Why Honeymoon on the Causeway Coast
Few places pack this many striking coastal sights into such a short stretch. You can see the Causeway at dawn, cross a rope bridge to a fishing island by midmorning and watch sunset from a castle perched over the sea, all without driving more than half an hour.
The coast also offers a different flavor of Ireland. The towns are small Victorian seaside resorts, the accent is distinct and the history is layered with Scottish and Irish influences. Scotland's islands are sometimes visible across the water on clear days.
Golfers know Royal Portrush, which has hosted The Open and Portstewart, while non-golfers can walk beaches or take a whiskey tasting at Bushmills. Television fans will recognize filming locations from Game of Thrones, including the Dark Hedges and Ballintoy Harbour.
When to Go
May through August brings the longest days, with light until after 10 p.m. around midsummer and the best chance of dry weather. June is often the most settled month. Puffins nest on Rathlin Island from about late April through July.
September is a good shoulder month with fewer visitors and calmer roads, though rain becomes more frequent. July and August are the busiest months at the Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede and some summer weekends draw big crowds to Portrush.
Winter is wild, windy and dark by late afternoon, but storms over the cliffs are dramatic and hotels are cheaper. The rope bridge can close in high winds at any time of year. Bring waterproof jackets whatever the season, since showers blow in quickly from the Atlantic.
Where to Stay
Portrush and Portstewart are the liveliest bases, with beaches, restaurants and golf. Portstewart is a little quieter, with a promenade and the National Trust's Portstewart Strand nearby.
Bushmills village is central for the Causeway and distillery. The Bushmills Inn, an old coaching inn with peat fires and a well-regarded restaurant, has long been a favorite of couples. The Causeway Hotel sits right beside the World Heritage Site, so you can walk down before day visitors arrive.
Ballycastle, at the eastern end, is the jumping-off point for Rathlin Island and the Glens of Antrim. For a spa splurge, Galgorm resort near Ballymena is about 40 minutes inland.
Guesthouses and self-catering cottages are good value. Expect roughly £120–280 a night for a good double, approximate and higher around big golf events.
Romantic Things to Do
Go to the Giant's Causeway early or late in the day. The National Trust visitor center charges for parking and exhibits, though the coastal footpaths are open and the cliff-top trail above the stones gives a quieter view than the crowded main path.
Cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge to the tiny island where salmon fishermen once worked. Tickets are timed and the walk is breezy.
Watch the sun set behind Dunluce Castle, whose ruins cling to a basalt headland. Visit Mussenden Temple, a small domed library on the cliffs at Downhill Demesne, overlooking Benone Strand.
Take the ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island, where the seabird center shows puffins, guillemots and razorbills on sea stacks in season. Finish with a tour and tasting at the Old Bushmills Distillery, which traces its license back to 1608.
Getting There and Around
Belfast International Airport (BFS) is about an hour's drive from the coast and George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is a little further. City of Derry Airport (LDY) is the closest, at about 45 minutes. US travelers usually connect through London or another European hub, or fly into Dublin Airport (DUB), which has many US nonstops and drive about three hours north.
Trains run from Belfast to Coleraine and Portrush and summer bus services such as the Causeway Rambler link the main sights. A car is still the easiest way to see everything at your own pace.
The Causeway Coastal Route continues south through the Glens of Antrim toward Belfast, a beautiful drive. Driving between Northern Ireland and the Republic is straightforward, but rental companies may charge a cross-border fee, so mention it when booking.
Food and Drink
The Ulster fry, a breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, soda bread and potato farls, will fuel a day of walking. Seafood is excellent too, with Glens of Antrim lamb, local crab and smoked salmon showing up on menus across the coast.
Portrush and Portstewart have the widest choice of restaurants, from fish and chips on the harbor to more ambitious modern Irish cooking. Book dinner ahead in summer, since popular places fill quickly.
Whiskey is the natural drink, with Bushmills at the center, though small craft gin distilleries have opened across Northern Ireland as well. Traditional pubs in Ballycastle and Bushmills often host music sessions. In seaside towns, try a poke, the local word for an ice cream cone, from one of the long-running parlors.
Honeymoon Tips
Wear shoes with good grip. The basalt columns at the Causeway are slippery when wet and the coastal paths have steep sections and exposed edges.
Book the rope bridge and Rathlin ferry in advance in summer. If either of you dislikes heights, the bridge is optional and the cliff path around it is scenic on its own.
Bring sterling. Most places take cards, but pounds are the local currency, unlike the euro in the Republic.
Combine the coast with Belfast for a night of Victorian pubs and the Titanic Belfast museum, or cross into Donegal for wilder, emptier scenery. A loop from Dublin through Belfast, the Causeway and Donegal makes a strong road-trip honeymoon of about a week.
