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All the United Kingdom Northern Ireland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Northern Ireland

125 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Northern Ireland

Updated May 9, 2025

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Cities

Top Cities
Crown Liquor Saloon
Belfast
Peering into Madman’s Window.
Larne
Carrickfergus
Hungry caterpillar.
Whitehead
Cairndhu was officially opened as a convalescent hospital in 1950. It now lies derelict and a campaign is ongoing to try to save it.
Ballygalley
Old Stone Buildings.
Carnlough
All Cities
  1. Antrim
  2. Ballintoy
  3. Ballygalley
  4. Belfast
  5. Carnlough
  6. Carrickfergus
  7. Coleraine
  8. County Antrim
  9. Cushendun
  10. Downpatrick
  11. Glynn
  12. Islandmagee
  13. Larne
  14. Mid And East Antrim
  15. Rathlin Island
  16. Whitehead
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories

Unusual Attractions in Northern Ireland

Dark Hedges

County Antrim, Northern Ireland

The Dark Hedges

The atmospheric road was never meant to be so creepy.
Giant’s Causeway

County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway

Northern Ireland's Brobdingnagian stepping stones.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Ballintoy, Northern Ireland

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

This short bridge is the only thing connecting a tiny Irish island to the mainland.
The “stairway to heaven” offers sweeping views over the bogland.

Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail

A meandering boardwalk across the bogland leads to a "stairway to heaven" with sublime views.
Crown Liquor Saloon

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Crown Liquor Saloon

This Victorian-era public house has set the standard for pub-style elegance for over a hundred years.
Dunluce Castle

Coleraine, Northern Ireland

Dunluce Castle

The ruins of this medieval castle in Northern Ireland have inspired artists from C.S. Lewis to Led Zeppelin.
Launch Site of the Titanic

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Launch Site of the Titanic

A museum marks and documents the site of the Titanic's launch.
Maze having annual trim 10 September 2021

Castlewellan, Northern Ireland

Peace Maze of Northern Ireland

A peace symbol in Northern Ireland is among the world's largest hedge mazes.
See All 125 Things To Do in Northern Ireland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Northern Ireland

The poshest Tesco.

Belfast, Northern Ireland

2 Royal Avenue

A palatial former bank building now houses what may be the poshest art venue (and former Tesco) in Belfast.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Northern Ireland

A
125
History & Culture 35
Architecture 18
Memorials 12
Military 12
History 9
Geology 9
Animals 9
Nature 8
Murals 7
Ruins 7
Plants 7
World War Ii 7

Northern Ireland Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. TownTactics
    61
  2. larnerenovationgeneration
    10
  3. jbartlett2000
    9
  4. matthewmoore
    4
  5. katielou106
    4

Places Edited

  1. linkogecko
    19
  2. TownTactics
    17
  3. Collector of Experiences
    15
  4. SEANETTA
    11
  5. Jaszmina Szendrey
    9

Places Visited

  1. leannebriggs
    87
  2. TownTactics
    82
  3. Goldfinch
    79
  4. avalard
    59
  5. odhranrussell2000
    55

Recent Northern Ireland Activity

  • Rabbi94

    has been to Samson and Goliath

    1 day ago
  • Rabbi94

    has been to Belfast Titanic Memorial Garden

    1 day ago
  • tinyufos

    has been to Belfast Botanic Gardens Palm House

    about 22 hours ago
  • ozzy10

    has been to Samson and Goliath

    about 15 hours ago
  • ozzy10

    has been to SS Nomadic

    about 15 hours ago

Stories About Northern Ireland

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Deciphering Ireland's Ancient Standing Stones

by Alex Bellos
May 9, 2022
A reconstruction of the Iron Age roundhouse at Ulster, where archaeological evidence suggests massive feasts were held.

The Irish Pigged Out on Pork in a ‘Mammoth’ Iron Age Building

The guests brought swine from far and wide, and left dozens of carcasses behind.
by Isaac Schultz
December 27, 2019
One of the village’s five churches, made out of wool.

See an Entire Northern Ireland Village Knitted Out of Wool

An incredible yarn from Cloughmills, County Antrim.
by Natasha Frost
January 16, 2018

A Meteor Struck the Grounds of a School in Northern Ireland (Or Did It?)

Strange things were afoot at Castle Gardens Primary School.
by Natasha Frost
November 13, 2017

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