Choose Your Own Westeros From Dublin or Belfast
Planning a private Game of Thrones tour in Ireland usually starts with one big choice: do you begin in Dublin or Belfast? Both work well, but they give your trip a different pace, different first impressions, and slightly different routes to the same filming locations on the Causeway Coast.
We run private tours across Northern Ireland with local driver-guide Flip, who was actually on set during filming. That means you are not only seeing the places, you are hearing what it was like when the cameras were rolling, how the crew worked with the weather and how these quiet corners became the Iron Islands, the King’s Road and more.
Here we set out the key differences between starting in Dublin or Belfast, share realistic driving times, and suggest day-by-day options so you can pick the route that fits your group.
Spring, including March, often works well for time on the coast. Days are getting longer, the light can be soft and changeable, and the weather can switch from bright skies to sea mist quite quickly. On a private tour, we can pace the days around the conditions, giving you time for photos, warm café stops and quieter visits to popular spots when possible.
Dublin vs Belfast Start: What Fits Your Trip Best
For many visitors, the choice is shaped by flights and the wider Ireland itinerary.
Typical patterns look like this:
- Dublin often suits those flying from further afield and staying in the city first
- Belfast works well for visitors connecting from Britain or Europe, or anyone keen to get to the Causeway Coast relatively quickly
- Some guests arrive in Dublin, then make their way up to Belfast to start the Northern Ireland section
In driving terms, you can think in rough blocks of time. Dublin to Belfast usually takes most of a morning or afternoon by road, depending on stops. Dublin straight to the Causeway Coast makes for a longer first day, which can feel heavy after a night flight. Starting from Belfast keeps transfers shorter, so you spend more time at filming locations and less time watching the motorway roll by.
The style of each city is quite different:
- Belfast is compact, easy to get around and close to the Antrim Coast
- You can fit in the Titanic Quarter and maritime stories before you even reach your first Game of Thrones stop
- Dublin is a larger, busier capital with pubs, literature, music and big-city history
If you are a keen fan, starting in Belfast usually means you can be out at a filming location on your first proper day, with time to walk the cliffs or harbours. If you are on a longer loop around the island, it can feel natural to land in Dublin, spend a day or two, then head north to weave a Northern Ireland arc into the middle of your holiday. Because our tours are private, either way works; it just changes the order and pace of the days.
Belfast-Based Route: Causeway, Iron Islands and North Coast
A classic Belfast-based private Game of Thrones tour often runs over 2 or 3 days.
Sample 2 to 3-day outline:
- Day 1: Belfast to the Antrim Coast via Carrickfergus Castle, Carnlough and Cushendun Caves
- Day 2: Ballintoy Harbour, Larrybane Quarry and the Giant’s Causeway
- Optional Day 3: Dark Hedges and slower coastal exploring
On Day 1, Carrickfergus Castle gives you a solid medieval start. From there, we follow the coast to Carnlough, where the stone harbour steps were used when Arya climbs out of the canal in Braavos, then on to Cushendun Caves. These caves are linked to Lady Melisandre’s shadow birth.
Flip can explain how the crew timed shoots around the tides, how the damp air and echoes inside the rock affected sound, and share older local stories about caves and spirits that long predate the cameras.
Day 2 often focuses on the Iron Islands and Pyke. Ballintoy Harbour is the key spot for Theon’s return, his uneasy reunion with Yara and the docks of the Iron Islands. Larrybane Quarry, nearby, stood in for Renly’s camp and the Stormlands, with limestone cliffs dropping straight into the sea.
At the Giant’s Causeway, we talk about the basalt columns, the old legend of the giant Finn McCool and how the production used a mix of real rock, temporary structures and visual effects for their coastal worlds.
An extra Day 3 gives you time for the Dark Hedges, which stood in for the King’s Road when Arya left King’s Landing. It can be busy at peak times, so we try for quieter slots where possible and always respect local signs and restrictions on parking and walking among the trees.
With more time, we can add coastal walks, small harbours, or extra time in Belfast for industrial and maritime stories and a neutral, factual context on the city’s recent history.
Along the way, we talk about:
- Which scenes were filmed at each stop
- How sets were built then taken down again
- How weather, tides and light affected filming days, including specific days Flip remembers from working on set
We also keep an eye on responsible travel. That means staying on marked paths at the Giant’s Causeway and cliff edges, parking carefully in smaller villages, and remembering that these are working fishing and farming communities as well as filming backdrops. In spring, layers, waterproofs and good footwear make a big difference, as winds on the cliffs can feel colder than in the cities.
Dublin Start: Building a Northern Ireland Arc Into a Longer Trip
Starting in Dublin usually means you are blending Game of Thrones with a wider circuit around Ireland. A private tour allows us to turn the travel days into part of the experience rather than simple transfers.
A sample 3 to 4 day Dublin to North route could look like this:
- Day 1: Dublin to Belfast via the east coast or through the Mourne Mountains for views and short walks
- Day 2: Belfast overview plus nearby filming spots like the Antrim plateau, as time allows
- Day 3: Causeway Coast filming day, with Ballintoy, Larrybane, Cushendun, Dark Hedges and Giant’s Causeway
- Day 4 (optional): Return to Dublin via a different set of towns and viewpoints
If you are doing a clockwise loop of the island, the Northern Ireland section often sits neatly between Dublin and the west coast. We keep distances realistic so you are not stuck in the car all day.
Coastal roads here bend around headlands and small bays, so we mix driving with short walks, cliff or headland viewpoints and time in little harbours where non-fans can enjoy the sea air while fans chat through characters and plot twists with Flip.
Practical points for a Dublin start:
- If you are staying at a Dublin hotel, we can collect you there and head north
- If you prefer, you can take the train to Belfast and begin the private tour when you arrive
- Early or late flight arrivals may shorten your first day, so we adjust the plan accordingly
The longer stretches, like Dublin to Belfast or Dublin to the Causeway Coast, can feel tiring if you are new to driving on the left or on narrow rural roads. Having a driver-guide lets you relax, look out the window and focus on the stories rather than the sat-nav.
Sample Day-by-Day Itineraries for Different Travellers
Not every group wants the same pace. Here are three styles that often work well for different types of guests.
Two-day Belfast express for keen fans:
- Day 1: Belfast to Cushendun Caves, Murlough Bay, Ballintoy Harbour and Giant’s Causeway
- Day 2: Dark Hedges early or late in the day, plus extra time at your favourite location and relaxed café or viewpoint stops
These are full days, suited to people who are happy to cover ground and focus on as many major filming locations as possible in a short window.
Three-day itinerary from Belfast or linked to Dublin for mixed interest groups:
- Shorter driving stretches and fewer locations each day
- Time for harbour walks, village streets and leisurely lunches
- Non-Game of Thrones stops like medieval ruins, clifftop paths and viewpoints
On these tours, Flip adjusts the storytelling balance. Fans can ask for detailed plot and filming questions, while others might prefer local history, geology or everyday life on the coast.
Four-plus-day immersive trip for photographers and storytellers:
- Early or later visits where possible, to catch softer light at certain headlands or tree-lined roads
- Added inland viewpoints, alternative angles on well-known sites and time built in to wait for changes in light and weather
- Space in the schedule for rest, conversations in local pubs or cafés and a deeper sense of coastal communities
Extra days mean we can be flexible within the time you have. If one day brings low cloud, we can focus on caves and harbours, then aim for cliffs and longer views when the sky opens again.
Plan Your Own Path Through Westeros with Flip
The ideas above are starting points. With a private driver-guide, we shape the route around your flights, your energy levels, your interest in Game of Thrones and the time of year you are travelling. Some groups want more locations in fewer days, others prefer a slower rhythm with walks, photography stops and evenings in small towns on the coast.
At Giant Tours Ireland, we are based in Northern Ireland and spend our days on these roads and at these filming sites. Flip brings first-hand memories of specific filming days along with local stories, history and geology.
Whether you begin in Dublin or Belfast, the real difference is having someone beside you who knows where the cameras once stood, which way the wind usually blows on each headland, and how to turn these familiar landscapes into a world you can step into while travelling responsibly and respectfully.
Step Into The Real Westeros With A Local Expert Guide
Let Giant Tours Ireland bring the world of Westeros to life with a bespoke private Game of Thrones tour tailored to your interests and schedule. We will share insider stories from the filming locations, hidden viewpoints and local history that most visitors never experience. To start planning your ideal itinerary or ask any questions, simply contact us and we will help you craft an unforgettable day on the Causeway Coast.