Region

County Down

Base in Belfast or Bangor; use a car for the Mournes and Strangford. Two nights covers the coast, three adds the mountains.

Not field-verified

Explore Northern Ireland Plan a trip

Key facts · United Kingdom

Best months: Apr–May, Sep
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP, £)
Language: English
Plugs: G · 230 V
Time zone: GMT, BST from late March to late October

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 11Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…

Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
Northern Ireland ↗No passport or border check between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but carry the documents that allow you into the UK.
Northern Ireland ↗Pound sterling; Northern Ireland banks issue their own notes, accepted locally and usually in Great Britain.
Northern Ireland ↗The same city is Derry to nationalists and Londonderry to unionists; both names appear on signs and timetables.

County Down wraps around Belfast and runs south-east to the Mourne Mountains. The coast — Holywood, Bangor, Newtownards, the Ards Peninsula — is on frequent trains and buses from Belfast. Downpatrick, Newcastle and the Mournes need a car or a long bus ride. Sleep in Belfast for transport and food, in Bangor or Newcastle for the sea, and treat the rest as day trips.

Sleep

Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it

Where to sleep

11 places in this region

Sleep base

BelfastCity guide
Transport hub: two airports, ferries, trains and buses; best food range.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Belfast →
BangorCity guide
Victorian seaside resort, 25 min by train from Belfast.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bangor →
NewcastleCity guide
Base for the Mourne Mountains and Royal County Down golf.
Best May–Jun, Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Newcastle →

Day trip

DownpatrickCity guide
Religious centre; St Patrick is believed buried here.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Downpatrick →
NewryCity guide
Border city, trains from Dublin, GAA at Páirc Esler.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Newry →
HolywoodCity guide
Ulster Transport and Folk Museums; Royal Belfast golf.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Holywood →
NewtownardsCity guide
Mount Stewart house and gardens; gateway to the Ards Peninsula.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Newtownards →
StrangfordCity guide
Ferry to Portaferry; castle used in Game of Thrones.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Strangford →
HillsboroughPlanned
Official residence of the monarch in Northern Ireland; Georgian village.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
BanbridgeCity guide
Linen-town heritage on the A1 south of Belfast.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Banbridge →
DundonaldPlanned
Suburb east of Belfast; ice bowl and shopping.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Night sequences

2 nights: Belfast 2, coast and Downpatrick as day trips
3 nights: Belfast 2 + Newcastle 1 for the Mournes
4 nights: Belfast 2 + Bangor 1 + Newcastle 1

Belfast, Lisburn and Newry are split by county boundaries — check which side your address is on.
Mourne weather changes fast; rain gear and a map are needed even on short walks.
The Carlingford Lough ferry is seasonal; check it runs before planning that route.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Bangor	Belfast	35 min	late evening	Frequent trains from Lanyon Place.
Holywood	Belfast	20 min	late evening	Two museums; short train ride.
Downpatrick	Belfast	60 min	early evening	Bus from Europa; cathedral and St Patrick's grave.
Newcastle	Belfast	75 min	early evening	Bus from Europa; Mourne trailheads start in town.
Newry	Belfast	60 min	late evening	Trains from Dublin also stop here.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding common in Northern Ireland; carry bags or leave them at your Belfast hotel.

When and how

Months, arrival and passes

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Belfast	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Bangor	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Newcastle	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	go	ok	×	×
Downpatrick	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Newry	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Holywood	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Newtownards	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Strangford	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	×
Banbridge	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	×
Northern Ireland (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
County DownCoast and Mournes	cool	cool	ok	best	best	ok	ok	ok	best	ok	cool	cool

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, grey

County Down: Mild, wet and windy year-round; the Mournes get more rain and wind than the coast. May–June and September are the driest and brightest; July–August are warmest but busiest.

Summer school holidays fill Bangor and Newcastle beds; book ahead for July–August and bank holidays.

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Belfast City Airport (BHD)	Belfast	Bus or taxi	~15 min	Mostly UK flights; the airport sits just inside County Down.
Belfast International (BFS)	Belfast	Airport bus or taxi	~40 min	European plus some UK flights; 20 miles west of the city.
Dublin	Newry / Belfast	Train (Enterprise) or bus	~1 h 30 to Newry, ~2 h 15 to Belfast	Trains stop at Newry; buses also cross the border.
Great Britain	Belfast	Ferry from Cairnryan, Birkenhead or the Isle of Man	~2 h 15 Cairnryan–Belfast	Ferries land at Belfast; foot passengers and cars.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Translink day tickets

check

Pays if you ride several buses or trains in one day; check current prices and zones.

Car hire

buy

The practical choice for the Mournes, Strangford and stately homes; book early in summer.

Eat and move on

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Ulster fry	Cafés across the county	Served through the morning; portions are large.
Seafood	Bangor and Newcastle	Coastal towns have the widest range; book in summer.
Bar food	Downpatrick, Newry, Hillsborough	Golf hotels and bars are the reliable option outside Belfast.
Lithuanian fare	Lisburn	A local speciality; check opening days.

Go next

Belfast

Train or bus from most towns

Transport hub for all of Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland

Train or bus

County Antrim glens and the Causeway Coast.

Newry

Train from Belfast

Border city and gateway to the Republic.

Bangor, Northern Ireland

Train from Belfast

Seaside base on the coast.

Downpatrick

Bus from Belfast

Religious heritage and St Patrick.

Newtownards

planned

Bus from Belfast

Mount Stewart and the Ards Peninsula.

Newcastle, Northern Ireland

planned

Bus from Belfast

Mourne Mountains base.

Banbridge

planned

Train or bus

Linen heritage on the A1.

Holywood

planned

Train from Belfast

Museums and golf.

Hillsborough, Northern Ireland

planned

Bus from Belfast

Georgian village and official residence.

Strangford

planned

Bus and ferry

Castle and lough crossing.

Dundonald

planned

Bus from Belfast

Suburb with ice bowl.

Show all 12 placesShow fewer

Explore Northern Ireland Up to Northern Ireland

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Sources

officialDiscover Northern Ireland
officialTranslink — Northern Ireland trains and buses
officialCarlingford Ferry
officialMet Office
secondaryWikivoyage: County Down, revision 5143228 (CC BY-SA 4.0)