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Major city · United Kingdom

BallycastleBaile an Chaistil

Base here 2 nights for the Causeway Coast: Carrick-a-Rede, Fair Head and Rathlin are within 30 min, and beds cost less than Portrush in July.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (wind, rain, short days)
Airports
BFS · BHD · LDY
Nights
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.

Ballycastle is a small harbour town on the north Antrim coast, 5,600 people, with the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Dark Hedges all within a short drive or bus ride. It works as a quieter, cheaper base for that coast: two nights covers the headlands, the beach and a ferry day on Rathlin Island. A car or bike makes the difference; without one you are tied to the hourly coastal bus.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ballycastle, 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.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
  • BeerPint of beer£5–6 (≈ US$7–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, town to Carrick-a-Redecheck£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse or B&B double, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse or B&B double, a night, per room£170 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £75 (≈ US$100) · High £130 (≈ US$180)

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.

Carrick-a-Rede rope bridgeFair Head cliffsRathlin Island ferryOuld Lammas Fair
Airports
BFS Belfast International (About 1 h 15 min by road; no direct bus, change at Ballymena.) · BHD George Best Belfast City (About 1 h 30 min by road via the Antrim coast or M2.) · LDY City of Derry (About 1 h 15 min by road east along the A2.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ballycastle: 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

20 rd

Feb

8°C

3°C

16 rd

Mar

10°C

4°C

17 rd

Apr

12°C

5°C

14 rd

May

15°C

7°C

14 rd

Jun

17°C

10°C

14 rd

Jul

18°C

12°C

16 rd

Aug

18°C

12°C

17 rd

Sep

16°C

10°C

16 rd

Oct

13°C

8°C

19 rd

Nov

10°C

5°C

19 rd

Dec

8°C

3°C

19 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 town is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. For the coast, Ulsterbus 402 runs every 30 min daily along the A2 via Dunluce Castle, Bushmills, the Giant's Causeway, Dunseverick and Ballintoy (Carrick-a-Rede), about 70 min end to end. Bus 131/217 goes inland to Ballymena hourly Mon–Fri, four on Saturday. Everything else — Fair Head, Torr Head, Kinbane, the glens — needs a car, taxi or bike. The seafront car park is free but limited to two hours and fills in summer; ferry passengers should park on Ann Street off Quay Road.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Rathlin Island

go

Door to door: About 1 h plus island time

Rathlin Island Ferries from the harbour, about 30 min, four sailings daily

Cars are not carried for visitors; park on Ann Street. Bring layers and a full day.

Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Ulsterbus 402 to Ballintoy, then a 20-min walk

Timed tickets in summer; no dogs.

Giant's Causeway

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Ulsterbus 402 west, about 40 min

Go early or late; the visitor centre charges, the stones themselves are free to reach on foot.

Bushmills distillery

go

Door to door: About 35 min

Ulsterbus 402, about 30 min

Tours sell out in summer; book a slot.

Fair Head and Murlough Bay

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Car or bike via Torr Road from the A2

No bus. Cliffs up to 100 m; stay back from the edge in wind.

Dark Hedges

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Car via Armoy, about 20 min; bus 131/217 stops at Armoy

A short roadside stop, not a half-day; go before 9AM to avoid coaches.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Harbour and North Street

Guesthouses, the Marine Hotel and the beach on foot; no need for a car in the evening.

The Diamond and Castle Street

Town centre: pubs, Spar, museum; 5–8 min walk to the harbour.

Quay Road and Cushendall Road

Guesthouses and the golf club; 10–15 min walk to the seafront.

Whitepark Road (Ballintoy)

Hostel and self-catering near White Park Bay; you need a car.

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
Mid
£70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
£110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse or B&B double1 × 2 nights × £120£240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £75£300
Ulsterbus 402 day return along the coast2 × £8 · check£16
Rathlin Island ferry, return2 × £14 · check£28
Carrick-a-Rede adult ticket2 × £15 · check£30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£63
Trip total≈ £174 per person per day, bed included£697≈ US$950

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

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
Fish and chips£10–15 (≈ US$14–20)
Pub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
Pint of beer£5–6 (≈ US$7–8)
Dulse and yellowman at the Lammas FairFair only, last Monday and Tuesday of August.£2–5 (≈ US$3–7)
Taxi, town to Carrick-a-Redecheck£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A low-crime small town; the real risks are coastal: cliff edges at Fair Head and Torr Head, fast tides and cold water at the Strand, and unlit country lanes after dark.
  • The seafront car park has a two-hour maximum stay and fills quickly in July and August.
  • Carrick-a-Rede is a timed-ticket site in summer: book ahead or arrive at opening.
  • There is no footpath between Carrick-a-Rede and Ballycastle, so the Causeway Coast Way section here means walking the busy main road.
  • Coastal winds and rain arrive fast; a waterproof beats an umbrella on the headlands.
  • Rathlin ferries can be cancelled in high wind — keep the return leg flexible.

Emergency numbers

NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

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.

BallycastleBaile an Chaistil

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

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

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ulsterbus 402, Ballycastle → Giant's Causeway: about 40 min, day return under £10 (≈ US$14) (check)
  • Rathlin Island ferry, return: about 30 min each way, four sailings daily (check)
  • Taxi Ballycastle → Ballymena: £35–45 (≈ US$50–60) (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • Where is the harbour? — Where is the harbour?
  • One fish and chips, please — One fish and chips, please
  • Is the ferry running today? — Is the ferry running today?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

English is the everyday language here; Irish (Gaeilge) is spoken in some homes and on signage.

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 Ballycastle. 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 · avoid Nov–Feb (wind, rain, short days) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 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, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: harbour and Strand, The Diamond, Quay Road, and the Ballintoy/Whitepark Road strip.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Carrick-a-Rede, Giant's Causeway, Bonamargy Friary, Kinbane) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ferry-day fixtures for Rathlin and the Kintyre Express so weather cancellations have a plan B.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources