Causeway Coastal Route: Belfast to Giant's Causeway (2 Days)

The Causeway Coastal Route is one of the great short drives of the British Isles: sea cliffs, glens tumbling to the shore, castle ruins and a UNESCO World Heritage headland of basalt columns. In around 130 km from Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway you get the whole sweep, and you can do it comfortably in two relaxed days — or stretch it to three.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so you drive on the left, and the currency is the pound sterling (GBP), not the euro — carry a card and some cash for parking. There are no road tolls on this route. A few key sights use timed tickets you should book ahead, and the weather is genuinely changeable, so pack proper rain gear whatever the forecast.

Day 1 — Belfast to Ballycastle (90 km)

Leave Belfast and pick up the coast, following the famous Antrim Coast Road as it hugs the sea. Near Islandmagee, book ahead for the Gobbins, a dramatic guided cliff-path walk along bridges and tunnels bolted to the rock (weather-dependent and ticketed). Further north, detour inland into the lush Glens of Antrim — nine green valleys and waterfalls — before rejoining the coast through Cushendun and Cushendall. Overnight around Ballycastle.

Day 2 — Ballycastle to Giant’s Causeway (40 km)

A short, spectacular day. Start at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, a National Trust site with timed tickets — reserve online, as slots sell out. Head inland briefly to the Dark Hedges, the eerie beech avenue made famous by Game of Thrones (park nearby and walk in — cars aren’t allowed on the road itself). Optionally tour the Old Bushmills Distillery, then stop at the clifftop ruin of Dunluce Castle. Finish at the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site of interlocking basalt columns; the National Trust runs the visitor centre and paid car park, though the stones themselves can be reached on foot for free. From here you can carry on to Derry/Londonderry if you have a third day.

Costs

Use the cost calculator to price fuel and nights for your exact dates in GBP. Expect roughly £90–£160 per night for accommodation on the coast, plus fuel for about 130 km. Budget for attraction entry: the Giant’s Causeway visitor experience and Carrick-a-Rede are paid National Trust sites (a Trust membership can pay off if you visit several), and the Gobbins and Bushmills are ticketed too. There are no tolls. Book the rope bridge, the Gobbins and your rooms early — summer slots and coastal beds go fast.