Antrim
From sublime scenery to big city buzz, Antrim hits the mark
Sightseeing
Explore Antrim’s fascinating history with castles that date back to the 13th century
Brown’s Bay, Islandmagee
This beautiful sandy stretch of beach is bounded on either side by rolling hills and is a lovely spot for a walk, swim or some exhilarating watersports.
Carrickfergus Castle, County Antrim
Dunluce Castle, County Antrim
Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
Giant’s Causeway is a mind-blowing formation of 15,000-year-old basalt columns. It looks like nowhere else on earth and is a World Heritage Site.
Stormont Castle
The Glens of Antrim
The nine glens of Antrim are famed for their sublime scenery and rich, verdant landscape. Peaking and swooping over a distance of 40 miles, the glens run through forest, past streams and into some of the most tranquil areas in the county.
Activities
Experience exceptional sporting entertainment from top class golf courses to Ireland’s oldest horse racing venue
Barnett Demesne on the Malone Road, Belfast
A park of utter beauty, Barnett Demense was bequeathed to the people of Belfast by William Barnett, the breeder of the first Irish horse to win the Derby, upon his death in 1943. A fabulous spot for a stroll.
Bird Watching on Rathlin Island
Check out Rathlin Island where you can find divers, grebes, shearwaters, petrels, swans, geese, ducks, waders, skuas, terns, auks, dippers and kingfishers.
Golf
Golfer’s looking to tee off while in Belfast are in for a treat as a number of top class clubs are within swinging distance of the city centre. Balmoral Golf Club is defined by its mature and classic design, Dunmurray Golf Club won the All Ireland Golf Club of the Year 2003, Malone Golf Club offers 27 scenic and challenging holes of golf, while the Royal Belfast Golf Club offers unrivalled views over Belfast Lough and the Antrim Plateau.
See more highlightsHorse Racing
Experience the thunder of hooves at Ireland’s oldest horse racing venue in Lisburn City. Down Royal Racecourse dates back to 1685 and today hosts 12 race meetings per year.
Scuba Diving
Find out what Antrim has to offer underwater with some scuba diving at Belfast Lough and the North Antrim coast.
Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park, Upper Malone Road, Belfast
Dixon Park is over 130 acres of spectacular rolling parkland, including the world-renowned international Rose Garden and Japanese Garden.
Children
Get up close to wild and wonderful animals, and find out if your kids have a head for heights
Belfast Zoo
This lovely zoo contains over 160 species of animal, some of them very rare and endangered. The beautiful setting next to Belfast Castle offers great views out over the city.
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, North Antrim Coast
Find out if you’ve got a head for heights with this rope bridge that hangs over an 80ft chasm. No one’s ever fallen off, but some visitors are so scared they can’t face the return journey and have to be taken off the island by boat!
Watertop Open Farm, Ballycastle
Watertop is a beautiful big sheep and cattle farm in the Glens of Antrim offering pony trekking, boating, fishing, scenic walks, shearing demonstrations and an assault course.
Culture and festivals
From horse fairs to hip film festivals, Antrim’s got it covered for culture
Belfast Festivals
If there’s a city that knows how to throw a festival, it’s Belfast, and the people are doing it for a whole year with Celebrate Belfast 2006. As well as the Belfast Festival – Ireland’s largest arts festival with arts, jazz, blues, dance, classical and film – you can hang with film types at the internationally renowned Belfast Film Festival, or enjoy a rake of arty carry-on in off-beat locations at the hugely entertaining Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.
Bushmills Distillery
Bushmills is the oldest legal whiskey distillery in the world and has been in business since 1608. You can visit the distillery, get a guided tour and, of course, indulge in a spot of whiskey tasting.
Oul’ Lammas Fair, Ballycastle
The streets of this seaside town get closed off to make way for the bustling annual sheep, pony and livestock sale. But it’s not just about the animals – a host of market stands line the pavements of this small village and foodies can gorge on unique sweet and savoury treats, as well as a host of local produce.
Eating, Drinking & Luxury
Head to Belfast for the finest restaurants and luxurious retreats in Antrim
Bushmills Inn, Bushmills
This multi-award-winning hotel is replete with turf fires and gaslights, boasts an extensive range of intriguing bedrooms, an atmospheric restaurant, a turf-fired old kitchen and a grand Victorian bar.
Fine Dining
Luxurious hideouts
Gay & Lesbian
Antrim’s gay scene may be centred around Belfast, but it’s nothing short of fabulous
Belfast Pride
Week-long series of events including parties, film, arts, entertainment, sports and debates.
Forbidden Fruit @ Club Milk (Tomb Street)
A dressed-up club crowd keeps things glam on a Monday night.
Howl @ The Pavillion (296 Ormeau Road)
An alternative gay club focusing on indie and alternative music.
See more highlightsKremlin (96 Donegall Street)
Liquorice @ The Potthouse (1 Hill Street)
Gay night every Thursday at this trendy bar, which is a modern version of a traditional Irish pub.
Mynt (2 Dunbar Street)
An award-winning gay complex featuring a spacious lounge bar and two clubrooms with DJs, entertainers and periodic live acts.
Shopping
From elegant boutiques to bustling markets, Belfast’s got it all
Chic stores, Belfast
Indulge your stylish side at the gloriously trendy The Bureau; seek out some Paul Costelloe threads at BT9; Satisfy your designer shoe fetish at Rojo; and enjoy the cream of the high street with branches of Gap, Miss Selfridge, French Connection, Karen Millen, Kookaï and Next.
Lisburn Road
St George’s Market, Belfast
