When King Writes

One of the non-negotiables that I said I MUST see when I visit Ireland is the Giant’s Causeway. I’ve been seeing it on Instagram for years, and just about every person I talk to who’s visited the country would tell me it’s a bucket list attraction.

So on the off chance that you’re planning to visit Ireland and you’ve never heard of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is my absolute honor to introduce this breathtaking place to you!

Or, if you already know about it but are looking for more information to help you plan your trip, I hope reading about my experience gives you some insightful nuggets as well.

First, the location: The Giant’s Causeway is located on the north coast of Northern Ireland, in County Antrim. It’s about 1 hour from Belfast by car, or 3 hours if you’re coming from Dublin.

Next, access: Walking to the Giant’s Causeway itself is free, but you have to pay for the full visitor experience, which includes parking at the official lot, the visitor center and audio guide. You only have to pay if you enter the center. But I heard you can go after hours for free. 🙂

If you’re riding the shuttle bus from the visitor center to the Giant’s Causeway, there’s an additional £1 per person, and another pound going back. We chose to walk because: 

#1 The route was so picturesque it was worth exploring by foot all the way.

#2 If you love walking, the distance of 0.8 miles (1.2 km) from the visitor center to Giant’s Causeway would be a breeze.

#3 The shuttle arrives approximately every twenty minutes. It was faster for us to walk than to wait. 😅

#4 The shuttle can have a long line, so even if it arrives faster, there is no assurance you’ll get to ride it. We’d rather give the seats to people who actually need it.

Do I regret walking to the Giant’s Causeway instead of taking the shuttle? Not at all! I live in the city and don’t always get the chance to walk surrounded by cliffs, wide open ocean and that kind of wild, untouched scenery. I loved the cool wind brushing my face and feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin.

We also got to stop over wherever we wanted, something we would not have been able to do if we rode the shuttle. There’s this spot where the path curves toward the water, with rugged cliffs in the distance and the ocean sparkling under the sunlight, waves crashing over the dark rocks below.

We stayed there for a while just admiring the scenery. 

I wish I could show you better photos, but all I have are screenshots from the videos taken by phone. We lost most of the photos from this trip (another story for another time).

Anyway, to the main event: The Giant’s Causeway!

Some attractions look way different in photos compared to how they actually look in person. But NOT the Giant’s Causeway. Thousands of naturally formed basalt columns stacked resulting in uneven steps, each one a perfect hexagon. If this was a fairy tale, I imagine someone carved them by hand and left them scattered along the edge of the sea.

The rocks rise and fall in different heights, so in the photo you can see people sit on the flat surfaces, climb, and just take it all in.

It’s really windy, which I guess is true no matter what time of day you visit. 😅 I had an amazing time hanging out there, although brushing my hair was a tough challenge I did not expect. I suggest wearing a hair tie or a bonnet to secure your crowning glory.

There is no time limit to staying at the Giant’s Causeway. We stayed there for around an hour, but I saw some people who were there when we arrived were still there when we left. It really is the kind of place you want to take all in for as long as you can.

If you have the energy and motivation, you can explore further. From the Giant’s Causeway, if you keep walking past the main cluster of basalt columns and follow the coastal path toward the cliffs, there’s a trail that eventually leads toward Portcoon Cave.

It’s not right next to the stones. You need a bit of energy to keep going because the trail starts to incline and the walk is 1.5 to 2 hours each way, but the views are insane. You’ll be rewarded with huge cliffside panoramas of the coastline, endless ocean and waves crashing far below.

Going back to the visitor center, you have the option to wait for the shuttle from the Giant’s Causeway or keep walking.

For those of you asking if it’s worth paying a few pounds for the visitor center, it really depends on what you want out of the visit. If you just want to see the Causeway, you can walk straight down and enjoy everything for free — the cliffs, the ocean, the rock formations, all of it.

But what I liked about paying was the audio guide because it made the walk so much more interesting. Instead of just looking at rocks, you get stories about how the Causeway was formed, legends about giants and little details you wouldn’t notice on your own. 

Exploring the souvenirs inside the visitor center was surprisingly fun too! I found locally made crafts, wardrobe pieces and even jewelry inspired by the basalt shapes. They really made an effort to curate the selections, which is always a plus for someone who likes discovering worthy treasures to take back home.

All in all, the Giant’s Causeway was everything I hoped for and more. If it’s on your bucket list, go. If it’s not on your bucket list, add it. Walk the path, take the detours, buy the audio guide if you want the full story, and don’t rush! It’s not every day you get to walk on those ancient stones. 🙂