Day trips from Belfast are an ideal way to explore more of beautiful Northern Ireland. There are jaw-dropping natural attractions, quirky historical sites and lots to do for all kinds of tourists, from solo travellers to families with children. There’s plenty of variety for everyone, and a train is easily available if you don’t want to drive.
Day trips to Scotland from Belfast
Visiting Scotland on a day trip from Belfast is easy. You can drive or take a bus to the ferry from Northern Ireland and explore much of western Scotland.
Distance from Belfast: Approx. 6 hours by bus and ferry or 4 hours by car and ferry to reach Glasgow
Price: Around £26 for the ferry, £40 in total.
What to wear: Comfortable travelling clothes.
Expert Tip: Stop off in the town of Ayr to explore the famous Burns Monument and Memorial Gardens.
Either go from central Belfast to the Europa Bus Centre to catch a bus, or drive straight to the Belfast Stena Line Terminus for the ferry crossing to Scotland. You’ll arrive at the Stena Terminal in Cairnryan, and then make your way through some main towns like Ayr and Kilmarnock, before arriving in Glasgow. If you’ve taken the bus, you’ll alight at Glasgow Buchanan Station. With so much sightseeing on the route, this is one of the best day trips from Belfast to Scotland.
The perfect day trip from Belfast to Isle of Man
Manx Ferries offers crossings from Belfast to the Isle of Man in the summer months, typically from late March to late October. The weather is usually too inclement at other times for a pleasant trip.
Distance from Belfast: Approx. 3 hours by ferry.
Price: Around £10 – £14 for the ferry
What to wear or bring: Binoculars, sunscreen and a sunhat.
Expert Tip: Choose the Manannan ferry for the quickest trip.
To get to the ferry port at Belfast Docks, you can either drive, taking about 15 minutes, or catch a Translink Metro bus, which takes around 20 minutes. The latter will take you from Upper Queen Street Station to the Stena Line Ferry Port. You can grab a snack at the ferry terminal before making the crossing.
The best places to visit from Belfast without a car
You don’t need to hire a car to enjoy the best day trips from Belfast. There is plenty of public transport available, with specific routes dedicated to getting from the city to the main tourist attractions in the surrounding region.
The historic village of Lisburn
Distance from Belfast: Approx. 30 minutes by bus or 20 minutes by train
Price: Around £3 – £5 on the train or £10 – £15 by bus
What to wear: Casual clothes and good walking shoes
Expert Tip: For a scrumptious lunch, the Castle Café at Hillsborough Castle is highly recommended.
Lisburn offers a glimpse into Northern Ireland’s history as a linen production hub. The Irish Linen Centre and Museum has a fascinating “Flax to Fabric” exhibition, featuring live demonstrations and interactive experiences. The Ulster Aviation Society is here too, with a prized collection of WWII planes. You can also visit lavish Hillsborough Castle, the official Northern Irish residence of the British royal family.
Day trip to Giant’s Causeway from Belfast
Distance from Belfast: Approx. 3 hours by train and bus combination.
Price: Around £30 on average.
What to wear or bring: Sturdy walking shoes and sunscreen.
Expert Tip: For more historical sightseeing, get off the bus at Dunseverick Castle and walk the roughly 5 miles to the causeway.
Giant’s Causeway is one of the best places to visit in Ireland. It comprises massive black basalt columns that are at least 50 million years old. Its name derives from a legend that giants used these as stepping stones. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Northern Ireland’s most famous natural wonders.
A family day trip from Belfast to Lough Neagh
Distance from Belfast: Approx. 1 hour by train or bus.
Price: Around £15 by bus or £8 by train
What to wear or bring: Walking shoes and swimwear.
Expert Tip: Lough Neagh is one of the most important wetlands in the world, home to dozens of species of waterfowl, and one of the best day trips from Belfast by train.
Enjoy a wide array of water sports, fishing, birdwatching and hiking for the whole family at Northern Ireland’s largest freshwater lake. Lough Neagh offers sailing, kayaking, wakeboarding and water skiing. You can take a jet ski ride to Coney Island or walk to Maghery Country Park to fish. There’s something for everyone, no matter your age.
A historical day trip from Belfast to Londonderry
Perhaps the most important historical day trip you can take from Belfast is visiting Londonderry. It showcases Northern Ireland’s ancient history and stands as a reminder of the Troubles of the 1970s and ’80s.
Distance from Belfast: Approx. 1h 30min by car / 1h 40min by bus / 2 hours by train.
Price: The basic Blair Athol Signature Tour costs around £17.
What to wear or bring: A curious mind.
Expert Tip: Book a guided historical tour of the city to learn more about the events from the 70’s & 80’s.
The inner district of Londonderry is still encircled by fortified walls dating back to the 17th century. These are the only city walls in the whole of Ireland that are still intact. You’re free to walk along the top of them. You can also visit the Tower Museum and St Columb’s Cathedral, built in the 1600s. The Peace Bridge symbolises reconciliation after the violence of the late 20th century.
The perfect day trip from Belfast, by Marc Pienaar
Whenever I feel like a really good road trip from Belfast, there’s one route that always beckons me the most. This is the Causeway Coastal Route, which takes you by many interesting historical towns, tourist attractions, beaches and castles. Known as one of the great road trips in the world, you’ll travel from Belfast through the northern Antrim coastal region to Derry City.
It’s best to drive this route because, while you can get public transport all the way, you’ll need to do some careful route planning and take bus schedules into account if you want to get the most from the trip. Rather, opt for the flexibility and independence of a self-drive.
Belfast to Carrickfergus Castle
Plan to leave Belfast on this day trip at around 08:30 am so that you can fit in all the attractions. Carrickfergus Castle is your first stop once you’re on the Antrim Coast Road. Built in the 12th century, it offers tours for the whole family, including an immersive 3D experience of the castle’s history, showing its transformation over the ages. This is one of the best castles in the UK, and the drive from Belfast only takes around 15 minutes.
Whitehead Coastal Pass and Blackhead Lighthouse
This is a chance to get out and stretch your legs a bit. Located about a 15-minute drive from Carrickfergus Castle, you can follow a roughly 5 km trail past intriguing sea caves. You’ll then climb a set of steep steps to reach Blackhead Lighthouse, from where you can sometimes see dolphins frolicking in the sea below.
The Gobbins
Drive for another roughly 10 minutes from Whitehead Coastal Pass and you’ll reach one of the big highlights of this day trip from Belfast – The Gobbins. It’s a thrilling walk along coastal cliff paths and over suspension bridges, originally constructed in Edwardian times. You’ll get to experience the jagged cliffs that make up this dramatic part of the Northern Ireland coastline.
The Gobbins to The Pencil
“The Pencil” is the local name for the Chaine Memorial Tower, which stands just under 30 metres high, at the end of a pier in the village of Larne. Made entirely from Irish granite, it has guarded Larne Lough for over 100 years. This is a great place to take a break from driving and stop for a picnic. Travel time from The Gobbins is only around 15 minutes.
Chaine Memorial Tower to the Black Arch and Devil’s Churn
The Black Arch is a short but very scenic tunnel under one of the craggy cliffs, about a 5-minute drive from Larne on Antrim Coast Road. Officially known as the Blackcave Tunnel, it marks the entry point to the Glens of Antrim. You can stop here for photo opportunities or take a walk along a staircase through a cave entrance to the seawall below, known as the “Devil’s Churn” due to the sound of the lapping waves.
Black Arch to Carnfunnock Country Park
By now you’ll have travelled and stopped to see the sights for only a couple of hours, so you’ll have time to stop at Carnfunnock Country Park. It’s a great place for rambling, covering some 190 hectares of manicured gardens, woodlands and walking trails. Outstanding features are the old lime kilns, the icehouse and the walled gardens. The park is only about a 5-minute drive further from Black Arch.
Glenarm Castle and Cranny Falls
Glenarm Castle is one of the most outstanding castles on the Antrim coastal route. There’s a lot to explore, so budget at least an hour. You can explore the landscaped garden, go on a woodland walk and visit the Heritage Centre and Coach House Museum. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Carnfunnock Country Park. Carry on for another 10 minutes or so to reach Cranny Falls. It’s about a 30-minute walk to the waterfall itself.
Cranny Falls to Cushendun
The town of Cushendun makes for an ideal stop on our day trip. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Cranny Falls and is best known for Cushendall Beach and nearby Glenariff Forest Park, which is about 15 minutes by car from the village. The latter offers everything from easy strolls to 10 km walks. You can also visit Cushendun Caves.
Cushendun to Ballycastle
Continuing your road trip, you’ll drive past natural attractions like Torr Head, Murlough Bay and the Fair Head Cliffs, before arriving about 15 minutes later in Ballycastle. Dolly’s coffee shop is a great place for a snack or lunch. You can also sample its homemade cakes.
Ballycastle to Mussenden Temple and Derry City
This is the last leg of your road trip, taking roughly 45 minutes to Mussenden Temple, and a further 1 hour to your endpoint in Derry City. The city offers dozens of historical sites, many dating back to the early 1600s. Mussenden Temple is a replica of the Temple of Vesta near Rome, perched on a 120-foot-high cliff above the sea.
After exploring Derry City, it’s time to make the return drive to Belfast, which will take roughly 1h 30min.
More ideas for some Belfast day trips
We’ve only mentioned a few of the activities and places to visit on Belfast day trips. You can explore more in the city itself using our guide to the best things to do in Belfast. Or uncover some of the hidden gems in the UK.
Frequent questions about day trips from Belfast
Where is good to go from Belfast?
If you have to pick one place to go from Belfast for a day trip, make Giant’s Causeway your destination. It’s not only a dramatic experience – you’ll also encounter many interesting tourist attractions on the way. Hire a car and turn it into a leisurely road trip.
What is the prettiest place near Belfast?
There’s a lot of competition for this, but we have to go with The Dark Hedges. It’s a fantastical old avenue of beech trees that have grown over to form a mystical tunnel through the forest. It’s one of the most photographed places in Northern Ireland.
Can you do a day trip from Belfast to Scotland?
You can easily pop over to Scotland from Belfast, using the ferry from Belfast Stena Line Terminus to Stena Terminal in Cairnryan, Scotland. From here, you can explore the whole of western Scotland as far as Glasgow.
