Harbour
First-timersThe headland, harbour and restaurants.
Portrush town guide
Things To Do In Portrush
A seaside town on a headland between two long beaches, with surf, an Open championship golf links and the Giant's Causeway fifteen minutes away. The best base on the Causeway coast.
15 min
To the Giant's Causeway
3
Open Championships at Royal Portrush, most recently 2025
2
Beaches, either side of town
The heart of the Causeway coast
Portrush sits on a narrow headland on the north coast, with the West Strand on one side and the East Strand on the other, and the chalk cliffs of Whiterocks beyond. It has been a seaside resort since the railway arrived in the nineteenth century, and it still has the amusements and ice cream to prove it.
It is also home to Royal Portrush, one of the great golf links, which has hosted the Open Championship in 1951, 2019 and 2025, and to a growing surf scene.
Most of all, Portrush is the best place to stay for the Causeway coast. The Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the Bushmills distillery and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge are all within half an hour. Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
The town is small and walkable. Stay near the harbour or the West Strand.
West Strand
BeachThe promenade and the western beach.
East Strand
SurfThe eastern beach towards Whiterocks.
Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Portrush
Walk the West Strand and the East Strand, and the cliffs at Whiterocks, with their caves and arches. Surf lessons run from the beaches in summer.
The Giant's Causeway is fifteen minutes away. The stones are free to walk to; the visitor centre and car park charge. Dunluce Castle, a ruin on a cliff edge, is five minutes along the coast.
The Old Bushmills Distillery, which claims the oldest licence in the world, runs tours. The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, swinging above the sea to a small island, and the Dark Hedges, an avenue of beech trees, are about half an hour away.
Portstewart Strand, next door, is a long National Trust beach backed by dunes.
Free things
Free things to do in Portrush
The beaches, the Whiterocks cliffs and the coastal walks are free.
The Giant's Causeway stones are free to walk to if you skip the visitor centre and park in Bushmills or arrive by bus.
The views of Dunluce Castle from the road are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Portrush
Seafood is the thing: fish and chips on the harbour, and fresh fish in the restaurants around it. The Ramore complex, on the harbour, has several restaurants and bars under one roof.
Ice cream on the promenade is compulsory.
A pub meal is £12 to £18.
Nightlife
Going out in Portrush
Portrush is lively in summer, with bars around the harbour and the Ramore. The rest of the year, it is quiet.
A pint is £5 to £6.
Getting around
Getting around Portrush
The town is small and walkable.
Trains run from Belfast and Derry to Coleraine, with a branch line to Portrush.
The Causeway Rambler bus runs along the coast to the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills and Carrick-a-Rede in summer. A car makes it easier to see everything.
Costs
What Portrush costs
Portrush is mid-priced, and busier and pricier in July and August. Dorms start around £20. A careful day is £45 to £60.
The costs that add up are the Causeway visitor centre, the rope bridge and distillery tours.
The currency is the pound sterling. Cards work almost everywhere, including contactless on buses.
Safety
Staying safe in Portrush
Portrush is safe.
The beaches have strong currents; swim only where lifeguards are on duty. Cliff paths have no railings.
Emergency number is 999 or 112.
Day trips from Portrush
The whole Causeway coast is on the doorstep.
Giant's Causeway
Forty thousand basalt columns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
A rope bridge over the sea to a small island. Book ahead.
Dark Hedges
An avenue of beech trees made famous on screen.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The North West 200 motorbike race runs on the roads around Portrush.
May
North West 200
Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine
One of the fastest motorbike road races in the world, on public roads.
July and August
Summer season
Portrush
The town at its busiest, with the amusements open.
Occasional July
The Open Championship
Royal Portrush
When it returns, the whole coast books out a year ahead.
When to go
May to September is best. The North West 200 fills the area in May.
Jan
Quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Windy
Apr
Spring
May
North West 200
Jun
Long evenings
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Busy
Sep
Good
Oct
Quiet
Nov
Windy
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The coast is windy.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in pounds.
Excludes the Causeway visitor centre, the rope bridge and distillery tours.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Portrush travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Portrush a good base for the Giant's Causeway?
Yes. It is fifteen minutes away, with Dunluce, Bushmills and the rope bridge close too.
Is the Giant's Causeway free?
The stones are. The visitor centre and car park charge.
How do I get to Portrush?
By train from Belfast or Derry, changing at Coleraine.
Can I surf in Portrush?
Yes. Surf schools run lessons from the beaches.
How many days do you need?
Two or three for the Causeway coast.
Do I need a car?
It helps. In summer, the Causeway Rambler bus covers the main sights.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September.
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