Everything to know about Giant’s Causeway tours & tickets
The Giant’s Causeway is a natural wonder located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
It was formed 50 million years ago and still captures the imagination of people worldwide.
Scientists believe that it was formed due to volcanic eruptions; however, local legends suggest a giant Mccool created it.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, the site embodies both scientific and mythical explanations.
Known for its over 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns and stunning views, it is the country’s most popular attraction, visited by 1 million people.
Besides this, it also features a visitor center and provides different kinds of tours, meeting the requirements of all the visitors.
This article contains everything you need to know about it, including budget-friendly Giants Causeway tours, time-saving tips, and the best time to visit.
Snapshot
Giant’s Causeway Opening Hours: 24*7
Visitor’s Center Hours: 9 am to 7 pm
Closed on: 24, 25, and 26 December
Last Entry: 1 Hour Before Closing
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
Best time: Early morning or sunset
Ticket cost: €28
Location
Giant’s Causeway is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland.
It is about 4.8 km (3 miles) northeast of the town of Bushmills.
Address: Bushmills, BT57 8SU, United Kingdom
Top 3 Giant’s Causeway Tours
Full Day Trip
- Duration: 10 hours approx.
- Stops: 8
- Cancel: Before 24 hours
- Includes: Tour guide
Game of Thrones Tickets
- Duration: 9 hours approx.
- Stops: 6
- Cancel: Before 24 hours
- Includes: Tour guide
Best Deal ticket
- Duration: 12 hours
- Stops: 4
- Cancel: Before 24 hours
- Includes: Tour Guide
Where to buy the best Giants Causeway tours?
You can purchase the Giant’s Causeway tours online or at the visitor center.
We recommend you make your tour reservation online to avoid the hassle of standing in line and last-minute hassles. This is the reason why:
You can find a broader selection of Giant’s Causeway tours online, ranging from guided exploration trips to entry-level tickets.
Additionally, making online reservations helps guarantee your desired time and date, saving you stress and valuable vacation time.
Imagine coming straight and entering the attraction.
In addition, purchasing Giant’s Causeway tickets online is frequently less expensive than doing so at the counter, and special offers further reduce prices.
There are twisting roads and rocky walkways in this interesting location.
Transportation and knowledgeable guides are often included in online excursions, which enhances and adds comfort to the experience.
Select an internet trip that aligns with your preferences and financial constraints, and get set for an incredible journey to the Giant’s Causeway!
Do you know?
The popular series “Game of Thrones” was filmed closer to the Causeway in Northern Ireland.
So, if you are a fan, you can enjoy a combo tour of the Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones filming locations.
How do Giant’s Causeway tour tickets work?
Once you select a tour based on your preferences online, you can select the preferred date and number of tickets and make the payment.
After you make the payment, you will immediately receive confirmation in your email.
You do not need a printout; you can directly show the e-ticket to the staff at the visitor center.
Also, the tickets have a full refund policy so that you can cancel 24 hours before your scheduled trip in case of an emergency.
Giants Causeway Tours Price
To make your trip planning easier, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular and best Giant’s Causeway tour tickets to help you choose the right one:
Types of Giant’s Causeway Tours
Visitors to the Giant’s Causeway are frequently presented with numerous ticket and tour options with different rates and times of day to visit.
Determining which Giants Causeway ticket represents the best value for your money can be tough.
Don’t worry. We’ll help you answer the question, “What are the different types of Giant’s Causeway tickets, and what are their benefits?”
Firstly, know that the Causeway is more than just the famous rock columns.
There’s a Visitor Center with tours, audio guides, and stunning surrounding hills to explore.
Plus, it’s part of the Causeway Coast, so you can combine your visit with other nearby gems like Dunluce Castle, the Rope Bridge, and the Dark Hedges.
Here’s a brief description of the popular Giant’s Causeway tickets available online:
1. Tour from Belfast to Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is located 96 km from Belfast. Visitors often explore the causeway from there on a day trip.
If you’re staying in Belfast and want to explore the site, opting for tour tickets is a smart move compared to the hassle of switching public transport.
For just €41, these budget-friendly Giant’s Causeway tickets cover your transportation in a comfy luxury coach from Belfast to the Causeway, offering a hassle-free journey.
Throughout the tour, you’ll be guided by an expert who will provide insights into its history and legends.
Besides the Causeway, the tour includes Dunluce Castle and Game of Thrones filming locations like Kings Road, Cushendun Caves, Carnlough Harbour and more.
Giant’s Causeway Tour Price:
| Visitor’s Age | Cost |
|---|---|
| Per Participant | €41 |
With 2.8k reviews and 4.7 stellar ratings, these Giant Causeway tickets are the first choice of visitors from Belfast.
2. Game of Thrones and Giant’s Causeway Full-day Tour from Belfast
Are you a Game of Thrones fan and want to walk where giants once roamed?
These Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones tickets provide a tour of the Causeway and visit many popular Game of Thrones filming locations in Ireland.
The tour provides a round bus transfer from Belfast, a fully guided trip to these sites, and a live tour guide providing insights about the scenes filmed there.
During the tour, Game of Thrones enthusiasts can explore Kings Road, Carnlough Harbour, Magharmorne Quarry and more locations where the series was filmed.
Besides these, the tour also includes visits to other Irish attractions, like Waterfoot Caves, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and more.
The general cost of these tickets is higher, costing €41. However, with an ongoing discount of 31%, you can avail yourself of a tour ticket for just € 28 per person.
Giant’s Causeway Tour Price:
| Age Group | Cost |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (17 to 64 years) | €28 |
| Child ticket (4 to 16 years) | €20 |
| Infant ticket (3 and younger) | Free |
| Senior ticket (65+ years) | € 24 |
| Student ticket (17+ years) | €24 |
| Military ticket | €24 |
Game of Thrones Fan?
Want to live in the GoT moment with costumes and swords?
Upgrade to these Iran Island and Giants Causeway tickets by spending a few more euros.
3. Tour from Dublin to Giant’s Causeway
Although Dublin is not close to the Causeway, it is still a prominent stopover location for visitors who often search for day tours from the city.
With 1.4k reviews and a 4.8 stellar rating, these tour tickets provide the best and most cost-effective day trip from Dublin to Giant’s Causeway.
These tour tickets include round-trip bus transportation from the Dublin City Center and a knowledgeable tour guide providing insights.
Besides the Causeway, you can also visit Dunluce Castle, the Titanic Exhibition and many filming locations of the renowned series “Game of Thrones.”
So, if you are planning to stay in Dublin and want to enjoy a hassle-free visit, saving you from arranging vehicles and switching buses, book these tickets now!
Giant’s Causeway Tour Price:
| Visitor’s Age | Cost |
|---|---|
| Participant ticket (4+ years) | €83 |
| Infant ticket (up to 3 years) | €88 |
If you want to reserve your seats in the first 3 rows of the coach, either on the left or right side, you will need to upgrade the ticket to the reserved tour by paying an extra €30.
4. Day Trip to Northern Ireland Highlights
Do you want to tour the major highlights of Northern Ireland without the hassle of arranging transport and at a very cheap rate?
For just €88, these tour tickets visit the country’s popular attractions, including the well-known Giant’s Causeway.
Once you book these tickets, you can hop on a comfy, luxurious, air-conditioned coach right from Dublin City Center and enjoy this 12-hour-long trip.
It also provides a visit to the Bobby Sands Mural, Dunluce Castle, Peace Wall, and Titanic Experience, along with a knowledgeable tour guide who will give you insights.
If you are staying in Dublin and want to explore the city’s highlights and Northern Ireland on a budget, these tickets are the best option for you!
Giant’s Causeway Ticket Price:
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (26+ years) | €88 |
| Participant ticket (3 to 25 years) | €83 |
5. Hop on Hop off Belfast City Tour
Getting around a new city is difficult, and Belfast is no exception. If you are in the city for the first time, you might be overcharged and face transportation issues.
So, to avoid this issue and that too at an affordable cost, the Belfast hop-on hop-off tour is the best bet.
Belfast Hop on Hop off City Sightseeing tickets provide a tour of the city’s famous landmarks, like Giant’s Causeway and more, for 2 days at €59.
This bus tour includes visiting the Antrim coast road, the ancient ruins of Dunluce Castle, Game of Thrones filming sites and 19 other famous locations in Belfast.
Throughout the tour, you will hear about the sites’ history, myths, and legends from an expert guide.
Also, you can get some tips from the guide and save yourself from overpaying.
If you are on a budget tour with your family and friends and want to see the major attractions while saving time, money and hassle, these tickets are perfect!
Hop on Hop off Ticket Price:
| Visitor’s Age | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (13+ years) | €59 |
| Child ticket (upto 12 years) | €41 |
Can you visit Giant’s Causeway for free?
Although access to the Giant’s Causeway is free, using the site’s facilities, including parking and exhibitions, incurs a visitor experience charge.
This fee provides entry to the exhibition, a guided tour of the site, and free parking.
Also, it is located 96 km from Belfast City and 261km from Dublin. To reach the Causeway, you need to change the means of transport.
To avoid all the hassles, the Giant’s Causeway tour is the first choice for tourists visiting the Causeway.
It is recommended that tickets be booked in advance to avoid waiting in line and to take advantage of discounted tickets.
How was the Giant’s Causeway formed?
The Causeway was formed by volcanic activity around 50 to 60 million years ago, during a period called the Paleocene Epoch.
During that period, intense volcanic eruptions occurred, and highly fluid molten basalt intruded through chalk beds to form an extensive volcanic plateau.
As the lava cooled rapidly upon contact with the cold seawater, it contracted and solidified, resulting in the unique hexagonal columns that characterize the Causeway.
Over time, natural forces such as erosion and weathering sculpted the columns into the remarkable formations we see today.
According to Irish mythology and legends, it is believed that a giant named Finn MacCool made the Causeway.
If you want to know more about the formation, history and legends of this stunning attraction, read our detailed guide.
What to expect at Giant’s Causeway?
When you visit the Giant’s Causeway, you can expect to be mesmerized by its natural beauty.
It has perfectly fitting hexagonal columns made of basalt, which form stepping stones disappearing into the sea, looking more like manmade work.
You can see rocks with unique shapes like a giant’s boot, Camel’s Hump, the Organ, Shepherd’s Steps, Honeycomb, and Chimney Stack.
You can also walk/hike around any of its four trails and see the nearby Giant’s Causeway Visitor Center.
If you plan to stay nearby, you will also enjoy your stay at the Causeway Hotel, which provides various benefits.
If you get hungry, no worries. There are various food options at or near Giant’s Causeway for you to enjoy the Irish food experience.
What is the best way to see Giant’s Causeway?
The best way to see the Giant’s Causeway is by taking the trail that leads to the mountaintop.
While many visitors walk straight through the tunnel to reach the causeway, the trail offers a much more scenic view from above.
Following this path, you can capture stunning pictures of the Giant’s Causeway from the mountaintop before you descend the stairs to explore the site up close.
Read our How to Reach Giant’s Causeway article to navigate the twisting roads easily.
What is the Giant’s Causeway famous for?
The Giant’s Causeway is renowned for its geological formation: approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that stretch along the Northern Irish coast like a gigantic staircase.
These columns, formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, create a visually stunning and mesmerizing landscape.
What is the myth of the Giant Causeway?
Irish folklore attributes the Causeway’s creation to mythical giants. The most popular tale involves Finn McCool, an Irish giant, and Benandonner, a Scottish giant.
The story goes that Finn built the causeway across the North Channel to fight Benandonner, but he disguised himself as a baby upon seeing his foe’s immense size.
Benandonner, fearing the size of Finn’s “baby,” fled back to Scotland, destroying the causeway in the process.
Do you know that there is one more site that will take your breath away after the Giants’ Causeway? It’s the Cliffs of Moher.
They are one of the world’s great natural attractions, towering at 214 meters and stretching for about 14 kilometers along the coastline.
The cliffs offer stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding countryside, making it a popular tourist destination.
Read our detailed article on Giant’s Causeway vs. Cliffs of Moher to decide on your ultimate destination.
Was Game of Thrones filmed at the Giant’s Causeway?
While the Giant’s Causeway wasn’t directly featured in Game of Thrones, the nearby Shillan Temple served as a filming location for the series.
This atmospheric ruin stood in for the fictional location of Castle Dunseveric, the ancestral seat of House Greyjoy.
Though not directly featured, the Giant’s Causeway’s otherworldly beauty undoubtedly resonated with the fantastical landscapes depicted in Game of Thrones.
This leaves viewers captivated and draws many of them to this geological wonder.
Planning to visit the Causeway with kids? Get some useful tips beforehand and make your experience memorable.
Best time to visit Giant’s Causeway
The best time to visit Giant’s Causeway for a more serene experience is either early in the morning, between 7.30 am and 11 am, or later in the evening after 4 pm.
These time slots tend to have fewer crowds, allowing visitors to explore the stunning natural wonder with greater tranquility.
Additionally, choosing off-peak seasons and weekdays, avoiding mid-days, offers fewer crowds.
If you plan a trip in advance, Ireland’s weather and the Causeway’s views can be best enjoyed in late spring (March to May) or early autumn (September to November).
However, if you don’t mind the busy atmosphere, you can also plan a summer visit from June to August.
FAQs about Giant’s Causeway Tours
How do I buy tickets for a Giant’s Causeway tour?
Tickets for Giant’s Causeway tours can be purchased online through the official website or at the visitor center on arrival.
Booking in advance is recommended to secure your spot, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Are there guided tours available for the Giant’s Causeway?
Guided tours are available for the Giant’s Causeway, offering in-depth insights into the site’s geological features and legendary stories.
Options include group, private, and audio-guided tours for those who prefer exploring at their own pace.
Can I visit the Giant’s Causeway without a tour?
The Giant’s Causeway tour ticket typically includes access to the Causeway and its Visitor Center, where you can explore interactive exhibits about the site’s history and geology.
Some tours also include transportation from Belfast or Dublin and stops at other attractions along the Causeway Coast.
Can I visit the Giant’s Causeway without a tour?
Visitors can explore the Giant’s Causeway without joining a guided tour. There is free access to the Causeway Stones, but entry to the Visitor Center requires a ticket.
It’s a great option for those who prefer a self-guided experience.
You can park at the Causeway Coast Way car park, which costs 12 euros per car, and walk the 10 minutes from there.
Are there any discounts available for Giant’s Causeway tickets?
Discounts on Giant’s Causeway tickets are available for children, students, seniors, and families.
Is the Giant’s Causeway accessible for visitors with mobility issues?
The Giant’s Causeway Visitor Center is accessible, and paths suit visitors with mobility issues.
However, accessing the stones themselves may be challenging due to their naturally uneven surfaces.
How do you get into the Giants Causeway for free?
Giants Causeway is free to enter, but reaching the attraction can be challenging due to its location.
Booking a tour in advance can offer a convenient and budget-friendly option.
Do you have to book tickets for the Giants Causeway?
While Giants Causeway is free to visit, booking tour tickets is recommended for convenience, budget-friendly options, and to secure preferred time slots.
Is it better to go to Giants Causeway in the morning or afternoon?
For a more serene experience with fewer crowds, visiting Giants Causeway in the early morning (7.30 am to 11 am) or late afternoon (after 4 pm) is recommended.
It is highly advised to avoid the peak hours from 11 am to 3 pm, especially during the holiday season.
How long is the Giants Causeway tour?
The duration of Giants Causeway tours varies. For example, a day trip from Belfast may take 8 to 9 hours and 12 hours from Dublin.
How much does it cost to visit the Giants Causeway?
Giants Causeway tour prices vary and range from €28 to €83, depending on the tour and its inclusions. Online booking also provides additional discounts.
How much time do I need at Giants Causeway?
You can allocate 2 to 3 hours for a basic visit. However, if you plan to explore walking trails and nearby attractions, you can take out half a day or a full day.
Is Giants Causeway a long walk?
Giants Causeway offers walking trails of varying lengths.
The length depends on the route you choose. The Blue Route is the shortest, while the Yellow Route is more challenging.
What city is close to the Giant’s Causeway?
Bushmills is the closest city to the Causeway. Giants Causeway is approximately 4.8 km (3 miles) northeast of the town of Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
What do you wear to the Giants Causeway?
Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes for the uneven terrain. Bring a waterproof jacket, as Irish weather can be unpredictable.
What is so special about Giants Causeway?
Giants Causeway is renowned for its hexagonal basalt columns, formed by volcanic activity around 50 to 60 million years ago.
The unique creativity of nature makes the Causeway more special.
Is Giants Causeway worth the trip?
Yes. Giants Causeway is a natural wonder with its unique hexagonal basalt columns and stunning views, making it a worthwhile trip for nature enthusiasts.
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