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CarrickfergusCulture & history

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From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Day Tour

1. From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Day Tour

Discover the beauty of Northern Ireland and the world-famous Giant’s Causeway on a tour from Belfast. Visit the Giants Causeway, Carrickfergus Castle, Glenarm Castle, Carnlough Harbour, Waterfoot Caves, Cushendun Curfew House, Rope Bridge, and The Dark Hedges while navigating the Antrim Coast Road. After leaving Belfast in the morning, a short journey will take you to the first stop of the day at Carrickfergus Castle, a 12th-century Norman castle. Walk around and take photographs of the castle and the harbor. Continue the drive along the Antrim Coast Road, traveling through some of the nine Glens of Antrim. Wind through small towns and villages, hearing the myths and legends of the fairies and leprechauns that reside in these Glens. Driving through Glenarm, pass Carnlough Harbour, the Waterfoot Caves, and Cushendun Curfew house. Travel up through Glencorp and Glendunn, passing the coastal town of Ballycastle before arriving at the Portaneevy View Point to see Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge.  Stop to admire views at the rope bridge and look across to the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland and Rathlin Island. Listen to the stories behind these sights before stopping next at the Dark Hedges, known as the Kingsroad in the Game of Thrones HBO series. Walk among the trees made famous by the Game of Thrones followed by a lunch stop at a traditional pub (costs not included).  Later, visit more locations from the Game of Thrones. Travel by Carnlough Harbour where Arya Stark swam and pass by Magharmorne Quarry where Castle Black was located. The finale of the day is a stop at the Giant’s Causeway where you can explore, walk across the historic stones, and learn about the legend of the Giant Finn MacCool. Discover how and why he built the Causeway.  After your day of exploring is done, travel directly back to Belfast via the inland route and get dropped off back in the city center or at the activity provider's office in Queen's Quarter.

Belfast: Game of Thrones Tour Plus 1-Day City Tour Pass

2. Belfast: Game of Thrones Tour Plus 1-Day City Tour Pass

Game of Thrones Tour: Depart Belfast and travel along one of the top 5 scenic drives in the world, the Antrim Coastal Route. First stop on the tour is Carrickfergus Castle which is a Norman castle build in 1177, after 800 years of history the castle still looks incredible today. After around 45 minutes travelling along the Antrim Coast Road the next stop is Carnlough Harbour for a comfort break. A short walk across the road will reward you with the first film location in Game of Thrones, Carnlough Harbour. The harbour has not changed in hundreds of years and features in many paintings. Cushendun Village is the next stop of the day where you will be taken to the famous Cushendun Caves. Scotland is only 15 miles across the North Channel and the Mull of Kintyre can be seen on a clear day from here. As the tour proceeds along the Coastal Road the next stop is a viewing point sitting above the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. Unfortunately the bridge is closed for coach tours but the viewpoint has the ideal view. The Iconic Dark Hedges is next on the itinerary and provides one of the best Instagram opportunities of the day. Fans of Game of Thrones will instantly recognise this as the Kings Road from Game of Thrones. Lunch will be offered at this stop. The next stop is the highlight of the tour and what you have come to see, the Giant’s Causeway. The Giant's Causeway has often been described as the 8th wonder of the world, and once you have visited the site you’ll quickly see why. The area consists of around 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns formed during a volcano eruption 60 million years ago. This is one of the world’s great natural attractions although many Irish passionately believe the Causeway was built by the Celtic warrior hero Finn McCool. We will tell you the story and let you decide….. After the Giant’s Causeway the last stop of the day is the new viewpoint above Dunluce Castle. Home to the McQuillan family who built the fortress around 500 years ago. Game of Thrones fans will immediately recognize the House of Greyjoy .One of the most spectacular castle ruins anywhere in the world, Dunluce Castle is located on top of cliffs that collapse into the North Atlantic below. The Castle’s dramatic history of violence, intrigue and rebellion is matched by the scandal and betrayal committed by the Greyjoys in Game of Thrones. Belfast Open-Top -Day City Pass: The Belfast Open-Top 1-Day City Pass will provide you with a comprehensive tour of this special city and allow you to explore every area with 23 stops to choose from. The tour operates seven days per week and tickets are valid for 1-day. If you do not hop-off the tour, it will take approximately 1-hour and 15 minutes. Tours depart from Belfast City Hall but you can join the tour at any of the stops along the route. The city tour will take in the following attractions: Titanic Belfast, HMS Caroline, Parliament Buildings, Crumlin Road Jail, Queens University and the political wall murals.  

Belfast Port: Giant's Causeway and Titanic Tour

3. Belfast Port: Giant's Causeway and Titanic Tour

Your first stop will be the Titanic Experience Museum. Spend 90 minutes here exploring the symbolism of the Titanic, which was Belfast’s iconic structure. Walk in the footsteps of the men who built RMS Titanic, the world’s most famous ship, in Belfast's historic shipyard. Visit over nine interactive galleries with state of the art exhibitions making use of special effects, rides, and full-scale reconstructions.  Continue your tour to the second stop Carrickfergus Castle. Built by the Anglo-Norman John de Courcy over 800 years ago, Carrickfergus Castle has long been the centre of a power struggle for those wanting to control the important port. The castle now houses historical displays as well as cannons from the 17th to the 19th centuries. There are ramparts, dungeons, and winding staircases with trip steps to deter any invaders. Afterward, visit the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge for a fantastic view and photograph opportunities. This famous bridge, near Ballintoy in County Antrim, links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrick-a-rede. It spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below.  The next attraction is the Giant's Causeway. Legend has it that Irish giant Finn McCool created the causeway to travel to Scotland and fight his rival Benandonner but that he came back smartish when he saw how big Benandonner was. The causeway consists of 40,000 interlocking hexagonal basalt columns along 6 kilometers (4 miles) of the northern coast of Northern Ireland. It was created by volcanic activity during the Tertiary between 50 and 60 million years ago. In 1986, the Giant’s Causeway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and remains one of the most famous attractions in Nothern Ireland.  The last stop will be a photography stop at the iconic ruin of Dunluce Castle, which bears witness to a long and tumultuous history. First built on the dramatic coastal cliffs of north County Antrim by the MacQuillan family around 1500, the earliest written record of the castle was in 1513. The castle has been used as the setting for the villains lair in the film The Medallion with Jackie Chan in 2001. The castle appeared in the artwork of the inner gatefold of the 1973 Led Zeppelin album Houses of the Holy. On your return, if time allows you will drive through Belfast on the way to your ship.

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What people are saying about Carrickfergus

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 537 reviews

The tour was perfect especially to those who are fans of Game of Thrones. I commend our tour guide who gave fun facts about each towns that we passed through. The journey towards every destination was breathtaking as we traverse through seaside roads and valleys. My favorite part was the Giant's Causeway because of the amazing rock formations and beautiful scenery. Good thing we can bring water and something to eat inside the bus. Also, dress appropriately as the weather is unpredictable.

First time visiting Belfast and knew we had to see the dark hedges and giant’s causeway. Taking this tour was the best idea! Not only stopped at these 2 attractions, but the lively guide Lindsey also stopped at 2 other scenic locations. It was a comfortable and enjoyable trip to and back. It was a lovely sunny day to enjoy the views, even though the wind was biting cold. But every bit worth it. Had a great time. Thank you!

Excellent experience. We saw all the sites and our driver come guide Lindsey was very knowledgeable with a great humour. Would definitely recommend.

This was fantastic, it is truly a unique experience. We were lucky to have excellent weather.

Covered a lot of things in one day on a budget! Definitely recommend.