Staycations in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the most underrated staycation destinations in the UK. It is small enough to cover a lot in a long weekend, yet it has a lively capital, one of the most dramatic coastlines in Europe, a walled city, a lake district and a mountain range that runs down to the sea. Ferries from Scotland and north west England make it easy to bring a car.

Belfast

Belfast is the natural starting point. The Titanic Quarter tells the story of the city's shipbuilding past, and Titanic Hotel Belfast occupies the restored Harland and Wolff drawing offices where the ship was designed. The Cathedral Quarter is the centre for pubs and restaurants, and The Merchant Hotel, in a grand former bank, is the city's best-known five-star stay.

For a break from the centre, the Botanic Gardens and their Victorian Palm House are rated 4.6 from over 9,000 reviews. Our Belfast staycation guide covers the city in more depth.

The Causeway Coast

The north coast is the highlight of most trips. The Giant's Causeway, with its basalt columns, is the famous sight, but the whole stretch is worth driving slowly, taking in the ruins of Dunluce Castle on its clifftop, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Old Bushmills Distillery.

Portrush is the best base, a seaside town with sandy beaches on either side and the Royal Portrush golf links. Ballymena and Antrim are inland options that also put you close to the Glens of Antrim, a series of green valleys running down to the eastern coast.

Derry

Derry is one of the best examples of a walled city in Europe. Its 17th-century walls are complete, and you can walk the full circuit in under an hour, with views over the Bogside murals and the Peace Bridge across the Foyle. The railway from Coleraine to Derry runs along the coast and is one of the most scenic train journeys in the UK.

Fermanagh's lakes

In the south west, County Fermanagh is built around Lough Erne, a large lake system scattered with islands, monastic ruins and quiet water for boating. Enniskillen, on the river between the upper and lower lough, is the main town and has a castle at its centre. Lough Erne Resort is a five-star golf and spa hotel on its own peninsula, rated 4.6 from nearly 2,000 reviews.

The Mournes and County Down

The Mourne Mountains rise steeply from the coast of County Down and are Northern Ireland's best walking country, with Slieve Donard as the highest peak. Slieve Donard Resort, a Victorian railway hotel in Newcastle, sits right at the foot of the mountain. Newry is another base for the area.

Further north, Strangford Lough is a large sea lough known for its birdlife. Newtownards and Downpatrick, traditionally linked with St Patrick, are good bases, and Bangor is a seaside town on Belfast Lough with a marina.

Armagh

Armagh is a small cathedral city with two St Patrick's cathedrals, one Church of Ireland and one Catholic, facing each other across the town. It also has a planetarium and observatory, making it a good stop for a day.

Planning your trip

A car makes Northern Ireland much easier to explore, though Belfast, the north coast and Derry are all linked by train. Distances are short, so a long weekend can easily cover Belfast and the Causeway Coast. For a week, add Fermanagh or the Mournes.

The north coast and the Mournes appeared in Game of Thrones, and our guide to film and TV location staycations has more on that. Golfers should read golf staycations, and historic staycations covers castles and ruins across the UK.