Belfast and Giant’s Causeway: Practical Tips for Cruise Ship Passengers -

Are you on a British Isles cruise? Is your cruise ship stopping at Belfast and you are wondering where to go? Maybe you are debating whether to book a shore excursion in Belfast or is it okay to explore Belfast on your own? And is the Giant’s Causeway worth a visit?

I had these exact questions when I embarked on a British Isles Cruise with my husband and our two kids.

Here, I’ll share our experiences exploring Belfast City and our unforgettable visit to the Giant’s Causeway. I will also give tips for families visiting the Giant’s Causeway- what to pack, how to dress, etc.- trust me, you will want to learn from my mistakes!

Should You Book a Shore Excursion in Belfast?

Yes, you should book a shore excursion in Belfast. Belfast is not the type of cruise port, where you can wing it and go on your own.

I honestly don’t feel safe in Belfast. I find Belfast to be not as safe as other cruise ports in the British Isles.

The city feels rough, with graffiti everywhere, reminders of the past conflict remain and there is litter everywhere.

I don’t recommend exploring Belfast on your own without a guide. I suggest you plan ahead and book a tour when you are in Belfast.

What type of Tour or Shore Excursion should You book in Belfast?

I suggest booking a shore excursion that will take you to the Giants Causeway, drive you around the seaside towns as well as give you a tour of Belfast.

We joined a full-day Giant’s Causeway with Belfast City tour and it was great. We got to see the Giant’s Causeway, had lunch at a small seaside town, took in scenic sights, and got a tour of Belfast!

Is the Giant’s Causeway Worth a Stop?

Yes, the Giant’s Causeway is worth a stop. In my opinion, Giant’s Causeway is one of the best tourist attractions in the British Isles!

In fact, my kids loved Giant’s Causeway so much that they think it beats other kid-friendly British Isles destinations. If you ask them, they think, the Giant’s Causeway is better than the Tower of London and the Blarney Castle!

What’s So Great about the Giant’s Causeway?

The Giant’s Causeway is a natural geological wonder on the coast of Northern Ireland. Imagine a place with giant hexagonal stone formations by the sea.

These massive hexagonal stone columns are like giant stepping stones. The experience feels otherworldly- you will feel in awe of the natural beauty of the Giant’s Causeway.

The best part about visiting the Giant’s Causeway is that visitors are allowed to explore the giant stone columns.

My kids had so much fun climbing up the stone formations. It’s like a giant Instagram-worthy playground! Definitely, a great place for kids to burn off energy!

How much are Tickets to the Giant’s Causeway?

It’s actually free to visit the Giant’s Causeway. They only charge for parking.

But if you plan to visit the Giant’s Causeway visitors center, you do have to pay an entrance fee.

Our tour did not include the Giant’s Causeway visitor’s center so we had to pay extra to get in the visitor’s center.

Is it Worth it to Visit the Giant’s Causeway Visitors Center?

I don’t think it’s worth it to pay the entrance fee to visit the Giant’s Causeway visitor center. It costs 35 pounds for a family of four or 13.50 pounds for adults and 6.50 pounds per child.

The ticket gets you access to the visitor’s center and toilets. The entrance fee for the Giant’s Causeway Visitor’s Center also included the audio guide.

The only reason why we paid the entrance fee to go into the Giant’s Causeway visitors center was because it was pouring rain outside and my son really needed to go to the bathroom!

It was raining too hard for us to walk to the free restroom so I just decided to pay the entrance fee to use the bathroom and also to stay dry! Having access to clean toilets was really the only reason why we paid the hefty entrance fee! Otherwise, I wouldn’t go into the Giant’s Causeway Visitor’s Center. You are better off spending your time exploring the rock formations at the Giant’s Causeway!

What’s in the Giant’s Causeway Visitors Center?

The Giant’s Causeway visitors center is a large, airy building with toilets, a cafe, a souvenir shop and interactive kid-friendly activities. Imagine a hands-on children’s museum with a cafe and souvenir shop!

It’s a great place to go for a snack and to use the toilets.

The Giant’s Causeway visitors center had a lot of hands-on kid-friendly educational activities. My kids really enjoyed doing the art activity at the Susan Drury station.

If you have the time, it’s nice to go to the visitors center but if you are going with a tour group, you will most likely not have time to fully explore the activities in the visitors center since you’re better off spending your time at the Giant’s Causeway instead.

Are there Free Toilets at the Giant’s Causeway?

Yes, there are free toilets at the Giant’s Causeway. The toilets are located next to the Giant’s Causeway hotel which is literally just around the corner from the Giant’s Causeway visitors center.

So you’re probably wondering why I paid the entrance fee for the Giant’s Causeway visitors center when there is a free toilet right around the corner.

When we were there it was pouring rain, we would have gotten soaked just to walk to the free toilet. We didn’t want to get soaked so I reluctantly paid the entrance fee to stay dry and to use the toilets!

Should you wear Rain Boots to the Giant’s Causeway?

You don’t have to wear rain boots to the Giant’s Causeway. I recommend wearing sneakers or hiking boots with good grip to the Giant’s Causeway instead of rain boots. The weather is unpredictable and if it rains, the rocks will get slippery.

Sneakers or Hiking Boots will be more comfortable and safer because the grip is better than rain boots.

How Do You Get to the Giant’s Causeway?

The best way to get to the Giant’s Causeway if you are coming in as a cruise ship passenger is to book a tour or shore excursion.

I don’t recommend winging it and trying to get to the Giant’s Causeway on your own. If you happen to get a taxi to the Giant’s Causeway there is a high likelihood you will get stranded there unless you pay your taxi driver to wait for you.

Instead of stressing over logistics, I suggest booking a Giant’s Causeway tour in advance.

How far is the Giant’s Causeway from the Belfast Cruise Port?

The drive from the Belfast Cruise Port to Giant’s Causeway is approximately one hour and 20 minutes. It’s a far drive.

When we were there, there was a road diversion that made the drive to the Giant’s Causeway from the Belfast Cruise terminal even longer.

Where can you get Lunch When You visit the Giant’s Causeway?

There are two places to grab lunch at the Giant’s Causeway. You can eat at the Giant’s Causeway visitors center cafe or you can have lunch at the Giant’s Causeway hotel. Do keep in mind, in order to eat at the Giant’s Causeway Visitor’s Center, you will have to pay the entrance fee to get into the Visitor’s Center.

An alternative is to have lunch at the nearby town of Bushmills. We ate at Bushmills Inn in Bushmills and had traditional pub food like Fish and Chips. The wings are delicious at Bushmills Inn.

Tips for Visiting the Giant’s Causeway with Kids

Wear a Raincoat and Bring an Umbrella

The weather in Northern Ireland is unpredictable and can change in an instant! When visiting the Giant’s Causeway, you will be 100% outdoors. If it rains all of a sudden, there is nowhere to go to keep you dry unless you are near the Visitor’s Center.

But the Giant’s Causeway Visitor’s Center is a good 15 to 20 minute walk to the Giant’s Causeway.

When we visited the Giant’s Causeway, it started to rain so we had to run back to the visitor’s center. We were soaking wet!

We weren’t prepared and I only had one umbrella to share with my husband and two kids. Nevertheless, we all got soaked. We also weren’t wearing waterproof raincoats.

Learn from my mistake, dress everyone in waterproof raincoats and bring umbrellas.

Although there’s a shuttle bus that can take you back and forth from the visitor center to the Giants Causeway, when it was raining hard the bus got so full and the line was so long to get on the bus. We decided to just head back on foot instead of waiting for the next shuttle bus.

Bring Cash (Euros)

Bring cash if you plan to take the shuttle bus from the visitor’s center to the Giant’s Causeway. They only accept cash and it costs 1 euro per person each way.

Wear Sneakers or Hiking Boots with Good Grip

Wear sneakers or hiking books with good grip when you visit the Giant’s Causeway. You’ll be doing a lot of walking.

Just to get to the Giant’s Causeway you will have to walk 15-20 minutes from the parking lot and then at the Giant’s Causeway, you will want to climb and explore the massive stones!

The stones can get wet and become slippery if it rains, be safe and make sure your footwear has good grip. Definitely don’t wear sandals or heels, it’s not practical and not safe!

Bring your Camera

Bring your camera because you’ll be taking a lot of pictures at the Giant’s Causeway. With the mesmerizing natural stone formations as your subject, it’s nearly impossible not to take any photos of the epic stone formations.

Every photo and video of the Giant’s Causeway has the potential to go viral on social media! It’s really hard to take a bad picture at the Giant’s Causeway.

Be Prepared to Walk a Lot at the Giant’s Causeway

You will be doing a lot of walking at the Giant’s Causeway. Be prepared to walk 15-20 minutes each way (30-40 minutes round trip!)

If you are traveling with little kids, I suggest taking the shuttle bus because it will be hard to bring the stroller. I saw a few parents carry their babies in their baby sling which I find rather risky because the ground can be uneven when you climb on the Giant’s Causeway.

If your kids are old enough to do the walk, do keep in mind that they might get tired and cranky especially if it’s a hot day.

Bring Cold Drinks and a Snack

It’s a good idea to pack snacks and cool drinks in your backpack when you’re planning a trip to the Giant’s Causeway.

Your kids will likely be climbing all over the rocks, burning a lot of energy. They’ll definitely appreciate a quick snack and a refreshing drink before heading back to the bus.

Wear Sunscreen and a Hat

Definitely apply sunblock on everyone and pop a baseball cap on everyone. When visiting the Giant’s Causeway, you will be outdoors 100 percent of the time (unless you visit the Visitor’s Center).

The sun can get intense at times, you will want to make sure everyone is protected from the harmful UV rays!

Use the Bathroom First Before Walking to the Giant’s Causeway

Before you hit the trail to the Giant’s Causeway, it’s a good idea to have everyone make a quick bathroom stop. It can take an hour and a half or longer to visit the Giant’s Causeway.

Just the walk there and back can take 30-40 minutes! The last thing you want is a potty emergency while exploring the Giant’s Causeway – there aren’t any bathrooms in the immediate vicinity.

Before heading out to the Giant’s Causeway, stop by the toilets next to the Giant’s Causeway hotel or if your tour comes with tickets to the visitors center, use the toilets at the visitors center before heading out to the Giant’s Causeway.