Updated on 29 July 2020
Looking for a staycation idea in Ireland for 2020? Want to know which attractions are open and what their most updated guidelines are? Looking for some activity ideas in Ireland? Here are a few attractions that you might want to visit.
Titanic Experience in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Is the Titanic Experience in Belfast open?
They are opening from 01 Aug 2020
Opening hours for Belfast Titanic
9am – 7pm (August 2020)
10am – 5pm (September 2020)
10am – 5pm, closed on Tue and Wed, closed 24 – 26 Dec (Oct – Dec 2020
*Last admission is 1 hour 50 minutes prior to closing
Facilities and Experience COVID19 updates for Belfast Titanic
- ATM cash machines will not be available as they go cashless. Be prepared to use contactless payments
- Locker facilities will be limited, only small selection of lockers available on level -1
- Inside the Titanic Experience (the museum), follow their well-designed one-way route. You won’t miss anything and will be able to keep your social distance
- The Titanic Store (souvenir shop on ground floor) will be open but with new guidelines for social distancing
- The Gallery Cafe (cafe next to the souvenir shop) will be open with a “Grab and Go” food and drink offering. There will be indoor and outdoor seating.
Tips for visiting Titanic Experience in Belfast in regards to COVID!9
- Book online for tickets to avoid queues (https://tickets.titanicbelfast.com/calendar/titanic-experience)
- Your ticket include a visit to the SS Nomadic (also known as The Titanic’s Little Sister) for the same day. However, it might be closed due to private events. Check here to see if it will be closed (https://www.titanicbelfast.com/Blog/January-2016/SS-Nomadic-Private-Functions.aspx?_ga=2.3137520.1370842714.1596018354-334324834.1596018354)
- If you want to do a day tour to the Titanic, Finn McCools Tours run tours from Dublin (https://www.finnmccoolstours.com/belfast-titanic-and-giants-causeway-tour-from-dublin/) and from Belfast (https://www.finnmccoolstours.com/titanic-and-giants-causeway-tour-from-belfast/)
Cliffs of Moher, West of Ireland (County Clare)
Is the Cliffs of Moher open?
Yes, they are now open.
Opening hours for Cliffs of Moher
8am – 9pm (May – Aug 2020)
8am – 7pm (Sep – Oct 2020)
9am – 5pm, closed 24 – 26 Dec (Nov – Dec 2020)
Facilities and Cliffs of Moher Experience updates regarding COVID19
- Limited capacity per time slot due to social distancing
- One-way system along the Cliffs of Moher and within the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre to control flow of traffic
- Cafe is opened but only serving take-away food in disposable cups and cutlery.
- Souvenir shop is still open with markings, signage and physical barriers
Tips for visiting the Cliffs of Moher in regards to COVID19
- Book online before arriving to ensure entry, as they now had a reduced capacity per time slot (https://bookings.cliffsofmoher.ie/)
- If you can, go at off-peak times. Tickets are cheaper.
- Interested in going with a guide? You can join a day tour, book here (https://www.finnmccoolstours.com/cliffs-of-moher-tour-from-dublin/)
Giant’s Causeway and Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, North of Northern Ireland
Is the Giant’s Causeway open?
Yes, they have been opened from 3 July 2020
Opening hours for Giant’s Causeway
Actual Giant’s Causeway
You can visit the actual Giant’s Causeway via the public right of way. This is free and is open all year round.
Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre (the building next to the Giant’s Causeway)
10am – 4pm (Jul – Aug 2020)
9am – 7pm (Sep 2020)
9am – 6pm (Oct 2020)
9am – 4pm, closed on 24 Dec (Nov – Dec 2020)
Facilities and Giant’s Causeway Experience updates regarding COVID19
- Although the actual Causeway is free to visit, they recommend visitors to pay for the entrance to the Visitor Centre so they can better controlled the number of people on site
- Tickets to the Visitor Centre must be booked by 3pm on the day before planned visit
- No Park and Ride shuttle bus, which means you can no longer park in Bushmills (2 miles away) and hop on their shuttle bus to go to the Causeway
- No on-site Translink easy access bus, which means you will have to walk the 1 mile from the Visitor Centre to the actual Causeway
- Souvenir shop is open
- Cafe is open with packaged food and to-go drink
Tips for visiting Giant’s Causeway in regards to COVID!9
- The Visitor Centre is free for the National Trust members, but you will still have to book for your tickets. You will be denied entry if you do not have tickets with you (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/whats-on)
- If you are going to use the public right of way (which means you will be visiting for free and will not be paying the Visitor Centre), note that parking at the Visitor Centre costs as much as the entrance ticket(s) of Visitor Centre. You can either park in Bushmills and walk 2 miles to the Causeway (using the coastal hiking route instead of the main road recommended due to traffic), or take public transport / taxi to get there
- If you want to see the GIant’s Causeway and other famous attractions in Northern Ireland in 1 day, join a day tour from Dublin (https://www.finnmccoolstours.com/game-of-thrones-location-tour-from-dublin/) or from Belfast (https://www.finnmccoolstours.com/game-of-thrones-location-tour-from-belfast/)
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, North of Northern Ireland
Is Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge open?
No, and will not be open in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately only 8 people are allowed on Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge at a time, and this has made it very difficult for the Bridge to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Check their site (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede) for any future updates.
All information is correct as of 29 July 2020. For most updated information, always visit the official website of the attractions.
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Written by: Hailey W.
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Finn McCools Tours. If you would like to like us to publish your article, send us an email!