Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO heritage site located in Northern Ireland, formed by ancient volcanic activity that created thousands of giant hexagonal basalt columns along the coast..
In February 2025, I visited Giant’s Causeway as a day trip from Dublin with Wild Rover Tours, which also included a Black Cab tour of Belfast and a stop at Dunluce Castle.
This is my take on whether it’s worth the journey.
Giant’s Causeway: Is It Worth It?
My answer: It depends.
If you’re traveling all the way from Dublin just to walk on the basalt stones at Giant’s Causeway, I’d say no. The stones themselves are crowded, slippery, and the views from the main path aren’t impressive enough to justify a 3-hour drive each way.
That said, the trip was worth it for me because of one underrated part of the area.
The Red Trail (What Made the Trip Worth It)
The Red Trail, a cliffside walking path above Giant’s Causeway, was the personal highlight of my visit.
- Sweeping views of the cliffs, shoreline, and basalt columns
- Much less crowded than the stone path below
- Birds overhead and rugged coastline (kind of like visiting the Cliffs of Moher, but the weather was less finicky)
While most visitors clustered on the stones, I saw almost no one on the Red Trail. The combination of cliffs, ocean, and volcanic formations made Giant’s Causeway one of the standout nature experiences of my trip.
How Long I Spent at Giant’s Causeway
I spent about two hours total in the area, which felt a bit rushed.
- Walked the Red Trail at a relaxed pace
- Briefly walked the stones of the Causeway
- Took a shuttle back to the entrance
- Grabbed a very quick meal at The Nook (their lamb stew is delicious)
My Review of Wild Rover Tours
I booked Wild Rover Tours’ Giant’s Causeway & Belfast City Tour. The tour leaves from Dublin at 7:00am and gets back at 7:30pm.
Tour Stops
- 1. Belfast
- Choose between a Black Cab political history tour of Belfast or the Titanic Experience, a museum about the Titanic.
- I chose the Black Cab political history tour, which was a very powerful and emotional experience.
- 2. Dunluce Castle
- Very short stop to walk the castle grounds (the castle is featured on Game of Thrones!)
- 3. Giant’s Causeway
- Two hour stop to explore the area.
The tour also makes two rest stops – one before reaching Belfast, and one on the way back to Dublin.
What I Liked
- The tour was very punctual, every stop ran on time.
- Efficient itinerary and diverse experiences all in one day – We covered history, culture, and nature, and the itinerary was really well-planned.
- The guide was knowledgeable, funny, and generally interesting. He even volunteered to help me take a cool, high-effort picture without me asking.
- Great way to experience Ireland and Northern Ireland without driving.
- The other people on the tour were nice and friendly. I was solo traveling, and it was a fun way to meet people.
What I Didn’t Like
- The rest stop before the tours felt too long. We stopped for 30 minutes in an empty mall before reaching Belfast. I wish we could’ve spent some of that time on one of the tour stops instead.
- The bus is a bit small and cramped.
- The tour felt a bit rushed. The Black Cab Tour took us through one side of Belfast. With more time, we likely could’ve seen the other side of Belfast and spent more time learning more about the political history. At Giant’s Causeway, because I took the cliffside walk, I didn’t have much time to spend at the Causeway itself, and felt rushed through my meal at The Nook.
Would I Recommend the Tour?
Yes – Overall, it was a good experience. I’d recommend the tour if:
- You’re short on time
- You don’t want to drive (or don’t want to drive on the left)
- You want a structured, efficient way to see Northern Ireland highlights
If you have more time and are comfortable driving, I’d recommend road-tripping instead, to be able to spend more time and get more out of Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, and the coast.
Related Posts
Want to get notified of new articles? Subscribe below!
ADJENTURING 