours from Belfast to Coleraine or Clintyfinnan and then a taxi to The Dark Hedges.

Glens of Antrim is one of those Best Places to Visit in Northern Ireland that is well-known for its impressive beauty. Nine glens overlook a long stretch of coastline, including forests, grasslands, castles, and mountain peaks.

The nine Glens of Antrim are Glentaisi, Glenshesk, Glendun, Glencorp, Glenaan, Glenariff, Glenarm, and Glencloy. It is one of the less-trodden places that only a few people know about. Thus, you can explore the serenity and tranquility of the substantial Northern Ireland landscape and the unique glacier valleys.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

How to Reach:
- Train: You can board a train from Belfast and Dublin to view the Glens of Antrim.
- Bus: Bus services are also available from Dublin and Belfast.
- Car: You can take a 1-hour drive from Belfast and 3-hours from Dublin to the Glens of Antrim.

The Old Bushmills Distillery is the world’s oldest licensed distillery of whiskey. The most famous whiskeys produced at this distillery are the Original Bushmills, Black bush, and Single Malt Whiskey. The Old Bushmills Distillery uses a triple pot methodology to make the distillation process clear and light.

You can take a tour of the distillery while exploring the landscape and terrain that imbue their whiskey with its legendary character. The distillery even allows you to meet the people that represent centuries of knowledge and experience their craft through your hands.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

How to Reach: 
- Train: You can take a train journey of 5.5 hours from Dublin to visit Old Bushmills Distillery.
- Bus: Buses take a little longer than trains but provide a comfortable journey from Dublin.
- Car: You can even drive for around 3 hours all the way from Dublin.

Kinbane Castle is one of the Best Places to Visit in Northern Ireland which is located on a narrow limestone headland running out into the sea. The location of this castle is highly dramatic, where you can almost feel the past.

The narrow and steep pathways to the castle take you to a long series of steps following the onsite toilets. The hollow space between the castle and the cliffs is known as ‘Lag na Sassenach.’ Therefore, Kinbane Castle is not the Best Attraction of Northern Ireland, but its dramatic location makes it worth visiting.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

How to Reach: 
- Train: The recommended mode of transport to Kinbane Castle is a train journey from Belfast.
- Bus: Bus services are also available through the 402 lines.

Dunluce Castle is another beautiful castle in Northern Ireland known for its picturesque and romantic atmospheres of Irish Castles. You will be astonished to know that the castle was so treacherously perched that the kitchen fell into the sea at the time of a bad storm.

The present structure is the ruins from the 16th and 17th century which were occupied by the clashing groups of McQuillan and MacDonnell. The historical buffs can witness the archaeological exhibits that are displayed for public viewing.

Best Time to Visit: November to February

How to Reach: 
- Flight: The nearby airports to Dunluce Castle are Belfast, Glasgow, and Derry, with Derry being the cheapest option.
- Train: You can then take a train from Belfast Great Victoria Secret to Coleraine.

Settled on the east of Belfast city, Cluster Folk and Transport Museum attempt to illustrate the traditions and the standard of living of the people in Northern Ireland. It also displays the different methods of transportation until the present times.

The museum is the Best Attraction of Northern Ireland which lets you explore the rolling hills of the countryside and a swarming town displayed with authentic period buildings. From printing to basket weaving, you can also view the demonstrations of contemporary crafts. It is relatively proud to know that this museum is among the four museums present in the list of National Museums Northern Ireland.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

The Cliffs of Magho & Lower Lough Erne is another one of the Best Places to Visit in Northern Ireland. You can take a long walk to the cliff made of around 370 steps. However, the footwork is entirely worth the effort as there are beautiful woodlands to glance at and benches to admire the beauty.

As you reach the top of the cliff, you will find a long stretch of Lough Navar Forest Scenic Drive. The plentiful wildlife takes rest inside the deep way of the cliff, including feral goats, tufted ducks, and meadow pipits.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

The third-largest and Best Place to Visit in Northern Ireland is Bangor. Located on the southern shore of Belfast Lough, Bangor was a seaside resort with a tiny harbor serving as the headquarters of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. Now, it has been transformed into a commuter town for Belfast.

The fundamental attractions of Bangor are the North Down Museum, Bangor Abbey, Grey Point Fort, Crawfordsburn, and the Bangor Marina. Some of the light industries are based in this town of Northern Ireland. It is one of the Best Places to see in Northern Ireland if you want to dive deep into the formation of the town.

- Best Time to Visit: April to June

- How to Reach: 
- Train: You can board a train from Manchester Airport, Euston Railway Station, or Liverpool Lime Street Station to Bangor.
- Coach: You can get a coach service from Manchester Airport, Victoria Coach Station, or Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
- Taxi: Local taxi services are also available on this route.

Also known as Londonderry, Derry is an only intact place of historic Walled City, award-winning museums, and the Derry Girls in Ireland. Some of the significant outdoor festivals in the world are celebrated in this Walled City of Ireland.

Since the city allows the visitors to enjoy a world-class experience and a cosmopolitan vibration throughout the year, it gives you several reasons to stay for longer. Derry is home to the exploration of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route. Thus, the place is a complete package for adventure lovers.

Best Time to Visit: May

How to Reach: 
- Flight: There are several flights from Belfast International Airport.
- Public Transport: Translink buses and taxis are also available from Belfast to take you to the city center.

If you want to visit the beauty of the mountains, you can head to the Kilkeel and Mourne Mountains as they are some of the Best Places to see in Northern Ireland. The Mourne granite mountain ranges that head to the plains south of Kilkeel town are included in the highest mountain ranges in Northern Ireland.

You will see some of the spectacular views of the Irish townlands from the top of the mountains. It is also a great place to go on a trek with your friends to the mountaintop.

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

How to Reach: 
- Car- You can drive all the way from Belfast to Kilkeel & Mourne Mountains.

Castle Ward is a unique 18th-century mansion, popularly known for its beautiful architectural style. The exotic location with tranquil waters of Strangford Lough adds to the magnificence of the structure. You can go on a walk or cycle along the trail to spot ducks, swans, rabbits, and butterflies.

As you move forward, you will step into the fantasy world of dragons and castles while exploring the Georgian farmyard and the lough shore. Moreover, the Victorian Garden also displays the vibrant light of the seasonal flowers. The famous television series Game of Thrones was also shot at this location.

Best Time to Visit: August to December

How to Reach: 

- Train: You can take a 3-hour journey by train from Dublin to Castle Ward.
- Car- Alternatively, you can drive for long hours from Dublin to the destination.