On this 2-day tour from Dublin, you’ll travel to Northern Ireland, which has been experiencing a new dawn after the end of 30 years of political violence.
Explore downtown Belfast as well as the glorious glens of Antrim. With its breathtaking scenery, welcoming local residents, unspoiled landscapes, and living history, Northern Ireland is sure to please.
Day 1: Dublin to Belfast
ADepart Dublin, heading north for the 2-hour drive to Belfast on the new Peace Highway. Your first stop will be St. Peters Cathedral in Drogheda, where you’ll find the fully preserved head of St. Oliver Plunkett. He was beheaded by the English in 1681 and his head now sits staring out from a glass box by the altar.
Take a drive off the highway to visit the haunting ruins of Monasterboice. See the 10th-century round tower and learn how residents of the time took refuge from the Vikings. Admire some of the most beautiful Celtic crosses in Ireland, carved by hand by monks in the 9th century.
When you arrive in Belfast you’ll have 2 hours of free time. You might consider an optional and highly recommended Black Taxi Tour of the Falls and Shankill Roads. Alternatively, use your free time for lunch and shopping in the city’s bustling downtown area.
Depart the city center for a drive to the docks to visit Belfast's number 1 attraction: The Titanic Experience. Spend 2 hours on a tour of the all-new Titanic Belfast. Follow the story from the ship’s conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her infamous maiden voyage and catastrophic demise.
Overnight in Belfast's historic downtown university quarter.
Day 2: Belfast – Giant's Causeway – Dublin
The tour departs Belfast on a drive through the rolling farmland of County Antrim to the north coast of Ulster. Your first stop will be a photo stop at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, with views of Rathlin Island, before continuing along the coast.
Next, visit the famous Giant's Causeway. Explore the site which features an estimated 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns that were formed during a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago.
After at least 2 hours exploring the Giant’s Causeway, you’ll continue on to see the cliff-top ruins of Dunluce Castle, the ancestral home of the MacDonnell Clan. Benefit from paid entrance here and time for a comprehensive exploration.
We'll also have time for a photo stop at amazing Dark Hedges - a tree-lined road that is said to be haunted and made world-famous by Game of Thrones.
On the return to Dublin, you’ll have a short rest and relaxation stop with time for some refreshments. Arrive back in Dublin with a wealth of songs, stories, and memories of Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway.
