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Major city · United Kingdom

CarrickfergusCarraig Fhearghais

Go as a half-day from Belfast: 35 min by train, £6 castle, 2–3 hours on the ground. Sleep here only if you want a quiet harbour base.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Carrickfergus is a commuter town 12 miles northeast of Belfast with one outstanding sight: a 12th-century Norman castle, the best preserved in Ireland, built in 1177 on a rock that was then almost an island. The walled town around it is small and walkable, and the train from Belfast takes 35 minutes. Most travellers see it in half a day and return to Belfast; a night here buys you a harbour sunset and an easy start for Islandmagee and the Antrim coast road.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jan–Feb (wet, short days)
Airports
BFS · BHD
Nights
1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Carrickfergus999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Non-emergency police101
  • NHS non-emergency111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Show all 12 answers

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)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • BeerPint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi in town£5–8 (≈ US$7–11) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketCastle entry: adult / concession / child£6 (≈ US$8)£4.50 (≈ US$6)£4 (≈ US$6)
  • Budget bedHostel or guest-house bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, B&B, a night, per room£95 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedDouble room, B&B, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £55 (≈ US$75) · Mid £90 (≈ US$120) · 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 →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Carrickfergus Castle (1177)Norman walled townAndrew Jackson CottageBelfast Lough harbour
Airports
BFS Belfast International (About 40 min by road; bus to Belfast then train, or taxi direct) · BHD George Best Belfast City (Closest; about 25 min by road to Belfast then train from Lanyon Place)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  5. May

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    8°C (46°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F) low), wettest Jan (16 rain days), driest Apr (12). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Carrickfergus: 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 (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

16 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

13 rd

Mar

10°C (50°F)

4°C (39°F)

14 rd

Apr

12°C (54°F)

5°C (41°F)

12 rd

May

15°C (59°F)

7°C (45°F)

12 rd

Jun

18°C (64°F)

10°C (50°F)

12 rd

Jul

19°C (66°F)

12°C (54°F)

13 rd

Aug

19°C (66°F)

12°C (54°F)

14 rd

Sep

17°C (63°F)

10°C (50°F)

13 rd

Oct

14°C (57°F)

8°C (46°F)

15 rd

Nov

11°C (52°F)

5°C (41°F)

15 rd

Dec

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

16 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

The centre is flat and walkable: station to castle is about 10 minutes. Trains run every 30 min to Belfast (35 min) and on to Larne. Ulsterbus 563a–f runs hourly Mon–Sat from Belfast via the Shore Road, 40 min. You need a car for Islandmagee, Whitehead and the glens.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Belfastgo

Door to door: About 45 min

Train every 30 min from Carrickfergus station

35 min on the train; the obvious pairing with a Carrickfergus stop.

Whitehead and The Gobbinsgo

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Train towards Larne, then walk or taxi

Cliff path is guided and weather-dependent; book ahead — check.

Islandmagee

caution

Door to door: About 20 min

Car or taxi via the A2

Coastal lanes and views; no useful bus, so only with a car.

Antrim glens and Cushendall

overnight

Door to door: About 1 h

Car via the A2 coast road

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep on the coast.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Harbour / Rodgers Quay

Premier Inn and most restaurants; free parking at Harbour Car Park next to the castle.

Town centre (High St / Joymount)

Dobbins Inn and Walter's Place; 5 min walk to the castle and the station.

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

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
Double room, B&B1 × 1 night × £95£95
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £90£180
Train Belfast → Carrickfergus, both ways2 × £12 · check£24
Castle adult ticket2 × £6£12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£33
Trip total≈ £182 per person per day, bed included£364≈ US$500

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

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Pint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
Castle entry: adult / concession / child£6 (≈ US$8) / £4.50 (≈ US$6) / £4 (≈ US$6)
Train Belfast → Carrickfergus, single£5–7 (≈ US$7–10) (check)
Taxi in town£5–8 (≈ US$7–11) (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet commuter town and one of the safer places in Northern Ireland; the real risks are wet pavements, dark harbour edges after a drink and the usual city-centre late-night noise on High Street.
  • Castle hours are seasonal: Apr–Oct Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00, Nov–Mar Tue–Sun 09:00–16:00 — check before a winter trip.
  • Say "Carrickfergus", not "Carrick", when booking transport: Carrick is a common Irish place name.
  • Museum and Andrew Jackson Cottage keep short, limited days (cottage Wed–Sun 11:00–15:00) — check.
  • Sunday trading is limited: Sainsbury's at Rodgers Quay opens 13:00–18:00.

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.

CarrickfergusCarraig Fhearghais

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 Carrickfergus; the US Consulate General and most consulates are in Belfast, embassies in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Belfast → Carrickfergus: about £5–7 (≈ US$7–10) single, 35 min (check)
  • Bus 563 Belfast → Carrickfergus: hourly Mon–Sat, 40 min (check)
  • Castle entry: £6 (≈ US$8) adult, £4.50 (≈ US$6) concession, £4 (≈ US$6) child

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • Where is the station? — Where is the station?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

English is the first language here; the Irish name Carraig Fhearghais appears on signs.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Carrickfergus. 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 Jan–Feb (wet, short days) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Castle page with verified seasonal hours, ticket bands and last entry.
  2. Harbour eat pages with last orders for Windrose, Josh Macs and Papa Brown's.
  3. Train and bus fixtures for Belfast–Carrickfergus–Larne so arrival gates can go green.
  4. Islandmagee and Whitehead day-trip pages with car-only warnings.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources