Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes, the United Kingdom: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Irlanda do Norte occupies the northeast of the island of Ireland and is one of the four nations of the United Kingdom. Belfast, the capital, lies at the head of the Belfast Lough, an inlet of the mar da Irlanda, surrounded by hills. The city grew in the 19th century with linen, ropemaking and shipbuilding: it was in the shipyard Harland & Wolff that the Titanic and the Olympic were built, and the two large yellow shipyard cranes, Sansão e Golias, still mark the landscape.

On the old shipyard, the Titanic Quarter brings together Titanic Belfast, a museum about the ship in a building that resembles four bows, the dock where it was built and the SS Nomadic, the last ship of the White Star company still in existence. In the centre are the Victorian City Hall, the St George market, old pubs such as the Crown, and the university quarter, with the Ulster Museum and the Jardim Botânico. The murals in the west-side neighbourhoods and the separation barriers, called peace walls, tell the story of the period of conflict known as the Troubles, ended with the 1998 peace agreement; guided tours of these neighbourhoods are conducted with respect for the communities.

The Antrim coast, to the north, is one of the most beautiful coastal drives in Europe. Near the village of Bushmills are the Calçada dos Gigantes, with about 40,000 basalt columns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Bushmills distillery; the ruins of Dunluce Castle on the cliff edge; the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge; and the beech avenue Dark Hedges, which appears in Game of Thrones, a series filmed largely in the region.

The coast is done by car, driving on the left, or with day tours leaving from Belfast.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Belfast, Bushmills.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes is

How to get there: Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes

✈ George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), in Sydenham · 5 km to Belfast

✈ Belfast International Airport (BFS), in Aldergrove · 25 km to Belfast

Check before booking. Belfast has two airports: the International, about 25 km away, and George Best City, 5 km from the centre, with flights from London and other cities. From Dublin, the Enterprise train reaches Belfast Grand Central in about 2h15. Ferries link Belfast to Scotland and England.

Suggested arrival point: Belfast

Irlanda do Norte · Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes Capital Suggested arrival point

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of Irlanda do Norte, at the head of the Belfast Lough, the city where the Titanic was built. The Titanic Quarter, on the old shipyard, houses the Titanic Belfast museum; the centre brings together the City Hall, the St George's Market and Victorian pubs; to the south are the Ulster Museum and the Jardim Botânico. The murals in the west-side neighbourhoods tell the recent history, and the city is the base for the Antrim coast.

Irlanda do Norte · Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes

Bushmills

Bushmills is the village on the north coast of Antrim, on the banks of the River Bush, known for the whiskey distillery licensed in 1608. It is 3 km from the Calçada dos Gigantes and serves as a base for the coast: Castelo de Dunluce, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the Dark Hedges avenue, the Mussenden Temple and the beaches of Portrush.

The local experience

Things to do in Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes

Bushmills · Irlanda do Norte · Nature

Giant's Causeway

The roughly 40,000 basalt columns, almost all hexagonal, formed by lava about 60 million years ago on the coast of Antrim, 3 km from Bushmills, with the legend of the giant Finn McCool. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the National Trust.

Belfast · Irlanda do Norte · Museum

Titanic Belfast

The museum about the Titanic at the old shipyard where it was built, in a 2012 building shaped like four prows, with nine galleries, the dry dock and the ship SS Nomadic alongside.

Belfast · Irlanda do Norte · Historic building

Belfast City Hall

Belfast City Hall, in Edwardian Baroque style, opened in 1906 on Donegall Square, with a green copper dome, marble halls, stained glass and a Titanic memorial in the gardens. Guided tours are free of charge; check ahead.

Bushmills · Irlanda do Norte · Distillery

Old Bushmills Distillery

The Irish whiskey distillery in the village of Bushmills, licensed in 1608, one of the oldest working distilleries in the world, offering guided tours of production and tastings.

See 8 more places in Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes

Bushmills · Irlanda do Norte · Bridge

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

The 20-metre rope bridge suspended about 30 metres above the sea, between the mainland and the islet of Carrick-a-Rede, near Ballintoy, used in the past by salmon fishermen. Managed by the National Trust.

Belfast · Irlanda do Norte · Museum

Ulster Museum

The museum of art, history and natural sciences of Northern Ireland, next to the Jardim Botânico, with the Egyptian mummy Takabuti, treasures of the Spanish Armada and galleries about the Troubles. Entry to the permanent collection is free; check ahead.

Belfast · Irlanda do Norte · Historic prison

Crumlin Road Gaol

The Victorian prison of 1845 in north Belfast, in use until 1996, with guided tours of the radial wings, the cells, the execution room and the tunnel that led to the courthouse across the street.

Bushmills · Irlanda do Norte · Castle

Dunluce Castle

The ruins of the medieval castle on the edge of a basalt cliff above the sea, between Bushmills and Portrush, connected to the land by a bridge, with a 17th-century town excavated beside it.

Bushmills · Irlanda do Norte · Nature

Dark Hedges

The avenue of beech trees planted in the 18th century along Bregagh Road, near Armoy, about 17 km from Bushmills, with interlaced branches forming a tunnel, known from the series Game of Thrones.

Belfast · Irlanda do Norte · Market

St George's Market

Belfast's covered Victorian market from 1896, with food stalls, fish, local produce, crafts and live music on Friday to Sunday mornings.

Belfast · Irlanda do Norte · Castle

Belfast Castle

The Victorian sandstone castle dating from 1870 on the slopes of Cave Hill, 6 km from the centre, with gardens, a café and trails up to the hilltop from which you can see the whole city and Belfast Lough.

Bushmills · Irlanda do Norte · Historic building

Mussenden Temple

The circular temple from 1785 on the edge of a cliff above Downhill beach, inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, built as a library by the Bishop of Derry. Managed by the National Trust.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September the days are long, with daylight until near 11 pm in June, and the rope bridge and coastal attractions operate extended hours; July and August are the busiest months. In winter it's cold, very windy on the coast and it gets dark early. It rains at any time of year; bring a waterproof jacket.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days in Belfast, covering the Titanic Quarter, the centre, the Ulster Museum and a mural tour, and one or two days on the Antrim coast, with the Calçada dos Gigantes, Dunluce, Carrick-a-Rede and the distillery. Four days in total cover the essentials.

Which city to stay in

In Belfast, the centre, near the City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter, puts everything within walking distance; the university quarter to the south has guesthouses in Victorian houses and restaurants, and the Titanic Quarter has new hotels. On the coast, Bushmills, Portrush and Portstewart have hotels and guesthouses near the Calçada dos Gigantes.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes

Do you need a passport to go from Dublin to Belfast?

There is no fixed control on the border between Ireland and Irlanda do Norte, but carry your passport, because they are different countries with their own entry rules. The United Kingdom has its own rules, including prior electronic authorization for many visitors. Check before you travel.

What is the currency of Irlanda do Norte?

The pound sterling, as in the rest of the United Kingdom. In the República da Irlanda, the currency is the euro.

Can you visit the Calçada dos Gigantes in a day from Belfast?

Yes, by car, about 1h15 via the fastest road or 2h30 along the coast, or with a day tour that usually includes Carrick-a-Rede, Dunluce and the Dark Hedges.

Do I need a car in Irlanda do Norte?

Not in Belfast. For the coast of Antrim, a car helps, but there are regional buses and many tours. You drive on the left.

Is it safe to visit the murals in Belfast?

Yes. Guided tours by taxi or on foot of the mural neighbourhoods are common and are conducted with respect for the local communities.

Rotas entre países

Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes is on the Dublin–Belfast by train

Two capitals on the island of Ireland in about two hours by train, along the coast of the Irish Sea, with no border checks on the way.

Illustrated map of Dublin–Belfast by train — Illustrative map, not to scale. Tap a city to open its page.

Explore the Dublin–Belfast by train

Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes

A region to enjoyat your own pace.