Itinerary Belfast, Derry & Antrim Coast

June is an excellent time to visit Northern Ireland: long daylight hours, mild temperatures (13–18°C), and landscapes in full bloom. Outdoor sites and cultural events reach their peak, and it’s usually one of the driest, sunniest months in the region.

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	650 USD
🏨 Accommodations	1500 USD
🧳 Gear	150 USD
🗺️ On-site	950 USD
Total	3250 USD

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🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇬🇧 Belfast - 3 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏙️ Titanic Belfast ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Award-winning museum on the site where Titanic was built. Book tickets in advance.

• [ ] 🛕 Belfast City Hall ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Edwardian masterpiece at the heart of the city. Join a free guided tour for historical insight.

• [ ] 🎨 Ulster Museum ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Modern exhibits: art, history, natural science. Free entry, great for all weather.

• [ ] 🌳 Botanic Gardens ⭐ (~1h)

  • Victorian park & glasshouse, ideal for a leisurely stroll—especially in June.

• [ ] 🏙️ Cathedral Quarter ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Bohemian area packed with street art, pubs, and galleries—epicentre for culture.

• [ ] 🏛️ Stormont Parliament Buildings ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Seat of the NI Assembly, impressive Greek-inspired architecture, free tours on weekdays.

• [ ] 🛕 St. Anne's Cathedral ⭐ (~1h)

  • Striking mosaics and spire of hope. Small entry fee.

• [ ] 🏙️ Shankill & Falls Road Murals ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Guided Black Taxi tour of iconic political murals: essential for NI history.

• [ ] 🛍️ St. George's Market ⭐⭐ (~1h, Fri–Sun)

  • Historic Victorian market: crafts, food, and local buzz.

• [ ] 🌳 Cave Hill Country Park & Belfast Castle ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Panoramic city views. Easiest trail: Castle walk.

• [ ] 🏛️ Crumlin Road Gaol ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • 19th-century prison tour—dark history, dramatic stories.

• [ ] 🏙️ Queen’s Quarter ⭐ (~1h)

  • Student neighbourhood, indie cafés, boutique shops.

• [ ] 🎨 MAC Belfast (Metropolitan Arts Centre) ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Contemporary art, theatre, and performance.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 The Crown Liquor Saloon ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Opulent Victorian gin palace, lively but atmospheric.

• [ ] 🍸 Laminae ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Stylish cocktail bar in Cathedral Quarter.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Mourne Seafood Bar ⭐⭐⭐

  • Renowned for fresh local seafood—excellent oysters. ~28 USD main.

• [ ] 🍜 Hadskis ⭐⭐

  • Modern European in historic location. ~25 USD main.

• [ ] 🍜 St. George’s Market stalls ⭐

  • Tried-and-true for lunch, upmarket street food, ~12 USD.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Lyric Theatre (~2h)
  • Local theatre productions—check out what’s playing.

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🇬🇧 Derry/Londonderry - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏙️ Derry City Walls ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Walk the entire circuit; original 17th-century fortifications with views over the city.

• [ ] 🏛️ Museum of Free Derry ⭐⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Moving multimedia exhibits on Civil Rights and Bloody Sunday.

• [ ] 🏛️ Guildhall ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Stunning neo-Gothic architecture with stained glass. History exhibits inside.

• [ ] 🏙️ Bogside Murals (People's Gallery) ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Powerful street murals narrating The Troubles.

• [ ] 🌳 St. Columb's Park & Peace Bridge ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Crossing the River Foyle, walk or cycle to leafy park.

• [ ] 🛕 St. Columb’s Cathedral ⭐ (~0.5h)

  • Oldest surviving building inside the city walls.

• [ ] 🎨 Void Art Gallery ⭐ (~0.5h)

  • Edgy contemporary art space.

• [ ] 🏙️ Craft Village ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Charming recreation of an 18th-century street, full of artisan workshops.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Blackbird ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Hip bar with craft beers, locally loved.

• [ ] 🍸 Peadar O’Donnell’s ⭐ (~1h)

  • Traditional Irish music sessions; lively, authentic.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Hidden City Café ⭐⭐

  • Local produce, refined lunch plates. ~17 USD.

• [ ] 🍜 Browns Bonds Hill ⭐⭐⭐

  • Acclaimed fine dining—contemporary Irish tasting menu. ~50 USD pp.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Tower Museum (~1h)
  • Local maritime and city history—fantastic Foyle views.

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🇬🇧 Antrim Coast & Giant’s Causeway - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏛️ Giant’s Causeway ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • World Heritage 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. Steeper clifftop path = best photos.

• [ ] 🏙️ Dunluce Castle ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Dramatic ruins perched above roaring waves.

• [ ] 🌳 Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Cross a swinging bridge stretched over a chasm—timed entry.

• [ ] 🏙️ Ballintoy Harbour ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Charming fishing village (Game of Thrones location).

• [ ] 🏙️ Bushmills Distillery ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Ireland’s oldest whiskey distillery, tastings + tour.

• [ ] 🌳 Whitepark Bay ⭐ (~1h)

  • Sweeping sandy beach with wildflowers.

• [ ] 🏙️ Dark Hedges ⭐⭐ (~0.5h)

  • Atmospheric avenue of beech trees—famous from Game of Thrones.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Harbour Bar, Portrush ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)
  • Classic local pub with friendly staff and live music.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Ramore Wine Bar ⭐⭐

  • Popular bistro with seaview terrace. ~25 USD main.

• [ ] 🍜 The French Rooms, Bushmills ⭐

  • Elegant atmosphere, locally sourced ingredients. ~27 USD main.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Mussenden Temple & Downhill Demesne (~1h)
  • Cliffside temple and impressive estate gardens.

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🎬 Films & series to watch

🇬🇧 Belfast

• [ ] 🎬 Belfast (2021) — ⭐ 7.3 — Coming-of-age during The Troubles; directed by Kenneth Branagh — Amazon Prime
• [ ] 📺 The Fall (2013–2016) — ⭐ 8.2 — Crime thriller set in modern Belfast — Netflix
• [ ] 🎬 Good Vibrations (2012) — ⭐ 7.2 — The punk music scene in 1970s Belfast — Amazon Prime

🇬🇧 Derry

• [ ] 📺 Derry Girls (2018–2022) — ⭐ 8.4 — Teenage misadventures in the 1990s — Netflix
• [ ] 🎬 Bloody Sunday (2002) — ⭐ 7.6 — Docudrama on events of 1972 — Amazon Prime

🇬🇧 Antrim Coast

• [ ] 📺 Game of Thrones (2011–2019) — ⭐ 9.2 — Multiple Antrim filming locations — HBO
• [ ] 🎬 The Lost City of Z (2016) — ⭐ 6.6 — Scenes shot at Ballintoy — Amazon Prime

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🍜 Local specialties

🇬🇧 Belfast

• [ ] Ulster Fry (bacon, eggs, black pudding, soda bread)
• [ ] Belfast Bap
• [ ] Yellowman (local honeycomb candy)

🇬🇧 Derry

• [ ] Soda farl (flat bread)
• [ ] Dulse (seaweed snack)
• [ ] Buttermilk scones

🇬🇧 Antrim Coast

• [ ] Irish stew
• [ ] Bushmills whiskey
• [ ] Oysters from Carlingford Lough

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📍 Maps - places to pin

🇬🇧 Belfast

1. Titanic Belfast
2. The Crown Liquor Saloon
3. St. George’s Market
4. (Example) Grand Central Hotel Belfast
5. Mourne Seafood Bar

🇬🇧 Derry

1. Derry City Walls
2. Blackbird Bar
3. Craft Village
4. Bishop's Gate Hotel
5. Browns Bonds Hill

🇬🇧 Antrim Coast

1. Giant’s Causeway
2. Harbour Bar, Portrush
3. Bushmills Distillery
4. Bayview Hotel, Portballintrae
5. Ramore Wine Bar

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✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Belfast
• [ ] 🚅/🚌 Belfast → Derry
• [ ] 🚅/🚌 Derry → Antrim Coast (Portrush/Bushmills/Ballycastle)
• [ ] ✈️ Belfast → London (from Belfast Int’l or Belfast City; possible transfer back by bus/train from Antrim)

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🏨 Accommodations

City	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Belfast	3	Grand Central Hotel (4★)	650 USD
Derry	2	Bishop's Gate Hotel (4★)	450 USD
Antrim Coast	2	Bayview Hotel (4★)	400 USD
Total	7		1500 USD

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