Giant's CausewayHexagonal basalt columns step down into the sea below the cliffs north of Bushmills, formed as lava cooled just under 60 million years ago. It became a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Aontroim
Antrim
A basalt coast along the top and Belfast city centre at the bottom.
- Ulster
- 20 places
- 15 more listings
The list
Top 10 things to do in Antrim
Antrim runs from the basalt cliffs of the north coast down to Belfast, and the city centre sits on the Antrim side of the Lagan. Most of these twenty are on or near the coast road, from the Giant's Causeway round to the Gobbins, with four stops in Belfast and a few up in the glens.
Giant's CausewayHexagonal basalt columns step down into the sea below the cliffs north of Bushmills, formed as lava cooled just under 60 million years ago. It became a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope BridgeSalmon fishermen first strung a rope bridge across to this rocky island near Ballintoy in 1755, and the crossing still hangs high above the sea.
Dunluce CastleThe MacQuillans built it on the cliff edge around 1500 and the MacDonnells took it in the 1550s. The remains of the town laid out beside it in 1608 have been dug out of the grass.
The Dark HedgesWalk · ArmoyJames Stuart planted this avenue of beech trees on Bregagh Road in 1775 as the approach to Gracehill House, and the branches have grown together over the road. The road is closed to cars, so park at the Hedges Hotel and walk the few minutes up.
Rathlin IslandIsland · BallycastleThe ferry runs out from Ballycastle, and the RSPB seabird centre at the West Light looks down on cliffs where puffins rear their chicks from late April to early August. The centre opens from spring to late summer.
Belfast City HallVisitor centre · BelfastOpened on Donegall Square in 1906 and built of Portland stone. William Pirrie brought skilled men from the Harland and Wolff shipyard to fit out the interiors, and guided tours go inside.
Carrickfergus CastleCastle · CarrickfergusJohn de Courcy began the castle soon after he invaded Ulster in 1177, on the water's edge in Carrickfergus. It stayed in military use until 1928.
Glenariff Forest ParkForest · GlenariffA boardwalk first built about a hundred years ago runs down the river gorge past the waterfalls, and the viewpoint trail looks down the glen to the sea.
Old Bushmills DistilleryDistillery or brewery · BushmillsBushmills dates its whiskey to a licence to distil in the area granted in 1608, and the distillery company here was formed in 1784. It still triple distils malted barley in copper pot stills beside the River Bush, and guided tours take you through it.
Fair HeadCliffs · BallycastleDolerite cliffs east of Ballycastle, the upper half made of giant columns, looking out towards Rathlin. The walks start from a farm car park and cross working farmland.
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The GobbinsWalk · IslandmageeBerkeley Deane Wise opened a path along these Islandmagee cliffs in 1902, and after a rebuild it reopened in 2015 with new bridges over the sea. You go on a guided tour.
Botanic GardensGarden · BelfastThe Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society laid out these gardens in 1828 and the city made them a public park in 1895. The Palm House and the Tropical Ravine are inside.
Ulster MuseumMuseum · BelfastThe museum sits inside Botanic Gardens on Stranmillis Road, and its collections run from natural science to art.
Cave Hill Country Park and Belfast CastlePark · BelfastThe park takes its name from five caves in the cliffs above north Belfast. Belfast Castle, finished in 1870, sits on the lower slopes and McArt's Fort is up on the cliff top.
White Park BayBeach · BallintoyA white arc of sand between two headlands at Ballintoy, backed by old dunes. Cattle from a local farm wander along the beach at certain times of the year.
Kinbane CastleCastle · BallycastleColla MacDonnell built it shortly before 1551 on a white chalk headland west of Ballycastle. A two-storey tower is what stands, and the drops around it are steep.
SlemishMountain · BroughshaneSt Patrick is said to have tended sheep on this lone hill east of Ballymena, and hundreds climb it on St Patrick's Day every year.
CushendunVillage · Co. AntrimClough Williams-Ellis designed the village in 1912 to look Cornish, for Baron Cushendun's wife Maud. The whitewashed Maud Cottages went up in her memory after 1925.
Bonamargy FriaryRuin · BallycastleRory MacQuillan built the friary near the mouth of the Carey and Shesk rivers in 1500. Sorley Boy MacDonnell's coffin lies in its sealed burial vault.
Antrim Round TowerRound tower · AntrimKnown locally as the Steeple, the tower went up around the 10th century as the bell tower of an early Christian monastery that burned in 1147.
Where they are
Tap a pin to open the place.
All 20 places are on the map.
in Antrim today
- Giant's Causeway
- Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
- Dunluce Castle
- The Dark Hedges
- Rathlin Island
- Belfast City Hall
- Carrickfergus Castle
- Glenariff Forest Park
- Old Bushmills Distillery
- Fair Head
- The Gobbins
- Botanic Gardens
- Ulster Museum
- Cave Hill Country Park and Belfast Castle
- White Park Bay
- Kinbane Castle
- Slemish
- Cushendun
- Bonamargy Friary
- Antrim Round Tower
Towns
Towns with enough in and around them for a page of their own.
More to see in Antrim
15 more places from Northern Ireland’s heritage records and other public sources, linked to an official page where there is one.
Castles and houses4
- Dunseverick CastleBallintoy
- Glenarm CastleGlenarm
- Olderfleet CastleLarne
- Harryville MotteBallymena
Beaches1
- Murlough BayBallycastle
Mountains and cliffs1
- Torr HeadCushendun
Abbeys and churches3
- St Anne's CathedralBelfast
- Layd ChurchCushendall
- Armoy Round TowerArmoy
Ancient sites4
- Ossian's GraveCushendall
- Ballylumford DolmenIslandmagee
- Dooey's CairnBallymoney
- Craigs DolmenRasharkin
Gardens and parks1
Islands and coast1
- Ballintoy HarbourBallintoy
Music in Antrim
Trad sessions, venues and festivals.
Festivals
- Belfast TradFest25th July to 1st August 2027 · Co. Antrim · Trad
- Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann1st to 8th August 2027 · Co. Antrim · Trad
Where to hear it
Sessions come and go: check with the pub before you travel.
Getting to Antrim
- By air
- Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport
- By rail
- Stations at Belfast Grand Central, Lanyon Place, Antrim, Ballymena, Portrush and Larne Harbour.
- By road
- The M1, M2, M22, A26 and A2.
- By ferry
- Ferries to Scotland and England from Belfast and Larne.
Questions
What are the best things to do in Antrim?
Our top three are Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Dunluce Castle. The full list of twenty is at the top of this page, and every place on it has a page of its own.
What can you do in Antrim for free?
Walks, beaches and open ground cost nothing to visit. On our list that includes The Dark Hedges, Glenariff Forest Park, Cave Hill Country Park and Belfast Castle and White Park Bay. Some forest parks charge for the car park, so check parking and access with the place before you go.
What is on in Antrim?
Our event listings come from Fáilte Ireland and cover the Republic, so events in Antrim do not show here. For music, the venues and festivals are on the music page.
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