Things to do in Portrush
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Portrush
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Quietest and wildest, biggest surf, lowest prices, some venues on reduced winter hours.
The shoulder locals love. Easter reopens the resort and the North West 200 fills May.
Longest days, lifeguards and full bus timetables, the best all round conditions before peak.
Peak resort, warmest sea, hardest parking and highest prices. The Open lands in July when it returns.
The connoisseur month. Crowds fall, the sea is warmest, surf improves and the airshow flies.
Music, darkness and value, with Atlantic Sessions in November and a quiet local Christmas.
What's on
- North West 200 Usually mid May, a week of practice and racing
Road racing on the public road triangle between Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine, with road closures.
- The Open Championship Mid to late July when it returns
Held at Royal Portrush in 1951, 2019 and 2025. The town sells out months ahead in an Open year.
- Air Waves Portrush Usually early September
Air displays flown over East Strand and the bay, the late summer headline weekend.
- Atlantic Sessions November
Original music in intimate venues across Portrush and Portstewart, the north coast autumn showcase.
Best things to do in Portrush
East Strand
A two mile Blue Flag strand from the Arcadia past the dunes and golf club to Whiterocks, made for long walks.
Portrush West Strand
The town beach below the harbour, with promenade, surf schools, swimmers and sunset over the Inishowen hills.
Whiterocks Beach
Golden sand under white limestone cliffs, caves and arches, with Dunluce Castle on the headland ahead.
Ramore Head
A short level loop around the headland tip, tying together harbour, both strands and the Skerries view.
Curry's Fun Park
The former Barrys Amusements, a seaside institution since 1925, with the Big Dipper, ghost train and dodgems.
Portrush Coastal Zone
A free marine centre with hands on rockpool exhibits that makes the coast wildlife make sense for children.
Portrush Harbour
The working and leisure harbour at the town heart, for pier walks, boat trips and sunset drinks nearby.
The Arcadia
A former ballroom turned cafe and gallery at the start of East Strand, the marker of Portrush grand resort era.
Where to stay in Portrush
Harbour, Lansdowne and Ramore Head
first trip, couples and food led trips
The Ramore restaurants at your door, Ramore Head outside it, and both strands within five minutes.
Main Street and the town centre
families, groups and no car trips
Classic resort hotels, the fun park and the station, with both beaches walkable and everything within ten minutes.
East Strand and Dunluce Road
golf and luxury
Space, parking and sea views beside Royal Portrush, a walk or short taxi from the harbour dining strip.
West Bay, Dhu Varren and the Portstewart Road
quiet, B&Bs and value
The B&B belt on the calm south western side, a flat promenade walk from the harbour and West Strand at hand.
Bushmills and Portballintrae
second visits and food led trips with a car
A quieter village base ten minutes east, keeping Dunluce, the Causeway and Portrush within a quarter hour.
Think twice about
- Coleraine Road sprawl south of town
Roadside properties marketed as Portrush that are a drive from it. No promenade, no harbour and no evening walk home.
- Main Street and Eglinton Street front rooms in peak season
The resort late axis in summer and race week. Not a safety problem, a noise one. Ask for a sea facing or upper floor room.
Best restaurants in Portrush
Tartine at Distillers Arms
The areas occasion dinner in Bushmills, classic Irish European cooking with generous portions and fine service.
The Harbour Bistro
The Ramore flagship at the harbour, wood fired steaks and seafood in a lively room above the boats.
Mermaid Kitchen & Bar
The seafood leaning Ramore room at the harbour, a smarter date night register with local crab and cod.
Ocho Tapas Bistro
Spanish small plates and wines in the town centre, the locals change of pace from the harbour strip.
Neptune & Prawn
The Ramore groups Asian fusion room on Kerr Street, sushi, noodles and curries a minute from the harbour.
Kiwi's Brew Bar
A craft beer gastropub in the old cinema, with pizzas, burgers, live sport and live music.
55 Degrees North
A family run restaurant over East Strand, crowd pleasing cooking with the best sunset dinner view in town.
Babushka Kitchen Cafe
The South Pier brunch institution, speciality coffee and a short local menu where Portrush day begins.
Outdoor things to do in Portrush
Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce Links)
An Open Championship links by Harry Colt through towering dunes, with Calamity Corner as its signature test.
Royal Portrush Golf Club (Valley Links)
The clubs second links between the Dunluce and East Strand, a true test at under half the Dunluce fee.
Portstewart Golf Club
Fifty four holes led by the Strand Course, whose dune framed opening hole golfers call one of the finest.
Alive Adventures
Beginner surf lessons and hire at West Strand that get first timers standing, plus paddleboards and e bikes.
Troggs Surf School
East Strand surf lessons and kids camps with qualified coaches, warm changing rooms and hot showers.
Causeway Coasteering
Guided scrambling, swimming and optional cliff jumps along the basalt shore, the coast at water level.
Giant's Causeway
Forty thousand volcanic basalt columns stepping into the sea, Northern Ireland only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dunluce Castle
A medieval clan castle on a basalt promontory cut off from the mainland, three miles east of town.
Best hotels in Portrush
Dunluce Lodge
A five star lodge of 35 suites beside the fourth fairway at Royal Portrush, opened for the 2025 Open.
Elephant Rock Hotel
A design led boutique hotel in a Victorian terrace on Lansdowne Crescent, with sea views and a terrace bar.
The Marcus Portrush, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
A Hilton Tapestry hotel in a former bank on Main Street, with a restaurant in the old banking hall.
The Bushmills Inn Hotel
A 17th century coaching inn of turf fires and oak beams, the classic luxury base ten minutes east.
Portrush Adelphi
A refurbished Victorian resort hotel in the town heart, with a spa suite, bistro and dog friendly welcome.
Royal Court Hotel
A golf view hotel at White Rocks with easy parking, minutes from Royal Portrush and the Causeway road.
Portrush Atlantic Hotel
A central 69 room hotel with sea views, chosen for location and price, with variable rooms honestly flagged.
Blackrock House B&B Portrush
A five star B&B of four rooms near West Bay, famous for sea views and a locally sourced breakfast.
Is Portrush expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | £65 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | £135 a person |
| Splurge | £300 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce Links): months ahead
- Royal Portrush Golf Club (Valley Links): months ahead
- Portstewart Golf Club: months ahead
- Alive Adventures: a few days ahead
- Troggs Surf School: a few days ahead
- Causeway Coasteering: a few days ahead
- Giant's Causeway: a few days ahead
- Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge: a few days ahead
- When The Open returns, Portrush sells out many months ahead at multiplied prices. Book rooms first.
- North West 200 week in May is the second sell out, with coast road closures on practice and race days.
- Dunluce tee times need months and are paid in full on booking. The Valley and Portstewart Strand need weeks to months.
- Reserve the Ramore venues and Tartine at weekends, and Carrick-a-Rede timed tickets in summer.
Is Portrush safe?
- In peak summer and race week the harbour and Main Street axis gets loud late. Choose the town edges for sleep.
- Stay on paths at Whiterocks and Ramore. Cliff edges crumble and closures in wind are real.
- Never cross a closed road during the North West 200 and follow marshal instructions absolutely.
- Spend Northern Irish banknotes before you go home, as some mainland UK shops are wary of them.
Portrush travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Causeway day coaches from Belfast that give the stones a short stop and hours in gift shops. Base in Portrush instead.
- The Dark Hedges sold as a headline attraction. It is a ten minute photo stop, not a Portrush day.
- Moving the car between harbour, strands and Main Street in season. Park once and walk the headland.
- Assuming warm water. The Atlantic is cold all year, with rip currents. Swim at lifeguarded beaches in season.
Getting around Portrush: public transport and more
- Walk the town. The headland is about a mile end to end and most sights are within a 15 minute walk.
- Portrush station meets the Derry to Belfast line at Coleraine. Sit on the seaward side for the coast run.
- Use the seasonal Causeway Rambler bus for Bushmills, the Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede without a car.
- Park once in season. Centre and beach parking fills before 11am on fine weekends.
Who Portrush suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Portrush your trip
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