Giants Causeway — Attraction in Ireland

The Giants Causeway Visitor Experience ticket includes the entrance (per person) into the Visitor Centre, including access to the cafe, gift shop, parking, the tours, and audio guides.

If you park in the 'Visitor Experience car park' you will be asked to buy these tickets upon entry for each person travelling in the car.

If you would like to go into the Visitor Centre or go on a tour, this is the option you should take. You should book in advance, arrive on time, and park in the Visitor Experience car park. It is the closest car park to the Causeway itself.

Access to the Causeway, which is at the end of a public road (albeit closed to motorists) is free. It is a public site, there is no cost to access it on foot.

There are alternatives for people who just wish to visit the Causeway and not to enter the Visitor Centre or go on the tour.

The National Trust operates a car park 200m east up the main road, called the Causeway Coast Way Car Park. As of 2024, there is a £10 charge for car to be parked in the car park, for the day. Please remember that parking here does not permit you access to the Visitor Centre and therefore the tours, but allows you to walk down to the Causeway for free.

Similar arrangements exist at the Giants Causeway Heritage Railway, and the Causeway Hotel car park. The latter is very small, and fills up quickly, so if you intend to park at this car park you should get there early in the morning (not long after 9am), or late in the afternoon (3:30pm-5pm).

Please remember: you cannot enter the visitor center and avail of the cafe, toilets and gift shop without a Visitor Experience ticket.

Public toilets can be found on the side of the Hotel. There is food and drink and coffee provision in the Causeway Hotel, the Nook coffee shop, and the Heritage Railway Station. There are also a litany of good restaurants and cafes in nearby Bushmills, and the nearby Bothy is very comfortable and pleasant as well.

The bus to the Causeway is operated by Translink, and (as of 2024: £1) is not included in the Visitor Experience ticket. Everyone can get it as a result, regardless of their ticket.

Please note that the Heritage Railway car park is at the bottom of a steep hill, and may not be the best option for people with wheelchairs or hard on foot.

Remember to wear good walking shoes or trainers, for walking the tarmac road down to the stones, on the Causeway itself, and walking on the higher trail. I have immense respect for the people who go to the Causeway in flip flops or high, as ridiculous as they may be and as much as they may later regret it.

I thoroughly recommend parking at the Heritage Railway car park at the other end of the line, just outside Bushmills. There is a lovely 20-30 minute walk along the little railway line, through Bushfoot Golf Club to the Causeway, which gets you away from the traffic chaos and means you can walk to the Causeway for free. Make sure you have good footwear and are prepared to walk.

Alternatively, some people park in Portballintrae by the Village Hall, and walk that way, some via Runkerry Beach and the beautiful Runkerry headland.

Make sure to check out Dunluce Castle nearby, on the other side of Portballintrae!

The Giants Causeway truly is a wonder of the natural world and is a must-see for any Northern Ireland itenary.

Good information on the Causeway can be found on the National Trust website and on the Encyclopedia...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Giant's Causeway, and I must say that it exceeded all my expectations. This natural wonder located in Northern Ireland, is a geological masterpiece that has been shaped over millions of years by volcanic activity, and it's truly a sight to behold.

One of the things that makes the Giant's Causeway even more special is its connection to the hit TV show, Game of Thrones. Several scenes from the show were filmed at this iconic location, adding to its allure for fans of the series. As I walked along the trails that wind their way through the columns, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as I recognized some of the locations from the show.

Aside from its connection to Game of Thrones, the Giant's Causeway is an impressive sight in its own right. The views of the coastline and the sea are simply breathtaking, and the columns themselves are an impressive sight to behold. Walking along the trails that wind through the columns is a fascinating experience, as each turn reveals a new and stunning vista.

Another highlight of my visit was learning about the local flora and fauna. The Giant's Causeway is home to a variety of unique plant and animal species that have adapted to the harsh and rugged environment. The visitors center provided great information on these species, and it was interesting to see how they have managed to survive in such a challenging environment.

Overall, I would highly recommend a visit to the Giant's Causeway. It's a natural wonder that offers something for everyone, whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, a Game of Thrones fan, or just looking for a memorable day out. The combination of stunning scenery, fascinating geology, and rich cultural history makes it a must-see destination for anyone visiting Northern Ireland. I was truly captivated by this site and would love to go back one day to experience its...

The causeway stones are located 1.2km from the Visitor Centre so a reasonable level of fitness is required. The Blue Trail is the most direct route to the causeway stones. The trail does have some steep inclines and the natural gradient of the terrain may not be suitable for visitors with reduced mobility, manual wheelchair users or older visitors. It also may not be suitable for some battery operated wheelchairs or mobility vehicles. The Green Trail takes you along a clifftop towards Runkerry with views of the causeway stones. On most days you can also see Scotland and the Inishowen Peninsula in Ireland too. This path has a level gradient and is accessible for wheelchair users however some help from a companion or carer may be necessary on parts of path where there are loose stones. It was declared a was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, the Giant's Causeway was named the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. Much of the Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site is owned and managed by the National Trust. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, receiving over 998,000 visitors in 2019. Access to the Giant's Causeway is free of charge: it is not necessary to go via the visitor centre, which charges a fee. For centuries countless visitors have explored the Giant’s Causeway and marvelled at its unique rock formations. Situated on one of Worlds most spectacular coastlines, its unique rock formations have, for nearly sixty million years, stood as a natural rampart against the unbridled ferocity of the North Atlantic storms. The rugged symmetry of the columns never fails to intrigue and inspire our visitors. To stroll on the Giant’s Causeway is to voyage...