County Antrim

The coast does the work here: basalt columns at the Giant's Causeway, ruined castles on the cliffs and the Antrim Coast road tying them together. Belfast anchors the south.

County Antrim facts

• Province: Ulster
• County town: Antrim
• Setting: East coast
• Touring region: Northern Ireland
• Best for: coast, scenic drives, castles, history, hiking
• Golf: Royal Portrush, host of two Open Championships in six years (2019 and 2025), and Castlerock. Our golf guide
• Places in the planner: 9

County Antrim holds Northern Ireland's most celebrated coastline, where the Antrim Coast and Glens route curves past fishing villages, headlands and views across to Scotland. Belfast lies at its southern edge, while the north coast brings the Giant's Causeway, ruined castles and long sandy strands.

Inland, the Glens of Antrim cut green valleys down to the sea. Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland and Britain, touches the western shore, and small towns keep a slower pace. It is a county that pairs a great coastal drive with deep history, from medieval strongholds to the story of emigration and industry in Belfast. Allow time for the Causeway Coastal Route itself: it is best driven slowly, with stops for harbours, cliff paths and viewpoints, and it connects naturally onward to Derry and Donegal in the west or back to Belfast for onward travel.

Top sights in Antrim

Giant's Causeway

A UNESCO World Heritage Site of interlocking basalt columns formed by ancient volcanic activity, wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

A swaying rope bridge linking the mainland to a small island, first built by salmon fishermen.

Dunluce Castle

A dramatic ruined medieval castle perched on cliffs above the north coast.

The Glens of Antrim

Nine green glens running down to the sea, with waterfalls, forest parks and quiet villages.

Belfast

Northern Ireland's capital, home to Titanic Belfast on the site of the shipyard where the liner was built.

Towns & cities in Antrim

Antrim

The town keeps its county business around Market Square and the old courthouse, with castle gardens and woodland walks running down to the water. It stands on the Six Mile Water at the north-east shore of Lough Neagh.

Belfast

Shipbuilding and linen built this city, and its Victorian and Edwardian streets still tell that story. Belfast stands on the River Lagan and is Northern Ireland's capital.

Portrush

A proper seaside resort: two long strands either side of the peninsula and Royal Portrush Golf Club at the edge of town. Families come for the beaches; golfers come for the links.

Ballycastle

Lively harbour town and gateway to Rathlin Island.

Cushendall

Village at the heart of the Glens, known for its coastal setting.

Best time to visit

Late spring to early autumn brings the longest days for the coast road. Winter is quieter and atmospheric, though exposed headlands can be very windy.

Getting there

Belfast's two airports and ferry port serve the county directly. From Dublin, the motorway north reaches Belfast in about two hours.

Places for your trip

• Antrim: The town keeps its county business around Market Square and the old courthouse, with castle gardens and woodland walks running down to the water. It stands on the Six Mile Water at the north-east shore of Lough Neagh.
• Belfast: Shipbuilding and linen built this city, and its Victorian and Edwardian streets still tell that story. Belfast stands on the River Lagan and is Northern Ireland's capital.
• Titanic Belfast: Stand on the ground where RMS Titanic was built: the museum on the Harland and Wolff shipyard site covers the ship and the industrial city behind her.
• Giant's Causeway: The Giant's Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by ancient volcanic activity.
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge: Carrick-a-Rede is a rope bridge linking the Antrim coast to Carrick-a-Rede island, first erected by salmon fishermen.
• Dunluce Castle: A ruined medieval castle on basalt cliffs, half given back to the sea below. Dunluce stands on the Antrim coast, and the setting does most of the work.
• The Dark Hedges: Beech trees planted in the 18th century lean over the road near Armoy and meet overhead. Go early or late for the light and the quiet.
• Portrush: A proper seaside resort: two long strands either side of the peninsula and Royal Portrush Golf Club at the edge of town. Families come for the beaches; golfers come for the links.
• Royal Portrush: Royal Portrush's Dunluce Links, host of The Open in 2019 and 2025; the Valley Links sits alongside.

What's on

All events in this county

What we would choose ourselves

The Giant's Causeway, County Antrim

Northern Ireland tours

Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges and Belfast (Finn McCools Tours)

The north in a day, without hiring a car or working out the border crossing, because there is not one to work out. The coach leaves Parnell Square at a quarter to seven and heads up the coast: a photo stop at Dunluce Castle, an hour and a half on the stones of the Giant's Causeway, twenty minutes under the Dark Hedges, and an hour in Belfast to finish. It carries Viator's Badge of Excellence, a 4.9 rating from nearly 5,900 reviews, from US$91.65 a head, and free cancellation to the day before.

Best for: A first run at the Causeway coast without driving. It starts at a quarter to seven in the morning and runs twelve and a half hours, and the operator does not recommend it for small children.

See it on Viator

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Nearby counties

County Armagh

Ireland's ecclesiastical capital keeps two cathedrals for Saint Patrick and orchards around Loughgall that fill with blossom in spring. Drumlin country rolls away in every direction.

County Down

The Mournes sweep down to the sea at Newcastle, as the song says, and the coast curves away past Strangford Lough to the Ards Peninsula. Saint Patrick's country anchors the middle of it.

County Monaghan

Patrick Kavanagh's drumlin country: small hills, lakes and market towns, with Carrickmacross lace and Lough Muckno's shore for slow days.

Part of Northern Ireland.