Giant's Causeway Guide Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway Guide, Northern Ireland

In The Footsteps of Finn McCool - Visiting the Giant

Within easy reach of Belfast, the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim is Northern Ireland's most famous natural attraction.

The 40,000 connected basalt columns rising out of the ocean make for an extraordinary sight and a doable day-trip from Belfast.

This iconic geological formation lies at the base of cliffs on the storm-battered coast of Northern Ireland. It consists of thousands of adjacent black basalt columns rising out of the sea, created when magma forced its way through fissures in the Earth's crust 60 million years ago. According to local myth, the causeway was made by Irish giant Finn McCool, who wanted to travel across the Irish Sea to fight a giant Scottish enemy named Benandonner.

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland. — Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Nature's geometry at its finest on Northern Ireland's wild coast. — Nature's geometry at its finest on Northern Ireland's wild coast

History

Formed around 60 million years ago by intense volcanic activity, the site consists of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns created as lava cooled and contracted.

Long before scientific explanations emerged, Irish folklore attributed the Causeway's creation to the giant Finn McCool, who was said to have built it as a bridge to Scotland.

Discovered by the wider scientific community in the 17th century, the Giant's Causeway became central to early debates about Earth's formation and was later designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 for its outstanding natural significance.

Things to Do

Visitors to the Giant's Causeway can explore the iconic basalt columns up close, climbing formations such as the Giant's Boot and the Wishing Chair while taking in dramatic and rugged coastal views. Scenic walking trails lead along the cliffs and headlands, offering opportunities for photography, bird-watching, and fresh sea air.

The award-winning visitor centre (entrance fee required) provides interactive exhibits on the site's geology and legends, while guided walks reveal stories of both science and folklore.

Walking in the footsteps of giants along the Causeway Coast. — Walking in the footsteps of giants along the Causeway Coast

Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre offers a range of exhibits that bring the site’s natural and cultural heritage to life. Interactive displays explain how the iconic basalt columns were formed, alongside immersive presentations comparing scientific theories with the legendary tale of Finn McCool.

Visitors can view scale models, historical illustrations, and audiovisual features that showcase the Causeway’s global significance. The centre also includes a shop and café.

The first visitor centre built in 1986, burned down in 2000 and the new site dates from 2012 after years of political wrangling.

Two EV minibus vehicles shuttle visitors from the Visitor Experience building to the stone formations.

Address: 44 Causeway Road, Bushmills, County Antrim, BT57 8SU
Tel: 0282 0731 855

Opening times: Winter 10 am - 4 pm; summer 9 am - 6 pm.

Admission: Adults £15.

The Giant's Causeway: science, legend, and sea collide. — Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway where science, legend, and sea collide

Belfast Hotels

All the different quarters in Belfast have a number of good hotels ranging from luxury to budget. In the Cathedral Quarter, standouts are the 5-star Merchant Hotel, housed in a restored Victorian building, the boutique Malmaison in Victoria Street and the Ramada Encore Belfast.

Harpers Boutique B&B, the 3-star Holiday Inn Express Belfast City Queens Quarter and the Radisson Blu Hotel Belfast are all good accommodation options near Queen's University.

Access - Getting to Belfast & The Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway is situated in County Antrim on Northern Ireland's north coast, approximately three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills, famous for its Bushmills whiskey distillery.

By public transport from Belfast, take a train from Belfast Grand Central Station to Coleraine (1 hour, 20 minutes), where you can transfer to the 402 or 170 bus for the 11-mile ride to Ballycastle at the bus center at the station. The journey takes around two hours in total from Belfast.

The 252 Ulsterbus & 221 Ulsterbus (summer only) both go direct to the Giant's Causeway from Belfast or take one of the many guided tours. Other bus services include the Ulsterbus Service 172; Causeway Rambler Service 402; Open Top Causeway Coast Service 177.

Air

Belfast has two airports: George Best Belfast City Airport just three miles from Belfast city centre and Belfast International Airport, 30 minutes drive away on the M2 motorway.

George Best Belfast City Airport has flights to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester Airport in Manchester, Birmingham, Aberdeen, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Inverness, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and the Isle of Man. There are also flights to Malaga in the south of Spain.

Belfast International Airport has flights to Liverpool, London Stansted, Birmingham, Bristol Airport in Bristol, Edinburgh and Luton.

International destinations once included Newark, Orlando and Las Vegas in the USA (all now terminated). There are still flights to Verona in Italy, Faro and Porto (seasonal) in Portugal, Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, Lanzarote and Tenerife in Spain, Krakow in Poland, Geneva, Larnaca in Cyprus, Malta, Paris, and Amsterdam.

The regular Airport Express 600 bus connects George Best Belfast City Airport to the city centre Monday-Friday with reduced services at weekends. The Airport Express 300 service runs between Belfast International Airport and the city centre 24/7 with less frequency at night and weekends.

Rail

Belfast Grand Central Station is a new, integrated public transport hub in Belfast that has replaced the Europa and Great Victoria Street stations. It serves as a combined rail and bus station, and features 8 railway platforms, 26 bus stands, and taxi and cycle access. The station began a phased opening in September, 2024. It is Belfast's main station with regular Enterprise trains to Dublin. There are also trains operated by Northern Ireland Railways to Bangor, Derry, Larne and Portadown.

Ferry

There are ferries from Belfast to Pier Head in Liverpool (8 hours), the Isle of Man (2 hours, 45 minutes), and Cairnryan in Scotland (2 hours, 15 minutes).

Ferry operators include Stena Line (www.stenaline.co.uk), P&O (www.poferries.com) and Isle of Man Steam Packet (www.steam-packet.com).

Bus

There are regular bus services between Europa Bus Centre and Dublin via Dublin Airport. Total travel time Belfast-Dublin by bus is around 2 hours, 30 minutes.

City Transport

The best way to get around Belfast is by bus. Metro buses (www.translink.co.uk) provide the city's bus services and offer 1 day, 5 day and 10 day dayLink Travel Cards.