Northern Ireland has some of the most dramatic and well-preserved castles in the British Isles. Here are the 15 best castles to visit on your Northern Ireland trip.
Northern Ireland is dotted with castles — from Norman fortresses built nearly 1,000 years ago to Georgian country houses. Here are the 15 best castles to visit on your Northern Ireland trip.
1. Carrickfergus Castle Perhaps Northern Ireland's most impressive castle, Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman fortification built around 1177 by John de Courcy. Sitting directly on the shore of Belfast Lough, it's one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Ireland.
2. Dunluce Castle The most dramatically situated castle in Northern Ireland — perched on a basalt headland above the north Antrim coast. Dunluce was the seat of the MacDonnell clan and dates from the 13th century. It appeared in Game of Thrones as Pyke Castle.
3. Hillsborough Castle The official residence of the British Royal Family in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle is a Georgian country house set in beautiful gardens. Now managed by Historic Royal Palaces and open to visitors.
4. Castle Ward A National Trust property on the shores of Strangford Lough, Castle Ward is famous for its unique architecture (one half Classical, one half Gothic, reflecting the different tastes of its original owners) and as a Game of Thrones filming location for Winterfell.
5. Belfast Castle A Scottish baronial-style castle on the slopes of Cave Hill, Belfast Castle was built in the 19th century and offers spectacular views over Belfast. It's now a popular venue and has a cat-themed heritage garden.
6. Enniskillen Castle Sitting on the banks of the River Erne, Enniskillen Castle is a well-preserved 15th-century structure housing two museums — the Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum.
7. Dundrum Castle A magnificent Norman castle overlooking Dundrum Bay and the Mourne Mountains, Dundrum Castle was one of the most powerful fortifications in medieval Ulster.
8. Narrow Water Castle A 16th-century tower house on the shore of the Newry River estuary, Narrow Water Castle sits in a strikingly romantic location above the water.
9. Kilclief Castle A 15th-century tower house near Strangford, Kilclief Castle is one of the earliest tower houses surviving in Northern Ireland.
10. Crom Castle The seat of the Earls of Erne on the shores of Upper Lough Erne, Crom Castle (the new castle, 1820s) is surrounded by 1,900 acres of the National Trust's Crom Estate.
11. Audley's Castle On the shores of Strangford Lough near Castle Ward, Audley's Castle is a 15th-century tower house used as a filming location in Game of Thrones Season 2.
12. Greencastle Royal Castle On the western shore of Carlingford Lough, Greencastle was built by Hugh de Lacy in 1261 as part of the defensive network against Gaelic Irish attacks.
13. Antrim Castle (ruins) Only the staircase tower survives of the original 17th-century Antrim Castle, but the beautifully restored French-style formal gardens (Antrim Castle Gardens) are among the finest in Northern Ireland.
14. Harry Avery's Castle The ruins of a uniquely shaped Irish tower castle near Newtownstewart in County Tyrone, dating from the 14th century.
15. Kinbane Castle A tiny 16th-century castle on a limestone headland jutting into the sea near Ballycastle — one of Northern Ireland's most atmospheric ruined castles, with dramatic views to Rathlin Island.
Visiting Northern Ireland's Castles Our private guided tours include visits to many of Northern Ireland's finest castles. Contact Belfast Transfers and Tours to plan your castle tour of Northern Ireland.