Giants Causeway

As the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption, The Giants Causeway is an area of about 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea located in the North Coast of Northern Ireland.

Nearby Attractions

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Dunluce Castle
A medieval castle perched on top of a high cliff, and one of the most iconic monuments in the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland.
Bushmill's Distillery
Granted a license to distill in 1608, Bushmill is the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.
Larrybane Quarry
Larrybane Quarry is a huge wall of white rock that became instantly famous after the popular tv series Game of Thrones, season 2.
Ballintoy Harbour
Ballintoy Harbour can be discovered in the picturesque village of Ballintoy. This fishing harbour can be found at the end of a small narrow steep road down Knocksaughey Hill and it has been used as a filming location in HBO's epic series Game of Thrones.
The Dark Hedges
The Dark Hedges is a beautiful avenue of beech trees planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion. It has become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland as it was a filming location of the popular series Game of Thrones.
Carrick-a-Rede
Cross if you dare - though note it is perfectly safe. The precarious bridge is maintained by the National Trust and is open to travelers to cross.

Related Tours

Explore the Giant's Causeway: Private Day Trip from Belfast
Experience the dramatic scenery of the north Antrim coast, from death-defying rope bridges and amazing seascapes to imposing castles and whiskey distilleries and of course, the UNESCO-listed Giants Causeway on this full-day private tour from Belfast. 

On your private day trip, you will: 

  • Relax on the scenic drive out of Belfast along the Antrim Coast Road – with fine views of Rathlin Island;
  • Stop at the picturesque fishing village of Carnlough for a quick comfort break;
  • Travel to the iconic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, where you will have the chance to cross it;
  • Explore the Ballintoy Harbour also known as the Iron Islands;
  • Visit the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland, Giant’s Causeway with its geological delights and mysteries;
  • Explore the most dramatic castle ruins in the world at Dunluce Castle;
  • Stop at the most popular natural phenomenon in Northern Ireland, the Dark Hedges, used as a set for the hit TV series Game of Thrones;
  • Enjoy the drive back to Belfast city centre or your hotel where your tour ends. 

Your route takes you through the rugged landscape of the Antrim plateau and in just over an hour, you will arrive on the wild north Atlantic coast and the famous rope bridge of Carrick-a-rede. Completely safe for you to cross, though not recommended if you have a fear of heights, the bridge spans 66 ft and is 98 ft above the rocks below, connecting the land to the volcanic plug island used by salmon fishers for centuries. 

A short drive will then bring you to the dramatic Giant's Causeway, an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. Forged by tremendous volcanic activity, these hexagonal columns, some as tall as 12 metres (39 ft), can be clearly seen within the cliffs and down to the exposed tops of columns at the cliff foot, before disappearing below the sea. According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant but make up your own mind!

After lunch at a spot recommended by your guide (price not included), travel the short distance along the coast to the striking Dunluce Castle, sat precariously on the edge of a cliff. Pay close attention, as you may recognise this 500-year-old castle as Game of Thrones' Pyke Castle! 

Afterwards, head inland to the village of Bushmills, an area with a tradition of whiskey distilling stretching back to 1276 before heading back to your accommodation in Belfast.
Game of Thrones Filming Locations: Private Day Trip from Belfast
Explore the dramatic, rugged splendour of the north Antrim coastline, known to us as Westeros, to see where so many iconic scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed on this private full-day tour from Belfast, with entrance tickets to the craggy ruins of Dunluce Castle – or Castle Greyjoy, among many other locations. 

On your private tour, you will: 

  • Enjoy the personal attention of your private guide – a passionate Game of Thrones aficionado, and the convenience of private transport;
  • Relax on the scenic coastal drives of County Antrim – just an hour from Belfast;
  • Stop at your first Game of Thrones location, Carnlough, where you can see the spot where Arya successfully escaped the Waif in season six;
  • Follow on to the Cushenden Caves, where the shadow baby was born to Melisandre;
  • Walk the cliffs of Fair Head, and marvel at the awe-inspiring views of ‘Dragonstone cliffs’ where Jon Snow meets Danaerys and her dragon;
  • Stop off at Larrybane Quarry and Ballintoy Harbour – known as the Iron Lands;
  • Visit the dramatic Dunluce Castle, perched on a craggy cliff edge, the site of Castle Greyjoy;
  • Stop at Mary McBride’s Pub for lunch (not included). Famous for being Ireland's smallest pub with a Game of Thrones door;
  • Discover the unique geological landmark of Giant’s Causeway, the only UNESCO-listed site in Northern Ireland with 40,000 interlocked hexagonal basalt columns;
  • Walk through the iconic Dark Hedges, the atmospheric tunnel of twisted beech trees used in Game of Thrones;
  • Relax on your scenic drive back to your hotel across the County Antrim plateau. 

Walk in the footsteps of the feuding dynasties of Westeros: the houses of Stark, Arryn, Baratheon, Tully, Greyjoy, Lannister, Tyrell, Martell and Targaryen, as well as your favourite Game of Thrones characters, such as Arya Stark, Melisandre, Danaerys Targaryen and Jon Snow on this adventurous day-long tour of filming locations around the stunningly dramatic and craggy Antrim coastline, just an hour from Belfast. 

Your private day excursion takes you to many Game of Thrones locations and includes entry to the atmospheric 500-year-old Dunluce Castle, perched precariously on a cliff edge, which serves as Castle Greyjoy in the series. 

Stop at the pretty seaside harbour village of Carnlough – more famously known as Braavos in Game of Thrones, where Arya successfully escapes the Waif in Season 6. Further up the coast, you’ll see Cairncastle (from the outside) where Ned Stark beheads Will, the Night’s Watch deserter in episode 1, series 1, before driving to the Cushenden Caves. 

The Cushenden Caves have formed 400 million years ago and were built between 1912-1925 by Lord Cushenden. They became the Stormlands in Game of Thrones and where you can see the birthplace of Melisandre’s demon baby beneath Renly’s Camp. You can also relive the fight between Jamie and Euron in Season 8, which was filmed here.

Staying in Cushenden, have lunch at Mary McBride’s Bar (not included) the smallest pub in Ireland, and examine one of the Games of Thrones Doors, made from the storm-damaged trees of the Dark Hedges, carved with scenes set in Braavos.

Visit Fair Head and walk the crag to explore the mighty Dragonstone Cliffs, where Jon Snow encounters Daenerys and her dragon. A short distance from the cliffs takes you to Larrybane Quarry, a great filming location for the Stormlands. This old chalk quarry became Renly Baratheon’s Camp and was transformed into a tournament arena in season 2, where Brienne of Tarth triumphs in her duel. It is also famous for the death-defying, iconic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

Next, visit picturesque Ballintoy Harbour close by, which is where Theon arrives in Lordsport on the Iron Islands. Nearby, Ballintoy Beach is where Euron is drowned to become king of the Iron Islands.

Drive along the grand Kings Road, to see the twisted trunks of the Dark Hedges. A mysterious and beautiful avenue of old beech trees was planted in 1775. At the end of the Dark Hedges lies Gracehill House – where you will see another of the Game of Thrones Doors, this time commemorating Bran's transformation into the Three-Eyed Raven. 

Return to Belfast through the rugged landscape of the Antrim plateau, and back to your hotel.
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