Where to explore in Northern Ireland this weekend?
We’ve selected some of Northern Ireland’s finest locations to visit this weekend or any day over the summer holidays – all easily accessed via bus or train so you can relax and unwind en route. With a wide range of quality value fares, you can travel affordably.
Whether it’s a day trip with the kids, a meander around some of the country’s most scenic areas or a visit to the zoo with your friends, make the smart move and get on-board with Translink.
➊ BELFAST CASTLE & CAVE HILL COUNTRY PARK
GETTING THERE Metro Corridor 1 (Alighting at Strathmore)
Belfast Castle, on the slopes of Cave Hill, is a great place to sample excellent cuisine, historical atmosphere and beautiful gardens. Great for nature lovers and explorers with geological, archaeological and botanical interests.
➋ BELFAST ZOO GETTING THERE Metro Corridor 1 (Alighting at Bellevue)
Hop on a Metro bus and spend a day hanging out with some monkeys at Belfast Zoo which boasts 160 species of rare or highly endangered animals housed in award winning enclosures which replicate their natural environments. The panoramic views of the city and Belfast Lough are not to be missed.
➌ TITANIC BELFAST
GETTING THERE Metro Service 26 (Alighting at Titanic Belfast, Queens Rd) NI Railways Belfast - Bangor (Alighting at Titanic Quarter)
Take a trip to Titanic Belfast® which extends over nine galleries, drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features.
➍ BOTANIC GARDENS GETTING THERE Metro Corridor 8 (A/D) (Alighting at Ulster Museum)
When the sun is shining, a walk through Belfast’s beautiful Botanic Gardens is hard to beat! You can enjoy the fabulous greenhouses, budding flowerbeds and the newly refurbished Tropical Ravine. If that isn’t enough, get cultural with a visit to the Ulster Museum – a stone’s throw from the gardens (literally)!
➎ MALONE HOUSE
GETTING THERE Metro Corridor 8 (A/B/C) (Alighting at Bristow Park)
For something a bit different, why not visit this elegant mansion, built in the 1820s, which commands superb views over the Lagan Valley Regional Park?
➏ ULSTER FOLK & TRANSPORT MUSEUM
GETTING THERE NI Railways Belfast – Bangor (Alighting at Cultra)
This museum holds Ireland’s largest collection of trains, vintage buses and cars – a fascinating visit which will give you an insight into how country life was a century ago!
➐ ARMAGH PLANETARIUM
GETTING THERE Goldline Express Service 251/250 (Alighting at Royal Schools, Armagh)
One of the world’s top astronomical research centres with space exploration and education at its core – not to be missed!
➑ DOWN CATHEDRAL & ST PATRICK’S GRAVE
GETTING THERE Goldline Express Service 215 (Alighting at The Central Bar, Downpatrick)
For something a little bit different, hop on board and visit The Cathedral which was built in 1183 as a Benedictine Monastery.
➒ DERRY CITY GETTING THERE Goldline Service 212 Belfast – Derry/L’Derry (Alighting at Derry/L’Derry Buscentre) NI Railways Belfast - Derry/L’Derry (Alighting at Derry/L’Derry Train Station)
The 17th century walled City of Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland. A train journey to the City along the scenic North Coast has been described by Michael Palin as “one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world”.
➓ THE GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
GETTING THERE Goldline Service 221 Belfast – Coleraine During July and August NI Railways Belfast – Derry/L’Derrya-lighting at Coleraine Bus and Rail Centre and then Ulsterbus Service 402/172. During July and August Ulsterbus Service 252 Larne – change at Ballycastle and then Ulsterbus Service 402/172 (Alighting at The Nook)
Awake your inner explorer with a trip to The Giant’s Causeway. Located on the scenic Antrim Coast, the natural beauty is Northern Ireland’s top tourist attraction and World Heritage site.