written by
Norm Longley
updated 23.10.2024
It has often had to play second fiddle to its southern neighbour, but there are loads of things to do in Northern Ireland. Here you'll find a diversity of attractions that frequently confounds first-time visitors. Rejuvenated and irrepressible, Belfast now rivals any of the UK’s capital cities. Northern Ireland is a land of superb nature, remarkable culture, outdoor activities and an increasingly vibrant food and music scene.
This article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Ireland, your ultimate guide for travelling to Ireland.
Created by local experts
Barely recognizable from the battle-scarred city of the 1970s and 80s, Belfast is today a bona fide city-break destination, no question. Stately Victorian buildings and a rich industrial heritage hark back to the city’s glorious past, but really, it’s the revitalized restaurant scene, some rocking nightlife and a raft of excellent festivals that all serve to confirm Belfast’s welcome renaissance.
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Belfast offers lots of interesting things to do in Northern Ireland © Nahlik/Shutterstock
It was, of course, from Belfast in 1912 that the Titanic set sail. The ill-fated ship is commemorated in truly spectacular style at the all-new Titanic Quarter in the city’s regenerated docklands area. Comprising, among other things, a media centre and a scientific discovery centre — its focal point is Titanic Belfast, a thrilling and engaging interactive museum.
Titanic Quater is Belfast, Ireland, UK© Dignity 100/Shutterstock
Northern Ireland boasts numerous low-lying mountain ranges, but it’s the rugged Mournes in County Down that draws the lion’s share of hikers. Its highest peak – Slieve Donard – only tops 850m, but this is often testing terrain. Who needs the Great Wall of China when you’ve got the Mourne Wall, a 22-mile long dry stone wall which traverses some fifteen summits?
No less fabulous, if somewhat less demanding, are the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone, a sparse expanse of wild, undulating moorland.
The scene in the Mourne Mountains, County Down, Northern Ireland © James Kennedy NI/Shutterstock
Stretching for some 120 miles between Belfast and Derry, this fabulous road trip is one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland. Unsurprisingly, most people make a beeline for the Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland’s only designated World Heritage Site), with its stupendous black basalt columns.
But there are diversions aplenty en route, among them Rathlin Island, which harbours some incredible wildlife, and Portstewart, lined with a glorious two-mile sweep of golden sand.
Portstewart beach © Shutterstock
Northern Ireland’s culinary scene has taken a while to get going, but it’s certainly making amends now. In Belfast, two restaurants have recently gained a Michelin star, namely Ox, and Eipic at Deane’s. Both offer sumptuous dishes such as scallops with clementine and hazelnut brown butter. And don’t leave without trying the Ulster Fry, widely acknowledged to be a superior version of the great English fry-up.
Ulster Fry, traditional Northern Irish breakfast © Shutterstock
Two particularly fine outdoor museums are the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum just outside Belfast, which displays some thirty buildings transplanted here from around the country. The Ulster American Folk Park, near Omagh, brilliantly relays the historically close links between Northern Ireland and the United States. Here, too, a splendid array of vernacular architecture has been transferred from its original setting.
Ireland is one of the most popular destinations for tourists: its rich cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and laid-back lifestyle attract many travellers. On this tailor-made trip to Ireland & North Ireland, you will visit the famous Giant's Causeway, the fascinating Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry and many more highlights.
Irish thatched cottage at the Ulster Folk Park © Shutterstock
The North can certainly rival the South when it comes to musical talent. In days of yore, the leading lights were Van Morrison and the Undertones (the latter famously championed by the late John Peel). In the 90s, it was the turn of indie heroes Ash, from Down, and the Divine Comedy from Enniskillen. Hot on the scene right now is Two Door Cinema Club from Bangor.
If you fancy attending a gig, one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland is to drop in at Belfast’s iconic Limelight Complex. Or try Open House — a unique, year-round series of gigs at various venues around the city.
Aerial view looking over islands on Lough Erne near Enniskillen © Helioscribe/Shutterstock
Whether it’s mountain biking in the Davagh Forest or angling on Lough Earne, there are loads of active things to do in Northern Ireland. Golfers won’t feel short-changed either, with dozens of fabulous courses to hack around. This includes the Royal Portrush (which staged the British Open in 2019) in Antrim, and the sublime Royal County Down course in Newcastle.
Neatly positioned within a bend of the River Foyle, Derry’s medieval walls are among the best-preserved anywhere in Europe, their survival all the more remarkable having withstood three major military sieges. Enclosed within the mile-long circuit is the original medieval street layout, itself spotted with a cluster of eminently enjoyable attractions, the pick of which is the Tower Museum and the Verbal Arts Centre.
The Seven Kingdoms await you in this tailor-made Game of Thrones adventure. The incredible landscapes of Northern Ireland make up an enchanting array of fortresses, heart-stopping cliffs and countless small villages steeped in history. A trip to the universe of Game of Thrones is about to begin!
The walled city of Derry in Northern Ireland © Lucky Team Studio/Shutterstock
To the surprise of many, Northern Ireland ranks the largest lake in the British Isles. Lough Neagh is just to the west of Belfast but actually borders five of the country’s six counties. Its tranquil waterways and secluded bays provide ample opportunity for boating, fishing, walking and cycling. A great way to get a handle on the lake is to tackle the 113-mile-long Loughshore Trail – but don’t worry, it’s almost completely flat.
The Marble Arch Caves is one of seven parks in the UK run under the umbrella of UNESCO. Following a pleasant little walk down through the reserve, the tour begins with an atmospheric five-minute boat journey along the subterranean Cladagh River. It then continues through a succession of atmospherically lit chambers and passages.
Throughout there are clusters of weirdly shaped stalactites and stalagmites, as well as other impressive formations, such as flowstones and scallops (sculpted indentations caused by water flow). Following a heavy Irish downpour, the caves are prone to flooding, so do check before you visit.
Natural Marble Arch cave underground, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland © Shutterstock
Waterways loop their way around the core of Enniskillen. Their glassy surfaces imbue the town with a pervasive sense of calm and in places that reflect the mini-turrets of seventeenth-century Enniskillen Castle, which stands next to the island’s westerly bridges.
The castle was rebuilt by William Cole on the site of an old Maguire fort damaged by siege in 1594, and Cole’s additions show obvious Scottish characteristics in the turrets corbelled out from the angles of the main wall. Today the castle grounds hold the town’s two principal museums, which are accessed via a sparkling new visitor centre.
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Enniskillen castle in Northern Ireland © Helioscribe/Shutterstock
Castlewellan Forest Park is outside the elegant market town of Castlewellan. The estate lies in the foothills of the Mournes, and a 4km trail from the entrance leads to the highest point in the forest, Slievenaslat, providing panoramic views.
A wonderful arboretum is the forest park’s outstanding feature: the sheltered south-facing slopes of its hills, between the Mournes and the Slieve Croob range, allow exotic species to flourish. There’s trout fishing in its main lake and coarse fishing in the smaller lakes.
Castlewellan forest park during a foggy summer morning, Northern Ireland © Shutterstock
The foremost attraction in Bushmills is the Old Bushmills Distillery on the outskirts of town, where whiskey has been distilled here legally since 1608, making it the oldest licit distillery in the world. Bushmills whiskey is distilled three times, once more than Scotch, but perhaps the biggest surprise is just how little subtlety is involved in the industrial manufacture of alcohol, despite all the lore that surrounds it.
One of the best things to do in Northern Ireland is to enjoy learning about the process on a guided tour, which takes in the mash house, the malt barn (though malting is not done on-site), the vast warehouse, and the equally impressive bottling plant. The tour ends with a complimentary tasting.
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Old Bushmills Whiskey Distillery © Shutterstock
Ready to start planning your trip? Check out the Rough Guide to Ireland.
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Top image © stifos/Shutterstock
written by
Norm Longley
updated 23.10.2024
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