Scheduled Thrones Day Tour
Game of Thrones and Giant's Causeway Full-Day Tour from Belfast
A straightforward full-day Thrones and Causeway itinerary from Belfast for travellers who want the classic route.
PriceLive on listingCheck availability
The Short Answer
The Dark Hedges is an avenue of around 90 beech trees near Ballymoney in County Antrim, planted around 1775 and famous as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones Season 2. Access is free and the road is pedestrianised 24/7. It sits roughly 1 hour by road from Belfast, and most visitors arrive on full-day guided coach or minibus tours pairing it with Giant's Causeway.
Bregagh Road, better known as the Dark Hedges, is a tunnel of roughly 90 beech trees planted around 1775 by the Stuart family to line the approach to Gracehill House. Two centuries later it became one of the most photographed spots in Northern Ireland after appearing as the Kingsroad in the opening episode of Game of Thrones Season 2, when Arya Stark escapes north with Yoren, Gendry and Hot Pie.
The avenue sits about 50 miles from Belfast on the Causeway Coast, close to other filming locations such as Ballintoy Harbour, which stood in for Lordsport on Pyke in Season 2. Travellers can visit the trees independently for free at any hour, or join one of the many full-day Game of Thrones tours from Belfast that combine the hedges with the Giant's Causeway and other coastal stops.
Compare The Tours
The tours below are all full-day trips from Belfast that pair the Dark Hedges with the Giant's Causeway and, in most cases, additional Game of Thrones filming stops along the Antrim coast. Differences come down to ratings, review counts, whether the Game of Thrones theme is the headline or a side stop, extras such as the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge or Belfast murals, and one private option for travellers who want a dedicated guide and vehicle.
Westeros Studio Tour Option
Game of Thrones Locations Tour including Westeros & Giant's Causeway
Pairs filming locations with the Westeros experience and Giant's Causeway in a single day.
PriceLive on listingCheck availability
Murals Plus Causeway Day Trip
Giant's Causeway , Belfast Murals & Game of Thrones Dark Hedges
Adds Belfast political murals to the Causeway and Dark Hedges route, rated 4.1 across 202 reviews.
PriceLive on listingCheck availability
Causeway Coast Day Tour
Game of Thrones and Giant's Causeway Day Tour from Belfast
A day tour framed around both the Game of Thrones sites and the Causeway from Belfast.
PriceLive on listingCheck availability
Private Full-Day From Belfast
Private Tour: 'Game of Thrones' and Giant’s Causeway Full-Day Tour from Belfast
A private full-day tour with your own guide and vehicle, rated 4.7 from 52 reviews.
PriceLive on listingCheck availability
Rope Bridge Combo Tour
Giants Causeway, Rope Bridge & Dark Hedges Tour From Belfast
Includes the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge alongside Causeway and Dark Hedges, with the strongest rating at 4.9 from 47 reviews.
PriceLive on listingCheck availability
Themed Thrones And Causeway
Giants Causeway & Game of Thrones Tour from Belfast
A Thrones-focused day tour from Belfast that includes the Causeway and the hedges.
PriceLive on listingCheck availability
What You Will See
The Kingsroad Avenue
The tree tunnel itself, used as the Kingsroad in Season 2 Episode 1. Arya Stark travels this road north with Yoren, Gendry and Hot Pie after escaping King's Landing. Roughly 90 beech trees remain along the pedestrianised stretch of Bregagh Road.
Bregagh Road
Closed to vehicles in October 2017 to protect the tree roots, the road is now open only to walkers. That makes it unusually quiet by filming location standards, and safe for photographs taken from the middle of the lane.
Gracehill House Approach
The avenue was originally planted around 1775 by the Stuart family as a grand driveway approaching Gracehill House. The Georgian landscaping intent still shapes the view: a symmetrical canopy framing the road for its full length.
Ballintoy Harbour
Further along the Causeway Coast in County Antrim, this small harbour played Lordsport on Pyke in Season 2 during Theon Greyjoy's return to the Iron Islands. It is a popular stop on Game of Thrones tours from Belfast and combines naturally with the Dark Hedges.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There
The Dark Hedges lie on Bregagh Road near Stranocum, Ballymoney, roughly 1 hour and 50 miles from Belfast via the M2 and A26. Drivers can park at the nearby Hedges Hotel or estate grounds, since the road itself is pedestrianised. Independent visits require a car or public transport connections to Ballymoney, which is why most visitors join an 8 to 10 hour guided coach or minibus tour from Belfast that also covers Giant's Causeway and other Causeway Coast sites.
Tickets, Hours And Timing
There is no ticket, no booking and no entry fee: the Dark Hedges are free and open 24 hours a day. A typical independent visit lasts 20 to 45 minutes, which is enough to walk the avenue and take photographs. Guided tours from Belfast run full day itineraries of roughly 8 to 10 hours, with the hedges as one stop among several, usually alongside Giant's Causeway, which is ticketed. Tour buses arrive in waves, so timing matters more than tickets here.
Booking Tips
- Visit early morning or late evening, ideally at golden hour, to avoid tour bus crowds and get the best photographs.
- No tickets or advance booking are needed for the site itself; only pay if joining a guided tour.
- Book a Belfast-based coach or minibus tour if you want the hedges combined with Giant's Causeway and other coastal filming locations.
- The road has been closed to vehicles since 2017, so plan to park nearby and walk in.
On The Map
4 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Dark Hedges Free To Visit?
Yes. Access is completely free, with no tickets or booking required, and the avenue is open 24 hours a day. The only costs are transport or a guided tour if you choose one. Parking is available at the nearby Hedges Hotel or estate grounds.
Why Is The Dark Hedges Famous?
The avenue of beech trees appeared as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones Season 2 Episode 1, during Arya Stark's escape north with Yoren, Gendry and Hot Pie. Planted around 1775, it has since become one of the most photographed locations in Northern Ireland.
How Long Should You Spend There?
Most visitors spend between 20 and 45 minutes, which covers walking the pedestrianised road and taking photographs. Full-day tours from Belfast, typically 8 to 10 hours, stop here as one highlight within a wider Causeway Coast itinerary.
Can You Drive Down The Dark Hedges?
No. Bregagh Road has been closed to vehicles since October 2017 to protect the tree roots, and it is pedestrianised only. Drivers should park at the Hedges Hotel or nearby estate parking and walk to the avenue.
When Is The Best Time To Visit?
Early morning or late evening is best. Tour buses arrive through the middle of the day, so quiet hours give clearer photographs, and golden hour light suits the tree tunnel particularly well.
What Else Do Tours Combine With It?
Most Belfast day tours pair the Dark Hedges with Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO site, and often Ballintoy Harbour, which filmed Lordsport on Pyke in Season 2. Some add the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge or Belfast murals.
The Dark Hedges costs nothing, requires no booking and takes under an hour to see, yet it remains one of Northern Ireland's defining sights. The catch is logistics: it sits an hour from Belfast on a coast road best explored with several other stops. That is why the full-day tours listed above, most combining the hedges with Giant's Causeway and Ballintoy Harbour, are the recommended approach for travellers without a car, while independent visitors should simply aim for an early or late arrival.
