Ireland and Northern Ireland
Ireland is know for its green lush fields, beautiful music, pubs and of course Guinness. The capital of Ireland is a modern city full of charm and interesting attractions. It melds history and the modern world nicely in a city that is becoming a tech hub. You can see castles, historic libraries, tour a historic prison that links to the days when Ireland was fighting for independence from Great Britain. Ireland and Dublin are a wonderful place to visit and being further West can be more affordable to fly to especially if you fly the National Carrier of Ireland. Donna and I spent two days in Ireland on a stopover on the way to a European cruise that started in Athens, Greece on our first trip to Ireland. Since then we have visited Ireland several times during different times of the year. We have visited during every season and see the Christmas lights decorating Dublin and we have visited many different areas of Ireland. We have also traveled up to Northern Ireland multiple times as well from Dublin using Irish Rail and by tour bus. Its an amazing country that you should definitely visit!
Getting to Dublin and Transportation
From the United States the only real way to get to Dublin is to fly unless you start you journey in the United Kingdom and take a ferry over to Dublin. You can find affordable airfare to Dublin by using airlines such as Aer Lingus (national carrier of Ireland). Donna and I flew Aer Lingus from Chicago to Dublin for around $400 one way to Dublin in 2016. We have flown Aer Lingus several more times since our first flight in 2016 and they have been good each time. We most recently used them to fly to Ireland and the Isle of Man in 2023. We had a flight cancelation due to fog in the Isle of Man and they paid for our hotel, food, and transportation due to the cancelation. It was a nice flight and Aer Lingus is a good airline to get you to Europe. From the airport there are numerous shuttle buses you can take into Dublin and many other areas for an affordable price (around 10 Euro or so). You also can take a taxi or rent a car if you would like. Donna and I took the shuttle bus into Dublin and took a cab when we left due to the early flight we had. Neither ride was overly expensive. Within Dublin you have many train options that will take you throughout the city. We stayed in the suburb of Sandymount and rode the train into downtown Dublin. Like in many cities the hop on hop off bus is a great way to get around and tour Dublin. Since our first trip to Dublin we have stayed in hotels in many different areas of Dublin and in Belfast. Uber is a good way to travel in Dublin as well. While you book through Uber it is normally a taxi that will pick you up.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tickets:
Country Information
Ireland is part of the European Union but is not part of the Schengen agreement. The Schengen agreement allows you to pass through borders to European nations without a border check once you have entered the country. Ireland has its own border check and you will of course need a passport to enter the country. Ireland uses the Euro as its currency and it is usually worth a little more than a US Dollar. Two languages are spoken in Ireland so you will see most signs in both. English and Gaelic are spoken in the country. You will have no trouble speaking to anyone in Ireland. With Ireland being pretty far north the temperature can be fairly cool as it was in the 50s at night where we were there in May. Being on the ocean it also rains quite often in Ireland. Credit cards are widely accepted in Ireland. If you travel to Northern Ireland that is part of the United Kingdom you are entering a different country and are leaving the European Union. As of our last trip to the region in 2023 there is no passport check when traveling between the country but there are talks of that changing. The currency of Northern Ireland is the Pound like the UK but many people will take Euros as well. Credit Cards are widely accepted in Northern Ireland as well.
Dublin, Ireland
The capital of Ireland is a lively and charming city to visit. We have visited it many times as of 2024 and we continue to find new attractions to visit. There are great food options with the many pubs and plenty to do day or night. On a recent trip we even took a very entertaining ghost bus tour of Dublin. Here are all the great experiences we have had in Dublin.
Trinity College and the Book of Kells
In downtown Dublin we stopped at the historic Trinity College that has existed since the 1500s. Its a beautiful campus with many statues, and interesting buildings. The main attraction is the Old Library building that is part of the massive Trinity Library. There you can visit the long room and see this amazing room full of books, statues and two particularly impressive artifacts. The Book of Kells is from the 9th century and is a Latin illustrated manuscript of the gospels in the Bible. The art is wonderful to look at in this old text. The library displays a different page each day. The other interesting artifact you can see in the library is the Medieval Brian Boru’s harp that is what the coat of arms of Ireland is based on. Its amazing to see the harp that much of Ireland’s imagery is based on. There are other old texts you can see as well walking through the library. It takes about an hour to walk through and it is best to get to the library early as the lines can be very long to get in due to its popularity.
Dublin Castle
After we visited Trinity College we got back on the tour bus and continued on to our next stop at Dublin Castle. Dublin Castle was the seat of the British Government in Ireland and is now where state dinners, and the Irish President is sworn in. Its a nice stop to see while in Dublin. They offer a guided tour that includes the dungeon area and a self guided tour of the main building. To save time since we were touring as much of Dublin as we could in one day we decided to do the self guided tour. Many of the state rooms are elegantly decorated and have an interesting history that started in the 1200s. It was nice touring where important events to this day occur in Ireland. We walked the rooms of this historic building and took a look at the outside before we caught the hop on hop off bus to our next stop.
Book of Kells and Dublin Castle Tour (Click Link Below):
Guinness Storehouse
Our next stop as we drove by historic churches, pubs and squares in Dublin was the Guinness Storehouse home to the Guinness Brewery. You are not able to tour the actual Guinness Brewery but a very good museum that demonstrates the full brewing process from the initial ingredients to the final product. They also have interactive exhibits about the history of Guinness and a spot that will teach you how to properly pour a Guinness Draft for the best taste. You can also see artifacts such as the harp used as the symbol of Guinness and vintage Guinness advertisements. This tour is interesting even if you do not drink. The tour ends at a bar at the top of the storehouse with a 360 degree view of Dublin that is very nice. From there you are able to get a free pint of Guinness or a free soda if you want. The Guinness of course tastes very nice getting it from its source. This tour cost around 18 Euro and is well worth it. It will take you a couple hours if you go quickly through the exhibits. The line can be long depending on when you get there since this is a popular tour.
Guided Tour to the Guiness Storehouse (Click Link Below):
Kilmainham Gaol
On our second visit to Ireland in 2018 we wanted to dive further into the history of Ireland and the struggles they have had during their fight for independence. Kilmainham Gaol (jail) is a great place to learn about Irish independence history. We had a guided tour at the Irish National Monument. It is a sad tour learning about all the Irish political prisoners including the leaders from the 1916 Easter Rising fight against England. While you walk through you see jail cells and the places where people were executed by the British. The jail has been around since the late 1700s so there is a lot of history there. We visited a chapel where a leader of the Easter Rising was married to his fiancé just hours before he was executed. It is a moving tour and I came away from it learning so much about Ireland and its turbulent history. It is a must see if you want to truly learn about Ireland.
National Museum of Ireland - Collins Barracks
There are multiple branches of the Irish National Museum around Dublin and we have only had the chance to visit the museum in the old Collins Military Barracks. It contains the Irish Military museum that goes over the Irish involvement in conflicts around the world as a colony of Britain. They have provided troops to Britain in wars such as The American Revolution and World War I amongst many others. The museum goes over the 1916 Easter Rising and other battles for Irish Independence. Ireland was neutral during World War II but has provided peace keeping troops to the UN in modern times. There are museums on Anthropology and Art for example elsewhere in Dublin. We had the chance to visit this museum during our 2018 visit to Ireland.
EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum
A relatively new and very well-done museum is the EPIC Museum. Ireland has had many different waves of people leaving the country to find prosperity elsewhere in the world. In the mid 1800s, the Irish Potato Famine caused many Irish to come to the United States and to other countries. Unrest with the British caused others to leave. There are leaders around the world today and in history that have Irish heritage. Just in the US alone Presidents Kennedy, Obama and Biden all have Irish ancestry. This museum tells the story of the people who made the tough decisions to leave home in search of a better life. It is a very interactive museum that tells the who, what and why of Irish immigrants throughout history. It goes all the way to the modern age of immigration. The museum is built in an old dockyard where people left on their journeys by sea. Just in front of the museum is a separate museum that we did not get a chance to see that is on the River Liffey. There is a replica of a 1850s era sailing ship similar to what people fleeing the potato famine would have used. This museum is a spectacular museum that examines immigration and how it has affected the world. We visited this museum on our 2023 visit to Ireland.
Tickets to the EPIC Museum (Click link Below):
The Little Museum of Dublin
Located at St. Stephen’s Green that is a large historic park that was part of the Easter Rising battles is a nice small museum about Dublin and its culture. We found the Little Museum of Dublin when reading a book about interesting places to see in Dublin. Its located in an apartment building and takes up a couple floors. The museum reminds me of the old style museums of the past called “Cabinets of Curiosity” as the museum is full of artifacts that represent different aspect of Dublin and Irish life. We had a guide who showcased the highlights of each room to us and the historical significance of the artifacts. It is a hidden gem worth going to go see. They have a U2 room as well that goes over the famous Irish Band’s legacy. Its also nice to take a walk through St. Stephen’s Green while in the area. We also visited here during our 2023 visit to Ireland.
Tickets for the Little Museum of Dublin (Click Link Below):
GPO Museum
The GPO Museum is located in the historic General Post Office (GPO) building in downtown Dublin. It was the center of the flighting during the 1916 Easter Rising. The Easter Rising occurred when Irish Nationalist took over different areas in Dublin in the hopes to start a revolution to end the British rule of Ireland. Many famous Irishmen like Michael Collins where a part of this battle. The leaders and many of the Irish troops fortified the inside the GPO and tried to hold out against the British. This occurred during World War I and there were fewer British Troops in Ireland. The museum goes over what led up to this battle that is very important to the Irish people. It goes over each phase of the fighting and the aftermath after the Irish troops were forced out and were defeated. This furthered the cause of Irish Independence and a few years afterwards they began the path that has led them to an independent country. This is another great museum that will tell you more about what has made Ireland the country it is today.
The Temple Bar
The Temple Bar is a both a region/neighborhood in Dublin and a world-famous bar. Its Dublin’s entertainment district full of bars, pubs and night clubs. We have visited the district in 2018 and 2023. The Temple Bar is fairly small so we have only looked in through the door and listened to the live music. In 2018 we ate at a nice Irish restaurant nearby. There is plenty to see and do in the area but it is of course very touristy and food is a bit more expensive than outside the area. It is worth a visit to walk the area but know at night it can be very crowded.
Ghost Bus Tour of Dublin
We made a spur of the moment decision to in 2023 to try out the Dublin Ghost Tour Bus. Ghost tours are fun ways to see a different side of the place you are visiting. While they are meant to try to see the paranormal, we like them because its a night tour you can take and you hear about the less glamorous history that you usually do not hear about. This Ghost Tour was one of the best we have taken and very unique. It is on a double decker bus and the first floor you enter on is a small haunted house you walk through. Everyone sits on the upper deck where your host tells you stories as you drive through the city with effects and acting. You stop off at a cemetery, the ruins of a church said to be haunted and at the entrance of the old tunnels of Dublin. It lasts for an hour or two and is very entertaining and well worth an evening in Dublin!
Ghost Bus Tour Tickets (Click Link Below):
Other attractions in Dublin
There are many national Irish museums such as their history museum, art and natural history museums. National museums give you a chance to learn about the country you are visiting and are wonderful stops to make. In Dublin you can also visit historic churches such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and you can visit other historic castles in the area. You can also tour distilleries, visit the zoo in a large park and of course visit pubs such as the famous Temple Bar. While we have been to Dublin multiple times there is still much more to explore!
Dublin At Christmas
We took a trip to Amsterdam and Belgium a couple weeks before Christmas. We visited the Christmas Markets in Belgium. We flew Aer Lingus on that trip and had a short stopover in Dublin. We had an overnight in Dublin to catch our flight back to the US the next morning. While we didn’t have too much time to do anything we still took a Dublin City bus into downtown to see the Christmas Decorations. Dublin is beautiful as is all of Europe during Christmas time!
Day Trips from Dublin
While in Dublin we have taken multiple day trips from Dublin and its a great way to visit the country if you have not bought a guided tour such as Trafalgar, Collete or another guided tour. We have been to places like the Cliffs of Moher at the end of Europe, Blarney Castle, and Northern Ireland. Here are some of our day trips from Dublin.
The Cliffs of Moher and The Wild Atlantic Way
On our first visit to Ireland with my parents we booked a day trip to take us to Western Ireland. We wanted to see the world famous Cliffs of Moher. On this trip we left from Dublin fairly early in the morning and headed West. We past through the beautiful and green farmland that makes Ireland so famous. We learned about the Peat Bogs and how at the time they still used it for fuel. We had a stop at a small Irish community where the highly tidal waterways had left boats sitting in the mud tied up to their moorings. Near the Cliffs of Moher we stopped at a small village to get traditional Irish food at a small pub. The village was beautiful with a small stream and animals in the fields. After a very hearty meal we headed to the cliffs. They are near 400 feet tall and fall towards the Atlantic Ocean. The next land after the cliffs to the West is North America across the ocean. There are many puffins that roost in the craggy cliffs. It was a beautiful day and our guide mentioned its the calmest he had seen the water in a long time. We had time to do a boat ride to see the cliffs from the ocean. It was a beautiful view but I can only imagine what a rough water day is like as the waves were very heavy in the tour boat we were in. We were getting splashed from the waves as the boat went up and down heavily. Donna got sea sick from the extreme waves and having just had a heavy Irish meal. We did enjoy the view but its not a ride we will probably take again. We spent time walking the cliff edge but not too close. People have died taking selfies too close to the edge. There is a small watchtower/castle nearby we explored as well. On the way back to Dublin we made a few quick stops. One was to see the outside of a tall castle near the city of Limerick, and another was to a European rest stop (they usually have multiple restaurants, clean restrooms and shops). At this stop they had an exhibit about President Obama’s Irish heritage as one of his ancestors came from the area. We were greeted with a beautiful rainbow and we ended our tour back in Dublin.
Tour to the Cliff's of Moher and The Wild Atlantic Way (click link below)
Southern Ireland Tour (Blarney Castle and Cork)
On our second trip to Ireland we decided to visit the Southern area of the nation. We booked a guided bus tour to visit the Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle and Cork. This tour had a few issues when we ran into heavy traffic due to an accident and our driver was doing his best to find away around it in the tour bus. We had to do a U-Turn on a very small road due to the small bridge not being high enough to get by it. The bus became damaged due to backing into a tree and causing an oil leak. The tour company sent a new bus for us and we waited at a rest stop where we got lunch. We still got to see all the sites on the tour. The Rock of Cashel is very important to the people of Ireland as it is where Saint Partick converted a king to Christianity. It was also where the Kings of Munster ruled from. Today there is the large ruins of the cathedral that was built there long ago. We headed to Blarney Castle next. Its a very tall castle that inside has many rooms and narrow winding staircases. The famous Blarney Stone that if you kiss it you are given the gift of the gab (talking). I don’t really need help with that but since we were there we went ahead an kissed it. Its kind of a chore to kiss the stone as you have to lay down and scoot where you are somewhat dangling above the sheer drop off the walls of the castle. There are guard rails so you will not fall and people watching and helping you. The grounds around the castle are nice as well with gardens such as the garden of poisonous plants. We made a fairly quick stop in Cork since we were late due to the bus incident. Cork looked to be a nice city lined with restaurants, shops and pubs. After some complaints by some American College students that they wanted to drink in the pubs in Cork but didn’t get the chance to. They skipped Blarney Castle to visit a pub and drink earlier as they complained they didn’t take this trip for the history but to try different pubs. To me it was very sad. We got back to Dublin after a trip that was eventful but was still a good tour.
Southern Ireland Tour (Click Link Below):
Northern Ireland Day Tour
On our 2023 trip to Ireland we decided to go up to Northern Ireland again for the day. In 2018 we spent a few days in the country and we traveled there by rail. We wanted to go there again to see the Giant’s Causeway for a little longer and see a few Game of Thrones sites on a day tour. We once again left from Dublin and headed North passing through the beautiful Irish Countryside. After passing through Belfast our first stop is the ruins of Dunluce Castle. Dunluce Castle is a medieval castle that is in a beautiful setting. Its right on the rocky cliffs looking over the ocean. The castle was in Game of Thrones as the “House of Greyjoy” castle. We walked the castle grounds where it was pretty cool and crisp on an early April morning. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the perfect setting of this castle. We headed over to the Unseco World Heritage site Giant’s Causeway. Legend has it that a giant in Ireland and a Giant in Scotland were feuding. The giant in Ireland started to build a bridge and you can see it today at the site. Its a very popular site to visit. You can walk from the visitors center or take a shuttle bus for a small cost. The true origins of the rock formation are volcanic basalt rock that formed into tubes and can be seen today. You can climb on the rocks and do a bit of hiking. We stopped by a view point to see the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge that spans over the ocean to a very small island. We then went out to the “Dark Hedges” that were also used in a scene from Game of Thrones. We walked past a mansion on the way to the dirt farm road. Since it was early in Spring the trees had not grown their leaves back from the Winter. We stopped by a restaurant in a small town that had a Game of Thrones room before we headed into Belfast. There we opted to go on a Taxi tour with a local to visit sites from “The Troubles”. In Northern Ireland there is a split between Pro-United Kingdom Protestants and Pro-Unification of Ireland Catholics. For many years there has been fighting and bombings in Northern Ireland. The fighting did not end until the Good Friday agreement in 1998. There was much violence in Belfast over the years before then. Today it is a peaceful city but is still divided by walls to separate different factions. There are paintings and murals in both areas remembering those who were lost and their cause. We spent some time writing on one wall and listening to the stories of what happened during “The Troubles” from our guide. After our cab tour we headed back to Dublin after another great day trip!
Northern Ireland Day Tour (Click Link Below):
Eating in Dublin
There are many options for food in Dublin. You can eat at a traditional pub, eat traditional Irish food such as beef and potatoes or lamb or find plenty of different international cuisines. We ate at a local Italian restaurant in Sandymount and at our hotel they had a BBQ restaurant. On our first trip we got our first taste of fresh Irish food at a pub near the Cliffs of Moher. Since that first visit we have visited many restaurants in Dublin and in the countryside. The food is very fresh and hearty. Everything is great but I especially like the Irish Butter. It is true that Guinness is much better in Ireland than in the states. Its good everywhere but is better fresh.
Tips for Dublin
Touring Dublin is very easy and the country is pretty affordable to tour. The hop on Hop off bus is the best way to see as much as possible in a short time and gives you the opportunity to stop at most of the best attractions in the city. Give yourself a couple days in the city if you want to see most of the attractions. With our one day in the city we only saw some of what Dublin has to offer on our first trip there. We have since been back and seen more attractions but there is still so much more to see. If you visit a pub be prepared for it to possibly be rowdy and interesting. On our first visit, we visited was full of people dress as super heroes on that particular day. If you really want to save money Dublin does have fast food options like McDonald’s and Burger King. At Burger King in Ireland they offer a burger, fry and beer combo that you won’t find in the US. I always recommend though eating local so you can soak up more of the culture. The Irish people are very friendly and since English is the main language of the country you can speak to anyone Taking day tours out of Dublin if you are not part of a guided tour is a great way to see the rest of the country. Of all the places I have visited in Europe, Ireland is the most similar to the United States and you can see where the Irish immigrants added their culture to the melting pot of the United States.
Northern Ireland
Not only is Northern Ireland a region of the island of Ireland , its also a nation on its own. Its part of the countries of the United Kingdom and has a mix of culture from Ireland and the United Kingdom. It is a beautiful country with a long history especially in modern times. It is where the Titanic was Built, and its where famous films have been recorded such as “Game of Thrones”. It has also had violence and in the past was one of the more dangerous places to visit in Europe due to “The Troubles”. Today it is a peaceful country with a lot to see and do. We have been to Northern Ireland twice. Our first time we stayed several nights in Belfast and the second time it was just a day tour from Dublin. Here are our experiences in Northern Ireland.
Country Information
Northern Ireland is a fairly small country that takes only a small portion of the island with the Republic of Ireland taking the majority of the island. As you would expect English is the main language of the country like the Republic of Ireland but Gaelic is a secondary language. The region is also called Ulster and you will find occasionally Ulster Pounds. They are the same value as a Pound Sterling but cannot be used in the rest of the UK. The Pound Sterling is the currency of the nation but you will find many places accept Euros due to the proximity to Ireland. As of this me writing this article in September of 2024 there is no passport check when traveling between The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Due to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union there has been a lot of talk about adding border check and this has caused some frustration in Northern Ireland. When we visited in 2023 there was a warning put out by the United Kingdom that the likelihood of a terror attack was high. Thankfully nothing happened and the country is peaceful. The angst in the country is between Pro-United Kingdom Protestants and Pro-Irish Catholics. It is one of the last few countries with cities like Belfast that are split into different zones by walls. The country has a population of around 2 million people and cities like Belfast are very modern.
Getting to Northern Ireland and Transportation
The main way to get to Northern Ireland is by way of Dublin or one of the major airports in the Republic of Ireland. Belfast does have two airports (one mainly low-cost carriers and the other mainline airlines) but there are no long-haul flights from North America or other areas there. They have flights to other areas in the United Kingdom and Mainland Europe. On our first visit in 2018 we flew into Dublin on Aer Lingus and took Irish Rail to Belfast. On our second time we went by tour bus to Northern Ireland and Belfast and only did a day trip. You can also visit Northern Ireland by British Isles cruises that stop in Belfast. Transportation wise if you want to get out into the countryside, I recommend booking a guided day tour or a guided tour that stops in Northern Ireland. You can rent/hire a car but I have never tired that and don’t really recommend as its less stressful having other people work with you. In Belfast there are buses, Uber and taxis you can take.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast is the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland. It has been a major industrial center for shipbuilding for many years. The famous Harland and Wolff Shipbuilders with its large yellow cranes is still in Belfast. It’s a very modern city with shopping malls in downtown and plenty of attractions. We took a hop-on hop-off bus around the city to be able to see the attractions and stop by one of the walls separating communities and wrote a message of peace on the wall. We stayed at the Hilton Belfast in downtown and it was a short walk from the small train station we came into from Dublin. The city and our hotel was very busy due to a Irish Dancing competition for young dancers occurring in the hotel and U2 was performing in Belfast and the crew was staying at our hotel. The tickets were way too expensive so we decided instead to see a movie there. There were fewer previews and commercials in Northern Ireland at the movies and one commercial was from Liam Neason encouraging the community to integrate Protestant and Catholic Schools so the people of Northern Ireland could start to heal. Here is all we did in Belfast and a private day tour from Belfast in 2018.
HMS Caroline
Our first stop on our bus tour of Belfast was the HMS Caroline. Its very close to the Titanic Museum and the drydock where the Titanic was built. The ship is part of the Royal Navy Museum and is one of the few ships left in the world that fought in both World War I and World War II (served as an administrative center). Its a light cruiser so its smaller than a Battleship but larger than a destroyer. You do not see many cruisers left in the world as well. The ship is very well preserved and you can see what a British Naval ship looks like and learn about the HMS Caroline’s service including the large naval battle in WWI “Battle of Jutland”. The HMS Caroline is the last ship remaining that participated in that famous battle. The inside of the ship is fairly fancy compared to other navy ships I have toured. Its an amazing piece of history to go see!
Titanic Belfast
Right next to the dry dock where the Titanic was built is Titanic Belfast. It is a spectacular museum that has a very nice architecture. The museum is very popular as you might expect so get your tickets early if you can. It goes over the entire short life of the Titanic with a focus on the building of the ship. It talks about the workers and the process of designing what it took to build the largest ship of its time. The museum is multi-story and includes a small ride and plenty of interactive exhibits. The museum also has the last remaining White Star Line Ship in existence. The SS Nomadic was a tender ship that is larger and fancier than the tender ships you might have been on while on a modern cruise ship. The SS Nomadic ferried a couple hundred people including Jacob Astor and his wife to the Titanic before it set off to travel across the Atlantic. Its a way you can see in a small way what it was like on the Titanic. It is for sure a must see in Belfast!
Tickets to Titanic Belfast (Click Link Below):
The Wall
While riding on the hop-on hop-off bus we got the chance to stop at one of the walls separating the Protestants and Catholics. The walls are tall and many have razor wire on the top. There are gates that close at a certain point separating the communities. It reminds you of scenes from the Berlin Wall in some ways. Our driver had markers so we wrote words of peace on the wall and reflected before we left.
The Capital Building and Downtown Belfast
Towards the end of our hop-on hop-off we went by a beautiful park that is also home of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Stormont Estate is the home of Parliament and until recently Parliament had been disbanded due to fighting between parties. We saw the beautiful city hall and other places in downtown. That night we walked to a nearby shopping mall that was very nice and saw “Bohemian Rhapsody” before it had been released in The States. Belfast is a beautiful city that is well worth spending time in!
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tickets (Click Link Below):
Northern Ireland Private Day Trip from Belfast
When we stayed in Belfast we booked a private guided tour of Northern Ireland to see the countryside. We found it the best way to explore more of the country. We made many stops during the tour and found the country beautiful. On our first stop we went to Carrickfergus to visit Carrickfergus Castle. The Castle has been besieged by multiple countries over the years and participated in many battles. It even had a small role in the American Revolution when John Paul Jones sailed close to the Castle and began a gun battle with a British Ship. The castle was in use until the 1920s as a military post. We stopped for a quick visit and then moved on to our next stop.
We next made some Game of Thrones filming location stops and enjoyed the scenery of the country while driving along the coast. We stopped at a small port town that also had a Game of Thrones Scene. They interpret what was filmed there well including pictures of the scene. We stopped at the gorgeous Glenariff Forest Park to see a waterfall in the woods. The views we saw are stunning and why it is well worth spending more time in Norther Ireland.
We stopped for lunch is a small village and got some great food and then we headed off to see The Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge from the view point and then headed to a filming site that was “The Iron Islands” in Game of Thrones. We had been traveling for quite some time so we arrived at the Giant’s Causeway towards the end of the day right before it closed. We hopped on the shuttle bus and had time for a few pictures before we hopped on the last shuttle and continued our tour. The Tour ended at sunset with a tour of Portrush with its famous Golf Course and Whiskey Distillery and a view of Dunluce Castle. We headed back to Belfast after that happy from our great tour!
Tours from Belfast (Click Links below):
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If you are Interested in this trip:
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