Day tripsCountriesUnited KingdomBelfastBelfast to Carrickfergus and Ballymena: Private day trip

Belfast to Carrickfergus and Ballymena: Private day trip

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Private ride with a local driver

5h 45m
Round trip
Private driver
Trusted by 1+ million happy travelers across 120 countries
4.9
Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024
Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024
4.9
5176
Reviews

About your trip

Journey through County Antrim's historic heartland to discover Norman fortifications and traditional Ulster culture where ancient castles meet contemporary Irish communities. Experience medieval architecture and regional traditions, with your driver navigating through scenic Antrim countryside while you anticipate encounters with fortress heritage and authentic Irish culture.
Exclusively yours: private vehicle and professional driver
Discover local insights you won't find in guidebooks
Experience the freedom to explore at your own speed
Perfectly planned for families, friends, or solo travelers
From €141
Private group ride
per person
Select date and travelers
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.
For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€423

What to expect

Your day trip begins wherever you are

Meet our professional driver right where you prefer in Belfast whenever suits you best. No time wasted getting to the pickup point, grab your bag and start your trip right away.

Discover more with local expertise

Your driver’s local insights will set the tone for your day trip. A hidden café here, a must-try restaurant there; insider tips you’ll love sharing later. This isn’t a guided tour but your ride will be rich with stories and discoveries along the way. And throughout the day, your driver will be available for you as needed, ready to assist, happy to help, making your trip stress-free.

Explore at your own pace

Your professional Daytrip driver will meet you at your accommodation in Belfast and transport you safely to Carrickfergus and then to Ballymena, allowing you to explore County Antrim's medieval heritage and traditional Ulster culture showcasing Norman history and Irish community life.

Perfect for any private group

Whether you're traveling solo, as a family with kids, or as a large group, this service is tailored for your comfort and flexibility. It's the ideal option especially if you have limited time or a busy schedule.

Good to know

  • Two-way private car transfer
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Personalized pickup and drop-off
  • Professional English-speaking driver
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • Free cancellation 24 hours before departure
  • Entry/Admission tickets to paid attractions in Carrickfergus and Ballymena should be purchased separately unless specified otherwise
  • Meals, snacks, and gratuity are not included
From €141
Private group ride
per person
Select date and travelers
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.
For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€423

Your trip at a glance

Your trip at a glance

Start in Belfast
You choose the pickup spot.
1
Carrickfergus
Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover
Stop: 2 hours - admission not included
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Explore Northern Ireland's best-preserved Norman castle, strategically positioned on Belfast Lough where medieval fortifications have guarded the harbor for over 800 years. Walk through massive stone walls, climb ancient towers, and explore medieval chambers while learning about Norman invasion, Scottish settlement, and centuries of siege warfare. Visit the castle museum displaying medieval weapons, armor, and artifacts revealing daily life in medieval Ulster while interactive exhibits explain castle construction and defensive strategies. Explore the historic town center with its traditional Ulster architecture, antique shops, and family-run restaurants serving traditional Irish cuisine including Ulster fry, fresh seafood, and traditional Irish stew. Walk along the medieval harbor where traditional fishing boats dock alongside modern yachts while learning about the town's role in Irish maritime history. Visit the Carrickfergus Museum showcasing local history, traditional crafts, and cultural heritage while traditional pubs offer Irish music sessions and storytelling preserving Ulster folk traditions. The castle's commanding position provides spectacular views across Belfast Lough to the Antrim coast while sunset illuminates ancient stones creating magical photographic opportunities.
2
Ballymena
Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover
Stop: 2 hours - admission not included
Ballymena
Ballymena
Discover this traditional Ulster market town where Irish heritage thrives around traditional agriculture, local crafts, and community traditions reflecting authentic County Antrim culture. Explore the town center's traditional architecture including historic churches, traditional shops, and family businesses that have served the community for generations. Visit local farmers' markets selling organic produce, traditional Irish foods, and handmade crafts reflecting rural Ulster traditions and agricultural heritage. Experience authentic Irish culture through traditional pubs offering live music sessions, local restaurants serving regional specialties, and community centers hosting traditional Irish dancing and cultural events. Learn about Ulster-Scots heritage through local museums, historic sites, and cultural centers preserving the unique blend of Irish, Scottish, and English influences that shaped County Antrim culture. Visit traditional workshops where craftsmen create traditional Irish furniture, textiles, and pottery using techniques passed down through generations. Local restaurants serve hearty Ulster cuisine emphasizing local ingredients including fresh lamb, traditional breads, and regional specialties while traditional festivals throughout the year celebrate Irish music, dance, and agricultural heritage maintaining community traditions in contemporary Irish society.
Back to Belfast
We’ll take you back to your starting point.
Duration of the stops can be changed upon request after booking
Have questions or need help?Contact our Customer Support. We are available 24/7

Daytrip is loved all around the world. Here's why.

5.0
5176 reviewson Tripadvisor
or
4.9
991 reviewson Trustpilot
Great transfer option.

I used this service for a transfer from Split in Croatia to Perast Montenegro. My experience was exceptional. My driver Bojan was helpful, informative and ensured my journey was comfortable and enjoyable. I highly recommend the service.

Great transfer option.
Robyn COctober 2, 2025
It was a fantastic trip.

We were extremely satisfied with the quality of service we received from Day Trip. We had two Day Trip rides on August 31 from Athens to Lefkada and September 7 from Lefkada back to Athens. Both trips included stops at scenic sites in Greece. Both drivers were excellent and accommodating. However, we’d especially like to recognize Panos Peppas, who was our driver from Lefkada to Athens. Panos was incredibly nice & pleasant and delivered outstanding customer service, which included handling all of luggage, providing us with cold waters throughout the trip, providing us protein bars, providing us with printed materials on the Corinth Canal (one of scenic stops), looking up and providing us with terminal & gate info for our flight back home and providing us with a recipe for tzatziki.

It was a fantastic trip.
Daydream20046758137September 20, 2025
Best transport company anywhere

We absolutely love this company and have used it many times over the years to get from A to B without the hassle of hiring a car ourselves. Excellent drivers every time. Efficient and professional. It’s worth every penny and we can honestly recommend Day Trip to everyone. It’s 5 star rating is well deserved.

Best transport company anywhere
Mary LSeptember 15, 2025
Excellent experience in traveling

We traveled from Nuremberg to Munich in a beautiful Audi. Driver picked us at our hotel at the exact time requested. Got us to Munich in plenty of time for our next tour. Driver made sure we were comfortable

Excellent experience in traveling
Steve NAugust 20, 2025
Reasonably Priced and Safe Transportation

Gonzalo from daytrip was our driver and he was absolutely amazing. He went over and beyond trying to locate us as our service wasn't so good on our phones. He patiently awaited our arrival to the lobby so he could take us from Tulum Dreams Resort to our other hotel in cancun an hour and a half away near the airport prior to our departure flight home. He was polite, respectful and kind. Made sure we were comfortable during our long ride. Fast and to the point. I recommend this company as finding a one way ride from Tulum to Cancun isn't easy or cheap and this company provides a great service for a great price. I will definitely be using them again whenever I'm in the Cancun/Tulum area. Thank you DayTrip and Gonzola.

Reasonably Priced and Safe Transportation
COCOApril 22, 2025
Daytrip never disappoints

We were picked up by Marianna to drive us from Heraklion to Chania. The weather was terrible & due to this Marianna arrived a few minutes late. She contacted me to advise of this. Marianna lives in Chana and she made our trip very interesting by informing us of local things to do and see in Chania. Marianna is a safe driver and we all felt comfortable with the speed she drove at and how good her driving was in heavy rain. She is a lovely person with fluent English. We highly recommend Daytrips and if you are in Heraklion or Chania please make sure you ask for Marianna.

Daytrip never disappoints
Julie MApril 2, 2025
Great driver in Egypt

Used the service to go from Luxor to Hurghada, Egypt. Ahmed H was our driver and he was perfect. The car was new, clean, he had water and snacks for us, and accommodated our stops. Great service from him and would recommend it.

Great driver in Egypt
Maps315861February 28, 2025
Comfortable and Safe Rides in Mexico

Used Daytrip for two rides in Mexico, which were both great. So comfortable, and we arrived at each of our destinations at a great time. Both were incredible drivers, and we felt so safe. One of our drivers, Miguel, also played the best music! Will definitely use Daytrip on our next trip to Mexico.

Comfortable and Safe Rides in Mexico
GolourdesduarteFebruary 20, 2025
Great way to travel and see some sights on the way

We did not know what to expect with this trip and booked from Australia. We were initially looking for an easy way to travel from Granada to Malaga. We decided not to waste the opportunity to see something additional on our way. Miguel certainly exceeded our expectations. His English was excellent (unfortunately we speak very little Spanish), and he was very friendly and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the regions as we passed through and also discussing some of the local ways. Miguel took us to Antequera as planned and ensured we were able to easily get our tickets to the attractions without any sense of rushing us. We were picked up and dropped off punctually and really enjoyed our trip. Hopefully we will return to Spain and we can use this service again sometime.

Great way to travel and see some sights on the way
Michelle RFebruary 10, 2025
Excellent service

We used the service twice while in Thailand. Extremely prompt and efficient customer service. Best rate being offered in Chiang Mai for the travels. Polite, punctual, professional and English speaking drivers. Clean, comfortable vehicles. Being a regular visitor to Thailand, this was hands down the best service. Most pleased with the company. I hope it sustains the excellence of service that was rendered to us.

Excellent service
OmarJanuary 25, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, here are the answers.
Day trips offer travelers private round-trip transportation to popular sightseeing locations. One of our professional drivers will pick you up in a luxurious, climate-controlled car, take you to the site of interest, and wait for you while you explore before driving you back to your hotel.
Yes! You’re free to choose the pickup and drop-off times that work best for you. However, the time spent at the destination is fixed and cannot be changed.
Each sightseeing stop has a recommended duration that includes plenty of time to explore. However, it is possible to customize the time spent at each sightseeing stop at a later stage in the booking process to best fit your unique schedule.
Your Daytrip driver will wait for you nearby for the duration of your exploration, meaning you’ll never have to wait for your return trip transportation to arrive. Your comfort and convenience are our top priorities, and we aim to close out your day trip with a return on your schedule.
The price of a day trip does not include any entrance tickets, guided tours, or meals you may partake in at your destination. The price covers round-trip transportation in a luxury vehicle with a professional driver who can provide local insights en route.
Day trip bookings can be canceled up to 24 hours before your trip for a full refund, no strings attached. While the destination and stops are predetermined, it is possible to change your pick-up point, whether it is at your hotel or some other location within the city.
Day tripsCountriesUnited KingdomBelfastBelfast to Carrickfergus and Ballymena: Private day trip