How To Plan The Perfect 3 Day Northern Ireland Road Trip Itinerary

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No Northern Ireland road trip itinerary would be complete without visiting The Giants Causeway; one of the best and most popular things to do in Ireland.

I have travelled extensively around Ireland, and on my second visit to the North, I knew I wanted to visit Derry for the first time and go back to the Giants Causeway. The Causeway is located in County Antrim and it is one of the most visited attractions on the island thanks to it’s stunning natural beauty. A visit to the Causeway is a truly unique experience, a must on any Ireland itinerary.

Ireland is it the perfect destination for a weekend getaway from London, given that the flight time is just over an hour. I managed to squeeze a lot in to my 3 day Northern Ireland road trip so feel free to follow my travel guide to see how you can do the same.

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How To Plan A 3 Day Northern Ireland Road Trip To The Giants Causeway

Our selfdrive 3 day Northern Ireland road trip itinerary

Day 1 – Driving from Belfast To Giants Causeway Coastal Route

We landed early in the morning into Belfast International airport and had a short walk from the arrivals terminal, across the car park to collect our rental car.

Having driven from Belfast to The Giants Causeway before, I knew we wanted to take the Causeway Coastal Route again.

There are two routes you can take; the motorway which will get you there faster if you’re in a hurry, or the Causeway Coastal Route which take significantly longer but is much more scenic. According to Google Maps, this should only take you an extra half an hour, although of course this doesn’t take into account any of the stops you might want to make along the way.

There are numerous view points to stop at to admire the views, go for a walk and stretch your legs, go for a swim (if the weather allows for it), have lunch, grab a coffee, visit a castle or two – and even sit in a sauna like the one we came across!

Our journey the the Giants Causeway took us 4 hours – and I can honestly say that it was worth every minute of it. The Emerald Isle is breathtaking in the sun and we were graced with such a beautiful day (a huge contrast to the wintery February grey skies we had on our last trip here).

This Northern Ireland road trip is all about the scenic journey, not just the destination.

We stopped off at numerous places along the way, but these are some of the highlights on this road trip around Northern Ireland:

Ballygally is an incredibly scenic village. As it was such a warm day, plenty of people had pulled over in the car park by the side of the road here. There are points in which you can enter the sea and people were taking full advantage of that with their paddleboards – I instantly regretted not bringing swimwear. When is it ever warm enough to get in the sea in the UK?

The beach had plenty of places to sit and enjoy a picnic, including benches with mini barbecues set up.

Causeway Coastal route in Northern Ireland

There were even some 4 star self-catering holiday apartments across the road which looked fab – I can image them being a great place to stay in the summer, not so much when the weather is wet and miserable though. You can also visit Ballygally Castle here.

What really amused me about this stunning location was the ‘The Wee Sauna’ just casually placed in the car park in a wooden cart. It was a really popular activity with a steady stream of people wanting to use it. I would imagine it fits around 6 people inside and prices start from £10 per person to walk in for 30 mins.

Really unusual, but fab concept!

We stopped for a late lunch at Harbour lights cafe in Ballymena. I have to say this was one of the few places that were open, though the vegan and vegetarian options weren’t the best.

Lunch at harbour lights cafe, jacket potato with cheese and beans and chicken and chips

I didn’t have high expectations as the area as we were in a small town, but nevertheless, I was surprised to see there wasn’t a single vegetarian option available on the menu.

The waitress was lovely though and offered to make me a jacket potato with cheese and beans instead of the tuna or prawn options they had. It wasn’t the best, I have to be honest – but it was fine.

A great place to stop for the views over Carnlough Harbour – it is just so tranquil. Everywhere you look in Northern Ireland, there all rolling green hills in the distance and it is absolutely stunning.

I made friends with some adorable little sheep along the way too, near The White Arch in Ballymena. I’m pretty sure I spotted them on somebody’s private land, but nonetheless, I think they were as excited to befriend some humans as we were sheep.

We drove through a busy, quaint looking high street in Ballycastle and spotted Our Dolly’s Cafe. It was the first place I’d seen along the Causeway Coastal route that looked like they might serve takeaway coffee with dairy free milk options for me, and I wasn’t wrong.

Coffees in hand, we mooched around the high street for a short time, from the charity shops, to quirky gift shops full of good old Irish craic and high end boutiques full of all the interiors of my dreams – before making our way back to the car and heading for The Giants Causeway.

What is The Giants Causeway?

The Giants Causeway is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site. Made up of interlocking basalt columns as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption. How the dramatic Causeway truly came to be is the subject of Irish myths with legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland.

There are 4 walking trails at the Giants Causeway; the blue, red, green and yellow trails which you can follow. Or if like us, you prefer to explore on your own, you can do that too – and you will essentially be walking the blue trail – straight to the Causeway.

The green and red trails takes you along some beautiful cliffs and the yellow trail is for those who want to explore a little further off the beaten path and enjoy the Giants Causeway Hike.

After a few glorious hours in the sun walking around The Giants Causeway, we drove to Derry, around an hour away.

Arriving late, we checked into our hotel; The Waterfoot and went out for dinner. I highly recommend dinner at Mekong, not only is it rated number 1 for restaurants in Derry on Tripadvisor, I can genuinely see why. I would even go as far as saying I think that the black garlic and miso corn ‘ribs’ were one of the best dishes I have eaten all year – a bold statement, I know, but it was so great, I ended up ordering a second portion too.

If you’re a fan of South-East Asian food, you need to add this restaurant to your Northern Ireland itinerary. Just ensure you book a table as this place can get very busy and we were lucky to get a table immediately when we walked in.

Day 2 – See the sights in Derry

Sadly, we weren’t graced with the same excellent weather as yesterday. Instead it was wet, windy, grey and miserable – but this didn’t prevent us from walking around Derry in an attempt to see as much as possible.

Nishi eating a seitan wrap at hidden city cafe in Derry

We started with breakfast at Hidden City Cafe, in the city centre. A mostly vegan cafe serving up a variety of breakfasts, wraps, salads and more. The food wasn’t outstanding, it was decent and the service was excellent.

You don’t need more than a day in Derry, so it’s a great city to visit if you have limited time available on your Northern Ireland itinerary.

Things to do in Derry/Londonderry

Walk the Derry city walls

Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland, and it is these Walls, built in the 17th century that are the city’s most famous attraction.

They were built as a defence structure by the Irish Society for the English and Scottish settlers and you can imagine and relive a little bit of that history by following the walkway that the Walls form around the inner city. The best way to bring the Walls and the history of the city to life is by joining a city tour.

Nishi holding an umbrella while walking the Derry City Walls

canon at Derry City Walls with the Guildhall in the background

You will come across plenty of points of interest along the City Walls, including the cannons that were actually used in the famous Siege of Derry. Also, the promenade offers the best views of the original town and over the Bogside, outside of the City Walls.

Jass in the background holding an umbrella

Bogside Walking Tour of The People’s Gallery

Bloody Sunday took place in 1972; the most prominent event in the city during the Troubles. This is when British soldiers shot 28 civilians during a peaceful civil rights march.

These events have been depicted on a total of twelve large-scale murals along the entire length of Rossville Street, in the Bogside. The murals were painted by the Bogside Artists, a group of three local mural painters. They called this collection of murals The People’s Gallery. The best way to explore this area and learn about the events and people represented on each of the murals is by taking a walking tour of the Bogside.

Not only will you learn the history of the 30 years of conflict, the gallery also demonstrates how far the communities in Derry have come to build bridges. You can feel the air of optimism about the future in the city.

Walk The Peace Bridge

The Peace Bridge opened in 2011, connecting Ebrington Square with the city centre. The elegant snaking curves of the cycle and foot bridge tells a story of triumph over adversity – the views from the bridge are beautiful too.

In fact, Ebrington Square is the best place to park if you are driving to the city centre, where parking is limited but also expensive. It is free to park at Ebrington Square and short walk over the Peace Bridge takes you past Guildhall and into the city centre, in less than 10 minutes.

Spot the Derry Girls mural

You’ll likely spot the infamous Derry Girls mural when walking around the city centre. This TV comedy show put Derry on the map, and if you’re a fan, you can even take a Derry Girls tour. This walking tour is 1.5 hours long and you can walk around the streets where Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and James grew up.

I have heard stars from the show often make an appearance and join the tour too – but it isn’t guaranteed.

Once you have racked up all those steps walking around Derry, I would suggest making your way to Belfast. Obviously, if you have longer than 3 days on your Northern Ireland road trip itinerary, you might want to space out all of these attractions over 2 days.

Nishi sheltering under the city walls in Derry

If you’re wondering ‘is Derry worth visiting?’ I would argue that it absolutely is. You don’t need to spend too long here, but it’s wonderful to spend some time in a slightly less touristy part of the country and the people are noticeably much friendlier here than in Belfast too.

We didn’t have very long on this Northern Ireland road trip, so we then made our way to Belfast – around a 1.5 hour drive away.

I had a table booked at Jumon for dinner, our favourite restaurant in Belfast. Five years after we last visited this place, I can confirm that it was exactly as I remember it – exceptional, high quality vegan South East Asian cuisine with great service too.

Nishi holding a glass of prosecco at Jumon Belfast

Where to stay in Belfast City

Arriving in Belfast, we checked in to our hotel; room2 Belfast Hometel and headed straight out for dinner. If you have ever stayed at a hotel that has exceeded your expectations and blown you away, then you will understand that’s exactly how I felt about this one.

room2 Belfast Hometel restaurant interiors

We got such a great deal for a one night stay at room2 Belfast and I instantly regretted not spending longer in Belfast.

A quirky, stylish and sustainable hotel in the heart of Belfast City with all the amenities you could possibly want and more. The interior design of this place is outstanding and incredibly well thought-out, with great little touches like a mini box of games that elevate any stay.

True to their ethos, you really do feel the ‘home away from home’ vibe with all the best bits of a hotel stay – the rooms are not only spotless but exceptionally comfortable too.

Day 3 – See the sights in Belfast

I slept like an actual baby at this hotel – genuinely the best sleep of this entire road trip, it was a real struggle getting out of bed.

overnight oats and a coffee at The Juice Jar, Belfast

We headed out for breakfast at The Juice Jar just a short 5 minute walk away – a lovely and light pot of overnight oats each. I went for the lotus biscoff flavour and it was delicious – surprisingly not too sweet either.

I spent the morning walking around the city centre and revisiting the sights of Belfast. Having been here before, there wasn’t a lot for me to explore, but it was nice to walk around the shops, past the Crown Liquor Saloon, City Hall, and Royal Opera House.

If you have some more time in Belfast, you may also want to visit the Titanic Belfast, but tickets for this must be pre-booked in advance.

Shortly after, we had to make our way to the airport to drop off the rental car before flying home.

This was a packed 3 day Northern Ireland road trip long weekend, and I feel like we made the most of our time there by seeing as much as possible. I hope to inspire you to do the same!

Nishi stood looking out over the sea at The Giants Causeway

Top tips for visiting The Giants Causeway

Check the Weather forecast in advance – The Giant’s Causeway is an outdoor attraction, and its enjoyment can be greatly influenced by the weather. We have visited both in winter and spring and though the temperatures were very different, it was dry both times which made a world of difference. It would not have been as pleasant if it had been a rainy day.
Dress appropriately – Not only for the weather, but this experience involves a great deal of walking over uneven surfaces, so sturdy, comfortable footwear is highly recommended.
Bring some water – There are limited options for food and drink at the site, so it’s advisable to bring your own, especially if you plan to spend several hours there.
Try to visit during off-peak times – To avoid the crowds, visiting early in the morning or late in the evening can make for a much better experience. I would imagine it’s a lot more tranquil early in the morning too.

The Giants Causeway Opening Times

The Causeway itself technically doesn’t ever close, so you can visit the basalt columns at any time to walk around. If, however, you wish to take part in the visitor experience it is best to check opening times before you arrive, which vary depending on the time of year.

The visitor centre is open from 10.00am to 5.00pm from May to October and from 10.00am to 4.00pm in the winter months. It is shut during the Christmas period, 24 – 26 December.

The Giants Causeway Visitor Experience

I personally haven’t done the Giants Causeway visitor experience, because quite frankly, I don’t think it’s worth the money. The visitor experience gives you have the option of taking part in a guided tour or a self-guided tour with an audio guide.

Tickets start from £14.00 for Adults and from £7.00 for children if it isn’t peak season and the price includes the cost of on-site parking, access to the visitor centre and the toilets too. The visitor centre also has a coffee and souvenir shop onsite – however, tickets are not a necessary purchase.

How to get to the Giants Causeway by car

The Giants Causeway is easily accessible by car, with a range of parking facilities nearby.

The Causeway is located just 1 and 30 minutes drive from Belfast and a 3 hour and 30 minutes drive from Dublin.

How to take The Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast

From Belfast, I highly recommend taking the Causeway Coastal Route along the Antrim Coast. You will pass many of the major coastal stop-off points, including National Trust sites and a handful of Game of Thrones filming locations too. To do this, you simply set your sat nav to direct you to Larne from Belfast. This is around a 20-30 minute journey.

Once you are in Larne, you are on the edge of the country and will start to see the brown street signs that say Causeway Coastal Route. All you need to do is follow these signs until you arrive at The Giants Causeway.

Parking at The Giants Causeway

Parking at The Giants Causeway can be expensive. The on-site car park closes relatively early and it also gets full, as you can imagine.

I would advise parking in one of the car parks outside the property, which are no more than a 5-minute walk from the entrance and are generally a lot cheaper.

Travel vlog: Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route: Belfast, Derry & The Giants Causeway

Day trips to the Giants Causeway

Day Trip from Belfast: If you don’t have access to a car one of the most popular ways to visit the Causeway is by taking a day trip from Belfast; you can book your ticket here .

Day Trip from Dublin: The Giants Causeway is also a popular day trip from Dublin; you can book your ticket here .

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If you’re looking for more UK weekend break inspiration, check out my Cotswolds 2 day itinerary or my guide to Chester.