A quick guide to having a wild adventure in Northern Ireland

For vibrant city breaks, family-friendly days out or adventure in the great outdoors, Northern Ireland has a multitude of options for visitors. We have picked out some of the best for 2024.

Belfast

Connoisseurs have long considered Belfast a cool place to visit – but now it’s official. The city has been ranked in National Geographic’s 2024 travel hotlist, alongside trending destinations such as Miami and the Albanian Alps. That’s largely due to the arrival of Belfast 2024; a yearlong celebration of all things cultural in the city which focuses on the themes Our People, Our Place and Our Planet. Its eclectic calendar of events includes the Festival of Fools, the Cathedral Arts Festival and the Spring Continental Market.

Titanic Belfast, the world-class museum whose focus is the historic liner, underwent a multi-million-pound refurbishment last year which has taken the visitor experience to the next level. One of Belfast’s standout attractions, it is located right where the ship was built. In the same neighbourhood, further along the Maritime Mile, the all-new Titanic Brewery is a great spot to quaff some top Belfast craft beers.

Bringing the kids? Nestled among the Belfast Hills in Colin Glen Forest Park, the Gruffalo Trail, endorsed by the writer of the popular children’s books from which it takes its name, Julia Donaldson, is a fun outdoor attraction for kids who have a grá for nature and fantasy.

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Derry

Derry is one of the most appealing city-break destinations in all of Ireland, thanks to its rich history – a walk on its 17th century city walls is a must – coupled with fresh, new visitor experiences and wealth of modern accommodation offers.

Following hot on the heels of Game of Thrones, Derry Girls has added to the phenomenal screen tourism that Northern Ireland has been experiencing in recent years, attracting large numbers of fans to the hometown of Erin, Clare, Michelle, Orla et al.

Visitors can take in the Derry Girls mural, as well as filming locations around the city, plus there’s The Derry Girls Experience, a quirky exhibition at the Tower Museum that features memorabilia from the hit series.

For festival lovers, June sees the return of the biannual Foyle Maritime Festival to Derry’s riverfront, featuring tall ships, festival markets and bars, and plenty of entertainment and interactive activities

For literature lovers, The Ulysses European Odyssey, a celebration of James Joyce that showcases artistic responses to social and cultural themes in the 18 episodes of Ulysses, has its grand finale in Derry after travelling through 18 countries over the past two years.

Tyrone

Although too often it is bypassed by holidaymakers heading for the likes of Donegal or Antrim’s Causeway Coast, many people know there’s no need to go any further than Tyrone. The Sperrin Mountains, among Ireland’s greatest open-air amenities, make the county an excellent destination for an escape to nature.

Along with offering excellent hiking for all levels of wanderer, since last year these hills are home to the Giants of the Sperrins Sculpture Trail, an immersive art installation created by world-acclaimed recycle artist Thomas Dambo. The trail tells stories of the geology, archaeology and heritage of the Sperrins via its three giant characters, located across the range.

Also in the Sperrins the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory is, thanks to its remote, dark-sky location in Davagh Forest, an optimal location for enjoying some epic stargazing.

Elsewhere in the North’s biggest county, the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh is a great all-generation attraction where you can journey back to the Ulster of old, from which emigrants left for a better life in the New World. Guests can even step aboard a replica emigrant ship to really sail back in time.

Antrim

If you have not been to north Antrim, put it on your staycation wish list for 2024. For breathtaking vistas, the Causeway Coastal Route is on par with any road in the world. Plus, it is studded with blockbuster attractions, from Dunluce Castle to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge – and, of course, the Giant’s Causeway.

While in the area, it is well worth making time to venture offshore too, whether for a kayaking adventure or an exhilarating rib ride along the north Antrim coast’s spectacular basalt cliffs. Keep an eye out for dolphins too.

And if you want to really go offshore, Rathlin Island offers a true sense of escape just a 30-minute ferry ride from the seaside town of Ballycastle. Ireland’s most northern inhabited island (it has the edge on Tory by a few degrees of latitude) makes an excellent spot for wildlife lovers too – keep an eye out for puffins at this time of year before they return to the high seas. Rathlin really opens for tourists at Easter and upcoming events include Rathlin’s annual Maritime Festival in May and June. Accommodation can get snapped up quickly so be sure to book in good time.

Antrim’s eastern coastline offers many other gems. Glenarm Castle Walled Garden, located in the picture-postcard village of the same name, was named the Historic Houses 2023 Garden of The Year, the first Northern Ireland location to receive the prestigious UK accolade, which recognises gardens’ outstanding horticultural and public appeal. You can stay overnight there thanks to gorgeous glamping pods.

Fermanagh

If it’s a place to relax and unwind in that you are after, possibly combined with a foodie break, Fermanagh could be just the ticket. The Fermanagh Lakelands is home to the Erne waterway and one of Ireland’s tastiest food scenes. As the most sparsely populated county in Northern Ireland, it’s easy to unwind in Fermanagh and the main town, Enniskillen, offers everything from excellent food tours to boat trips. A visit to the historic Devenish Island, with its monastic site including a round tower and abbey ruins, should be on any visitor’s agenda.

For those seeking an active day out, the Cuilcagh Mountain boardwalk, a stunning hilly ascent also known locally as the Stairway to Heaven, is a hugely popular route for those seeking a trek with a view. Just get there early to avoid the crowds. Elsewhere, you can enjoy less taxing rambles in some of the county’s most beautiful stately homes, including Florence Court and Castle Coole, both run by the National Trust, while the spectacular Marble Arch Caves are well worth a look when you’re in the vicinity of Cuilcagh.

And if you fancy bringing the dog, Enniskillen prides itself as a pet-friendly town, with a number of dog-friendly accommodations and gastropubs.

Down

It has been a big year for County Down. Thanks to its areas of outstanding natural beauty (some of which extend into neighbouring Armagh), the region of Mourne Gullion Strangford has been classified a Unesco Geopark.

Another destination in the heart of nature that’s suitable for all the family is, Strangford Lough, which, the obvious disparity in the amount of water aside, has been called the Serengeti of Ireland, such is the abundance of wildlife to which it is home.

That’s specifically due to its birdlife, as twitchers will likely be aware, the fact that 85 per cent of the planet’s Brent Geese population migrate here every winter is just one statistic that makes this unique sea lough a birdwatcher’s paradise (it is even said that the geese use Scrabo Tower, at the top of the lough, as a navigational tool). At the Castle Espie Wetland Centre, on the loughshore near Newtownards, you can learn all about this incredible habitat through a range of child-friendly experiences.

Another fantastic family-friendly attraction on Strangford Lough, Exploris in Portaferry, is the only aquarium along Ireland’s eastern seaboard, as well as being a seal rehabilitation centre.

Back inland, The Game of Thrones Studio in Banbridge has just celebrated its second birthday and now features regular buses from Dublin and Belfast to the attraction.

Armagh

Last but not least, the picturesque Orchard County offers visitors a great crop of attractions. If astronomy is your bag – or if it isn’t yet – one of the main draws here is the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, which sells itself as “the place for space” for all ages interested in the field. Visitors to the observatory, which was founded in 1789, can explore the universe from the impressive, more recent, full-dome theatre show, or through the outdoor Astropark’s series of trails.

Just a few miles off the main A1 road near Newry, Slieve Gullion Forest Park makes an excellent stop-off for those travelling between Dublin and Belfast – in fact, it is a worthy destination in its own right. Located in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, the forest park features walking trails, a gorgeous looped scenic drive and Fionn’s Giant Adventure Playpark, which offers a fun story trail tapping into the mythology of the region.

Armagh also offers a lively schedule of events across the year, from its annual St Patrick’s Day festival to its Food and Cider Weekend and, later in the year, its Georgian Festival.

For more on attractions, events and a wealth of getaway inspiration, see discovernorthernireland.com