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Major city · United Kingdom

Bushmills

Base here one night for the distillery and Giant's Causeway; two nights if you want the coast without a car.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep (check)
avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many places closed) (check)
Airports
BFS · BHD
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-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.

Bushmills is a small village on the Antrim coast, 3 miles from Giant's Causeway and home to the Old Bushmills Distillery. It works as a one-night base for the Causeway coast, or a day trip from Belfast or Portrush. Without a car, the 402 bus and the seasonal shuttle do the work.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Bushmills, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) (check)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30) (check)
  • BeerPint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9) (check)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, Bushmills to Giant's Causeway£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20) (check)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or small-hotel double room, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedB&B or small-hotel double room, a night, per room£240 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £150 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Old Bushmills DistilleryGiant's CausewayGiant's Causeway and Bushmills RailwayMarket Square clock tower
Airports
BFS Belfast International (About 1 h 15 by road; bus and train connections via Coleraine (check)) · BHD George Best Belfast City (About 1 h 30 by road; train to Coleraine then bus 402/172 (check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Bushmills: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

3°C

18 rd

Feb

8°C

3°C

14 rd

Mar

10°C

4°C

16 rd

Apr

12°C

5°C

13 rd

May

15°C

7°C

13 rd

Jun

17°C

10°C

12 rd

Jul

19°C

12°C

14 rd

Aug

19°C

12°C

15 rd

Sep

17°C

10°C

14 rd

Oct

14°C

8°C

17 rd

Nov

11°C

5°C

17 rd

Dec

9°C

3°C

17 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable. Ulsterbus 402 runs every 30 min daily along the coast (Coleraine, Portrush, Dunluce, Portballintrae, Bushmills, Giant's Causeway, Ballintoy, Ballycastle); bus 172 skips Portrush with four weekday and two weekend runs. March–October a shuttle runs every 20 min between Bushmills and Giant's Causeway from the free park-and-ride on Main Street. The heritage railway runs weekend trips to the Causeway. A car makes the coast easier; parking at the Causeway is expensive, so use the park-and-ride.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Giant's Causeway

go

Door to door: 15–25 min

Shuttle from Main Street park-and-ride (Mar–Oct, every 20 min) or bus 402; heritage railway at weekends

Walking the stones path is free; the visitor centre is ticketed separately. Go early or late.

Dunluce Castle

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus 402 towards Portrush, then walk

Cliff-edge ruin; see the Portrush page for hours and entry.

Carrick-a-Rede rope bridgecaution

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus 402 to Ballintoy, then a walk

Timed tickets in summer; check wind closures.

Ballycastlego

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus 402 or 172 along the coast

Ferry to Rathlin Island leaves from here.

Portrush

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Bus 402 west

Beach, amusements and train links to Coleraine and Belfast.

Dark Hedges

caution

Door to door: About 20 min by car

Car or taxi; no direct bus

Narrow road with traffic; go early.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Main Street, village centre

Walk to the distillery, bars and the shuttle stop; hostel and small hotels.

Causeway Road

Guesthouses and the Causeway Hotel within walking distance of the stones; quieter, fewer food options.

Portballintrae

Small cove village 2 miles north; seafront hotel, good for a coastal walk.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed (check)
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed (check)
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed (check)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or small-hotel double room1 × 1 night × £140£140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80£160
Distillery tour, adult2 × £15£30
Bus 402 Coleraine–Bushmills single2 × £4 · check£8
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 · check£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£36
Trip total≈ £197 per person per day, bed included£394≈ US$550

check

2026 estimate in pounds; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) (check)
Fish and chips£10–16 (≈ US$14–25) (check)
Pub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30) (check)
Pint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9) (check)
Distillery tour, adult£15 (≈ US$20)
Taxi, Bushmills to Giant's Causeway£8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20) (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The real risks are coastal weather, cliff edges and traffic on narrow roads. Walk the Causeway path in windproof layers and keep back from the edge.
  • Summer crowds at Giant's Causeway: go before 10:00 or after 16:00.
  • Distillery production pauses in July for maintenance; tours still run but the floor may be quiet.
  • Coast weather changes fast: wind and rain even in July.
  • Rural buses thin out in the evening; check the last 402 back.
  • Many places close or cut hours November–February.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Non-emergency police
101
NHS non-emergency
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BushmillsBushmills

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Non-emergency police101
  • NHS non-emergency111

Embassy

No embassies in Bushmills; the US consulate-general is in Belfast, and most other countries have embassies in London or Dublin (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus 402 Coleraine → Bushmills: about £4 (≈ US$6) single, about 30 min (check)
  • Shuttle Bushmills → Giant's Causeway: March–October, every 20 min from Main Street park-and-ride (check fare)
  • Taxi Bushmills → Giant's Causeway: £8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)

Say or show

  • Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry (sor-ee)
  • Thanks / Thank you — Thank you (thanks)
  • Please — Please (pleez)
  • Where's the bus stop? — Where is the bus stop? (wairz thuh bus stop)
  • Do you take card? — Can I pay by card? (doo yoo tayk kard)
  • Where's the toilet? — Where is the toilet? (wairz thuh toy-let)

English is the first language; local place names are often said quickly.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bushmills. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep (check) · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many places closed) (check) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BFS and BHD: last bus and train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street and distillery, Portballintrae, Causeway Road.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (distillery, Causeway visitor centre, Dunluce, Carrick-a-Rede) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Weather and closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources