Northern Ireland holidays
Northern Ireland sets the scene for stunning holidays. Find dramatic views at castles brushed by coastal winds and moody lakes shrouded in mist. See romantic outlooks on soft sand beaches backed by mountains and meadows. You’ll feel like you’ve entered a world of fantasy when you see mystical landscapes like the Giant’s Causeway, which inspired mythical tales, and the Mournes which inspired CS Lewis’ magical Narnia.
Get ready for a gigantic holiday
Look up at an 18th Century temple or through a sun-dappled forest and it’s easy to see why Northern Ireland’s scenery has been the muse of so many writers and creatives. Fans of the epic show Games of Thrones will immediately recognise locations like The Dark Hedges. Of course, there are also true stories and histories seeped into every corner and cobblestone lane in Northern Ireland.
Hire a car to drive between counties and visit cities surrounded by history. See Belfast’s murals, walk around Derry/Londonderry’s 17th Century city walls and stop for pints in pubs where traditional folk music pours out of flower-framed windows and doors. Book your flights to Northern Ireland now.
Carefully selected hotels in Northern Ireland
Best hotels in Northern Ireland for all types of traveller
Stay in the capital’s centre at Leonardo Hotel Belfast. Many of the top attractions in Belfast are within walking distance of this convenient hotel on Great Victoria Street. Europa Hotel is also very close to Belfast city attractions and shops. If you’re planning a family holiday, Maldron Hotel Belfast City has bright and spacious family rooms. Alternatively, couples and friend groups will love Grand Central Belfast which boasts a bar with panoramic views. If you’d rather be riverside, AC Hotel Belfast sits on the waterfront overlooking the Titanic Quarter and the Belfast Hills.
Northern Ireland holiday FAQs
- Take a road trip along the Causeway Coast. Stop to see the white veils of Glenariff Forest’s waterfalls and the honeycomb-like columns of the Giant’s Causeway. Look down at the Atlantic Ocean from the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge strung between a cliff and an island with nothing but a lone fisherman’s cottage plonked on it. You’ll also see colossal sea views on your trip – make sure to stop at beaches like Whiterocks Coastal Park where Dunluce Castle sunbathes on a clifftop.
- Visit Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital. Start with the best things to do in Belfast: see Titanic Belfast and soak up the city skyline from Belfast Castle on Cave Hill. Head back to the city centre before spending a fairy light-lit evening in the Cathedral Quarter. Expect perfectly domed Guinness and craic-fuelled evenings at lively nightlife spots, from Michelin-starred restaurants to window-box-flaunting pubs.
- Going to the beach is one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland. Helen’s Bay Beach in Crawfordsburn Country Park is a popular choice close to Belfast, with meadows and woodlands providing a lush backdrop. For more dramatic views, visit Downhill Beach in the Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Listen out for trickling waterfalls as well as crashing waves, and see the silhouette of Mussenden Temple towering above you on a clifftop.
- There’s a long list of places to visit in Northern Ireland for Game of Thrones fans. Make your first stop the Game of Thrones Studio Tour near Belfast, where you can step inside King’s Landing and stand before the Iron Throne. Then visit dramatic landscapes like The Dark Hedges, also known as the Kingsroad, where you can wander through the shadows of the iconic lane flanked by craggy beech trees. There are more than 20 filming locations to visit – pick up a Northern Ireland Game of Thrones Territory Filming Locations Map to guide you.
- Take a city break in Belfast. Spend your days visiting galleries and museums – Titanic Belfast and the Ulster Museum are among the most popular – and spend your evenings revelling in good food and good music. When you want to pop into a pub, listen to live bands at The Duke of York or take a seat in one of the wooden snugs at National Trust’s The Crown Liquor Saloon for a cosy drink surrounded by stained glass pictures of fairies and fleurs-de-lis.
- Lisburn, around eight miles from Belfast, is loaded with charm. This city is full of green spaces for laid-back wanders and long walks along the River Lagan. Make time to visit Hillsborough village and step inside Hillsborough Castle: see state rooms where gold frames hang on silk-covered walls and stroll around rolling ornamental lawns. If you’re after a pint, head to Hilden Brewery, Ireland’s oldest independent brewery, for an Irish red ale or a stout.
- Natural beauty, ancient history and a round or two of golf await in Ballymena. This town in County Antrim is around 30 miles from Belfast and home to St Patrick’s legendary first home in Ireland, Slemish Mountain. On a good day you’ll see the Sperrin Mountains from the Slemish peak and wild hares leaping on its slopes. Other must-visit spots in the Ballymena area include the Neolithic tomb Dooey’s Cairn and Glenariff Forest with its cascading waterfalls.
- Newry has more than its fair share of splendid views with the Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion as its neighbours. This little city is also close to Game of Thrones locations like Tollymore Forest, which was the Haunted Forest in season one, and Gosford Castle which featured in season three. Within the city, Bagenal’s Castle houses the Newry and Mourne Museum. Visit Flagstaff viewpoint on a clear day to see Carlingford Lough sparkling between mountains.
- Sometimes dubbed the Causeway Coast Capital, the town of Coleraine is ideally located for days out to the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle and The Dark Hedges. There are also long beaches with crumbly, soft sand and grand views nearby: Mussenden Temple towers over beachcombers at Downhill and the Binevenagh Mountains look down at the sand dunes on Benone Beach. Stay here for a coastal holiday filled with sightseeing.
- If you’re planning a holiday on a budget, we have a selection of cheap hotels in Northern Ireland boasting prime locations. Ibis Belfast City Centre https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/destinations/hotel-information/Belfast/Ibis-Belfast-City-Centre/GB-BFS-1640013 is half a mile from the Cathedral Quarter, meaning it’s just a stroll from warehouses-turned-bars and beer gardens, while Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre sits adjacent to Belfast Grand Central Station.
- If you’re looking to live the high life, check into a luxury hotel in Northern Ireland. Hilton Belfast on the banks of River Lagan boasts top-floor suites with huge windows overlooking the water and the city beyond. Stay in a suite to spread out and access the executive lounge.
- Family holidays in Northern Ireland can be filled with museum trips, beach days, castle visits and mountain walks. If you’re stopping in the capital, stay at Hampton by Hilton Belfast City Centre just minutes from Belfast Grand Central Station. Connecting rooms are available and daily hot breakfast is included, so you can all sleep well and fuel up for big days out.
- Spend a winter holiday wandering around Christmas markets in Northern Ireland. At Belfast Christmas Market, the sweet smell of gluhwein floats from stalls strung with garlands. Belfast City Hall, shining under spotlights, makes for a grand backdrop. Stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast Templepatrick for a getaway on the Castle Upton Estate with stunning golf course views.
- For package holidays in Northern Ireland, Clayton Hotel Belfast is a great option in the city centre, close to transport hubs and must-see sights like St George’s Market which bustles in a Victorian building on the weekends. If you’re up for a bit (or a lot) of shopping, CastleCourt Shopping Centre and Victoria Square are both less than a mile away.
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