Northern Ireland packs millennia of stories into a compact landscape: ancient basalt columns, world-famous shipyards, walled cities, linen barons, and music that spills from snug pubs. This 6-day itinerary pairs vibrant Belfast with Derry~Londonderry, bookending a spectacular Giant’s Causeway day tour along the Antrim Coast.

From the slipways where RMS Titanic was built to murals that chart the Troubles, you’ll move through living history with local voices—then refuel on seafood, market bites, and small-batch ales. Expect friendly chat, poetic place-names, and scenery that swings from cliff-edge castles to wave-lapped coves.

Practical notes: Northern Ireland uses pound sterling, and you’ll ride on the left. Trains and coaches are straightforward between cities, and many top sights (Titanic Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, city tours) are easily prebooked. Bring layers: coastal weather changes quickly, rewarding the prepared with moody skies and golden light.

Belfast

Belfast is a city of makers and storytellers. The Harland & Wolff cranes still guard the skyline, while the Cathedral Quarter hums with street art, live trad, and inventive kitchens. Titanic Belfast anchors the revitalized Titanic Quarter, where slipways have become a waterfront promenade.

Top sights and neighborhoods to know:

• Titanic Quarter: Tour the award-winning Titanic Belfast, step aboard SS Nomadic, and walk the historic slipways.
• Cathedral Quarter: Cobblestones, galleries, and beloved pubs like the Duke of York; perfect for evenings.
• St George’s Market (Fri–Sun): Local bakers, cheesemongers, and hot-food stalls—ideal for brunch grazing.
• Peace Walls & Murals: Powerful, moving street art in the Shankill and Falls—best understood with a local guide.

Where to stay: For hotels and apartments across the city center, search Hotels.com Belfast or browse unique homes via VRBO Belfast. Look near the Cathedral Quarter or Linen Quarter for walkable nights out.

How to get here:

• Flights from Europe: Compare fares to Belfast City (BHD) or Belfast International (BFS) via Omio (flights). London to Belfast takes ~1h15; typical one-way fares ~$50–$120.
• Flights from outside Europe: Search global options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, often connecting via London, Dublin, or Amsterdam.
• From Dublin: The cross-border Enterprise train takes ~2h10; check times and prices on Omio (trains). Coaches are also frequent via Omio (buses).

Eat & drink like a local:

• Breakfast/coffee: Established Coffee (precision brews, sourdough toasts), The Pocket (house-made pastries), General Merchants (Aussie-style brunch), Guilt Trip (doughnuts + specialty coffee).
• Lunch: St George’s Market bites (Ulster fry baps, soda farls), Fish City (award-winning fish & chips), Coppi (Venetian-style cicchetti).
• Dinner: OX (modern Irish tasting menus), Mourne Seafood Bar (day-boat oysters and hake), EDO (wood-fired small plates).
• Pubs and late drinks: The Crown Liquor Saloon (Victorian snugs), Duke of York (classic Belfast craic), Sunflower Public House (heated courtyard and live music).

Day 1: Arrival, Cathedral Quarter, and an Open-Top Orientation

Afternoon: Arrive and drop your bags. Stretch your legs through the Cathedral Quarter’s alleys to spot street art and the neon-peaked Duke of York lane. For a quick city overview, ride the

City Sightseeing Belfast Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (allow ~90 minutes for a full loop; 1–2 day passes available).

Evening: Settle into dinner at Mourne Seafood Bar for mussels with white wine and parsley, or EDO for Iberian-inspired small plates (don’t miss the smoked beef tartare). Cap the night in the Crown Liquor Saloon—book a snug if one’s free.

Day 2: Murals, the Troubles, and Titanic Belfast

Morning: Dive into Belfast’s recent history on an intimate taxi tour of the Shankill and Falls, signed peace walls, and memorials: Award Winning Exclusive 2 Hr Private Belfast Black Taxi Cab Tour (about 2 hours; flexible start times).

Afternoon: Walk or taxi to the Titanic Quarter. Prebook the Titanic Belfast Entrance Ticket: Titanic Visitor Experience Including SS Nomadic (plan ~2–3 hours). Trace the liner’s design and launch, then board SS Nomadic, the last White Star Line vessel.

Evening: Dinner in the Cathedral Quarter: Coppi for cacio e pepe arancini and squid ink risotto, or OX for a seasonal tasting menu with Lough Neagh eel or Glenarm beef when in season. Nightcap at the Duke of York or The Spaniard (tiny, rum-forward).

Day 3: Full-Day Giant’s Causeway and the Antrim Coast

Join a coast-hugging day trip: Giant’s Causeway Day Trip from Belfast (typically 9–10 hours; ~$45–$70. Expect hexagonal basalt columns at the UNESCO-listed Causeway, windswept Dunluce Castle views, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge viewpoint, and often a stop at the Dark Hedges for photos.

Bring layers and sturdy shoes for the coastal paths. For a snack stop, look for a bakery in Ballycastle (Ursa Minor’s sourdoughs are beloved) or classic fish-and-chips at Morton’s on the harbor. Back in Belfast, keep dinner easy—Fish City or a comforting curry at Nu Delhi.

Derry~Londonderry

Derry is Ireland’s only completely walled city, its 17th-century ramparts circling a compact old town threaded with craft shops and cafés. The views from the Walls sweep to the Peace Bridge and River Foyle, linking past and present in one glance.

Highlights include the Bogside murals (with strong community narratives), the neo-Gothic Guildhall with its stained glass, and the riverside Peace Bridge. Foodwise, the city shines with independent kitchens and a thriving local brewery scene.

Where to stay: Base near the city walls or riverfront. Search options on Hotels.com Derry and browse apartments or cottages on VRBO Derry.

Getting from Belfast (morning departure):

• Train: Belfast Lanyon Place to Derry~Londonderry takes ~2h15 along a scenic coastal section. Check times and book via Omio (trains). Advance fares are often £13–£20.
• Coach: Goldline 212 runs ~2 hours; compare on Omio (buses).

Eat & drink:

• Breakfast/coffee: Primrose on the Quay (eggs benny, pancakes), Cafe Ole in the Craft Village (good espresso), Scarpello & Co (legendary sourdough and pastries).
• Lunch: Soda & Starch (Irish comfort with local produce in the Craft Village), Pyke ’N’ Pommes (street-food burgers and tacos near the river), The Exchange (crowd-pleasing mains).
• Dinner: Walled City Brewery (beer pairing menus), Quaywest (seafood and steaks in a riverside warehouse), Browns in Town (modern Irish plates).
• Pubs & music: Peadar O’Donnell’s (trad sessions), Guildhall Taphouse (local taps), Grand Central Bar (historic boozer).

Day 4: Belfast Brunch, Scenic Train, and Derry’s City Walls

Morning: Quick bite at Established Coffee or The Pocket. Depart on the morning train to Derry (~2h15). Grab a window seat on the right for Lough Foyle views beyond Coleraine.

Afternoon: Check in, then walk the full circuit of the City Walls (1 mile, allow 60–90 minutes). Pause at the cannons of Royal Bastion for sweeping views over the Bogside and the Peace Bridge.

Evening: Dinner at Walled City Brewery—book their tasting menu with house-brewed ales (the Cherryfest sour is a fun pairing). Later, catch live trad at Peadar O’Donnell’s; arrive early to snag a corner.

Day 5: Museums, Murals, and Riverfront Wandering

Morning: Breakfast at Primrose on the Quay. Visit the Guildhall to admire its stained-glass panels and explore the Tower Museum for the “Story of Derry” exhibits (allow ~90 minutes).

Afternoon: Join a local-guided Bogside murals walk (look for community-led tours that contextualize the People’s Gallery). Cross the Peace Bridge to Ebrington Square for coffee and views. Lunch at Soda & Starch in the Craft Village—try the slow-cooked beef or seasonal veggie plate.

Evening: Casual dinner at Quaywest (the seafood pie is a favorite) or go for wood-fired pizza and antipasti at Scarpello & Co. Wind down with a pint at Guildhall Taphouse or a stroll along the lit riverside.

Day 6: Markets, Last Sips, and Departure

Morning: Pick up final souvenirs in the Craft Village—ceramics, knitwear, and local jams travel well. Coffee at Cafe Ole, then a final loop on the ramparts if you missed a bastion or two.

Afternoon: Depart from City of Derry Airport (limited routes; check Omio (flights)) or return to Belfast by train (~2h15) for onward flights via Omio (flights), Trip.com, or Kiwi.com.

Optional seaside detour (from Belfast): If you crave a calm coastal night, consider Bangor (30 minutes by train). For a character stay in the woods-meets-coast, check The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn; for marina views, try the Marine Court Hotel; or opt for contemporary comfort at Clandeboye Lodge Hotel. Walk the North Down Coastal Path to Crawfordsburn Country Park and back for sea air and seals on a lucky day.

Trip recap: Six days in Northern Ireland give you Belfast’s industrial grit and creativity, Derry’s walled-city heritage, and the basalt drama of the Giant’s Causeway. Between market breakfasts, pub tunes, and cliff-top photo stops, you’ll collect stories that stick long after your last sip of Irish stout.