One early start from Dublin earns you a full day along the Antrim Coast and into Belfast. The coach departs at 7:15 AM from Dublin Bus Office at 59 O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 - look out for the grey Wild Rover Tours bus. Arrival back in Dublin is around 8:00 PM on D’Olier Street, close to Temple Bar and O’Connell Bridge.
The day takes in Dunluce Castle, with entrance included - this clifftop ruin is one of the most dramatic spots on the Antrim Coast and served as the filming location for House Greyjoy in Game of Thrones. You’ll have about 30 minutes to walk the site and take in the views over the Atlantic.
From there it’s on to the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt columns meet the sea. You’ll have 2.5 hours here to explore at your own pace - walk the coastal trails, climb the columns, and on a clear day you can see the Scottish coastline across the water. Lunch is available nearby at The Nook pub, though it’s not included in the price.
The day ends in Belfast with a 70-minute guided walking tour led by a local guide, starting and finishing at Belfast City Hall. You’ll take in Victoria Square and the city’s landmarks, and if you’d rather explore independently, free time is yours to use as you like before the coach heads south.
The tour route takes you through Bushmills, the small village three kilometres from the Giant’s Causeway where Old Bushmills Distillery has been making whiskey since 1784. Food is not included in this tour, so it’s worth knowing your options along the way: The Bushmills Inn’s Gas Bar does a solid lunch and still runs on gas lighting, while The Causeway Hotel restaurant - right up at the stones - has sea views if you want to eat with the scenery. Pack a sandwich or plan to eat before you board if you’d rather skip the queue at busy sites.
At the Giant’s Causeway itself, the stones are free to access at any time - the visitor centre is the paid part. If your 2.5 hours allows, skip the centre and head straight down the cliff path to the columns, then back up the Shepherd’s Steps. The loop is about 2 km and gives you the full coastal experience without the crowds bunching at the bottom of the shuttle.
In Belfast, your walking tour starts at City Hall and the free time after is genuinely useful. The Crown Liquor Saloon on Great Victoria Street - a Victorian gin palace owned by the National Trust and run as a working pub - is five minutes from City Hall and worth stepping into even if you don’t stop for a drink. Kelly’s Cellars on Bank Street, going since 1720, is just around the corner if you want something older and quieter.
Dunluce Castle rewards the full 30 minutes you’re given. The site includes a 2011 archaeological discovery of a “lost town” beside the castle - a planned 1608 settlement with indoor toilets - which gets less attention than it deserves. Walk the headland after the ruins for the cliff-edge views.