Your Irish Adventure
Ulster: Ireland's North
Belfast, Derry, the Causeway Coast, and the empty beaches of Donegal. Every guide we’ve written for the north of the island, in one place.
9
Counties
30
Ulster Guides
4
Headline Cities
100%
First-Hand
Orientation
Where Ulster Begins
Ulster is the north of Ireland. Six of its nine counties sit in Northern Ireland (Antrim, Down, Armagh, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh) and three sit in the Republic (Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan). It’s a region of two jurisdictions, two currencies, and one shared coastline, and the differences are quieter than the border tells you. The Causeway Coast, Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, Derry’s city walls, and Donegal’s empty beaches are all up here. Most of our Ulster coverage is for Northern Ireland and Donegal.
Counties
Browse Ulster by County
Six in Northern Ireland, three in the Republic. Tap a county to see every YIA post that mentions it.
Where to Start
Editor's Picks
Six guides that cover the spine of Ulster: Belfast, Derry, Donegal, the Causeway Coast, and the castles and seaside towns in between.
27 Fun Things To Do in Belfast
The big Belfast bucket list: Titanic Quarter, the murals, Cathedral Quarter pubs, and the day trips out from the city.
15 Best Things To Do in Derry
Walking the walls, the Peace Bridge, the Bogside murals, and where to eat between stops.
Unique Things To Do in Donegal Town
Slieve League cliffs, the castle in town, and the empty beaches that make the northwest worth the drive.
Game of Thrones Filming Locations Map
Every Northern Ireland filming spot on a single map, with notes on which ones are worth the detour.
Secret Castles in Northern Ireland
Dunluce, Carrickfergus, and the lesser-known ruins along the Causeway Coast and inland Antrim.
Most Beautiful Seaside Towns in Northern Ireland
Portrush, Portstewart, Ballycastle, and the quieter coastal villages worth a stop.
Things to Do
Things to Do in Ulster
The activities, attractions, and outdoor days that fill up an Ulster trip.
Free Things To Do in Belfast
Murals, parks, the Botanic Gardens, City Hall tours, and the museums that cost nothing to walk into.
Belfast City Tours
Black taxi tours, Titanic walking tours, and which guided options first-time visitors actually get value from.
Dunluce Castle
The clifftop ruin between Portrush and Portstewart. How to visit, parking, and what to expect.
12 Active Things To Do in Enniskillen
Lough Erne, the Marble Arch Caves, and the outdoor side of County Fermanagh.
Lakes in Northern Ireland
Lough Neagh, the Erne system, and the smaller upland lakes that are worth a walk around.
Mountain Biking in Northern Ireland
Rostrevor, Castlewellan, Davagh Forest. Trail centres ranked by difficulty and what to bring.
Towns
City and Town Guides
Where to base yourself and what each place is good for. Two days here, a weekend there.
The Perfect Weekend in Belfast
Two days mapped out: where to stay, where to eat, the Titanic, the murals, and a Cathedral Quarter night out.
A Perfect Weekend in Derry
The walls, the museums, where to drink, where to stay, and how to use Derry as a base for the coast.
Newcastle, County Down
The seaside town at the foot of Slieve Donard. The beach, the Mournes, and where to stop for tea.
Portstewart, Northern Ireland
The crescent strand, the promenade, and why the town fills up every weekend in summer.
15 Amazing Things To Do in Monaghan
The drumlin country south of the border. Lakes, walks, and Patrick Kavanagh country in Inniskeen.
5 Best Day Trips From Belfast
The Causeway Coast, the Mournes, the Antrim Glens. Five trips you can do and be back for dinner.
Pubs and Festivals
Where to Drink and What's On
Belfast pubs, Derry’s Halloween, and the festivals that are worth booking around.
10 Best Bars in Belfast
From the Crown Liquor Saloon to the Cathedral Quarter newcomers. Where to drink and what to order.
Top Belfast Festivals and Events
Culture Night, the Belfast International Arts Festival, the summer fleadhs. What’s worth planning a trip around.
Derry Festivals in September and October
Halloween is the big one and Derry does it better than anywhere else in Ireland. Plus the music and food weeks around it.
Stays
Where to Stay
City hotels, north-coast inns, and the lake-bubble stay that is on every Instagram feed.
Luxury Hotels in Belfast
The Merchant, the Grand Central, and the boutique stays in Cathedral Quarter. Rooms, prices, and what each is good for.
Hotels in Bushmills
The best places to stay within walking distance of the Causeway Coast and the Old Bushmills Distillery.
Best Bed and Breakfast in Northern Ireland
A proper Irish B and B on the north coast. Why this one keeps coming up in best-of lists.
Finn Lough Resort, Fermanagh
Bubble domes on the edge of a lake. Sleeping with the stars in one of Northern Ireland’s most photographed stays.
Golf
Northern Ireland and Donegal Golf
The Open hosts, the heathlands, and the under-the-radar links. The whole Ulster golf list.
7 Best Northern Ireland Golf Courses
The Open hosts, the heathlands, and the hidden tracks. Where to play and what each course is known for.
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Open Championship venue. Tee times, green fees, and what to expect on the Dunluce links.
Royal County Down Golf Club
Often called the best course in the world. Booking, green fees, and the view of the Mournes from the first tee.
Ballyliffin Golf Club
Two championship links on the Donegal coast. Old Links versus Glashedy, and how to play both in a day.
Holywood Golf Course
Rory McIlroy’s home course outside Belfast. Parkland golf, fair test, and an easy round if you can get a tee time.
Itineraries
Trips That Include Ulster
Multi-region routes and all-Ireland lists where the north of the island is part of the plan.
10 Days in Ireland: The Ultimate Itinerary
The full-loop itinerary including Belfast, the Causeway Coast, and Donegal as part of the north leg.
30 Best Things To Do in Ireland
The national bucket list. The Causeway, Belfast, and Derry all sit in the top of it.
10 Best Golf Courses in Ireland
The all-island top ten. Royal Portrush and Royal County Down anchor the Ulster picks.
15 Best Seaside Towns in Ireland
Portrush, Portstewart, and Ballycastle sit alongside the southern coastal towns on this all-island list.
15 Best Hikes in Ireland
Slieve Donard, the Causeway Coast Way, and the Mourne ridges feature in the all-island trail picks.
Best Time to Visit Ireland
Month-by-month picks for the whole island. Weather notes for the north end where it can be a touch wetter and cooler.
WHEN TO VISIT ULSTER
Pick Your Season
Ulster is colder and quieter than the rest of Ireland, with the Causeway Coast and Donegal as the headline acts. Here is when to go for which kind of trip.
SPRING
Spring
March to May
Spring in the north is colder than the rest of Ireland for longer. Donegal and the Causeway Coast hold onto winter feel until late March, then turn fast.
8 to 13°CAvg temp (46 to 55°F)
12 to 16 hrsDaylight
12 to 14Rain days / month
What to pack: Waterproof jacket, layers, sturdy walking shoes, a warm hat for early mornings.
Signature events
- St Patrick’s Day, Downpatrick17 March, County Down
- Belfast Children’s FestivalMarch
- Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, BelfastMay
- Walled City Music Festival, DerryMay
Best for: Hikers heading for the Mournes, the Causeway Coast, or Donegal with less competition for accommodation.
SUMMER
Summer
June to August
The north has its warmest, driest stretch. Donegal beaches, the Causeway Coast and the Mournes all reward summer visits, though weekends fill up fast.
14 to 20°CAvg temp (57 to 68°F)
16 to 18 hrsDaylight
11 to 13Rain days / month
What to pack: Layers, a light waterproof, sunglasses, plus a warmer top for breezy evenings on the coast.
Signature events
- Belfast MelaAugust
- Foyle Maritime Festival, DerryLate July, biennial
- Open House Festival, BangorAugust, County Down
- Mary from Dungloe FestivalLate July to early August, County Donegal
- Lughnasa Festival, Carrickfergus CastleAugust
Best for: Coastal hikers, surfers, and anyone aiming for the Causeway Coast or Donegal beaches in their best months.
AUTUMN
Autumn
September to November
The north cools quickly. The Causeway Coast in October light is hard to beat, but November brings the first real winter feel, especially in Donegal.
8 to 15°CAvg temp (46 to 59°F)
9 to 13 hrsDaylight
13 to 16Rain days / month
What to pack: Waterproof shell, fleece or jumper, walking boots, scarf and gloves by late November.
Signature events
- Derry Halloween (Banks of the Foyle)31 October
- Belfast International Arts FestivalOctober to November
- Belfast Culture NightSeptember
- Open House Belfast (architecture weekend)October
Best for: Anyone aiming for Derry Halloween or the Causeway Coast in low autumn light, with the caveat of short days.
WINTER
Winter
December to February
The north sees the coldest temperatures and the most consistent risk of snow on higher ground. Belfast and Derry handle the winter beautifully, but Donegal can feel remote.
3 to 8°CAvg temp (37 to 46°F)
7 to 9 hrsDaylight
14 to 17Rain days / month
What to pack: Insulated waterproof, warm jumper, hat, gloves, scarf, properly waterproof boots.
Signature events
- Belfast Christmas Market, City HallMid November to 22 December
- Derry Christmas MarketDecember
- Out to Lunch Arts Festival, BelfastJanuary
- St Brigid’s Day events across the north1 February
Best for: Belfast and Derry city breakers who want Christmas markets, music and pubs. Save Donegal coastal driving for better weather.
Real Guides by Real People
About these Ulster guides
Every Ulster guide on this page is written from time spent up here, not pulled from a database. We’ve driven the Causeway Coast, played Royal Portrush, sat in Belfast pubs, walked the Derry walls, and slept on Donegal beaches. The tradeoffs are honest. The recommendations are ones we’d give a friend.
