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Causeway Coast: Belfast, Giant's Causeway & Derry – Route Guide

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The hexagonal basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway
Photo: Chmee2 · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Drive the Causeway Coast over five days from Belfast through Ballycastle, Giant's Causeway and Portrush to Derry. Harbour walks, the basalt coast and Derry's walls form the journey. Crossing the rope bridge and touring Bushmills distillery require separate arrangements; castle and museum interiors are optional.

Causeway Coast: Belfast, Giant's Causeway & Derry is a 180 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as a 5-day trip; the plan below is the 5-day version for June, built from 220 verified places, with planned transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

5
days
180km
distance
5
Stops
220
curated stops

View ready-made plans 5-day plan · best time to go

The route

Belfast→ 90 kmBallycastle→ 21 kmBushmills→ 10 kmPortrush→ 59 kmDerry

What you'll see

Belfast public maritime-city circuit
Use lawful city parking for Belfast’s public City Hall, Cathedral Quarter, waterfront and Titanic Quarter setting; museums, ships, tours, performances, sport and events remain separate.
Belfast
Ballycastle public harbour-and-coast circuit
Use lawful town parking for Ballycastle harbour, seafront and one bounded coast viewpoint; Rathlin sailings, rope-bridge crossing, long cliff walks and watersports remain separate.
Ballycastle
Bushmills-and-Giant's-Causeway public landscape circuit
Use official parking or public transport for Bushmills village and a bounded Giant’s Causeway landscape visit; visitor-centre admission, distillery, railway, castles and long cliff walks remain separate.
Bushmills
Portrush public harbour-and-headland circuit
Use lawful town parking for Portrush harbour, beaches and Ramore Head in suitable weather; museums, golf, surf providers, amusement venues and outlying castle visits remain separate.
Portrush
Derry public walls-and-river circuit
Use lawful city parking for Derry’s public walls, Guildhall setting, Peace Bridge and Bogside murals; museums, cathedral interiors, tours, performances and outlying detours remain separate.
Derry

Choose your length

5-day plan17 stops · 8.0 h transit3.4 stops/day · 1.6 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September

Longer daylight helps the public coast circuits, but parking pressure, Atlantic wind and every attraction’s live access still need checking.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

View ready-made plans