The North — Sightseeing Tours

Even though the North of Ireland is a relatively small area, there are many diverse sightseeing opportunities — from city walks and boat cruises to escorted bus tours into the countryside. Taking day trips in different directions each day works very well. This page presents a selection of full-day, half-day or shorter sightseeing options.

Just click below for your choices:

Photos show: (top, left) Belfast City Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Tour; (above) A trip on the Causeway Coaster at the Giant's Causeway; and (below) a Belfast Black Taxi Tour.

Belfast Tours
Tours from Belfast
Antrim Coast Tours
Armagh City Tours
Derry City Tours
Enniskillen Tours

Belfast Tours

Belfast City Open Top Bus Tours - This hop-on/hop-off bus tour covers all the major highlights of Belfast with 18 stops, including Stormont, the Titanic Quarter, the Falls Road and Shankill Road neighborhoods and the Peace Wall, with the opportunity to hop off and re-board later. Tours depart continuously from Castle Place, daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  More info: Belfast City Sightseeing Tours, tel. 028-9062-6888. Web site: www.belfastcitysightseeing.co.uk

Walking Tours of Belfast – Stroll through the heart of Belfast to explore 300 years of history including the original 1660’s street layout. The tour also includes architectural landmarks such as City Hall, the Albert Clock, and Titanic-related locations. About 90 mins. Year-round. More information: City Sightseeing Walking Tours, departing daily at 2 p.m. from Castle Place, tel.028-9045-9035, Web site: www.belfastcitysightseeing.com

Pub Walking Tours of Belfast — Visit six of Belfast's most historic pubs, led by a local "pub expert" guide. Visits include Kelly's Cellars, McHugh's, The Morning Star, White's Tavern, The Blackthorn, Duke of York and more. Departs from the Crown Dining Rooms, upstairs at the Crown Bar, Great Victoria Street. 2 hrs. Operates from end of May to end of Sept., Thurs. at 7 p.m. and Sat. at 4 p.m. Reservations suggested. For more information, contact Historical Pub Tours of Belfast, tel. 028-9268-3665. Web site: www.belfastpubtours.com

Musical Bus Tours – Experience Belfast’s music side, as a rock ‘n’ roll city. This bus tour traces the paths of the city’s modern music greats – from Van Morrison to Snow Patrol, as well as leading guitarists, punk rock players and Hollywood soundtracks. Tours depart on Friday at 3:30 p.m., starting with a tour of newly refurbished Ulster Hall, and then the bus rolls through the streets to hear about the founding members of Thin Lizzy, the legend of Pearly Spencer, and see the landscape that inspired Van Morrison songs and more. Tour ends at the Oh Yeah Music Centre to view displays of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. Duration is 2.5 hours. More information: Belfast Music Tour, tel. 028-9024-6609, Web site: www.belfastmusic.org

River Lagan Cruises – See the skyline and main sites of Belfast from the waters of the River Lagan on board the M.V. Joyce Too or The Mona passenger boats. The route starts at the Lagan Weir and travels along the waterfront and includes the history of Belfast and the ships built in the docks here. Sailings depart from Donegall Quay, March-December, schedule varies, and duration is 75 minutes. More information: Lagan Boat Company, tel. 028-9033-0844, web site: www.laganboatcompany.com

Taxi Tours — Using London-style oversized black taxis or regular taxis, these tours take visitors into familiar areas of Belfast as well as parts of the city not seen on conventional tours. One of the most popular routes is the Falls and Shankill Roads sections to see the Peace Wall and the colorful political wall murals that decorate the sides of shops and housing estates. Year-round; times and durations vary. Reservations required. For more information, contact:

A Belfast Cab Tour, tel. 028-9087-8595, Web site: www.belfastcabtours.com
All Ireland Tours, tel. 028-9030-1832, Web site: www.belfastcityblacktaxitours.com
Black Taxi Tours, tel. 077-0244-9694, web site: www.belfasttours.com
Black Cab Tours, tel. 077-5409-5736, Web site: www.blackcabtoursni.com
Harper Taxi Tours, tel. 028-9074 2711, Web site: www.harperstaxitours.co.nr
Valuecabs Taxi & Tours, tel. 028-9080-9080, Web site: www.valuecabs.co.uk
And also check the following web site for others: www.gotobelfast.com

Tours from Belfast

Co. Antrim Countryside Tours – All day bus tours from Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway, Glens of Antrim and other parts of the nearby countryside are operated by the following companies: Allens Tours, tel. 028-9091-5613, web site: www.allenstours.co.uk; Mini-Coach Tours, tel. 028-9031-5333; web site:  www.minicoachni.co.uk; and Ulsterbus, tel. 028-9033-7004, web site:  www.translink.co.uk/daytours.asp

Antrim Coast Tours

Causeway Coaster — While not actually a tour, this mini-bus service is an essential part of a visit to the Giant's Causeway, taking visitors from the Visitor Center to/from the Giant's Causeway Heritage Site. Vehicles operate every 15 minutes, allowing you to take one minibus down and stay as long as you wish — a few minutes or a few hours — at the Giant's Causeway, before returning up the long hill on another vehicle. First-come, first served. For more information, contact Giant's Causeway Tourist Information Centre, 44 Causeway Rd., Bushmills; tel. 028-2073-1855. Web site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Antrim Coaster — Ulsterbus provides this continuous hop-on/hop-off bus service (Bus #252, using a "day return" ticket) along the Antrim Coast, enabling visitors to travel easily between major attractions. Departures are from Belfast with stops at Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballygally, Glenarm, Carnlough, Ballycastle, Ballintoy, Bushmills, Giant’s Causeway, Coleraine and other towns and places of interest, operates daily late-April  to Sept. In addition, Ulsterbus also operates the North Coast Open Topper Bus (Bus #177), from Coleraine to the Giant’s Causeway, 30 June to 31 August; and the Causeway Rambler (Bus #402), from Bushmills to the Giant’s  Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, 2 June to 14 September.  For more information, contact Ulsterbus, tel. 028-9066-6630; Web site: www.translink.co.uk.

Armagh City Tours

Armagh Guided Walking Tours – Join local guide on a 90-minute walk about Armagh to learn about its history, myths, legends and fine Georgian architecture.  Tours are conducted, June through September, on Saturdays at 11 a.m.and 2 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Reservations in advance are required by contacting Barbara Ferguson, Tour Guide, tel. 028-3755-1119 or 077-4051-1442, web site: www.armaghguidedtours.com; or Armagh Tourist Centre, 40 English St., Armagh; tel. 028-3752-1800. Web site: www.visitarmagh.com

Derry Tours

Derry City Walking Tours – Experience the best of Derry City, one of Europe's finest walled cities, on a walking tour with a local guide. The itinerary includes a stroll along the 17th century walls with views of the original gates, and bastions plus St. Columb's Cathedral, Guildhall, Tower Museum, and more. There are several local residents who conduct these tours but our favorite is Ronan McNamara who provides a balanced blend of serious history with Irish wit and charm. Ronan has won many awards and has appeared on Irish and British TV as well as CNN; more information: Ronan McNamara Famous Guided Walking Tours, tel. 078-8996-3858. If Ronan is already booked out, arrange for an alternate guide through Derry Tourist Information Centre, 44 Foyle St., Derry City, tel. 028-7126-7284, Web site:  www.derryvisitor.com

Derry City Guided Open Top Bus Tours - This company operates in-depth guided bus tours of Derry City using open top buses, from late-April to October. For more info, contact Open Top Tours, tel 028-7129-1858. Web site: www.opentoptour.com  

Derry Boat Cruises – See Derry city from the perspective of the River Foyle, on board an 84-seat two-deck sightseeing cruise boat. Cruises operate daily at 2 p.m. from the Harbour Square Dock, Derry City. May- Sept.   75 minutes.   Contact: Foyle Cruises, Harbour Museum, Harbour Square, Derry, tel. 028-7136-2857. Web site:www.foylecruiseline.com 

Enniskillen Tours

Waterbus Cruises — Cruise along the shores of Enniskillen and see the highlights of Lower Lough Erne from on board the M.V. Kestrel, a 56-passenger waterbus. The route includes a half-hour stop at Devenish Island. May-June (Sun. at 2:30 p.m.; July-Aug. daily at 10:30 a.m., 2:15 p.m. and 4:15p.m.; Sept. (Tues. and Sat.-Sun. at 2:30 p.m.). 105 mins. Departs from Round O Jetty, Enniskillen. Reservations suggested. For more information, contact: Erne Tours, Brooke Park Enniskillen; tel. 028-6632-2882. Web site: www.fermanaghlakelands.com/P6959-MV-Kestrel-Enniskillen.aspx


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