Northern Ireland Hotels (Portrush and Belfast)

[golfday]

Hi All - I'm planning a trip to Northern Ireland and am close to finished, courses are set, but I still have to finish hotels and was looking for recommendations on hotels and other attractions to visit when we're not playing golf. We're looking for clean and comfortable places that will be nice places to stay, but don't need luxury accommodation. Location is the most important thing as we'll look to spend the free time that we have walking around town, visiting, pubs, etc. and will probably spend little time in the rooms other than for sleeping. Timing is late summer/early fall.

 

Belfast (3 nights): Leaning toward the Europa, but open to other recommendations. Also, are there any must visit pubs or cultural sites?

Portrush / Portstewart (4 nights): Leaning toward staying in Portrush. I was hoping to do Adelphi, but think it will be out of budget. Portrush Atlantic and Golflinks seem nice and in budget - has anyone stayed at these and have any thoughts? Any other hotels to consider? Also, any particular pubs or sites to visit? Harbour Bar and Giant's Causeway are the two things on the list so far, and possibly Bushmills if there's time.

 

For courses we're planning on: Ardglass, RCD, Portush Dunluce, Portrush Valley, Castlerock Mussenden (and maybe Bann if there's time), Portstewart Strand.

 

Very excited! Thanks!

[ESOX ZO]

Golflinks in Portrush is very nice - updated rooms and quite spacious compared to some of our other stays.

[Connortravel]

Hi! Did you get your trip booked?

 

if not I can potentially help with getting you booked. If I can can be of any help you can email me on connor@gorseandthistle.com 

 

thanks

 

connor

[eboettne]

On 3/25/2025 at 8:47 AM, golfday said:

Hi All - I'm planning a trip to Northern Ireland and am close to finished, courses are set, but I still have to finish hotels and was looking for recommendations on hotels and other attractions to visit when we're not playing golf. We're looking for clean and comfortable places that will be nice places to stay, but don't need luxury accommodation. Location is the most important thing as we'll look to spend the free time that we have walking around town, visiting, pubs, etc. and will probably spend little time in the rooms other than for sleeping. Timing is late summer/early fall.

 

Belfast (3 nights): Leaning toward the Europa, but open to other recommendations. Also, are there any must visit pubs or cultural sites?

Portrush / Portstewart (4 nights): Leaning toward staying in Portrush. I was hoping to do Adelphi, but think it will be out of budget. Portrush Atlantic and Golflinks seem nice and in budget - has anyone stayed at these and have any thoughts? Any other hotels to consider? Also, any particular pubs or sites to visit? Harbour Bar and Giant's Causeway are the two things on the list so far, and possibly Bushmills if there's time.

 

For courses we're planning on: Ardglass, RCD, Portush Dunluce, Portrush Valley, Castlerock Mussenden (and maybe Bann if there's time), Portstewart Strand.

 

Very excited! Thanks!

 

Just got back from Northern Ireland a couple weeks ago.  Such a great trip, we can't stop daydreaming about it.  Potentially controversial, Belfast didn't do a whole lot for us and I'll stay in a smaller town like Newcastle instead in the future but perhaps we didn't stay in the right area.  We stayed at the Titanic Belfast hotel which was very nice did the Titanic Museum and the Crumlin Gaol Prison. We were in a bit of a hurry with the Titanic Museum as we had a Portstewart tee time so while it was cool I wouldn't need to see it again.  The Crumlin Gaol Prison was pretty neat and also gives you a nice history of The Troubles at the same time.  

 

As I said, we played Portstewart Strand which was amazing. The front nine was jaw dropping(biggest dunes I've ever seen) and I really enjoyed the back 9 as well that meandered along the river.  We stayed at Pier39 B&B in Portrush and our host was great, think room was about $160/night.  He gave us the tip to park at the Causeway Hotel for Giant's Causeway instead of the designated parking which I believe saved us 50-60 pounds.  It only costs 10 pounds and you get that back as a credit to use in their hotel(we bought waters with it).  Highly recommend Giant's Causeway, more than lived up to the hype for me. It felt like a dream.

 

Also would recommend Dunluce Castle right near there, very cool castle on the edge of a cliff with a lot of crazy history.  We also went to The Dark Hedges which were just meh and Bushmills Distillery but didn't do the tour.  If you're into whiskey I'd imagine the tour would be really neat. 

 

Enjoy your trip, it's an incredible country and I can't wait to go back

[Derek2023]

Went last July and played Portstewart and Royal Portrush.  We stayed at Bayview Hotel and enjoyed it.  Harbour Bar was a great spot for a pint.  Tartine for dinner.

Edited May 27 by Derek2023

[Chanceman]

+1 for the Harbor Bar in Portrush.

[golfday]

On 5/23/2025 at 5:06 PM, eboettne said:

 

Just got back from Northern Ireland a couple weeks ago.  Such a great trip, we can't stop daydreaming about it.  Potentially controversial, Belfast didn't do a whole lot for us and I'll stay in a smaller town like Newcastle instead in the future but perhaps we didn't stay in the right area.  We stayed at the Titanic Belfast hotel which was very nice did the Titanic Museum and the Crumlin Gaol Prison. We were in a bit of a hurry with the Titanic Museum as we had a Portstewart tee time so while it was cool I wouldn't need to see it again.  The Crumlin Gaol Prison was pretty neat and also gives you a nice history of The Troubles at the same time.  

 

As I said, we played Portstewart Strand which was amazing. The front nine was jaw dropping(biggest dunes I've ever seen) and I really enjoyed the back 9 as well that meandered along the river.  We stayed at Pier39 B&B in Portrush and our host was great, think room was about $160/night.  He gave us the tip to park at the Causeway Hotel for Giant's Causeway instead of the designated parking which I believe saved us 50-60 pounds.  It only costs 10 pounds and you get that back as a credit to use in their hotel(we bought waters with it).  Highly recommend Giant's Causeway, more than lived up to the hype for me. It felt like a dream.

 

Also would recommend Dunluce Castle right near there, very cool castle on the edge of a cliff with a lot of crazy history.  We also went to The Dark Hedges which were just meh and Bushmills Distillery but didn't do the tour.  If you're into whiskey I'd imagine the tour would be really neat. 

 

Enjoy your trip, it's an incredible country and I can't wait to go back

Thanks! and also thanks for the Causeway and castle tips. I think we'll check those out. 

 

I think we're fully booked now. We toyed around with spending a night or two in New Castle but decided against it so that we only have to stay in two hotels during the trip. We've got 4 nights in the Europa hotel Belfast - looks like it's about a 45 min walk from the area you had stayed. I'm not really expecting too much from Belfast, but we'll be gone most of the day the nights we stay there so all we really need are coffee shops and pubs. Maybe time for a little sight seeing and walking around town, but not too much - so I think it will be fine. Then we'll have 3 nights in the Portrush Atlantic. The courses up there all seem pretty close so I think we'll have time for the causeway and castle. 

 

Glad to hear how much you loved the golf. I can't wait to get over there.