11 Best Towns In Northern Ireland For A Two-Day Recharge

In Northern Ireland's village of Bushmills, a distillery has held a licence to make whiskey since 1608, and the tastings still run at the end of every tour. Two miles up the coast, roughly 40,000 basalt columns formed some 60 million years ago step down into the sea at the Giant's Causeway. Off Ballycastle, the puffins and razorbills of Rathlin Island make up the largest seabird colony in the country. On the shore of Belfast Lough, a Norman castle at Carrickfergus has stood for nearly 850 years. Each of these eleven towns rewards a slow two-day visit, with enough to fill the days and enough quiet to make you want a third.

Bushmills

Bushmills is a small village on the north Antrim coast best known for one thing: the Old Bushmills Distillery, licensed in 1608 and the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Tours of the distillery walk visitors through the full production process of malting, distilling, and maturation in oak casks, ending with a tasting of the single malt that has made the village famous. Just two miles up the road, the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by ancient volcanic activity, is one of the most extraordinary natural sites in Europe and justifies a full morning on its own. The ruined Dunluce Castle, perched on a sea stack overlooking the Atlantic, dates to the 13th century and has a history dramatic enough to have inspired scenes in Game of Thrones. The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, a single rope bridge strung 100 feet above the sea connecting the mainland to a small island, is a short drive east along the coast. A perfect place to stay is the Bushmills Inn, a four-star boutique hotel in a restored 17th-century coaching inn with turf fires, candlelit rooms, and a restaurant serving local produce just steps from the distillery.

Ballycastle

Ballycastle is a small coastal town at the eastern end of the Causeway Coast, quieter and less visited than its neighbors but no less rewarding. The town sits at the foot of Fair Head, a dramatic basalt cliff rising over 600 feet above the sea, where a short walk from the car park delivers one of the finest views in Northern Ireland, looking out across to Rathlin Island and the Scottish coast beyond. Rathlin Island itself, reached by a 45-minute ferry from Ballycastle harbor, is home to around 150 people and the largest seabird colony in Northern Ireland, with puffins, razorbills, and guillemots nesting at the West Light Seabird Centre every spring. The Ballycastle Museum, housed in an 18th-century courthouse on the main square, traces the history of the Glens of Antrim in impressive detail. Each August, the town hosts the Ould Lammas Fair, one of the oldest fairs in Ireland, running since the early 1600s and still drawing crowds for its traditional yellow man toffee and dried dulse seaweed sold from market stalls along the seafront. A comfortable place to stay is the Marine Hotel Ballycastle, a seafront property with sea-view rooms and direct views across to Rathlin Island.

Cushendall

Cushendall is known as the capital of the Glens of Antrim, a series of nine glacial valleys that run down from the Antrim plateau to the sea, and the town sits at the meeting point of three of them. The Curfew Tower, a four-story red sandstone tower built in 1809 by a local magistrate to confine "idlers and rioters," stands at the center of the village and has become its most recognizable landmark. The Glenariff Forest Park, a short drive inland, follows the Glenariff River through a wooded gorge with waterfalls, rope bridges, and a tea house at the top of the trail, one of the most satisfying short walks in the north of Ireland. The surrounding Glens landscape is some of the least visited and most beautiful countryside in Northern Ireland, and the Antrim Coast Road running south from the village is widely considered one of the finest coastal drives in the country. A welcoming place to stay is the Cushendall Caravan and Camping Park on the coast road for those who prefer the outdoors, or one of the village's highly rated, traditional local bed and breakfasts for a more comfortable base.

Portrush

Located on a rocky headland on the north Antrim coast, the town has three clean sandy beaches running along its headland and views stretching to the Scottish islands on a clear day. The Royal Portrush Golf Club, one of the finest coastal golf courses in the world and a regular host of The Open Championship, is the town's most famous landmark. Just up the coast, the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of thousands of interlocking basalt columns, is one of the most visited natural sites in Northern Ireland. The ruined Dunluce Castle, sitting on a clifftop just outside town, dates to the 13th century and looks out over the sea toward Scotland. Living here also means the Causeway Coastal Route, one of the great coastal drives in Europe, starts practically at the front door. A solid place to stay is the Portrush Atlantic Hotel, a four-star property overlooking the East Strand with sea views from most rooms.

Bangor

Bangor has been a seaside destination since the Victorians arrived by train in the 1860s, and the town has never quite lost that holiday feeling. Built around one of the largest marinas in Northern Ireland on the southern shore of Belfast Lough, it draws sailors, walkers, and anyone who wants to wake up close to the water. Castle Park and its restored Walled Garden, designed in the 1840s, sit at the center of town alongside independent shops and cafes that give the high street a genuine community feel. The North Down Coastal Path runs along the shoreline for miles in both directions, and the Ards Peninsula to the south opens up some of the finest cycling and walking country in County Down. The Bangor Abbey, founded by St. Comgall in 558 AD and one of the most important monastic sites in early Christian Ireland, stands in the center of town as a quiet reminder of just how far back the town's history goes. A comfortable place to stay is the Marine Court Hotel, a well-regarded four-star property on the seafront in the heart of the town.

Holywood

Holywood has been named the best place to live in Northern Ireland multiple times, and its appeal as a two-day recharge destination is just as strong. This small coastal town on the shores of Belfast Lough in County Down sits just 8 miles from Belfast but feels entirely removed from the city's pace. The High Street is the heart of the town, lined with independent shops, cafes, and restaurants that give it a village feel despite its proximity to a major city. The North Down Coastal Path, a 16-mile walking and cycling trail along the shoreline, offers views across the lough toward the Antrim Hills. Redburn Country Park on the edge of town provides woodland walks and wildlife spotting just minutes from the town center. Holywood is also the hometown of professional golfer Rory McIlroy, and the Holywood Golf Club where he learned the game remains one of the most popular in Northern Ireland. A great place to rest is the Culloden Estate and Spa, a five-star hotel in a restored Gothic mansion overlooking Belfast Lough, considered one of the finest hotels in Northern Ireland.

Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus is one of the oldest towns in Northern Ireland, and its most famous landmark makes that immediately clear. Carrickfergus Castle, built by the Normans in 1177 on a rocky promontory above Belfast Lough, is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the country and has stood watch over the town for nearly 850 years. The town sits on the north shore of the lough in County Antrim and has been named one of the top 20 safest medium-sized towns in the UK. The Carrickfergus Marina is a lively hub on the waterfront with boat trips available across the lough, and the Carrickfergus Museum in the town center takes visitors through a rich tapestry of local history, showcasing artifacts that span from the medieval period to the modern day. The town also has a strong community calendar, with the annual Lughnasa Fair in August one of the most popular family events on the Antrim coast. A well-regarded place to stay is the Dobbin's Inn Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Northern Ireland, with parts of the building dating to the 12th century and a history that includes a legendary ghost.

Enniskillen

Enniskillen sits on a natural island in the middle of Lough Erne, one of Northern Ireland's largest lakes, with water on both sides and some of the finest lake scenery in the country right on the doorstep. The Sunday Times named it one of the best places to live in the UK in 2023, and the town's compact size of around 14,000 people makes it genuinely easy to settle into. The Enniskillen Castle, a 600-year-old fortress on the waterfront, now serves as a museum tracing the history of County Fermanagh from the earliest settlers to the present. The Marble Arch Caves, a network of underground rivers and caverns just 23 minutes from the town center, are among the finest show caves in Europe and offer a remarkable underground boat tour. Lough Erne itself stretches for 50 miles in both directions, with kayaking, fishing, and boat cruises available throughout the warmer months. The Lough Erne Resort is one of the finest places to stay in Northern Ireland, a five-star lakeside hotel and spa with a golf course and a setting that makes two days feel far too short.

Armagh

Armagh is the ecclesiastical capital of Northern Ireland, a distinction it has held since St. Patrick established his principal church here in 445 AD, and that history saturates every corner of this small cathedral city. Two cathedrals dedicated to St. Patrick, one Catholic and one Church of Ireland, sit on opposing hills and have dominated the city's skyline for centuries, their presence a reminder of the religious divisions that have shaped Irish history. The Armagh Planetarium, the oldest in Northern Ireland and one of the finest in the UK, sits next to the Armagh Observatory, which has been studying the night sky continuously since 1790. The Navan Centre, just outside the city, preserves the site of Navan Fort, the ancient seat of the Ulster kings and one of the most important prehistoric sites in Northern Ireland, dating back over 4,000 years. The city is also surrounded by apple orchards, and the annual Apple Harvest Festival in October celebrates the county's designation as the orchard of Northern Ireland. A welcoming place to stay is the Armagh City Hotel, a four-star property in the center of the city within walking distance of both cathedrals.

Newcastle

Newcastle sits at the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest peak in Northern Ireland at 2,790 feet, where the Mourne Mountains come down to meet a long sandy beach on the shores of Dundrum Bay. The town has been a popular seaside resort since the Victorian era, and its wide promenade and beach remain the focal point of life here throughout the warmer months. Tollymore Forest Park, one of the most beautiful forest parks in Northern Ireland, lies just outside the town with riverside walking trails through ancient woodland that served as a filming location for Game of Thrones. The Mourne Mountains behind the town are one of the most rewarding hiking landscapes in Northern Ireland, with trails ranging from gentle valley walks to the full summit of Slieve Donard and its extraordinary views across to Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man on a clear day. The Slieve Donard Hotel, a grand Victorian railway hotel sitting directly on the beach at the foot of the mountain, is one of the most atmospheric places to stay in Northern Ireland and has been welcoming guests since 1897.

Downpatrick

Downpatrick is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Northern Ireland, and it holds a distinction that draws pilgrims and curious visitors from around the world: it is the burial place of St. Patrick, Northern Ireland's patron saint. The Down Cathedral, a medieval church on a hill at the center of the town, marks the spot where Patrick is said to have been buried in 461 AD, with a large granite stone in the churchyard inscribed simply with the name "Patric." The Saint Patrick Centre, a modern interpretive museum just below the cathedral, tells the story of Patrick's life, his years as a slave in Northern Ireland, and the Christianity he helped establish across the island. The nearby Inch Abbey, a 12th-century Cistercian monastery on the banks of the River Quoile, is a peaceful ruin surrounded by water meadows and also served as a filming location for Game of Thrones. Castle Ward, a National Trust estate on the shores of Strangford Lough just a few miles from town, offers gardens, a restored 18th-century house, and lake views that make for an easy and rewarding second day. A comfortable place to stay is the Denvir's Hotel, one of the oldest coaching inns in Northern Ireland, operating since 1642 in the center of the town.

Come Visit Northern Ireland

That quality that makes Northern Ireland's smaller towns so easy to linger in is not easy to put into words. It shows up in a conversation at a market stall or a pint by a turf fire on a wet afternoon. These eleven towns, spread across the coastline and countryside of one of Europe's most underrated corners, each offer their own version of it. Two days is enough to feel it. It is rarely enough to want to leave.