Welcome to Northern Ireland!
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About Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (Irish: Tuaisceart Éireann) is a part of the United Kingdom. It is located in the northeast of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland. with a populatio of about 1.8 million. Northern Ireland was created in 1921, when Ireland was partitioned by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, creating a devolved government for the six northeastern counties. The majority of Northern Ireland’s population were unionists, who wanted to remain within the United Kingdom. They were generally the Protestant descendants of colonists from Great Britain. Meanwhile, the majority in Southern Ireland (which became the Irish Free State in 1922), and a significant minority in Northern Ireland, were Irish nationalists and Catholics who wanted a united independent Ireland.
There was intense fighting between the Protestants and Catholics to align with or without England. Fighting continued into the 1990s in a period called The Troubles. It started in the late 1960s, consisted of about 30 years of recurring acts of intense violence during which 3,254 people were killed. From 1969 to 2003 there were almost 40,0000 shooting incidents and over 16,000 bombings associated with The Troubles. The Troubles were brought to an end by a peace process which included the declaration of ceasefires (“Good Friday Agreement“). This reiterated that Northern Ireland will remain within the United Kingdom. The Constitution of Ireland was amended in 1999.
When you step into Northern Ireland you will find the same amazing heartwarming people. Do keep in mind they are a part of the UK and use the English Pound instead of the Euro. It is easy to make Northern Ireland part of your trip. You can do a day trip from Dublin (about 2 hours) or spend a few days to take in the amazing sites. There is so much to do in this compact area. It is a great idea to start with Tripadvisor for some ideas as well as this page. Click HERE to get a better idea on Tripadvisor. Titanic Experience is a very moving tribuute and museum in Belfast, the place where the ship was built and where the voyage began. A little west of Belfast is Giants Causeway and it is a must see. There are wonderful places to view this magnificent coast. Some include the Gobbins walkway, the Carrick-a Rede Rope Bridge, the ruins of Dunluce Castle right on the edge of the cliff, and Mussenden Temple at Castle Rock. Game of Thrones has brought in many more visitors who want to visit filming locations. Whether you have watched the series or not, the locations are historical landmarks and worth the visit, regardless.
What to Know Before You Go
Check out the content in each slider to help you prepare for your trip to Ireland! We will share with you information on the best time to go, culture, language & currency. We also give suggestions on transportation and cost saving ideas. Learn more about the culture and food so you are ready of the best trip ever!
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May is probably overall the best month to travel to Ireland with good possibilities of settled weather, plenty of daylight and limited numbers of tourists. April, May, September and October are the best times to visit Ireland for weather, sightseeing and to avoid the peak tourist season. We have gone to eland in late fall and although we expereinced drizzly rain every so often, the temperatures rarely went below 50 degrees Farenheit. Do expect some rain but it usually does not last long. Going in the "shoulder season" does limit the crowds as well. Just keep in mind to wear layers and as Paula, the Airbnb owner emailed us to make sure we packed our "woolies". to stay warm.
In Northern Ireland, English is the first language. However, Ullans (Ulster-Scots) and Irish are both recognized as culturally significant. Their culture is tied more to the monarchy in England. They are also very sensitive to the recent history of unrest called the Troubles. It is good to be aware of this history and learn about it before traveling here.
It is very easy to travel around Northern Ireland. Dublin is only a two hour car ride away. It is easy to take a tour from Dublin or even catch a train. It is also possible to take a rental car to Northern Ireland for a few days. Of course, as in the Republic of Ireland, the left side is used for driving. It is easy once you get the hang of it. All of the main sites and attrations are less than 3 hours apart (most are within an hour or so). It is easy to plan your itinerary and visit some breathtaking sites.
Most sites are easily visited and entrance fees are super reasonalbe and even free. We always suggest free walking tours for towns like Belfast or Londonderry. There are many driving tours so just take a look around around on Tripadvisor or Get Your Guide for some good prices. Do keep in mind that some outdoor plances like the Carrick Rope Bridge do require reservations so it is good to look into that ahead of time.
There are so many landmarks to visit in Northern Ireland. Luckily everything is within 1-3 hours by car (or less). Be sure to check out a map to find the best route but you can easily start in Belafast, then go westward to Giant's Causeway and there you will find the Gobbins Pathway, Carrick-Reed rope bridge, the Hedges (among other film locations of Game of Thrones, Dunluce Castle, Londonderry, and more. Do check out the suggested itineraries and rountes under the planning guide to get the best experience. Always check to see if reservations are required to save time and money.
Much like the Republic of Ireland, you can get a traditional Irish breakfast in most establishments. The breakfasts are usually very filling and can get you by until evening. Pubs are plentiful and the beer is terriific. The produce, fish and protein is so fresh that you will usually find a great meal. Ireland is underrated for food while traveling and we are perplexed as to why. We NEVER had a bad meal anywhere!
Currency in Northern Ireland As part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland's currency is the pound sterling (£). Those traveling to Ireland where the North of Ireland is visited as well as the republic need to take both types of currency. Luckily credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs area readily availble. We have mentioned this before, but charge your bill in that local currency for the best exhange on your credit card.
there isn’t a tipping culture in Ireland like there is in the USA and Canada. When you should leave a tip in Ireland. So, it’s pretty standard to leave between a 10 and 15% tip in places where you’ve had a meal (e.g. restaurants, pubs and cafes).
All power sockets in Northern-Ireland provide a standard voltage of 230V with a standard frequency of 50 Hz (G type of outlet). You can use all your equipment in Northern-Ireland if the outlet voltage in your own country is between 220V-240V. This is the case in most of Europe, and, the United Kingdom. It is best to get a few adapters from Amazon before travel. As for communication we always suggest facetime or zoom with available wifi and signing up for an international plan with your provider for calls where you cannot use Facetime or Skype.
Planning Guide
Maps & Other Resources
Ireland.com has some great information on the best areas to visit in Northern Ireland. Click on Explore Maps to get great ideas on the best route on the coastal causeway.
For the most comprehensive travel guides out there, click Trip Savvy and Culture Trip below! These travel sites hire local writers and expert travelers to share the most relevant articles and best tips in the industry! Branding belongs to each respecitve company.
Get Your Guide Options
Local Spotlight
Hand Luggage Only
Northern Ireland
You have got to check out and follow these terrific vloggers! Hand Baggage Only is not only entertaining but super informative. These two guys bring fun and excitement to many places they travel. Be sure to click Explore More to find out about their channel.
Causeway Coastal Route
The Pitt Stops is a terrific Vlogging family that explores Giant’s Causeway, Cushendun Caves, the Dark Hedges of Ballymoney, and the Game of Thrones film locations in Northern Ireland on a Titanic and City Tours Belfast Brit Movie Tour, courtesy of Visit Belfast.
50 Reasons Podcast
Causeway Coast
Caitlin and Joe share some great insight into the Causeway Coast and other sites in Northern Ireland.
Engaging Ireland
N. Ireland Top 10
Travis and Kathy Nelson talk about Irish travel, history, and culture…as well as their own desire to live in Ireland.
explore
Belfast
Local Spotlight ~ Belfast
This site gives you the top things to see an do in Belfast. It is highly recommended to grab a Black Taxi tour for a customized and personalized look at the strife has taken place over many decades. Black Taxi Tours is one of the most highly rated activities in Belfast. Click on the link avobe to find out more about this incredible tour and click Explore More to get ideas for 72 hours in Belfast.
Belfast
Our other “go to” for Ireland (as well as Spain and others) is the Vaga Brothers. They put together so many valuable videos which include “off the beaten path” places to visit. They have a number of videos so be sure to view them on Youtube and subscribe. Also, their blog has some additional important information.
Best of Belfast
As you can probably tell by now, we are big fans of Rick Steves. He put European travel on the map (no pun intended). If you have about 30 minutes you will get some great ideas for an itinerary. Be sure to click Explore More for additional information on his website including links to his podcasts. Click on read, watch and listen on that site.
explore
Giant's Causeway
Local Spotlight ~ Giant's Causeway
10 Amazing Places
This site (discoverireland.ie) is packed with amazing suggestions on things to do, places to stay, and to eat! I would recommend spending time on this site to start planning your trip. If you like outdoor activities, this is the place for you. There are a host of options. Click Explore More to find out.
Our favorite traveling family, Flying the Nest, takes us on an adventure in Giant’s Causeway. Be sure to check out their Youtube Channel by clicking below. Also check their blog (www.flyingthenest.tv) more valuable information.
You may have seen some great videos by Vaga Brothers on our other pages. These guys love Ireland and do a great job showing us the best of Northern Ireland.
explore
Londonderry
Local Spotlight ~ Londonderry
Londonderry
Ireland.com has some great suggestions on how to spend your time in Londonderry. Click on Explore More to visit their site. You probably can imagine that folks from the republic of Ireland don’t care to call it “Londonderry”, so that is why you will see it with or without “London”
Discover Derry
Discover Northern Ireland has some great ideas not only for Londonderry but all parts of Northern Ireland. They showcase great places to stay, things to do, and where to eat.
Off the Beaten Path
The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (locally pronounced carrick-a-reed) is a rope bridge near Ballintoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede (from Irish: Carraig a’ Ráid, meaning ‘rock of the casting’). It spans 20 meters (66 ft) and is 30 meters (98 ft) above the rocks below.
The Gobbins
The Gobbins is a cliff-face path at Islandmagee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the Causeway Coastal Route. It runs across bridges, past caves and through a tunnel, along The Gobbins cliffs (Irish: Gobán meaning “tip/point of land” or “headland”). The cliffs are recognized for their rich birdlife, important geology and notable species.
Sean from Photasma does an excellent job outlining the main filming locations for Game of Thrones. You do not need a tour but there are some good ones available. Whether you are a fan or not, thee sites are some of the most breathtaking in all of Northern Ireland.
Bushmills is the oldest licensed whisky distillery in the world, dating back to 1608. Along the north coast of Ireland, where arctic storms rage against the jagged cliffs and where the crisp waters of the River Bush cut through volcanic rock, generations have passed down an ancient distilling tradition.
Engaging Ireland
The Gobbins
This podcast shares a little about the Gobbins, an amazing path along the rocks over the sea in Antrim County, Northern Ireland.
