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brown rocks on sea shore during daytime

Causeway Coast

Basalt columns, cliff-top castle ruins and Atlantic beaches on Northern Ireland's north shore. The Giant's Causeway is the best-known sight.

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Causeway Coast is the stretch of Northern Ireland's north shore where basalt cliffs, castle ruins and long beaches run along the Atlantic Ocean. It is a local government district covering most of the north of the country, spanning parts of Counties Antrim and Londonderry, and it was created on 1 April 2015. The Giant's Causeway, a World Heritage Site of interlocking basalt columns, is its best-known sight.

The coast road links Dunluce Castle, which sits near Portballintrae between Portrush and Bushmills, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the seaside resorts of Portstewart, Portrush, Castlerock and Ballycastle. Bushmills, a village near the Causeway, is home to a distillery that has made Bushmills Irish whiskey since 1608. Beyond Ballintoy the road reaches Ballycastle, where a ferry leaves for Rathlin Island, 7 miles offshore. The area suits travelers who want coast walks and old ruins more than city nightlife. Trains on the Belfast and Derry~Londonderry line reach Coleraine, and a branch line runs north to Portrush.

Causeway Coast in five

  1. Pre-book the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridgeCrossing is by pre-booked ticket only, and the bridge closes in high winds. Book online before you drive up.National Trust
  2. Walk to the Causeway stones for freeYou can walk down to the stones without a ticket; the visitor center and its car park are paid. Go early or late to avoid the coach crowds.
  3. Take the train to the coastTrains from Belfast run to Coleraine and Portrush, and local buses continue along the coast, with more services in summer.
  4. Walk, don't drive, the Dark HedgesThe beech avenue near Armoy is closed to traffic. Park at the nearby car park and walk in.
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Need to know

Airport
Belfast International (BFS), about 1 hour by road
Getting there
About 1.5 hours by road from Belfast
Getting around
Car, or coast buses in summer
Best base
Portrush or Ballycastle
Time needed
1–2 days

Weather by month

  • Rainy days
  • Best
  • Good
  • Mixed
  • Poor
  1. JanuaryRain18 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Wet, windy
  2. FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Wet, windy
  3. MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Showers
  4. AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Mild, quieter
  5. MayRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Long days
  6. JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Long days
  7. JulyRain19 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Busy
  8. AugustRain20 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Busiest
  9. SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Calmer
  10. OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Windy
  11. NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Stormy
  12. DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Dark, windy

Average daily high and low in Portrush, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Causeway Coast

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Partly cloudy

7

Feels like
5°
Humidity
92%
Wind
6 km/h
Chance of rain
0%

Causeway Coast

09:25 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

  1. Today12°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
  2. Tue11°5°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
  3. Wed11°2°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
  4. Thu10°3°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 2%.
  5. Fri10°8°8%Friday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
  6. Sat10°3°14%Saturday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 14%.
  7. Sun10°5°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 8%.

Updated 08:09 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Causeway Coast

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

  • AugFéile an PhobailBelfast, a day trip

Day trips by train

Day trips from Causeway Coast, the full guide

Before you go to Causeway Coast

Giant's Causeway and rope bridgePre-book the bridge; it closes in windBook timed entry
Car hire for the coast roadEasier than coast buses off-seasonCompare car hire
eSIM for the north coastMaps for cliff car parks and lanesRead the guide
Travel insurance for the UKCover for wind-closed attractionsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Causeway Coast, checked

  • Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge: crossing only with a pre-booked ticket; the bridge closes in high windsChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
  • You can walk to the Giant's Causeway stones for free, but the on-site car park is reserved for ticket holders and National Trust members.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

Plan around Causeway Coast

All of Northern Ireland

Cities, coast, entry rules and money

Read the guideBelfast

The usual base, about 1.5 hours away

Read the guideCounty Antrim

Ballycastle, the Glens and the ferry to Rathlin

Read the guideDerry (Londonderry)

The walled city at the western end of the coast road

Read the guideCar hire and transport

Coast road by car or by bus

Read the guideUK ETA explained

Needed even when arriving from Ireland

Read the guide

Causeway Coast FAQ

Is the Giant's Causeway free?

Walking to the stones is free. The visitor experience ticket adds reserved parking, the exhibition, hourly guided tours and audio guides, and the on-site car park is reserved for ticket holders and members, so book ahead in busy months.

How long do you need on the Causeway Coast?

A full day covers the Causeway, Dunluce Castle and the rope bridge. Stay a night in Portrush or Ballycastle to see the stones in quiet morning light.

Do I need a UK ETA to visit the Causeway Coast?

Most visitors who are not British or Irish do, because Northern Ireland is part of the UK, even when coming by road from Ireland.

Where should I stay on the Causeway Coast?

Portrush for beaches, restaurants and the train, or Ballycastle for the harbor and the ferry to Rathlin Island. Either puts you close to the Causeway and the rope bridge.

What is the best time of day for the Giant's Causeway?

Early morning or late afternoon, when the coaches have left and the low light picks out the basalt columns. A night on the coast makes both easy.

DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

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