The list of Northern Ireland's FIVE most Instagrammed places is out
According to Instagram hashtags
Northern Ireland is bursting with a host of incredibly photogenic spots all concentrated in a relatively small area. With geological marvels, rugged coastlines, historic castles and a whole lot more, our wee country has so much to offer.
The Maldron Hotel Belfast City conducted a study to find out the most Instagrammed places in Northern Ireland, so bring your phone and start racking up those likes!
Here are the top 5 most Instagrammed places in Northern Ireland
1 – Giant’s Causeway – 239,582 hashtags
When you visit Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll be in no doubt as to why this geological wonder sits at the top of the Instagram tree. Situated on the rugged Antrim coast and easily under 1.5 hours from Belfast, the 40,000 volcanic basalt rocks create a spectacular pathway over the wild North Atlantic Ocean.
You can read up about the striking geological formations and the area’s unique creation story at the visitor centre. Look across the causeway and imagine how giant Finn MacCool used the massive stepping stones to run away from his Scottish rival, Benandonner.
2 – Mourne Mountains – 109,125 hashtags
Home to Northern Ireland’s highest peak, the area is a great option for walkers and nature lovers. Its wonderful trails take you through woodland passed rivers and lakes, giving you plenty of places to stop off and post photos as you go.
At just over an hour from Belfast, the area makes a fantastic day trip away from the capital and a chance to explore Northern Ireland’s natural beauty. Slieve Donnard’s summit stands at 852 m (2,796 ft) with Instagram-worthy views towards England and Scotland.
3 - Dark Hedges - 63,993 hashtags
The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees along Bregagh Road between Armoy and Stranocum in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The trees form an atmospheric tunnel that has been used as a location in HBO's popular television series Game of Thrones, which has resulted in the avenue becoming a tourist attraction.
4 - Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge - 61,651 hashtags
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (locally pronounced carrick-a-reedy) is a famous rope bridge near Ballintoy in County Antrim. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It spans 20 metres (66 ft) and is 30 metres (98 ft) above the rocks below. The bridge is a popular tourist attraction and is owned and maintained by the National Trust. In 2009, it had 247,000 visitors. By 2016, that had increased to 440,000 visitors. The bridge is open all year round (subject to weather).
5 - Titanic Belfast / Titanic Quarter - 58, 712 hashtags
Titanic Belfast is a visitor attraction opened in 2012, a monument to Belfast's maritime heritage on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in the city's Titanic Quarter where the RMS Titanic was built. It tells the stories of the ill-fated Titanic, which hit an iceberg and sank during her maiden voyage in 1912, and her sister ships RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic. The building contains more than 12,000 square metres (130,000 sq ft) of floor space, most of which is occupied by a series of galleries, private function rooms and community facilities, plus the addition of Hickson’s Point destination bar in March 2018.