Northern Ireland Tours & Vacations

Northern Ireland has a complex and turbulent past with religious and political upheaval (commonly referred to as " the Troubles") that lasted for about 30 years. Most of this is now in the past, and the country has worked hard to get where it is today. The situation is still complex, and if you’re around the southern border area and get chatting to locals, avoid calling or asking people if they're Irish or British – simply call them locals. The people are generally very warm, welcoming and friendly. 

Northern Ireland culture has influence from Ireland, Scotland and England, but it’s uniquely Northern Irish. It’s still traditional and conservative in many ways with a strong religious presence from both the Catholic and Protestant churches, especially in the villages and smaller townships. The capital city, Belfast is vibrant and diverse with a buzzing nightlife, music, arts and shopping scene.

Northern Ireland is located on the top of the isle of Ireland. The geography is made up of craggy terrain with hills, mountains, pristine lakes, winding rivers and lush woodland valleys. Northern Ireland also has a beautiful rugged coastline that faces the Atlantic. You know somewhere has pretty incredible landscapes when it was a filming location for the Game of Thrones!

There’s no question about it… the weather in Northern Ireland is unpredictable. It’s similar to Ireland and the UK with mild summers and winters. The weather never reaches the extremes thanks to the Atlantic Gulf Stream. However, it does tend to be a bit wetter and chillier than Ireland and Britain when that sharp wind blows in from the Atlantic. Spring and autumn can be cool, wet and windy, but the days are long and it’s sometimes surprisingly sunny and warm.

So what do you eat when in Northern Ireland? The food is similar to what you’ll find in Scotland, Ireland and England, but there are some classics that are unique to the country. Here are some national dishes to try.

Ulster fry 

The Ulster fry is the Northern Irish fry up, and it might even be the nation’s favourite dish. It’s typically served for breakfast or brunch (word on the street is that it’s the ultimate hangover cure), but you could also eat it for dinner. It consists of fried sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomato, soda farls and potato bread. And not forgetting to wash it down with a big mug of tea.

Potato farl

A potato farl is essentially a potato pancake. It's made from mashed spuds, flour, butter and salt which is then squished into a patty and baked on a griddle pan. They're simple, filling and delicious. Eat them classic (fried in butter and sprinkled with salt) or get creative with grated cheese, herbs and spices. Farls are also a great substitute for bread and are yummy topped with eggs your way, bacon, spinach or whatever tickles your fancy. 

Champ

A warm bowl of champ is creamy, salty and soul-warming. The creamy texture is thanks to a splash of milk and a generous spoonful of butter. It’s then mixed through with chopped green onions (and maybe even some grated cheese if you're feeling a bit extra!). Think of it as an upgrade on your standard mashed spuds… and once you’ve had champ you’ll never want a standard bowl of mash again.

"Sure, why would you want to go on holiday when the sun's shining here?" This is something you might hear locals saying when the sun’s shining. And it’s true! Northern Ireland is absolutely gorgeous on a clear summer's day. June to August is a great time to visit as you have the best chance of good weather and the scenery is gorgeous. There’s plenty of beaches to enjoy the sun, as well as plenty of open green spaces to have a picnic. Better weather means bigger crowds, so bear this in mind. The weather in spring and autumn can be hit or miss but it can be a fantastic time to see colourful wildflowers and autumn foliage in the woodlands, valleys and countryside. Winter is cold and wet but you do get some clear, crisp days which make for gorgeous coastal walks on the Antrim Coast. 

Learn more about the best time to visit Northern Ireland

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

Visas in the UK are granted on a UK wide basis, so if you’re coming from overseas and have been given a visa it will be valid for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Visa regulations are always subject to change, which is more likely after Britain's exit from the European Union (EU). Citizens of the EU, Australia, Canada and the United States have visa-free access to Wales provided you meet the immigration rules. Learn more about visas on the GOV.UK website.

Tipping isn’t expected but if you’re happy with a meal or service, a tip is always appreciated. Rounding up a taxi fare is common.

• “Wee” = a word used (for pretty much everything!) but especially for small or cure things

• “Craic” = a term used to describe a great time or a good laugh

• “Bout ye?” = “How are you?”

• “Buck eegit” = an endearing term for someone who is being or did something silly

• “Houl yer whisht” = “please be quiet” or “shut up”

• “Yoke” = a term used to describe an object, e.g. “Will you pass me that yoke (TV remote, hairbrush, glass, etc) over there?”

• “Catch yourself on” = “Don’t be so ridiculous!”

• “Baltic” = a term used when the weather is very cold, e.g. “It’s pure baltic outside this morning!”

• “Aye” = “yes”

• “Banter” = similar to craic, it’s a term used to describe having a good laugh

Mobile phone coverage is generally very good in most parts of Northern Ireland, but it might be patchy in more remote areas. Ensure global roaming is activated before you arrive if travelling from overseas.

Cup of coffee = £2.50

Pint of beer = £4

Glass of wine = £4.00

Simple cafe lunch = £10 

Nice meal in a restaurant = £30

Drinking tap water is safe in England unless otherwise marked. We recommend bringing a refillable bottle with you to avoid buying single-use plastic bottles to do your bit for the environment.

Major credit cards are widely accepted in shops and hotels in Northern Ireland. Smaller shops may not accept credit cards, so it’s never a bad idea to carry some cash for smaller items such as a coffee, or if you’re splitting bills with your group.

ATMs are called cash machines or cashpoints in Northern Ireland. You’ll see plenty of them on main streets and shopping centres. You can use Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Plus, Amex and Cirrus at most cash machines, as well as international bank cash machines in bigger towns and cities.

Definitely. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every trip.

Please speak to your Adventure Consultant at the time of booking if you need assistance arranging insurance. Learn more about travel insurance.

If you’re travelling by air, the easiest airport to fly into is Belfast International Airport (BFS). You can also fly into the smaller George Belfast City Airport (BHD) which is only three miles from the city centre. The ferry is a good option if you’re travelling from Scotland or England and want to take your car. If you’re coming from the Republic of Ireland, you can take the TransLink cross-border train from Dublin to Belfast Central Station. 

Learn more about how to get to Northern Ireland

Belfast is the most LGBTQI+ friendly destination in Northern Ireland with many social meeting places for the LGBTQI+ community. Belfast is also home to the largest LGBTQI+ festival in Ireland. Some areas of the country such as smaller country towns might be more hostile to LGBTQI+ travellers. For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid