6 Night Rail Tour of Southern and Northern Ireland

After arriving into Dublin Airport you will travel to Belfast by train (note that if you prefer, you can arrange to fly into Belfast and out of Dublin if possible). Today, the remnants of Belfast’s troubled past make it an interesting destination for tourists from all over the world. First stop on your tour of Belfast might be Titanic Belfast, built on the site where the Titanic was originally constructed; galleries reconstruct scenes from Belfast at the time of its construction, the launch, the maiden voyage, the sinking and the aftermath.

Explore Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Visitor attractions include the Metropolitan Arts Centre (the MAC), St Anne's Cathedral, the NI War Memorial, the Oh Yeah Music Centre and the Discover Ulster Scots Centre. Full of colourful street art, this area of town is buzzing with music, entertainment and fun at night.

Another day in Belfast will give you more time to explore the heritage and culture of the city using your Hop on Hop off Bus Tickets. One of the highlights of your tour will be the private Black Cab tour with a local cab driver who will take you to the famed Murals of Belfast in both the republican and loyalist areas of the city, giving you a local’s perspective of ‘The Troubles’ that plagued Northern Ireland during the conflict.

Another place worth visiting is The Crumlin Road Gaol which dates back to 1845 and closed in 1996. Tours of the prison tell the fascinating history of the site and the underground tunnel that connects the Gaol to the Crumlin Road Courthouse is an interesting feature. Tonight get out and about and discover Belfast’s stylish pub scene, of great interest to many is the Crown Liquor Saloon, one of the most famous Victorian gin palaces which once flourished in industrial cities,  the saloon dates back to 1826, and its furnishings and fittings are authentic and fascinating. 

Enjoy the first stop of the day at Carrickfergus Castle, before travelling onward to the world famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge where the brave members of the group make the journey across the 30m chasm! The not so brave can enjoy the stunning views or enjoy an exhilarating cliff walk.

Travel onward to Bushmills distillery and enjoy a swift taste or two of their famous tipple before journeying to the highlight of the tour – The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only World Heritage Site. Spend some time climbing over the ancient stones, taking photographs, and appreciating the folklore and legend that surrounds this famous attraction. Re-board the coach again and make the return journey to Belfast stopping at the ancient ruins of Dunluce Castle on the way.

NOTE – You also have the option to travel to Dublin today by private chauffeur who will take you to Dublin via some of Ireland’s most historic locations such as the Hill of Tara, the Tombs at Newgrange and Trim Castle.

After travelling by train from Belfast to Dublin, walk to the major visitor attractions near your hotel or enjoy a break from sightseeing by visiting the major shopping areas that you will find in the city centre. Make sure to ask your travel consultant is case there are shows that you may like to attend in any one of a number of wonderful theatre’s that Dublin has to offer.

Today, use your Dublin sightseeing tickets to bus your way around Dublin City. The Dublin sightseeing ticket lasts for two days and includes stops close to all of Dublin’s main attractions including The National Museums, Trinity College and The Book of Kells, St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral to name just a few places. You will also visit the Guinness Storehouse or if you prefer a visit to the Jameson or another Irish Whiskey experience, that can be arranged.

Take a relaxing walk through the lovely city centre park of St. Stephen’s Green. On one night of your time in Dublin, we would certainly recommend that you visit Dublin’s busy Temple Bar to check out its famous traditional Irish music and vibrant nightlife!

Continue your sightseeing in Dublin today. Visit Dublin Castle which was built in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement and served as the headquarters of English administration in Ireland prior to Irish independence. Kilmainham Gaol is also a must.  One of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe, it covers some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland's history.

Also worth a visit are EPIC, the Irish emigration museum and the GPO (General Post Office) which houses the ‘GPO Witness History’ visitor attraction. This exhibition tells the story of the 1916 rising and the aftermath of this historic rebellion. Of course, you will also have the opportunity to visit such places as The James Joyce Centre and the The Little Museum of Dublin where you will discover the fantastic story of Dublin on the museum’s famous 29-minute guided tour, where the quirky staff offer brilliant Irish storytelling, which will make you laugh a lot.

Finally, enjoy a final evening at the ‘The Irish House Party’ complete with Food and superb traditional music and dance.

This morning, check out of your hotel for the journey home.