Giant's Causeway & Whiskey Tasting Day Trip

About This Experience

Trade the city for the coast on this full-day coach trip from Dublin into Northern Ireland, a single day that stitches together some of the island's most dramatic scenery and its whiskey heritage. After an early departure, you'll settle in for the drive north and let your guide set the scene with the history and folklore of the places ahead. The first stop is Dunluce Castle, a medieval fortress perched on a cliff above the Irish Sea, where you'll have time to take in the coastal views and photograph the ruins.

The centrepiece of the day is the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's great geological wonders. You'll have time to walk among the thousands of interlocking hexagonal basalt columns, stroll the rugged shoreline, and hear the myths that gave the causeway its name. From there the route continues to the Dark Hedges, the tunnel of intertwined beech trees made famous by Game of Thrones, an atmospheric spot that photographs beautifully.

The trip finishes in Belfast at Titanic Distillers, housed in the historic Thompson Dock pumphouse that once served the shipyard where the Titanic was built. Here you'll enjoy a guided whiskey tasting before the coach returns you to Dublin. It is a long day of travel with several stops, so expect an early start, plenty of time on the road, and a well-paced mix of coastline, castles, film locations, and Irish whiskey.

Highlights

• Stand among the hexagonal basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• See the cliff-top ruins of Dunluce Castle above the Irish Sea
• Walk the beech-tree tunnel of the Dark Hedges, a Game of Thrones filming location
• Enjoy a guided whiskey tasting at Titanic Distillers in Belfast's historic Thompson Dock pumphouse
• Travel by comfortable coach with an English-speaking guide sharing history and folklore along the way

What's Included

• ✓ Round-trip coach transport from Dublin
• ✓ English-speaking tour guide
• ✓ Whiskey tasting experience at Titanic Distillers
• ✓ Hotel or central pickup and drop-off
• ✓ Entrance fees included on the itinerary (Giant's Causeway visitor centre entry may be optional or at additional cost)

Not Included

• Food and drinks (other than the included whiskey tasting)
• Additional whiskey or purchases at the distillery
• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Optional extras and personal expenses

What to Bring

• Comfortable walking shoes for uneven terrain
• Weather-appropriate and outdoor clothing, including a rain jacket
• Photo ID
• Camera for the coastline, castle, and Dark Hedges

Good to Know & Caveats

• This is a long day of about 13 hours with a lot of time on the road
• Boarding begins at 6:30am and latecomers cannot be waited for, so arrive early
• Expect a fair amount of walking on uneven, sometimes slippery terrain at the Giant's Causeway
• The experience is outdoors and weather-dependent, so dress for changeable coastal conditions

Meeting Point

Outside the Hugh Lane Gallery on Parnell Square North, central Dublin. See voucher for exact pickup details.