12 Day Trips From Belfast (By Car, Tour + Train)

In this guide, you’ll find 1, the best day trips from Belfast for those of you with a car and 2, day trips for those of you without a car.

While there are plenty of things to do in Belfast, it’s well worth exploring the endless historical sites and areas of natural beauty nearby.

And, although the likes of the Causeway Coastal Route tends to be the ‘go-to’ of the Belfast day trips, there’s plenty more to choose from!

Below, you’ll find the best day trips Northern Ireland has to offer – dive on in!

The best day trips from Belfast by car

There are endless day trips from Belfast for those of you with your own transportation.

Some, like the Gobbins, are the more unique things to do in Northern Ireland while others, like the Glens of Antrim, have been tourist favourites for hundreds of years.

1. The Causeway Coastal Route

I’ll start with a long one. While it’s best tackled over the course of two days, you can do the Causeway Coastal Route on a day trip from Belfast.

The famous 185km/115-mile Antrim Coast road begins in Belfast City and ends in Derry.

Over the course of the road trip, you’ll see everywhere from Carrickfergus Castle and the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge to Dunluce Castle and the Giants Causeway.

You’re looking at around 3.5 hours of total drive time, plus around 5 hours for stops. When you leave Dunluce, head to Coleraine and then take the A26 back to the M2 and onto Belfast.

2. The Mournes

If you’re after active Belfast day trips, get yourself to Newcastle and tackle one of its many mighty rambles.

The small seaside resort town of Newcastle sits at the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest peak of the Mourne Mountains in County Down.

It’s the perfect spot to escape the city of Belfast and immerse yourself in nature amidst spectacular scenery. It’s just a 45-minute drive from the city.

You can explore Tollymore Forest Park just outside of town or Murlough Beach, which are perfect places to stretch your legs.

3. Portrush and Derry

For those of you who have visited the Antrim Coast on a previous day trip from Belfast, here’s an alternative option – a Derry/Portrush combo!

Aim for the scenic little town of Portrush, first. It’s about an hour and 10 minutes from Belfast, so nothing too hefty.

Hop out of the car, grab a coffee from Bob & Berts and then head for a saunter. You have the smaller of the 2 beaches, West Strand, on the left and then the larger, Whiterocks, on the right.

When you’re ready, take the 55-minute drive to Derry. There are heaps of places to visit and things to do in Derry, from Derry City Walls to the Murals Walking Tour.

4. The Ring of Gullion and Carlingford

Slieve Gullion and the Cooley Peninsula are two brilliant places to visit near Belfast.

It’ll take you 1 hour to get to Slieve Gullion from Belfast and when you arrive you have 2 options:

• The walk: A 13.5km/4.5-hour walk
• The drive: A very scenic 30-minute drive

When you leave, head for Carlingford, a 45-minute drive away. This glorious coastal town in Louth comes alive each weekend with visitors flocking to its narrow streets.

There are plenty of things to do in Carlingford, from the Slieve Foye Walk and the Carlingford Greenway to Carlingford Castle and more.

5. Lisburn

The town of Lisburn is one of the handier (and one of the more overlooked) Belfast day trips.

Just a 20-minute drive to the south of Belfast City, there are many things to do in Lisburn, a town with a strong textile heritage.

You can spend the day exploring the car-free city centre with the beautiful Georgian-style square at its heart.

Many of the buildings date back to the 18th century and the city has an interesting history as a leading textile producer in Ireland.

The history is best discovered by heading to the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, or take the drive further south and visit Hillsborough Forest Park and Hillsborough Castle.

6. The Sperrins

One of the more unique places to visit near Belfast is the Sperrins, one of Northern Ireland’s vastest upland areas, stretching from the shores of Lough Neagh to Strabane.

This wild and unspoiled region is a walker’s paradise, offering countless trails, like Sawel Mountain, the highest peak in the Sperrins,

There is also star gazing, cycle routes, castles, lakes and glorious scenery.

There’s also the new Sperrins Sculpture Trail, pictured above, with sculptures dotted in scenic spots around County Tyrone.

Day trips from Belfast without a car

Haven’t got access to your own mode of transport? Don’t worry – there are plenty of great day trips from Belfast without a car.

Below, you’ll find a mix of organised tours along with a mix of day trips from Belfast by train.

1. The organised Antrim Coast tour

So, if you don’t have a car and if you don’t fancy a very long walk or cycle, it’s hard to explore the Antrim Coast.

Luckily, there are plenty of Causeway Coast day tours from Belfast that take in the best of the route.

I have been recommending this tour for several years as it’s:

1. Good value (around €29 p/p)
2. Very well reviewed (over 3,400 4.7/5 reviews)
3. Visits key attractions (Dunluce, Carrick-a-rede etc)

2. Derry City

The first of our day trips from Belfast by train is Derry City, a handy 2-hour train journey away.

There are heaps of things to do in Derry, including:

• The Derry City Walls
• The Murals Walking Tour
• St Columb’s Cathedral
• The Tower Museum

It’s easy to plan your visit and book your train tickets via the Translink Website!

3. Game of Thrones and Causeway Coast

The second of our day tours from Belfast is for those of you looking to see some of the Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland.

This tour, which has racked up over 3,900 exceptional reviews, visits the following spots over the course of 8.5 hours:

• Magharmorne Quarry (Castle Black)
• Giant’s Causeway
• Dark Hedges (King’s Road)
• Dunluce Castle
• Carnlough Harbour
• Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
• More

4. The Gobbins

The Gobbins is arguably one of the most unique Belfast trips that can be done on the train.

You’ll need to get the train from Belfast to Ballycarry (see map above) and then walk to the visitor centre.

The Gobbins Cliff Path is a 2.5 hour guided walk along a narrow path that wraps its way around the coast of Antrim.

As the Gobbins is one of the more popular things to do in County Antrim, it’s worth booking in advance. Suitable clothing is needed as is decent levels of fitness.

5. Portrush

The train to Portrush takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes from Belfast, transporting you from the hustle and bustle of the city to a scenic seaside location.

The train drops you off a stone’s throw from the beach, right in the centre of town. Head to Indigo Cafe, first, and grab some lunch.

When you’re ready, take the stroll out to Whiterocks Beach. The beach measures around 3 miles in length, so it’s a good spot for a long stroll.

Alternatively, you can walk the coast to Dunluce Castle or, in the opposite direction, do the cliff walk to Portstewart (both walks are around 1 hour and 10 minutes).

6. Newcastle

The train from Belfast to Newcastle takes 1 hour and 20 minutes and, as was the case with Portrush, you’ll be transported to a stunning seaside location.

The gateway to the Mourne Mountains, Newcastle is a good starting point for many walks and trails.

For those looking for a relaxed day out, take a stroll along Murlough Beach and then up through the nature reserve.

If you fancy a longer stroll, tackle Slieve Donard (starts from the town) or use the Mourne Rambler Bus during the summer months to get out to Tollymore Forest.

Still struggling to decided which of the day trips Northern Ireland has to offer suit you best? Ask away in the comments below!