Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Northern Ireland: Belfast, the Causeway Coast and Derry
6 days from Belfast: three nights in the city with Titanic Belfast and a murals walk, a night on the Causeway Coast for the Giant's Causeway early, and Derry's walls and the Bogside.
6 days · Round trip from Belfast · up to 12 guests
Basalt columns at the Giant's Causeway, County Antrim Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:County_Antrim_-_Giant%27s_Causeway_02.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Belfast
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Mostly easy walking on city pavements and coastal paths, 2 to 4 hours on foot on most days. The Carrick-a-Rede path is about 1 km each way with steps, and the Giant's Causeway stones are uneven and slippery when wet; the Causeway shuttle bus and waiting at the Carrick-a-Rede viewpoint are the sit-out options. The Cave Hill climb on day 3 is optional.
- Meals included
- 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 680 (estimated price)
- Season
- Best May to September
Highlights
Why this trip
- Titanic Belfast on one of the first entries of the day, with SS Nomadic on the same ticket
- The Falls Road, the Shankill Road and the peace wall on foot with a local guide
- Three nights in one Belfast hotel, with dinner and traditional music in the Cathedral Quarter
- The Antrim Coast Road, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Dark Hedges after the coaches leave
- The Giant's Causeway at about 8 am, after a night on the coast, before the day tours arrive
- A tour and tasting at the Old Bushmills Distillery, then Dunluce Castle and Mussenden Temple
- Derry's walls in the late light, and the Bogside with a local guide and the Museum of Free Derry
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 680 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Belfast
Dublin Airport or a Belfast airport to central Belfast, then City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter on foot
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Belfast
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
Fly into Belfast City (BHD) or Belfast International (BFS), or into Dublin, where most flights from North America land early in the morning.
Evening
For Dublin arrivals we run one group transfer from Dublin Airport at a set time around midday, about two hours north on the motorway; if you land early, wait in the airport cafés or arrive a day early in Belfast, and we can quote an extra night; pick-ups at either Belfast airport or at Belfast Grand Central station are arranged around your arrival. At about 5 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group at the hotel for a short briefing and an easy first walk: City Hall in Donegall Square, up Donegall Place and into the Cathedral Quarter, where St Anne's Cathedral carries its steel Spire of Hope and narrow alleys off High Street, the city's old entries, lead to small pubs. Dinner tonight is together, at a restaurant in the Cathedral Quarter, and the rest of the evening is yours. You stay three nights in the same central hotel, so you unpack once.
Included
- Group transfer from Dublin Airport (DUB) at a set time, or pick-up at Belfast City (BHD), Belfast International (BFS) or Belfast Grand Central station
- Welcome briefing and an evening walk to City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the 5 pm briefing, and after dinner
Activity: Drive figures are for the Dublin Airport transfer; Belfast City Airport is about 15 minutes from the centre.
Titanic Belfast and a city of two stories
Titanic Quarter, then the Falls Road, the peace wall and the Shankill Road
- Breakfast
- Stay in Belfast
We are at Titanic Belfast for one of the first entries of the day, before the tour groups arrive. The building stands at the head of the slipways where Harland and Wolff built RMS Titanic and her sister Olympic, and its galleries tell the story of the shipyard city as much as the ship: the linen mills, the riveters, the launch in 1911 and the sinking in April 1912. Allow about two and a half hours, then cross to SS Nomadic, the small tender that carried passengers out to Titanic at Cherbourg, on the same ticket.
Afternoon
Lunch is on your own in the Titanic Quarter.
Evening
In the afternoon a local guide walks the group along the Falls Road and the Shankill Road, past the murals, the memorial gardens and the peace wall at Cupar Way, whose gates still close at night. The guide explains the Troubles and the 1998 Good Friday Agreement from first-hand local knowledge and takes any question. The evening is free.
Included
- Titanic Belfast on an early entry, with SS Nomadic
- Political history walk on the Falls Road, the peace wall and the Shankill Road with a local guide
Free time: Lunch and evening free
Activity: About 2.5 hours on your feet at Titanic Belfast (lifts to every floor) and about 2.5 hours on foot in the afternoon, on pavements.
Crumlin Road Gaol, a free afternoon and a night of music
Crumlin Road, then Belfast at your own pace and the Cathedral Quarter
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Belfast
Morning
A slower morning. At about 10 am we visit Crumlin Road Gaol, the Victorian prison that held inmates from 1845 until 1996, among them suffragettes, internees and prisoners from both sides of the Troubles. The guided tour takes about 75 minutes, through the wings, the condemned cell and the tunnel under the road that once led prisoners to the courthouse opposite. The rest of the day is free, and your guide suggests ways to use it. The Ulster Museum, with free entry, sits at the gate of the Botanic Gardens and their glass Palm House; St George's Market, a Victorian covered market, trades from Friday to Sunday. If you want a walk, your guide leads a climb up Cave Hill above the city to McArt's Fort, where the view runs across Belfast Lough to the shipyard cranes, Samson and Goliath.
Evening
In the evening we meet again in the Cathedral Quarter for dinner, then a session of traditional music in a pub nearby, with time to stay on or walk back to the hotel.
Included
- Guided tour of Crumlin Road Gaol
- Dinner in the Cathedral Quarter
- An evening of traditional music
Optional experiences
- St George's Market (Friday to Sunday)
- Drinks and food at the Crown Liquor Saloon, a Victorian pub on Great Victoria Street
Easier option: The Ulster Museum and the Botanic Gardens, both free, a short taxi or walk from the centre.
More active option: A guided climb of Cave Hill to McArt's Fort, about 2.5 hours with a steady climb of about 250 m on paths that can be muddy.
Free time: Afternoon free
The Antrim coast, Carrick-a-Rede and the Dark Hedges
Belfast along the Antrim Coast Road to Ballycastle, Carrick-a-Rede and the Dark Hedges, then Bushmills
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Bushmills
- Drive about 3 h
We leave Belfast at about 9 am and follow the Antrim Coast Road north, a road to take slowly rather than hurry. The first stop is Carrickfergus Castle, the Norman fortress begun around 1177 on a rock in Belfast Lough.
Afternoon
The road then runs between the sea wall and white limestone cliffs through Glenarm to Carnlough, where we stop for coffee by the harbour, and on past the mouths of the Glens of Antrim to Ballycastle for a sit-down lunch near the harbour. In the afternoon we walk the cliff path to Carrick-a-Rede on a timed ticket and cross the rope bridge, about 20 m long and some 30 m above the sea, to the small island where salmon fishermen once worked. Late in the day we stop at the Dark Hedges, an avenue of beech trees planted in the 18th century, quieter once the coaches have gone.
Evening
We sleep in or near Bushmills, a few minutes from the Giant's Causeway, and have dinner together.
Included
- The Antrim Coast Road, with stops at Carrickfergus Castle and Carnlough harbour
- Sit-down lunch in Ballycastle
- Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (timed ticket)
- The Dark Hedges
- Dinner on the Causeway Coast
Easier option: Skip the bridge crossing and wait at the Carrick-a-Rede viewpoint or the cafe by the car park.
More active option: Cross the rope bridge to the island and walk its short loop before the path back.
Activity: The Carrick-a-Rede path is about 1 km each way with steps. The bridge closes in high wind; if it does, we stop at Ballintoy harbour instead.
The Giant's Causeway early, Bushmills, then Derry
Bushmills to the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Mussenden Temple, then Derry
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Derry
- Drive about 2.5 h
An early start is the point of sleeping on the coast. We are at the Giant's Causeway by about 8 am, when the stones are open but the day tours from Belfast and Dublin are still on the road, and walk down to about 40,000 basalt columns formed as lava cooled some 60 million years ago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Your guide tells both stories, Finn McCool's and the geologists', on the Grand Causeway and at the Organ, with about an hour and a half on the stones, then the visitor centre and exhibition when it opens, about 10 am.
Afternoon
Late morning we are back in Bushmills for a guided tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery with a tasting, then lunch in the village. In the afternoon we stop at Dunluce Castle, a ruin on the cliff edge, and at Mussenden Temple, the small round library built in 1785 above the beach at Downhill. We reach Derry by about 4 pm and walk the city walls with your guide in the late light.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- The Giant's Causeway stones at about 8 am (free access from dawn), then the visitor centre and exhibition when it opens
- Guided tour and tasting at the Old Bushmills Distillery
- Lunch in Bushmills
- Dunluce Castle
- Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne
- Walk on the Derry city walls with your guide
Easier option: Take the shuttle bus down to the stones and back, and skip the walls walk for a rest at the hotel.
More active option: Climb back from the Causeway by the 162 Shepherd's Steps and the cliff-top path above the Amphitheatre.
Free time: Evening free inside the walls
Activity: The Causeway stones are uneven and slippery when wet; wear shoes with grip. The walls are about 1.5 km round, with some steps. Soft drinks are offered at the distillery tasting. Drive figures include the Bushmills, Dunluce and Downhill detours; the direct road is about 90 km.
The Bogside story, then back to Belfast
Derry's Bogside and the Museum of Free Derry, then Belfast over the Glenshane Pass
- Breakfast and lunch
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
A morning on Derry's recent history, told by a local guide from Derry. We start at the Museum of Free Derry when it opens, beside the places where British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians at a civil rights march on Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972; 14 died. A local guide then walks the group through the Bogside: Free Derry Corner, the gable-end murals of the People's Gallery and the route of the march, with time for questions. From there it is a short climb back up to the walls, for the view down over the streets you have just walked.
Afternoon
After lunch in the city we drive about 120 km, under two hours, back to Belfast on the A6 over the Glenshane Pass. Drop-offs are at Belfast International Airport at about 3 pm, then Belfast Grand Central station for trains and coaches to Dublin, and Belfast City Airport at about 3:45 pm.
Evening
Book a flight leaving after about 6 pm, or stay an extra night in Belfast.
Included
- Museum of Free Derry
- Walk through the Bogside with a local guide: Free Derry Corner and the People's Gallery murals
- Lunch in Derry
- Drop-off at Belfast International (BFS), Belfast Grand Central station or Belfast City (BHD)
Activity: Book a flight from Belfast leaving after about 6 pm. For a flight from Dublin, stay a night in Belfast and take the train or coach to Dublin Airport the next morning.
- Belfast3 nights
- Bushmills1 night
- Derry1 night
- Belfastend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: May to August brings the longest days, with light until after 10 pm on the north coast in June, which gives the early Causeway visit and the evening walk on the Derry walls their best light. April, September and October are quieter and cooler. Wind can close the Carrick-a-Rede bridge on any day, and seabirds nest on the cliffs around it in early summer.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Northern Ireland properly, with time in Belfast and Derry, not one stop on an all-Ireland loop
- People interested in the Troubles and the peace that followed, told by local guides from Belfast and Derry
- Anyone who would rather not drive on the left on narrow coast roads
- Solo travellers who want company without a 40-seat coach
- A short trip to add before or after time in the Republic
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who want the Republic of Ireland as well: see our 12-day trip around the whole island
- Step-free access: the Causeway stones and the Carrick-a-Rede path are uneven
- A golf or whiskey-trail holiday
- Anyone who wants guaranteed sun
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
5 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Belfast3 nights
- Bushmills1 night
- Derry1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 5 nights: 3 in Belfast, 1 on the Causeway Coast in or near Bushmills and 1 in Derry
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with private bathrooms; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- A group transfer from Dublin Airport (DUB) at a set time on day 1, or pick-up at Belfast City (BHD), Belfast International (BFS) or Belfast Grand Central station
- Our own small minibus (not a coach) and professional driver for the whole trip, with your luggage carried for you
- Drop-off at BFS, BHD or Belfast Grand Central on day 6
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 6
- Local guides for the Belfast political history walk and the Bogside walk in Derry, and site guides at Crumlin Road Gaol and the Old Bushmills Distillery
Activities
- Belfast: Titanic Belfast with SS Nomadic, the Falls Road and Shankill Road political history walk, Crumlin Road Gaol, and walks to City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter
- An evening of traditional music in Belfast
- Antrim coast: the Antrim Coast Road with Carrickfergus Castle and Carnlough, and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
- The Dark Hedges
- The Giant's Causeway stones early, then the visitor centre and exhibition
- Old Bushmills Distillery tour and tasting
- Dunluce Castle
- Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne
- Derry: the city walls, the Museum of Free Derry and the Bogside murals
- All entrance fees for included sights
Meals
- 5 breakfasts
- 3 lunches: Ballycastle, Bushmills and Derry
- 3 dinners: a welcome dinner in Belfast, the Cathedral Quarter before the music session, and the Causeway Coast
Not included
- International flights to and from Belfast or Dublin
- The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and any visa
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Optional activities such as a black cab tour
- Personal expenses
- Extra nights in Belfast before or after the trip
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 680 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Five nights in central hotels, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners, the Dublin Airport group transfer or a Belfast pick-up, our own minibus and driver, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, local guides in Belfast and the Bogside, and every entry in the day plan, including Titanic Belfast, Crumlin Road Gaol, Carrick-a-Rede, the Giant's Causeway, the Bushmills tour and the Museum of Free Derry.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in one small minibus, so everyone hears the guide on the Falls Road and the Derry walls, fits round one table at dinner and gets onto the Causeway stones early without a coach queue.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the welcome briefing on day 1 to the drop-off on day 6, with a separate professional driver so the guide is free to guide. Local guides lead the Belfast political history walk and the Bogside walk in Derry, and site guides take the tours at Crumlin Road Gaol and the Bushmills distillery.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Most days mean 2 to 4 hours on foot on pavements and paths. The hardest parts are the Carrick-a-Rede path, about 1 km each way with steps, and the uneven, often wet Causeway stones. You can wait at the Carrick-a-Rede viewpoint and take the Causeway shuttle bus instead.
I'm travelling solo. Will I pay a single supplement?
Only if you want a room of your own, which is from CAD 680 more, shown before you book. Solo travellers get the same seats, meals and attention as everyone else, and with 7 to 12 guests and shared dinners it is an easy trip to join on your own.
When is the best time to go?
May to September, for long days: in June it stays light on the north coast until after 10 pm. April and October are quieter and cooler, with a higher chance that wind closes the Carrick-a-Rede bridge. Rain is possible in any month, so pack a waterproof jacket whatever the season.
How does booking work?
Pick a start date and request to book. We check hotels and space and confirm your trip within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until then. Prices are per person sharing, taxes included: the small group starts from CAD 4,015 and the private style from CAD 7,225.
Can I do this trip privately or on my own dates?
Yes. The private style is your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide, vehicle and driver, and the plan can be changed. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels and local guides.
Do I need a visa or the UK ETA for Northern Ireland?
Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa for Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom does ask most visa-free visitors for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online before you travel, and that includes arriving over the open land border from Dublin. We remind you when you book.
How do I get to Belfast from North America?
Most travellers fly into Dublin, where flights from North America usually land early in the morning. Our group transfer leaves Dublin Airport at a set time around midday and takes about two hours to Belfast; if you land early, wait in the airport cafés or arrive a day early. If you connect through London or elsewhere to Belfast City or Belfast International, we pick you up there instead.
Is it okay to visit the murals and the Bogside?
Yes. Both are lived-in neighbourhoods that welcome visitors, and the walks are led by local guides who explain the Troubles and the peace process from local, first-hand knowledge and take any question. Photos of the murals are fine; ask before photographing residents, and the guide will tell you where to stand.
Can I combine this with a trip around the Republic of Ireland?
Yes. Many guests add a few days in Dublin or the west before or after. Our 12-day Ireland trip covers the whole island, including Belfast, the Causeway and Derry more briefly; this 6-day trip gives Northern Ireland more time, with the Causeway early, Crumlin Road Gaol, Bushmills and three nights in Belfast.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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