Things to see and do County Antrim

A Unesco World Heritage Site, Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's best-known natural landmark and one of the island's most popular tourist attractions. It's a world-renowned natural wonder, featured on the cover of many guidebooks to the region, that won't disappoint. Come early to avoid the crowds.

The legend: "When the world was created and fashioned out of a shapeless mass, this is what was left of it: remnants of chaos." The words are those of novelist William Thackeray. For the early Irish, this sorcery had only one explanation: it was the work of a giant, Finn McCool, commander of the King of Ireland's armies. Finn was a very powerful man, capable of incredible feats of strength. His greatest rival was the Scottish giant Benandonner. To fight him, Finn invited him and built a road so that his enemy could not avoid the fight. But when the latter arrived, the Irishman realized that he was far bigger and stronger than he was. He asked his wife for advice. She disguised him as a baby, and when Benandonner entered, he saw the enormous child and imagined the size of the father. He took fright and ran back to Scotland, destroying the pavement behind him...

The site: a spectacular modification of the coastline following a basalt eruption several million years ago, now frozen into 40,000 columns. It's impossible not to stand in awe of this imbrication of stones as black as lava and as ochre as Tuscan slab, stretching out over the sea. At once rust-tinted steps, salt-capped thrones and columns marbled by the forces of the sea, all carved and adjusted by a master surveyor whose essence is not human, it's hard not to marvel at these otherworldly places and the dizzying cliffs that surround them. It makes you feel very small in the face of such a strange and impressive natural wonder.

Visiting tips: in high season, the site is very busy, so avoid it between 11am and 3pm. Admission includes parking, an audioguide and entry to the visitor center, where you can learn more about the history of the site and the phenomenon. If you find the ticket a little expensive and don't plan to stay very long, park further up or down the road and then walk back around the visitor center to the Causeway Hotel side: pedestrian access to the site itself is free. Another option is to follow the Causeway Path hiking trail, which follows the entire coastline of the region and takes 2-3 days to complete. Of course, you'll have to walk on the basalt columns, have fun climbing them and enjoy this unique and magical place. But to fully appreciate the scale of the site, take the elevated path that winds its way along the cliffs just above the Giant's Causeway, and get a real sense of the extraordinary nature of the phenomenon.

Visitor Centre: the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre is ultra-modern and ecologically responsible. With its glass walls, basalt columns, state-of-the-art interior and green roof offering 360-degree views of the coastline, it's a must-see. A shuttle bus can take you from the Visitor Centre to the Giant's Causeway, but walking is recommended.

Torr Head: from Cushendun, follow the Scenic Coastal Road towards Ballycastle. The route is quite narrow, so caution is required. In fine weather, it's an enchantment for your eyes. It seems that we are alone at the end of the world and we see, on the whole, Scotland, the Mull of Kintyre and the island of Islay. Once you arrive at Torr Head, you have to park the car and walk a few minutes to the headland and its post of ruined coast guards, where the viewpoint on the cliffs, the countryside and the coastline is absolutely magnificent.

Fair Head: more to the northwest and following Fairhead Road, we arrive at the parking lot before these stunning cliffs. You will have to follow a trail about a few hundred meters on foot to reach its impressive rocks, which plunge into the sea from their 180 m. The views on the horizon are breathtaking. Here too, we need to be careful on the road. To have an idea of the vastness of Fair Head, you can also admire the panorama from Ballycastle.

This superb bucolic bay with perfect curves unfolds languorously at the exit of the village of Ballintoy. The azure of the sea licks the immense white sand beach which is itself bordered by a gigantic mosaic of green grass and scrub... The site, which runs for 2.5 kilometers is visible from the main road. It is one of the wonders of this region, as much for its geological, botanical and archaeological particularities. You will have understood it, Whitepark Bay, it is a delicious stroll in perspective.

This pleasant peninsula is located north of Carrickfergus and reaches the port of Larne. The atmosphere is special and typical, apart from the rest of the country, although it is not an island. In the north, a ferry for Larne navigue every hour in the summer. The Muck Island, off the Mini mini port, is home to the largest site of bird nesting in Northern Ireland. The coast and its basaltic cliffs (the Gobbins) were the place of a sordid event in 1641, when the English soldiers of the Carrickfergus garrison threw the inhabitants into the sea. A very pleasant beach is located in the north (Brown Bay) and various walks are possible from the Whitehead car park. From the coast, we have a magnificent view of Belfast from Blackhead Path and its lighthouse. You should not miss Gobbins Cliff Path, which allows you to discover the beautiful cliffs of the peninsula.

The Carrick-a-Rede Bridge is one of the emblems of Northern Ireland and a great way to discover the region's beautiful coastline. Twenty meters long and 30 meters high above the sea, this bridge of planks and braided ropes connects the coastline to a small island where bird lovers can marvel. This bridge was built by salmon fishermen in 1755, who set their nets here during the migration of the salmon to the west and their native rivers.

It takes about 1 km to walk from the entrance to the site to the rope bridge. The trail is not too difficult and some benches have been provided, making it an accessible attraction. You will have to take stairs a few times, though, so avoid the stroller whenever possible. The view is perhaps one of the most beautiful and rare in Northern Ireland. The cliffs drop steeply into the sea, which here and there gives way to a tiny beach of fine, clear sand only a few square meters wide. The water is of a clarity that reminds us of more distant tropics and does not fail to amaze. If the weather is good, there is also a nice view on Rathlin Island and the Scottish coasts. Beware, victim of its success the site is taken by storm by tourists and it may be that all the tickets of the day are already sold when you arrive on the site. It is therefore necessary to think about taking your tickets in advance online.

Several tours, which invite to discover one of the dark pages in Northern Ireland and particularly Belfast, through the wall paintings of Falls and Shankill Road. These taxis also accompany guests on scenic shores north of Belfast.

Immortalized as the "Royal Road" in the legendary Game of Thrones series, Dark Hedges is a natural site of great mystical beauty, typical of Northern Ireland. Along a small road, this fascinating place owes its beauty to its magnificent hundred-year-old beech trees, whose twisted branches intertwine. It's one of the most photographed roads in the country! The trees were planted in the ^18th century by the Stuart family to impress visitors. Come early in the morning or late in the day for the best light.

In the north of Belfast, the famous prison of Crumlin Road Gaol is also known as HMP Belfast (in English: "Her Majesty's Prisons Belfast"). This prison was built from 1843 to 1845 by the famous English architect and engineer, Charles Lanyon (1813-1889), close to the court and connected to it by a tunnel, and its doors are open again since 2012, but this time for visitors. Visitors who are offered here a real immersion in this important prison in the history of Northern Ireland.

It is estimated that 25,000 prisoners, including political prisoners and members of the IRA during the Troubles, were interned there between 1845 and March 1998, when the prison was closed. The 1998 peace agreement allowed the release of political prisoners.Several Northern Ireland leaders have stayed there and it is now possible to take guided tours to understand the history of the place. Crumlin Road Gaol is today a place of memory of the political confrontations that bloodied Ulster and a real museum of prison life, with reconstructed cells, mannequins of prisoners, collections of shackles and keys, mug shots (anthropometric photographs) of prisoners .... The guided tour also passes by the terrible execution chamber of the prison. Chilling! Be careful, it is better to book a guided tour to be sure to have a place.

This tour takes you back in time on a legendary ship, the SS Nomadic, built in 1911 and still afloat. A White Star Line liner, it carried passengers from Cherbourg to the Titanic. Interiors, history, famous passengers, reconstructed scenes... everything is here to discover and will fascinate naval history buffs. For children, games are available to help them playfully discover this ship, which survived both world wars and sailed on the Seine in the 1970s-1980s, when it was converted into a restaurant.

The western districts of Belfast were very hard hit by the Troubles and the stigma is still there to testify to it. There are many murals in honor of the fighting units (IRA for the Republicans, UVF/UDA for the Unionists) and the great political figures are glorified. There are many of them in the neighborhoods of Falls Road (Catholic) and Shankill Road (Protestant), which are separated by a huge peace line wall along Cupar Way, to limit relations between communities. Crossing points are set up all along and the doors can be closed if necessary by the authorities. This type of interface is very present in the outskirts of Belfast, but it is still here that the example is the most striking.

Another particularly impressive wall is in East Belfast, separating the Catholic neighborhood of Short Strand from the vast Protestant areas of that part of the city. The tiny Unionist cul-de-sac of Cluan Place is quite sadly and literally walled off to prevent its inhabitants from coming into contact with the Republicans.

The best way to discover this political heritage, sometimes violent, sometimes turned towards peace and the future, is to take one of the famous black cabs for a guided tour. But if you decide to go on foot, the easiest way is to start from the city center and go first on Falls Road, the Republican artery. The Divis Tower marks the entrance to the neighborhood. This breeding ground for Republican resistance was particularly closely watched by British troops, so much so that the top of Divis Tower was topped by a military observation post in the 1970s. At the height of the conflict, it was only accessible by helicopter...

Further on, the murals between Percy Street and Northumberland Street are of great quality. Continuing, we pass the Garden of Remembrance in homage to the IRA volunteers and, at the corner of Sevastopol Street, we can see the paintings of the hunger strikers on the Falls Road library, as well as a huge portrait of the iconic Bobby Sands on the Sinn Féin party building. Turning onto Clonard Street, one reaches the Clonard Monastry, then another memorial honoring the dead of the Troubles, on Bombay Street.

For a complete change of atmosphere, you will have to go to the protestant district of Shankill Road. Here, no more Irish flags, but Union Jacks and banners of armed groups such as the UVF. While going up Shankill Road, one will see many frescos in homage to the paramilitary unionist factions. They commemorate their battles, but also their deaths. At the corner of Crimea Road, a facade covered with portraits of the Queen is almost refreshing, compared to the many images of soldiers and armed men present on the other facades. At the intersection of Argyle Street, a monument commemorates the victims of an IRA attack. While going down Northumberland Street towards Falls Road, we pass again doors and the wall, while seeing many murals of both camps. One joins then easily the city center. Northern Ireland is today presented as an open-air creative space. Since the 1960s and the birth of this mode of expression, nearly 2,000 murals have been recorded in Belfast and Derry.

Old Bushmills is the birthplace of Irish single malt whiskey, enjoyed by whiskey connoisseurs around the world, and the oldest official distillery in the world (1608). The guided tour includes a walk through the premises following the stages of production: brewing, fermentation, distillation, aging, blending, bottling. It ends with a tasting. At the end of the tour, there is a bar/café for lunch (or to continue the tasting of all kinds of Bushmills whiskeys...), as well as a well-stocked souvenir store.

The City Hall is the city hall of Northern Ireland's capital city,and is certainly the most famous building in Belfast. It is amagnificent Edwardian building, completed in 1906, was erected to establish the grandeur of the city, with a 53m dome. The Renaissance-inspired building of white Portland stone has figures above the door celebrating the city's commerce and arts. The entrance hall is paved with marble and the dome inside is painted in the style of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Famous university of the city, it is a beautiful building of dark red brick and yellow sandstone, with a cloister of neo-medieval style, inspired by the Tudor style. Built in 1849, this faculty is one of the most prestigious institutions in Great Britain. The Queen's Welcome Centre is a souvenir store and a well-documented tourist information center about Belfast and Northern Ireland. It is possible to enter the Lanyon Building to see the Great Hall and the Naughton Gallery, and walk in the gardens on the other side.

Owned by the MacDonnell family in the 16th and 17th centuries, Dunluce Castle has been etching a page of history on this rock since 1639, suspended between sky and sea on a peninsular point... For movie buffs, Dunluce Castle was the filming location for Game of Thrones and the movie The World of Narnia. On a clear day, you can even see Scotland, right in front of you. All the rooms of this unique castle have their own identity and offer, through the lace-like stones, views over the sea.

This clock tower was built between 1865 and 1870 by the Irish architect William Joseph Barre in memory of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband (who died in 1862). It is 43 m high and contains a two-ton bell, as well as the statue of the Prince Consort visible on the west façade. The style is said to be of Gothic influence, both French and Italian. Located not far from Customs House and the River Lagan, the clock square was once famous for its prostitutes who waited for sailors at the end of the day.

Visit Belfast is an excellent tourist office, with huge, well-stocked offices. You'll find paper and digital information on the whole of Northern Ireland, as well as on the whole country. There's also a store where you can pick up a few souvenirs of your Northern Ireland escapade. A recommended stop-off before your visit. You'll find all the brochures and documentation you need to organize your stay.

This office is a good base after Belfast to document itself, when we start talking about the Antrim Coast for the North.

The museum, also located on the spot, presents the city's history with a collection of vintage objects. Former firefighter's car, costumes and utensils culminating in the turbulent times of Carrickfergus with the th century invasions, Cromwell countryside, American colonies…

The Glenariff Forest Park covers 1 185 ha and is famous for its postcard, Servicio-Na-Laragh. It is less than 1 km from the entrance, after a wooden path that winds over the river. Other routes are marked (4 paths up to 9 km) in the humid forest rich in biodiversity, alternating gorges and valleys, waterfalls and rocks. Departure also from the Moyle Way which crosses the mountain to Ballycastle (25 km).

On the south-east coast of the village, just a little hundred meters from the last houses, these caves formed more than 400 million years ago. There is a small way to go and the fans of the Game game Game of Thrones will take a look at it, as it was one of the shooting sites in Northern Ireland.