Cidade Turismo
the United Kingdom

Before you go

Your trip to Bushmills.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Bushmills – Irlanda do Norte Destination Belfast and the Calçada dos Gigantes about 95 km from Belfast

How to get there

  • Belfast International Airport (BFS) Aldergrove · 75 km
  • City of Derry Airport (LDY) Derry · 55 km
  • Coleraine railway station Coleraine · 13 km
  • Portrush railway station Portrush · 9 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before you buy. From Belfast it's about 95 km by car, 1 h 15 via the fastest road or 2 h 30 via the coast. By bus, the Belfast–Coleraine service and the coastal bus reach the village. By train, the nearest stations are Coleraine or Portrush, with a bus on to Bushmills.

How many days

One full day for the Calçada dos Gigantes, the distillery, Dunluce and Carrick-a-Rede. With two days you can add the Dark Hedges, the Mussenden Temple and the beaches of Portrush.

When to go

From May to September, with long days and extended hours for the rope bridge; July and August are the busiest. In winter it is very windy on the coast and it gets dark early.

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

Do you need a car?

It helps a lot to combine the coastal spots, although there are coastal buses in season and many tours depart from Belfast. You drive on the left, and the coastal A2 road is narrow in places.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Bushmills
  1. Morning
    Calçada dos Gigantes

    Arrive early at the Calçada dos Gigantes, go down to the columns and return via the cliff-top trail.

  2. Afternoon
    Carrick-a-Rede

    Follow the coast to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (booked time slots) and the harbour at Ballintoy.

  3. Late afternoon
    Dunluce

    Return for sunset at Castelo de Dunluce.

  4. Evening
    Bushmills

    Dine in a pub in Bushmills or Portrush.

2 days in Bushmills

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Calçada

    Calçada dos Gigantes and a cliff-top trail.

  2. Afternoon
    Distillery

    Visit the Bushmills distillery and have lunch in the village.

  3. Late afternoon
    Dunluce

    Castelo de Dunluce and the Whiterocks beaches.

  4. Evening
    Portrush

    Dinner in Portrush.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Carrick-a-Rede

    Rope bridge and Ballintoy harbour.

  2. Afternoon
    Dark Hedges

    The Dark Hedges avenue, near Armoy.

  3. Late afternoon
    Mussenden

    Mussenden Temple and Downhill beach.

  4. Evening
    Return

    Return to Bushmills or continue to Belfast or Derry.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is Bushmills a good base for the Antrim coast?

Yes, it is 3 km from the Calçada dos Gigantes and close to Dunluce, Carrick-a-Rede and Portrush.

Can you get to Bushmills without a car?

Yes, by bus from Belfast and Coleraine, and with the coastal bus in season.

Where to stay near the Calçada dos Gigantes?

In Bushmills, Portrush or Portstewart, which have hotels and guesthouses a few kilometres away.

What is the Bushmills steam train?

A tourist steam train that usually links the village to the Calçada dos Gigantes in season. Check whether it is running.

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