Giants Causeway Tour

What it’s like

A full day coach trip up the Antrim coast to the Giant's Causeway stones, Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges.

This is the long day out, not the quick one: a coach picks you up right by Belfast City Hall at 8:45am and doesn't drop you back until somewhere between 6 and 6:30pm. In between you get the whole Antrim coast in one go. The stones at the Giant's Causeway are the main event, with full access to them and the free walking trails included in your ticket, plus a stop at Dunluce Castle's ruins and a look at Carrickfergus Castle on the way. There's a rope bridge viewpoint too, and local guides fill the drive with the myths and legends attached to it all.

Lunch happens at the Dark Hedges, where the hotel and café do food for most dietary needs, so you're not relying on a packed lunch surviving nine hours in a coach. One thing worth knowing: the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre itself isn't included, and the guides actually steer you away from it, reckoning your time and money are better spent on the stones and coastal paths, which feels like decent advice rather than a cost-cutting excuse.

Kids are welcome and under 5s go free, with infants able to sit on a lap though the site suggests booking them a seat if you want them settled for a nine-hour trip. At £12 for anyone 15 and under, £19 for adults, or £62 for a family of five, it's not a cheap day, and castle entry fees on top aren't included either, so budget a bit extra if you fancy going inside rather than just admiring from outside. The fixed 8:45am departure also means it's a hard no for anyone trying to fit this around a cruise ship schedule.

There are toilets on board, which matters given the length of the drive, and it's wheelchair accessible. Book online and you get an instant e-ticket on your phone, no faffing with printouts.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Families with kids up to 15; under 5s go free

Booking

Instant confirmation and mobile e-tickets

Food

Lunch stop at The Dark Hedges with hotel café offering variety of food options

Worth knowing

Under 5s free

• Castle entry fees aren't included in the ticket price, though discounted entry is available
• It's a fixed 8:45am departure, so it won't work if you're trying to fit it around a cruise stop
• Check-in is 8:30am, so give yourself time before the departure
• The coach is wheelchair accessible

Plan your visit

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