Official tourism website for Northern Ireland
En

Dunluce Castle

87 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, County Antrim, BT57 8UY
Dunluce Castle

Book Tickets Online

About

Dunluce is one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. With evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was inhabited by both the feuding McQuillan and MacDonnell clans. Historical and archaeological exhibits are on display for public viewing.

Opening Hours: Please check before visiting as public access may be restricted.   

Regular opening hours are February to November: Daily 9.30am to 5pm. December/January: Daily 9.30am to 4pm. 
Note: Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Admission charges apply.

Nearby Magheracross Viewing Point and picnic area is an excellent spot to stop and take in the stunning, coastal scenery, often missed when travelling by car along the coast road.

A Dunluce Castle app for iPhone and android devices is available free of charge from the App Store and Google Play.

The iconic ruin of Dunluce Castle bears witness to a long and tumultuous history. First built on the dramatic coastal cliffs of north County Antrim by the MacQuillan family around 1500, the earliest written record of the castle was in 1513.

It was seized by the ambitious MacDonnell clan in the 1550s, who set about stamping their mark on the castle under the leadership of the famous warrior chieftain Sorely Boy MacDonnell during an era of violence, intrigue and rebellion. In the 17th century Dunluce was the seat of the earls of Antrim and saw the establishment of a small town in 1608. Visitors can explore the findings of archaeological digs within the cobbled streets and stone merchants’ houses of the long-abandoned Dunluce Town.

The dramatic history of Dunluce is matched by tales of a banshee and how the castle kitchens fell into the sea one stormy night in 1639.

Book Tickets

Facilities

Attraction Facilities

  • Open Mondays
  • Open Sundays

Establishment Features

  • Accept coach parties
  • Toilets

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking

Payment Methods

  • All major credit/debit cards accepted

Travel & Trade

  • Family Discount

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult 18+ years£6.00 per ticket
Child 5 - 17 years£4.00 per ticket
Child Under 5Free
Concession*£4.50 per ticket
Family*£18.00 per ticket

Tickets are purchased from the ticket office located on site. Online booking is not available.
Group rate available for 15 adults (+1 tour guide free) £4.50pp
Annual rates are also available; Adult - £12, Child 5 -17- £8.00, Concession* - £9.00 & Family Pack* - £36.00

*Concession - 65+, Students (18+with official student card), disabled, unemployed citizens
*Family - Up to 5 people (including up to 3 adults)

Tripadvisor Traveller Rating

Tripadvisor Traveller Rating - 2709 reviews2709 reviews

Add Dunluce Castle to your Itinerary

Close window

Call direct on:

Tel+44 (0) 28 2073 1938

Map & Directions

Opening Times

* Regular Opening hours: 9.00am – 4pm last admission 3.30pm

No need to pre-book.

No dogs permitted except assistance dogs.

What's Nearby

  1. A regular recipient of the prestigious Blue Flag Award, Whiterocks Beach has become a…

    1.32 miles away
  2. In 1608, in Bushmills, a legend was born. In that year, King James I granted a very…

    2.49 miles away
  3. East Strand Beach in Portrush is a famously golden sandy beach, with views of The…

    2.73 miles away
  4. A truly heritage experience travelling on a steam locomotive along a magnificent coastal…

    2.81 miles away
  5. The Arcardia includes children's feature paddling pools, play frame and sand area.…

    2.82 miles away
  6. Flanked by the wild North Atlantic Ocean and a landscape of dramatic cliffs, the Giant's…

    2.92 miles away
  7. Coastal Zone is home to coastal and marine exhibitions. Indoor rock pool with live sea…

    2.94 miles away
  8. Visitors to the area can explore this unique studio & gallery space featuring the work of…

    3.01 miles away
  9. Award winning beach in the heart of the resort of Portrush.

    3.1 miles away
  10. Castlecat Studio Gallery is based in a small, tastefully converted stable of a former…

    4.12 miles away
  11. Flowerfield Arts Centre is Coleraine’s dedicated arts facility, offering superb…

    5.75 miles away
  12. Between Portstewart and the mouth of the River Bann lies the golden sands and domineering…

    6.49 miles away
  13. Coleraine Town Hall presides over the central shopping piazza in Coleraine. Designed by…

    6.57 miles away
  14. The spectacular beach forms a white arc between two headlands on the North Antrim coast.…

    7.05 miles away
  15. Mountsandel Wood is the earliest known settlement of man in Ireland dating to between…

    7.34 miles away
  16. Ballintoy Harbour can be discovered in the picturesque village of Ballintoy. Known as a…

    8.62 miles away

Virtual Tour

Map & Directions

Road Directions

Directions from Town:On A2 approximately 3 miles East of Portrush on the road to Bushmills.

Back to Top

Tourism Northern Ireland

Don't Miss