ITINERARY - Causeway Coastal Route

• Day 1: Welcome to Ireland
  Welcome to Dublin. Spend the remainder of the day soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city or visit some of its many attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College or Old Jameson Distillery.
  
  Overnight: Dublin area
• Day 2: Dublin to Belfast
  Depart Dublin this morning and travel northwards towards Belfast. From Newry travel east through the scenic Mourne Region and on to Downpatrick where you can visit the Saint Patrick Centre. Following the visit, you can also visit Down Cathedral, in whose churchyard St. Patrick is reputed to be buried. Continuing on from Downpatrick, you arrive at Castle Ward, a beautiful 300-hectares walled estate in a stunning location overlooking Strangford Lough. Your next stop is Belfast, where you can wander around the city centre.
  
  Overnight: Belfast area
• Day 3: Belfast to Ballymena
  Your Causeway Coastal Route adventure begins in the city of Belfast. Heading north from Belfast on the M2 motorway, Belfast Lough will glisten to your right as you join the Causeway Coastal Route at Newtownabbey and drive towards the seaside town of Carrickfergus. Glorious coastal scenes are a taster for what is to come as you reach Island Magee, where the impressive Gobbins Cliff Path awaits! Hanging from basalt cliffs directly over the Irish Sea, the Gobbins Cliff Path, is a popular stop along the stunning Causeway Coastal Route. After braving the elements on the Gobbins Path, continue to Larne. Continue north along the crumbling coast and you’ll reach Ballygally. Make sure to visit Ballygally Castle, rooted in local myth and legend and is even said to have a resident ghost. Just north of Ballygally, the sublime Carnfunnock Country Park is a must-visit, a modern-day Garden of Eden. Continue north along the coast and visit one of Ireland’s oldest estates: Glenarm Castle and a stroll around the immaculately kept walled-gardens. The village of Broughshane and the mighty Slemish Mountain are next, where St. Patrick was first bonded to slavery on his arrival to Ireland. Swing west and inland now to reach the town of Ballymena. With plenty of shops, restaurants and local attractions, Ballymena is the perfect place to end the first day of your Causeway Coastal Route journey.
  
  Overnight: Ballymena area
• Day 4: Ballymena to Portrush
  You’re in the heart of the Glens of Antrim now, and there’s no better way to experience the majesty of the area than with a visit to Glenariff Forest Park. While you’re in the neighborhood we recommend seeing one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic sites: the Dark Hedges. Continue to one of the superstars of the Causeway Coastal Route: Carrick-a-Rede rope-bridge,  which connects the mainland to the tiny island of Carrick-a-Rede. It spans a 20-metre chasm some 30-metres above the crashing waves below. With your heart still pounding, head west and onto another heavy-hitter of the Causeway Coastal Route: the Giant’s Causeway, an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, some 40,000 hexagonal columns blanket the landscape and peter out into the ocean. Head back to the coast and discover Dunluce Castle. Set at the edge of a cliff top, Dunluce Castle at sunset is one of the most striking sights you will see anywhere in the world. The day ends in nearby Portrush, famed for its golden beaches, brilliant surf and world-class golf course – Royal Portrush.
  
  Overnight: Portrush area 
• Day 5: Portrush to Derry
  With Portrush in your rearview mirror, take a short drive to the seaside town of neighboring Portstewart where a variety of caves, arches and headlands are great for scenic walks. Swing inland and head for the university town of Coleraine. Stop here for lunch, then visit one of the oldest known human settlements in Ireland at Mountsandel. Back on the coast and heading west, a stop at Mussenden Temple near Castlerock is a must. Looking like a relic from ancient Rome, this onetime library is perched precariously on a cliff top with views over the panoramic coast. Head towards the Binevenagh Mountain, an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you can expect breathtaking views from the summit. Your final destination today is the historic walled City of Derry. A warren of side streets, main streets, pubs, shops, theatres, restaurants and attractions of all sorts make Derry one of Ireland’s most compelling cultural cities. So ends your coastal odyssey along the Causeway Coastal Route.
  
  Overnight: Derry area
• Day 6: Derry to Enniskillen
  This morning head north towards the Inishowen peninsula. The Inishowen Peninsula with Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly reaches out into the Atlantic, where commences the “Wild Atlantic Way” and extends to Ireland’s northernmost point: Malin Head. The landscape is typically Donegal: rugged, desolate and mountainous. Ancient sites abound, but there are also some wonderful beaches and plenty of sites to visit. Start your route towards Ennikskillen, on the way pass by Donegal Town and keep on heading south to County Fermanagh. Situated in the Northwest of Ireland, Fermanagh boasts one of the most uncongested lakes in Europe – Lough Erne. Where the lower and upper Loughs meet stands the island town of Enniskillen.
  
  Overnight: Enniskillen area
• Day 7: Enniskillen to Dublin
  This morning commence your journey back to Dublin, perhaps travelling through the Boyne Valley region whose banks are lined with landmarks from almost every phase of Ireland’s past. You can visit Oldbridge House with its visitor centre telling the story of the Battle of the Boyne, fought between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II on 1 July 1690. You can visit the nearby Brú Na Bóinne Visitor Centre which tells the history of the region and either Newgrange or Knowth burial passages. Continue on to Dublin for overnight.
  
  Overnight: Dublin area
• Day 8: Dublin Departure
  After a final full Irish breakfast at your hotel, enjoy some free time to explore Dublin City, or travel to Dublin Airport for your return flight home.