Causeway Coast without a car

Hi. I'm traveling to Ireland in May. I plan to spend a day traveling the Causeway Coast. I'm starting in Belfast and I want the giants causeway to either be my first or last stop in the route. I also want to see Rathlin Island, the rope bridge, and a castle or two. Of course if there's any other stops you recommend, let me know! My main question is if anyone could lay out exactly how to do this by bus or train? Thank you!

Hi Aida,

May is a lovely time to explore the Causeway Coast and Northern Ireland! Belfast has plenty to offer. You could consider visiting the Belfast Castle and the Titanic Belfast experience. 

Translink offers iLink Travelcard for rail and bus travel within Northern Ireland. You can choose the period and zones that suit your needs. The Causeway Coastal route is best done by bus. One of the best tools for planning your travel is Transport for Ireland's Journey Planner. More information about traveling by public transport is available here. 

Glenarm Castle would be on your way towards Rathlin Island and the Causeway Coast. Rathlin Island could be a great place to overnight as well. You could take a boat back to the Ballycastle in the morning and then a couple-kilometre bus ride to the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. You'd still have plenty of time to visit Giants Causeway that same day. Bushmills town and its famous brewery are close and could be a nice place to spend the night. There are also other castles nearby, such as  Dunluce Castle. All the distances are short and bus services work generally well.

The whole coastal route is picturesque, with plenty of interesting places to see. Do you have some specific interest and how much time have you allocated for this part of your trip? Happy to answer any further questions you may have.

Cheers,
Lauri