Last reviewed: · Prices in British Pounds Sterling (£ GBP) and US Dollars ($ USD) are approximate and for orientation only.
Route at a glance
An unforgettable 5-day loop through Northern Ireland — pairing Titanic Belfast and Victorian St George's Market with the Antrim Glens, Carrick-a-Rede, the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills, and walled Derry~Londonderry.
Estimated Trip Budget: £720–£1,290 per person · Primary Transport: Belfast Glider/Walk + Causeway Coastal Route (A2) Car or Translink Rail & Bus
Day-by-day plan
Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic & Cathedral Quarter (Belfast)
Spend the morning along the Maritime Mile at Titanic Belfast (£24.95) and aboard SS Nomadic, then enjoy trad music and oysters in the Cathedral Quarter.
St George's Market, Black Cab Murals Tour & Crown Saloon (Belfast)
Sample an Ulster Fry at Victorian St George's Market, take a guided Black Cab history tour of West Belfast and the Peace Wall, and visit the free Ulster Museum.
Antrim Coast Road (A2), Glenariff, Cushendun & Carrick-a-Rede (Belfast → Ballycastle / Portrush)
Drive the scenic A2 Causeway Coastal Route past Carrickfergus Castle and the Nine Glens of Antrim to cross the swaying Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
Giant's Causeway UNESCO Basalt Stones, Dunluce Castle & Bushmills (Causeway Coast)
Walk the 40,000 volcanic basalt hexagons at the Giant's Causeway at sunrise, tour 1608 Old Bushmills Distillery, and photograph cliffside Dunluce Castle and Mussenden Temple.
17th-Century Derry City Walls, Peace Bridge & Return to Belfast (Derry~Londonderry → Belfast)
Walk the complete 1.5 km circuit of Derry~Londonderry's intact 1613-1618 walls, cross the Peace Bridge, and ride the scenic coastal railway via Coleraine back to Belfast.
Transport & National Rail notes
Belfast Glider/Walk + Causeway Coastal Route (A2) Car or Translink Rail & Bus. Book National Rail Advance tickets 8–12 weeks ahead on LNER, GWR, Avanti West Coast, or ScotRail, or use a £35 Two Together / 16–30 Railcard (33.4% off Off-Peak fares) or BritRail Pass.
What to book ahead
- UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation, £16) via the official UK ETA app at least 72 hours before departure.
- Timed morning tickets for the Tower of London (£34.80), Edinburgh Castle (£19.50), Roman Baths (£25+), and Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour.
- National Rail Advance tickets or Caledonian Sleeper / Jacobite Steam Train seats 8–12 weeks in advance.
Ways to adapt this route
- Add 2 days in the Cotswolds (Bourton-on-the-Water & Bibury) or a day-trip to Windsor Castle (35 min from London).
- Combine Edinburgh with a 2-day ScotRail loop to St Andrews or Inverness & Loch Ness.