Northern Ireland is just a short trip across the sea from my home country, Scotland, but it wasn’t until I got into a relationship with a Northern Irish man that I finally visited.
Three months into our relationship, we ventured over so that I could meet his family. Since it was my first time visiting, we also saw some of Northern Ireland’s most popular hot spots, from the Dark Hedges to Titanic Belfast.
That was a decade ago, and since then I’ve been a frequent visitor, usually going multiple times a year. I often see first-time tourists making the same mistakes — from paying to see the Giant’s Causeway to not having a basic knowledge of the Troubles.
There’s more to Northern Ireland than the ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations
I’m a fan of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” so I’ve visited a few of the Northern Irish filming locations — including Ballintoy Harbour, which starred as the Iron Islands, and the Dark Hedges, which is part of the Kingsroad.
Visiting these sites might be worth it for major “Game of Thrones” fans, but for most people, I would caution against making them the center of an itinerary.
Not only do they sometimes not live up to expectations — in the show, the Dark Hedges look otherworldly; in reality, I’ve found them to be overcrowded — but I think there are more interesting places to prioritize.
Not far from the Dark Hedges is one of my favorite places to visit: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This 66-foot bridge connects a small island, once used for fishing, to the mainland.
Other nearby places I recommend include Dunluce Castle, the ruins of which are perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, and Bushmills Distillery, where people can learn about the whiskey-making process (and try a sample!).
Many people think there’s a fee to visit the Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular attractions — and for good reason.
Located on the north coast, the Causeway is made up of about 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, or pieces of hardened lava. It looks like a landscape pulled from legend.
I’ve heard a lot of tourists assume that they have to pay around 16 pounds (or about $21) to see the Causeway, but the ticket actually just covers parking and entry to the visitor center — neither of which is strictly necessary. Exploring the mystical-looking stones themselves is completely free.
The easiest way to skip the parking fee is to go in the evening once the visitor center is shut (it’ll also be far less busy!). There aren’t lights down by the sea, so I wouldn’t recommend doing this in the winter, but Northern Ireland has long, light summer nights.
Another lesser-known way to snag parking is to stay or eat at the Causeway Hotel, which is next to the visitor center. Of course, a meal or stay at the hotel costs more than the Causeway’s parking fee, but if you need accommodation or a meal anyway, it’s a great choice. The food is always delicious.
Some visitors don’t have a basic understanding of the Troubles
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (often just called Ireland) share an island, but they’re separate countries with a complicated history.
In Northern Ireland, the last 30 years of the 20th century were dominated by the Troubles — the scars of which are still felt today.
In the simplest terms, the Troubles marked a period of violence between Protestants, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain in the UK, and Catholics, who wanted the country to join Ireland.
Belfast offers walking tours that provide some more context about the conflict, but knowing some basics before your trip can help you be a more respectful tourist.
Although the conflict is over, Northern Ireland is still covered in flags and murals that declare a neighborhood or town’s political allegiance. I don’t recommend bringing this still-sensitive history up to any locals, though.
Tourists sometimes assume Titanic Belfast is about the movie
Titanic Belfast is a museum dedicated to the famous ocean liner that sank in the Atlantic in 1912. While exploring the exhibits, I overheard a few people express confusion about the museum’s lack of information about James Cameron’s “Titanic”.
There is a gallery about popular culture related to the ship — and, of course, it includes the blockbuster movie — but it’s far from the museum’s focus. I’d say Titanic Belfast is geared more toward history lovers, rather than film buffs.
That said, lovers of the movie will still likely find Titanic Belfast fascinating. The museum stands at the head of the slipway where the Titanic was built, giving a sense of just how huge the ship was. There’s also lots of interesting information about what life was like on board.
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