Planning your visit to the Giant's Causeway

Explore our FAQs for essential tips, guidance and visitor information to help plan your visit.

• What is the 'Visitor Experience'?

  Pre-booking the Giant's Causeway Visitor Experience includes reserved on-site parking, guided tours with our award-winning storytelling team, use of hand-held audio guides available in 11 international languages, as well as access to the Visitor Centre exhibition and interpretation area, the shop and cafe, and use of all facilities, including the opportunity to borrow a wide range of accessibility equipment, including all-terrain wheelchairs and mobility scooters, at no extra cost.

• Why is pre-booking necessary?

  We ask all visitors, including National Trust Members and Neighbour Pass Holders, to pre-book ahead of visiting the Giant's Causeway as this allows us to plan for your arrival and helps us spread visitors more evenly throughout the day. It also helps to avoid disappointment and delays, and the best part is...it only takes 2 minutes!

• Can I walk for free?

  Yes. You can walk to the Causeway stones for free by foot via the public right of way, however this doesn't include on-site parking. All visitors are asked to respect local residents, other road users and emergency services by parking responsibly.

  Causeway Coast Way Car Park located at Innisfree Farm, 60 Causeway Road is available for walkers to explore the network of coastal paths for £12 per vehicle, payable via the JustPark app (downloadable from App Store and Google Play). This car park is open from 5am - 8pm, and is free for National Trust Members and Neighbour Pass Holders. Spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and can't be pre-booked. Overnight parking is not permitted.

• Is there an option to Park and Ride?

  Yes. We offer a discounted 'Park and Ride ticket' through the Bushmills Visitor Information Centre, located at the Dundarave Car Park in Bushmills.

  To avail of the Park and Ride service...

  • Park up in Dundarave Car Park
  • Purchase your 'Park and Ride ticket' from within Bushmills Visitor Information Centre (includes entry into the Visitor Experience and your Translink bus fare)
  • Hop on the Translink bus to the World Heritage Site

• I'm travelling in a campervan...how should I plan my visit?

  If you are planning to visit in a campervan or motorhome, please head straight to Dundarave Car Park in Bushmills village.

  • Park up in Dundarave Car Park
  • Purchase your 'Park and Ride ticket' from within Bushmills Visitor Information Centre (includes entry into the Visitor Experience and your Translink bus fare)
  • Hop on the Translink bus to the World Heritage Site

  If you're a Blue Badge Holder, National Trust Member or a Neighbour Pass Holder and you're arriving in a campervan or motorhome, please go to Causeway Coast Way Car Park, located at 60 Causeway Road, where we'll try our best to accommodate.

• Can I charge my electric car during my visit to the Giant's Causeway?

  Yes. EV charging facilities are available in the main visitor car park for Visitor Experience ticket holders, National Trust Members and Neighbour Pass Holders.

  These chargers offer visitors a convenient and practical way to top up their vehicle whilst exploring the World Heritage Site.

  Charging fees apply via the ChargePoint App, downloadable from App Store and Google Play.

  Please note that vehicle charging bays are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Can I travel to the Giant's Causeway by public transport?

  Yes. Translink operate regular public transport services that connect to the area. For routes, timetables and journey planning, please visit the Translink website.

  On arrival to the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre, please present your valid ticket receipt to a member of our team to avail of our discounted 'Green Ticket' for the Visitor Experience.

• Can I bring a group to the Giant's Causeway? If so, how do I book?

  Of course. All groups arriving in coaches and mini coaches can only be pre-booked with the Giant's Causeway Bookings Office via email (northcoastbookings@nationaltrust.org.uk), and not online.

  Online bookings can only be made for visitors that are arriving in a vehicle that can park in a standard car park space. Vehicles which cannot fit in a standard car park space will be asked to park off-site.

• Can I bring my dog to the Giant's Causeway?

  Yes! The Giant's Causeway Visitor Experience is fully dog friendly, with dogs on leads welcome throughout all indoor and outdoor areas of the World Heritage Site. Dog water bowls are made available at the front and back doors of the Visitor Centre.

  Pooch Passports are back! As part of the National Trust's 'Dogs Welcome' project, in partnership with Forthglade Natural Pet Food, with your Pooch Passport, you and your four-legged bestie can gather stamps by visiting various National Trust properties across Northern Ireland, England and Wales - a perfect way to mark your GIANT adventures! Collect so many stamps for the chance to recieve some special treats, and be sure to snap a pic of your furry companion in our selfie frame and tag us on social for a chance to feature on our pages!

  You can view more information on our dog-friendly policy here.

• How frequently do the guided tours run, and how long do they last for?

  Our guided tours run every hour from the Meeting Point within the Visitor Centre, located at the Visitor Information Desk and last for approximately 45 minutes. The first guided tour departs at 10:30am, with the last taking place at 3pm.

• What facilities are there for visitors with limited mobility?

  At Northern Ireland's first World Heritage Site, we are committed to providing an accessible, inclusive and enjoyable experience for all visitors.

  We have a wide range of equipment and facilities available within the Visitor Centre, including a disabled parking area, a Changing Places facility accessible via RADAR key, and a variety of wheelchairs and mobility equipment for Visitor Experience ticket holders, National Trust Members and Neighbour Pass Holders to avail of during their visit.

  Recently, we teamed up with AccessAble, the leading provider of access information for disabled people in the UK, to create a brand new accessibility guide that aims to aid travel planning for those who need it most.

  View the Giant's Causeway AccessAble guide here.

• Is there a shuttle bus that runs down to the Causeway stones?

  Yes. The Translink Accessible Shuttle Bus operates during Visitor Centre opening times. The service runs from the back of the Visitor Centre, down to the Causeway stones and return, every 10-15 minutes and costs £1 / 1.20 Euro per person, each way (cash and card payments both accepted). National Trust Members go free on presentation of their membership card.

  This service is intended for visitors who couldn't walk independently to and from the stones themselves, so we ask all visitors to give priority to those in need of this service first and foremost. This shuttle service is accessible by wheelchair, with priority seating areas to the front for passengers requiring easy access.

• Is there anywhere that I can store my belongings during my visit?

  Yes. There are lockers within the Visitor Centre that are large enough to fit a small cabin bag. If you wish to store your belongings in one of our lockers whilst you explore the site, please speak to a member of the team at the Visitor Information Desk. Lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis for Visitor Experience ticket holders, National Trust Members and Neighbour Pass Holders, and cannot be pre-booked.

• How long do people spend exploring the Giant's Causeway?

  The majority of visitors spend approximately 2 hours at the site.

• What is the Clifftop Experience?

  Our Clifftop Experience, carried out in collaboration with local company, Away A Wee Walk offers a fully guided, 5-mile hike, beginning at Dunseverick Castle, a stop-off at one of the most stunning viewpoints in Northern Ireland, Hamilton's Seat and ends on the world-famous stones.

  As you walk, you can listen to the stories of the Giant's Causeway and learn about the history and geology of the Causeway coastline from a knowledgable Away A Wee Walk guide.

  This experience operates daily from March - October, and on a weekend-only basis from November - February.

  View further information, availability and prices for the Clifftop Experience here.

• I need to change the date and/or time of my booking...who do I contact?

  To amend the date or time of your booking, please email events@nationaltrust.org.uk.