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Belfast is a city that has emerged as a delightful treasure trove or a destination for any tourist who desires some combination of history with culture, and modern charm in a beautiful place. The places to visit near Belfast weave into the rich tapestry of experiences that can be found in whatever may suit any kind of interest. There’s a past that inspires travellers, a lively arts scene, and a culinary culture alive inside and out. The surrounding landscapes beyond the city are some of that natural beauty that enriches the entire travel experience.
Top 10 Places To Visit Near Belfast
Here are the top 10 places to visit near Belfast, each offering unique experiences within a short drive of the city:
1. Giant’s Causeway
Photo: XaetaRhythm / Wikimedia Commons
Being Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO site of World Heritage site, the Giant’s Causeway is composed of over 40,000 basalt columns in an interlaced formation as a result of volcanic activity nearly 60 million years ago. The site is rich in myth and legend, where it is said that the giant Finn McCool built the causeway to Scotland. Visitors are greeted with walking trails and guided tours, as well as an award-winning visitor centre that offers fantastic interactive exhibits and educational resources.
Distance From Belfast: 97 km
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
2. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Photo: Shiraz Chakera / Wikimedia Commons
Between Ballintoy and the mainland lies Carrick-a-Rede Island, a little island connected to the mainland with Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Erected almost one-quarter of a millennium ago by salmon fishermen, this bridge hangs at a height of 30 meters above the rocks and is extended at 20 meters. The bridge has become a keen site for tourism with its management by the National Trust, with beautiful mountains over the North Atlantic Coast, Rathlin Island, and even Scotland on clear days. The walk to the bridge follows a great scenic trail along ocean cliffs and grassy headlands, which is often teeming with seabirds and wildflowers.
Distance From Belfast: 96 km
Timings: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
3. Dunluce Castle
Photo: Digitura / Wikimedia Commons
Dunluce Castle, a stunning ruin perched precariously on the edge of a basalt cliff in County Antrim, is one of the most famous ruins in Northern Ireland. Built in 13th-century Gaelic style, the castle is famous for its dramatic location and the rich history associated with the clans McQuillan and MacDonnell. Seemingly perched over the sea, it offers breathtaking panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1600, several portions of the castle collapsed into the sea, giving rise to the legends associated with the castle.
Distance From Belfast: 96 km
Timings: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
4. The Dark Hedges
Photo: Colin Park / Wikimedia Commons
The Dark Hedges is a beautiful avenue of beech trees near the town of Ballymoney. It was planted in the 18th century by members of the Stuart family for the entertainment of their visitors to Gracehill House. The trees have grown haphazardly and formed a natural tunnel as their branches entwined over the road. Its entrance creates that eerie, atmospheric feeling, which makes it super popular with photographers and filmmakers. It became famous on a global platform after showcasing its back as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones.
Distance From Belfast: 80 km
Timings: 24*7
5. Glenariff Forest Park
Photo: Michael Dibb / Wikimedia Commons
Glenariff Forest Park, or as the locals call it, “Queen of the Glens”, is one of the finest natural sites in Northern Ireland. Famed for its stunning waterfalls, lovely woodlands, and well-trodden walking paths, it offers guests a chance to revel in the stunning scenery of the Glens of Antrim. Another route is the famous Waterfall Walkway, which meanders through a gorge and offers breathtaking views of its waterfalls tumbling down moss-covered cliffs. Animals such as red squirrels and all sorts of birds dwell here, thus giving nature aficionados a good respite.
Distance From Belfast: 93 km
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
6. Cushendun Caves
Photo: N Chadwick / Wikimedia Commons
The Cushendun Caves are natural sea caves formed over the last 400 million years through erosion and weathering in the small coastal village of Cushendun. Located along the Antrim Coast among rugged cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea, they might not be the biggest of caves, but their drama and hidden location have certainly been of interest to many travellers. The caves became world-famous as a filming location for HBO’s Game of Thrones, where they represented a Stormlands cave. The caves are within walking distance from the village and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; the quaint village, situated in Cornish style, is picturesque in itself.
Distance From Belfast: 80 km
Timings: 24*7
7. Mourne Mountains
Photo: Dieglop / Wikimedia Commons
The highest mountain range of Northern Ireland, with Slieve Donard as its 850-metre peak, is the Mourne Mountains. This granite mountain range, being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has fascinated hikers, climbers, and nature lovers alike for generations. The Mournes were the inspiration for C.S. Lewis’s Narnia provides a mixture of sheer mountains, serene forests, glacial lakes, and chattering rivers. There are beloved walks such as the Mourne Wall Walk, Silent Valley, and Spelga Dam. Red grouse, peregrine falcons, and mountain hares can be observed along the trails.
Distance From Belfast: 80 km
Timings: 24*7
8. Strangford Lough
Photo: Robert Ashby / Wikimedia Commons
Strangford Lough is a large area of sea in County Down. This is the largest inlet on the British Isles, spanning an area of over 150 square km. This very special environment is home to rich number of wildlife: seals, otters, and 2,000-plus species of marine life make it home. It is designated as a Marine Nature Reserve and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The short ferry ride linking Strangford to Portaferry connects the town to the village, allowing both places access to heritage attractions like Castle Ward (a famous filming location from Game of Thrones) and Exploris Aquarium.
Distance From Belfast: 48 km
Timings: 24*7
9. Bangor
Photo: David Dixon / Wikimedia Commons
Bangor is one of the seaside towns on the southern shoreline of the Belfast Lough and attracts many people as a coastal resort in Northern Ireland due to its marina, abbey and active waterfront. Water activities and sailboats are still part of life at Bangor Marina, one of the largest marinas in Ireland. The atmosphere of an ordinary town with its seaside promenade, family-friendly parks, a sufficient number of restaurants, and shops, the Abbey of Bangor is one of Northern Ireland’s most historical Christian sites, dating back to the sixth century, having greatly affected the history of early Irish monasticism.
Distance From Belfast: 21 km
Timings: Varies
10. Antrim Coast Road
Photo: Suzanne Mischyshyn / Wikimedia Commons
The Causeway Coastal Route, or the Antrim Coast Road, is a road stretching about 120 miles, which leads to Derry/Londonderry. This route is famous for being one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives. It runs along the rugged shoreline of County Antrim, through villages full of character, dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and lush glens. Visitors on their way to the likes of the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and the Cushendun Caves will find many places to stop along the way. It includes access from the road into the nine glens of Antrim, stunning valleys carved by glaciers.
Distance From Belfast: 25 km
Timings: 24*7
Belfast is more than just beauty; it is history, myth, and all the value of the real Irish experience. Each of the city’s coastal areas to tranquil retreats in the mountains presents a unique outlook into the landscape and culture of Northern Ireland. It doesn’t matter if you are out for thrillers or relaxation; there is always something for every traveller. Plan a trip with TripXL transform your getting-away-from-Belfast experience into something phenomenal.
Cover Photo: Conall / Wikimedia Commons
