15 best things to do in Northern Ireland

While it often plays second fiddle to its southern neighbour, there are loads of things to do in Northern Ireland. Rejuvenated and irrepressible, Belfast now rivals any of the UK’s capitals, and beyond the city, the country serves superb nature, remarkable culture, outdoor activities, and an increasingly vibrant food and music scene. All of which is covered in this round-up of the 15 best things to do in Northern Ireland.

1. Uncover contemporary Belfast 

Barely recognizable from the battle-scarred city of the 1970s and 80s, Belfast is today a bona fide city-break destination, no question. 

While stately Victorian buildings and a rich industrial heritage hark back to the city’s glorious past, really, it’s the revitalized restaurant scene, some rocking nightlife and a raft of excellent festivals that all serve to confirm Belfast’s welcome renaissance.

3. Stroll Belfast's beautiful Botanic Gardens 

Staying the the capital, just below Queen's University are Belfat's Botanic Gardens, first opened in 1827 and well protected by trees from the noise of the surrounding traffic. 

Within the gardens is the Palm House, a hothouse predating the famous one at Kew Gardens in London, but very similar in style, with a white-painted framework of curvilinear ironwork and glass. It was the first of its kind in the world, another success for Lanyon, who worked in tandem on this project with the Dublin iron-founder Richard Turner. 

The nearby Tropical Ravine is a classic example of Victorian light entertainment – a hundred-year-old sunken glen chock-full of “vegetable wonders” extracted from far-flung jungles and replanted for the delight of the visiting Belfast public.

3. Explore Belfast's Titanic Quarter

It was, of course, from Belfast in 1912 that the Titanic set sail. The ill-fated ship is commemorated in truly spectacular style at the all-new Titanic Quarter in the city’s regenerated docklands area.

 Comprising, among other things, a media centre and a scientific discovery centre, its focal point is Titanic Belfast, a thrilling and engaging interactive museum. 

As such, it's a good place to visit in Ireland with kids.

4. Go hiking

Northern Ireland boasts numerous low-lying mountain ranges, but it’s the rugged Mournes in County Down that draws the lion’s share of hikers. 

Its highest peak – Slieve Donard – only tops 850m, but this is pretty testing terrain. Who needs the Great Wall of China when you’ve got the Mourne Wall, a 22-mile long dry stone wall which traverses some fifteen summits?

No less fabulous, if somewhat less demanding, are the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone — a sparse expanse of wild, undulating moorland.

5. Take a road trip on the Causeway 

Stretching for some 120 miles between Belfast and Derry, this fabulous road trip is one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland. 

Unsurprisingly, most people make a beeline for the Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland’s only designated World Heritage Site), with its stupendous black basalt columns.

But there are diversions aplenty en route, among them Rathlin Island, which harbours some incredible wildlife, and Portstewart, lined with a glorious two-mile sweep of golden sand.

Like the sound of taking to the open road? Wise up on getting around Ireland, and take inspiration from our guide to the best road trips in Ireland.

6. Feast on local food

Northern Ireland’s culinary scene has taken a while to get going, but it’s certainly making up for it.

In Belfast, two restaurants have recently gained a Michelin star, namely Ox, and Eipic at Deane’s. Both offer sumptuous dishes such as scallops with clementine and hazelnut brown butter.

And don’t leave without trying the Ulster Fry, widely acknowledged to be a superior version of the great English fry-up, and often served in the best Ireland accommodation, and local cafes alike.

7. Visit two of the UK’s finest open-air museums

Two particularly fine outdoor museums are the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum just outside Belfast, which displays some thirty buildings transplanted here from around the country. 

The Ulster American Folk Park, near Omagh, brilliantly relays the historically close links between Northern Ireland and the United States. Here, too, a splendid array of vernacular architecture has been transferred from its original setting.

8. Soak up the local music scene 

The North can certainly rival the South when it comes to musical talent. 

In days of yore, the leading lights were Van Morrison and the Undertones (the latter famously championed by the late John Peel). In the 90s, it was the turn of indie heroes Ash, from Down, and the Divine Comedy from Enniskillen. 

If you fancy attending a gig, one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland is to drop in at Belfast’s iconic Limelight Complex. Or try Open House — a unique, year-round series of gigs at various venues around the city.

9. Enjoy outdoor activities

Whether it’s mountain biking in the Davagh Forest or angling on Lough Earne, there are loads of active things to do in Northern Ireland. 

Golfers won’t feel short-changed either, with dozens of fabulous courses to hack around. 

This includes the Royal Portrush in Antrim, which staged the British Open in 2019, and the sublime Royal County Down course in Newcastle.

10.  Marvel at Derry’s medieval walls 

Neatly positioned within a bend of the River Foyle, Derry’s medieval walls are among the best-preserved anywhere in Europe, their survival all the more remarkable having withstood three major military sieges. 

Enclosed within the mile-long circuit is the original medieval street layout, itself spotted with a cluster of eminently enjoyable attractions, the pick of which is the Tower Museum and the Verbal Arts Centre.

11. Explore Lough Neagh Lake by boat

To the surprise of many, Northern Ireland boasts the largest lake in the British Isles — Lough Neagh.

Located just to the west of Belfast, it actually borders five of the country’s six counties. 

Its tranquil waterways and secluded bays provide ample opportunity for boating, fishing, walking and cycling. A great way to get a handle on the lake is to tackle the 113-mile-long Loughshore Trail – but don’t worry, it’s almost completely flat.

12. Explore Marble Arch Caves

The Marble Arch Caves is one of seven parks in the UK run under the umbrella of UNESCO. 

Following a pleasant little walk down through the reserve, the tour begins with an atmospheric five-minute boat journey along the subterranean Cladagh River. It then continues through a succession of atmospherically lit chambers and passages.

Throughout there are clusters of weirdly shaped stalactites and stalagmites, as well as other impressive formations, such as flowstones and scallops (sculpted indentations caused by water flow). 

Following a heavy Irish downpour, the caves are prone to flooding, so do check before you visit, and it's best to head here in the summer months. On that subject, read up on the best time to visit Ireland.

13. Admire historic Enniskillen Castle

Waterways loop their way around the core of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. Their glassy surfaces imbue the town with a pervasive sense of calm and in places that reflect the mini-turrets of seventeenth-century Enniskillen Castle, which stands next to the island’s westerly bridges.

The castle was rebuilt by William Cole on the site of an old Maguire fort damaged by siege in 1594, and Cole’s additions show obvious Scottish characteristics in the turrets corbelled out from the angles of the main wall. 

Today the castle grounds hold the town’s two principal museums, which are accessed via a sparkling new visitor centre. As such, it's the perfect place for history buffs.

14. Amble Castlewellan forest park

Castlewellan Forest Park is outside the elegant market town of Castlewellan. The estate lies in the foothills of the Mournes, and a 4km trail from the entrance leads to the highest point in the forest, Slievenaslat, providing panoramic views.

A wonderful arboretum is the forest park’s outstanding feature: the sheltered south-facing slopes of its hills, between the Mournes and the Slieve Croob range, allow exotic species to flourish. 

There’s trout fishing in its main lake and coarse fishing in the smaller lakes.

15. Sample  whiskey in Old Bushmills Distillery

The foremost attraction in Bushmills is the Old Bushmills Distillery on the outskirts of town, where whiskey has been distilled here legally since 1608, making it the oldest licit distillery in the world. 

Bushmills whiskey is distilled three times, once more than Scotch, but perhaps the biggest surprise is just how little subtlety is involved in the industrial manufacture of alcohol, despite all the lore that surrounds it.

One of the best things to do in Northern Ireland is to enjoy learning about the process on a guided tour, which takes in the mash house, the malt barn (though malting is not done on-site), the vast warehouse, and the equally impressive bottling plant. The tour ends with a complimentary tasting.

Ready to head to Northern Ireland, and/or Ireland? Use our guide to how to plan a trip to Ireland, and take inspiration from our Ireland itineraries. 

We have suggestions for the perfect 7 days in Ireland itinerary, and an ideal 10 days in Ireland itinerary if you're able to extend your trip.

You might also want to read up on the best things to do in Ireland, and the best places to visit in Ireland, to help you plan your trip.

Alternatively, if you're not keen on planning, contact our local Ireland travel experts  — they can curate your perfect trip for any duration.