The Giant’s Causeway is one of the most impressive natural wonders in Ireland and the unique rock formations that make the causeway draw over a million visitors each year. The Giant’s Causeway should be a must-see for any visitor to Ireland and it’s very easy as a day tour from Dublin.
There is a tour to suit every traveller as each of the day tours offers something a little different, from stops in the historic city of Belfast to exploring Game of Thrones Filming Locations like the Dark Hedges. There are lots of tour companies that offer tours so we’ve put together this list of the best Giant’s Causeway Tours from Dublin to help you choose the best tour for your needs
The Giants Causeway
Located on the northern coast of the island of Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway is a unique rock formation on the coast that draws millions of visitors each year.
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, the Giant’s Causeway consists of over 40,000 basalt rock columns that were formed around 50-60 million years ago. Today visitors flock to the area to see how the unique rock formations flow down to the sea. The Giant’s Causeway is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island of Ireland and we recommend that every visitor should allow a day for a visit to this magical place.
Is the Giant’s Causeway worth visiting?
This is a question we get asked a lot and our answer is always…yes! Although the Giant’s Causeway is located on the northern coast of the island of Ireland, it is relatively easy to visit in a single day on an organised day tour. Plus you’ll see parts of Northern Ireland that are unmissable such at Belfast and the Causeway Coastal Route.
The Giant’s Causeway is one of Ireland best known natural attractions and there’s a reason over a million people visit it every year. The unique basalt rock that juts out from the ocean really needs to be experienced in person to fully appreciate and we recommend it to all our readers when planning a trip to Ireland.
We’ve visited the Giant’s Causeway many times over the years and every time it’s been an incredible experience. We recommend anyone visiting Ireland save a day to visit the Giant’s Causeway.
There is a tour to suit everyone’s taste and the luxury coaches make the trip very comfortable. Just sit back, relax and enjoy all the sights along the way.
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The Best Giant Causeway Tours from Dublin
There are a number of tours that take visitors from Dublin to the Giant’s Causeway. All of the tours we’ve included on this list allow for at least 90 minutes at the Causeway itself which is plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular views.
The tour buses drop visitors at the entrance to the Giant’s Causeway’s visitor centre.
The visitors centre gives guests a history of the causeway and has audio tours for those interested. Guests can walk from the visitors centre down the access road to the Giant’s Causeway, however, there is a shuttle bus if mobility is an issue for any guests.
Most tours to the Giant’s Causeway are full-day tours and leave from Dublin city centre so they are easy to take if you are staying in the city.
There are many tour operators who run tours to the Giant’s Causeway from Dublin and we’ve included 5 of the best tours from Dublin.
Best Giant’s Causeway Tours from Dublin tip: For mobility impaired or older guests we recommend taking the shuttle bus from the visitors centre down to the Giant’s Causeway.
What else is included in the GIant’s Causeway day tour from Dublin?
Due to the length of the drive to the Giant’s Causeway from Dublin, most tours include a variety of additional stops, including Belfast and the Titanic Quarter, the Causeway Coastal Route, Dunluce Castle, the Dark Hedges (which was a filming location for Game of Throne) and many more.
Best Giant’s Causeway Tours from Dublin: Due to capacity issues the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge does not allow group tours from May 2022. Despite this some of the tours on the list include a short photo stop at the bridge.
Regardless of your interests, there is a tour for everyone to the Giant’s Causeway.
Where is the Giant’s Causeway located?
The Giant’s Causeway is located on the north coast of Northern Ireland in an area known as the Causeway Coastal Route. This route runs along the northern coast of Northern Ireland and includes many incredible sites, such as Dunluce Castle, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the Dark Hedges and the Giant’s Causeway. The causeway is around 3 hours drive from Dublin so it’s easy to visit in a day from the city.
1 | Wild Rover Tours
Wild Rover Tours has been running group tours around Ireland for years and is one of the most popular tour operators in the country. They offer an epic tour of the Giant’s Causeway from Dublin which includes many of the top highlights in Northern Ireland. It’s our top pick for the best Giant’s Causeway Tours as it packs so much into a single-day tour.
Visitors will get to experience and learn about the troubled history of Belfast and Northern Ireland on a Black Cab tour in Belfast or the Titanic Experience, gaze upon the clifftop ruins of Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway itself. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular tours as there is so much packed into a single day.
Tour Details: The Wild Rover highlights tour packs a lot into a single day. The day starts at your pickup in Dublin city centre where you will be taken by luxury coach to Belfast. After a brief stop for food and drinks in Belfast, visitors can opt for a Black Cab tour of the city or the Titanic Experience. Those who opt for the Black Cab tour will transfer in groups of approx. 4 to a local black cab taxi for a 90-minute tour of the city.
The black cab tour is a fantastic and unique way to explore Belfast. A local taxi driver will show you around Belfast, where visitors can learn about the colorful and troubled history of Belfast and Northern Ireland. We’ve taken a Black Cab tour and we think it’s the best way to explore Belfast.
After the stop in Belfast, visitors board the coach to the Antrim coast and a stop at Dunluce Castle, a stunning hilltop castle that overlooks the sea – check prices now!
Best Giant’s Causeway Tours from Dublin tip: The stop at Dunluce Castle replaces the usual stop at the Carrick-a-Rede Ropebridege
Following the stop at Dunluce, Castle visitors are then taken to the Giant’s Causeway where you’ll have at least 90 minutes to explore the causeway.
What’s Included: Entrance to the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle and a Belfast Black Cab tour. Free wifi on board all coaches.
Pickup/Dropoff: 7am pickup with 8pm (approx.) dropoff on O’Connell Street (View here in Google Maps)
2 | Finn McCool Tours
Another great tour option for the Giant’s Causeway is offered by Finn McCool Tours. Finn McCool is one of the most popular day trip operators in Ireland and their day tour to the Giant’s Causeway is one of the best. This tour is perfect for Game of Thrones fans as it also includes a stop at the Dark Hedges which features in the tv series.
Tour Details: Visitors meet their guide at the bus pickup in Dublin before the drive north to the first stop at Dunluce Castle on the North coast of Northern Ireland. After this quick stop, it’s on to the Causeway Coastal Route and the Giant’s Causeway. Guests have around 90 minutes at the Giant’s Causeway to explore the visitor’s centre and see the causeway itself. This is plenty of time to explore before the bus leaves for a visit to the epic Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges is one of many Game of Thrones filming locations in Ireland.
After exploring the Dark Hedges guests board the bus for Belfast, where you will have around an hour to stroll around the city centre and pick up some souvenirs – check prices now!
What’s Included: all transport costs and entrance to the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre. There is no entrance fee for Dunluce Castle or the Dark Hedges.
Pickup/Dropoff: 6.45am / 7.30-8.30 pm at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin (View in Google Maps here)
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3 | Irish Day Tours
Irish Day Tours offers another great tour to the Giant’s Causeway. The tour includes a drive along the Causeway Coastal Route and a stop in Belfast with time to explore the city. This trip would suit visitors who want to opt not to do the Black Cab tour in Belfast as this is offered, however at additional expense.
Tour Details: The Irish Day Tours trip starts and ends at the Molly Malone Statue in Dublin city centre. After boarding the coast visitors are taken to the Causeway Coastal route where you can enjoy stunning views of the northern coast en route to the Giant’s Causeway. The tour allows visitors 90 minutes at the Giant’s Causeway
After the Giant’s Causeway, the bus takes guests to Belfast city centre for 90 minutes. Here you have the opportunity to take a Black cab tour of Belfast (at additional cost) or you can take a stroll around the compact Belfast city centre for shopping or food – check prices now!
What’s Included: Bus transport and ticket entry to the Giant’s Causeway. The Black Cab tour in Belfast is an optional extra and is not included in the tour price.
Pickup/Dropoff: 6.30am / 8.00 pm at the Molly Malone Statue in Dublin City Centre (View on Google Maps here)
4 | Paddywagon Tours
The iconic Paddywayon Tour buses have been showing guests the best parts of Ireland since they launched in 1998. Their distinctive green coaches take visitors to the best sights in Ireland and ensure everyone has fun along the way. It’s no surprise that the Giant’s Causeway tour they offer from Dublin is one of the most popular in the country.
Tour Details: After boarding your bus in Dublin, visitors are whisked north to the first stop at the Dark Hedges. After a short photo stop, it’s on through the Glens of Antrim to the Causeway Coastal Route and stunning views of the coast. This tour also includes a photo stop at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge which the other tours don’t guarantee. After the photo stop, the tour also makes a short stop at Dunluce Castle to take in the epic views.
After the stop at the Dunluce Castle is on to the Giant’s Causeway where guests will have around 90 minutes – check prices now!
What’s Included:
Pickup/Dropoff: 7.00am / 8.00pm at the Molly Malone Statue in Dublin City Centre (View on Google Maps here)
5 | Elegant Irish Tours (Small Group Tour)
Elegant Irish Tours are the perfect option for anyone looking for a small group tour to the Giant’s Causeway. Elegant Irish Tours specializes in luxury small group tours around Ireland and their tour to the Giant’s Causeway is perfect for visitors looking for a small group day trip. The minimum age for the small group tour is 6 years old.
Tour Details: This small group tour departs from the designated hotels in Dublin with the first stop being the Giant’s Causeway. Guests will have around 90 minutes at the causeway and the skip the link tickets (included in the tour price) allows visitors quicker access through the visitors centre to the causeway.
After the Causeway visitors are taken to Belfast for a two-hour stop. In Belfast, there is the option to visit the Titanic Belfast (a large exhibition on the history of the Belfast shipbuilding and the making of its most famous ship, the Titanic) or to take a Black Cab Tour of the city. Entrance to the Titanic exhibition (GBP19) is included in the tour price and there is also the option to take a black cab tour of Belfast. Although the black cab tour isn’t included in the tour price we highly recommend it as it’s a fantastic way to learn about the history of Belfast and the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The bus departs Belfast around 5.30pm for Dublin with a short rest-stop in County Louth. – check prices now!
What’s Included:
- Transport for the day
- Skip the Line Tickets for Giant’s Causeway
- Entrance ticket for Titanic Belfast
Pickup/Dropoff: 07:00/19:30 at the Intercontinental Hotel. (check other hotels) The tour bus will only pick up from designated hotels so we recommend checking how far you are from the closest designated hotel.
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Alternative option: Rent a Car and Visit the Giant’s Causeway.
Another option for visiting the Giant’s Causeway is to rent a car in Dublin and drive to the Giant’s Causeway. This option is perfect for independent travellers or those travelling with young kids who want more flexibility on their trips.
Renting a Car in Ireland is super easy and the return drive from Dublin to the Giant’s Causeway is easily achieved in a day (on one occasion we’ve visited the Giant’s Causeway from Dublin in a car in a day and it was a lot of fun).
A rental car will give you the flexibility to visit other places like Ballintoy Harbour on the Causeway Coastal Route.
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FAQS for Visiting the Giant’s Causeway
How long is the day trip to the Giant’s Causeway?
The day trips from Dublin to the Giant’s Causeway last at least 12 hours, with some lasting 14 hours due to the additional stops on the tour. While the day trip is long, the luxury coaches and frequent stops make the day trip very comfortable.
Are there toilets at the Giant’s Causeway?
There are no toilets at the causeway itself, however there are toilets available at the visitor centre to paying guests. All the tours include entrance to the visitors centre so toilets are available to all visitors on tours.
What is the Best Time to Visit the Giant’s Causeway?
The Giant’s Causeway is open all year round and the day trip tours are offered year-round too. While generally mild, Irish weather is notoriously changeable and rain/bad weather is a possibility at any time of the year.
While the Giant’s Causeway is beautiful year-round, the summer months (May-August) offer the best chances of favourable conditions.
Best Giant’s Causeway Tours from Dublin tip: Many of the above tours may not operate if heavy rain/ exceptionaly bad weather is forecast and the operators will offer alternative dates or refunds if that is the case.
Can Kids take a Giant’s Causeway tour from Dublin?
While young kids (under 2) can join some of the tours to the Giant’s Causeway there are some caveats. The journey times are long on the tour and as some tours last so long it’s not recommended or allowed to take kids under age 2 on the day trips. This obviously doesn’t apply if you are renting a car to visit the Giant’s Causeway, however, visitors will need to be happy with the journey time with young kids. If your kids (over aged 2) are ok with the journey times, they’ll love the Giant’s Causeway itself.