Northern Ireland Tourism - Travel to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland comprises of the six Northwesterly counties of Ireland, and is a part of the United Kingdom. Whilst having a reputation for violence and sectarian conflict, it is nonetheless a fascinating province with much to offer in the way of beautiful scenery and cosmopolitan cities.
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Cities in Northern Ireland
Counties
Get into Northern Ireland
The most common points of arrival are Belfast and Derry. Many visitors also come through Dublin international airport, 100 miles south of Belfast in the Republic of Ireland.
The ferryport at Larne connects Northern Ireland to Scotland.
Get around in Northern Ireland
Travel to Northern Ireland By car
Northern Ireland has a limited motorway system, connecting Belfast to Dungannon, Ballymena and Newtonabbey. All large towns and cities are well connected by road.
By bus or train
Translink operate the Northern Ireland public transport system.
Northern Ireland Talk
English is spoken everywhere. There are a wide range of regional dialects. Ulster Scots and Irish are used in some small communities.
Drink
Buckfast, a tonic wine made in Devon, is very popular in Northern Ireland, especially with young people. Bushmills whiskey is made in the town of the same name on the north coast, and distillery tours are highly recommended. Belfast produces its own range of ales. Bars must stop serving alcohol at 1 am.
Stay safe - Northern Ireland Tourism
Northern Ireland has a reputation as a dangerous place but almost all visitors experience a trouble-free stay. Avoid being alone at night in urban areas, and avoid wearing clothes that could mark you out as being from one community or the other (for example Celtic or Rangers kits). Avoid political gatherings where possible.
Contact
The country code for Northern Ireland is the same as the rest of the UK, +44. The code for the whole of Northern Ireland is 028, with the 0 being dropped for inbound international calls. Northern Ireland numbers can be called from the Republic of Ireland by replacing the area code 028 with 048. International phone cards are widely available in large towns and cities.
