Having grown up in Northern Ireland, one of the best ways to spend a day in the summer has always been a classic day trip! Belfast is full of gorgeous scenery and things to do, but the rest of Northern Ireland also has a lot to offer. Here are 6 destinations you can get to by train, with the prices and a few recommendations of the best bits of each - perfect to round up some friends and get exploring!

Lisburn

12-26 mins, yLink day return: £3.60

Starting with the closest on the list (and closest to my heart, being where I spent my 7 years of secondary school), Lisburn is a city located just 20 minutes south of Belfast, and offers alternatives to many of the activities you can do in Belfast when you’re looking for a change of scenery. There is a main street and mall full of shops to take a dander round, but my two main recommendations in Lisburn relate to its coffee shops and leisure park.

In the years since I’ve left school, a number of cozy and cool cafes have opened up - including Crema (with brunch to die for), Percival Coffee (my brother’s personal favourite) and Glasshouse Coffee (the perfect suntrap for a catch up on a summer day), which are all definitely worth checking out!

^{Glasshouse Coffee, Lisburn}

Or if you’re looking for a bit of nostalgic fun, why not head to the Lisburn leisure park for a splash in the pool and whiz down the slides, a game of bowling or a trip to the cinema, as well as visiting one of the many good quality (but reasonably priced) restaurants around the area.

Derry

2 hrs 22 mins, yLink day return £10.50

If you can survive a longer train, pack plenty of snacks and have some way to pass the time - because Derry is another city in Northern Ireland I’d highly recommend checking out! All the way in the Northwest, Derry is truly a hidden gem, with loads to do and see.

Some famous parts of the city not to miss include the Derry Girls mural, the Peace Bridge and the City Walls. My family and I took a tour with Martin McCrossan city walking tours, and this is a must-do if you have the time, we learned so much about the city’s history and got to take in all the sights! If history is your thing, the Tower Museum was also a super interesting summary of the city and country’s past. 

^{The Peace Bridge, Derry}

For a more relaxed time, take a wander around many of Derry’s local businesses dotting the streets of Craft Village, or sit down for some food - our favorite spots from a term of placement in the city include BORN, Nine Hostages Coffee, HangTen brew bar, Guapo (the BEST burrito I’ve ever had), and Pyke’n’Pommes.

Portrush

1 hr 47 mins, yLink day return £10.50

Want to escape to Northern Ireland’s famous north coast? Portrush is the classic Northern Irish day out to the seaside! On a sunny day, you can enjoy the sand and waves on the East and West side beaches, or dander along the coast to the stunning White Rocks beach - you could even learn to surf with plenty of companies offering lessons in the area.

Curry’s fun park now occupies the iconic Barry’s building and offers many of the same attractions that were staples of an NI childhood, providing plenty of chances for thrills, fun, candy floss and arcade-style games - it’s a rite of passage to go at least once, in my opinion.

The north coast also has its fair share of great places to eat, with popular Portrush spots including Babushka Kitchen for brunch, Mauds and Morelli’s for your fill of ice cream, as well as the Ramore and Neptune & Prawn for a classy dinner to finish off the day.

^{The iconic north coast}

Bangor

32 mins, yLink day return £5.00

Heading in the other direction for some sea air, Bangor is further east of Belfast, at the top of the Ards Peninsula. Take in the views of the harbour, castle and gardens, or take a stroll through Ward Park, all with lovely scenery! There are plenty of shops to take a look at, as well as cute cafes - I’ve always been a fan of The Red Berry, and I’m convinced The Yoghurt Tree is one of my favourite places for a sweet treat, ever.

While on the way to Bangor, it can also be worth taking stops off at the lovely beaches along the way - especially Helen’s Bay and Crawfordsburn country park. These are personal favourites for a wee walk or a dip in the sea; and they have a real buzz about them on a day when the NI sun makes an appearance!

^{The Yoghurt Tree is my favourite spot for a sweet treat}

Whitehead

45 mins, yLink day return £5.30

If you’re looking for some stunning Northern Ireland scenery, the Blackhead costal path and Whitehead coastal path are sure to deliver, as you walk along close to the sea then climb to lighthouse level for some incredible views over Belfast lough!

Whitehead is a cute seaside town, so also worth it for a walk around or a pit stop for ice cream while you’re there. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, carry on the train until Ballycarry at the next stop, and you’ll have made it to the Gobbins - a cliff path walk boasting caves and bridges over the water below! It’s certainly on my to-do list for activities this summer.

Holywood

19 mins, yLink return £2.60

‘Ho-ho-ho-Holywood, hip-hip-hooray’ was the little sing song my Nannie did each time we came here when I was little, and it remains a great place for a casual trip out of Belfast! Only 20 minutes out of the city, Holywood is the fastest way to get to the sea (I’ve rushed there for a good sunset many times over my university career) and is a cute little town filled with two of my favourite things - good charity shops and cute places to grab coffee.

I recommend an afternoon of checking out what second hand steals you can find, as well as grabbing food in one of the many options this town has - my personal faves include looking at the art while sipping my coffee in the Bay Tree, grabbing brunch at Edge Coffee, or eating too many donuts at Guilt Trip.

^{Enjoy a coffee break in Holywood}

Dublin

2 hrs 27 mins, student return £33

For a mini holiday, why not be adventurous and head off to Dublin! The train leaves you right to the city centre, where there is a lot to explore, including history, culture and shopping. There’s an endless amount of things to try - walk around the gorgeous Trinity campus and St. Stephens Green, hit the shops on Grafton Street, learn some history at Kilmainham Gaol, take in the art at the National Gallery of Ireland, check out the iconic Temple Bar, or try out the super popular Guinness factory tour!

I think Dublin has a similar buzz to Belfast, without being too big - making it the perfect place to explore if you have some time to visit. I most frequently go to Dublin for concerts and theatre too - so it’s always worth checking what’s on, and tying that into a trip too! 

^{Plenty to see and do in Dublin!}

A Translink yLink card is available if you’re between 16 and 23, offering 50% off rail and bus fares, or a 24+ Student rail card gets you 1/3 off tickets. I highly recommend so you can see the best sights in NI at a lower cost!

 

Find out more

Student life in Belfast

Also by Kathryn: A Guide to Live Music in Belfast

More blogs about Belfast and Northern Ireland

Kathryn Allen Medicine| Undergraduate Student | Lisburn, NI I’m a 21 year old student originally from Lisburn and starting my fourth year of Medicine at Queen's in September- I love my degree because it combines caring for people, learning fascinating things and working as a team. When I’m not busy surviving placement and exams, you can find me in one of Belfast’s great coffee shops with a friend, going to concerts to get my fix of live music, or curling up to read a book with a carefully curated Spotify playlist on in the background!