Lonely Planet has chosen Belfast and the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland as the number one region in the world to visit in 2018.

The Giant's Causeway

The leading travel media company unveiled the accolade in the prestigious Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 – its collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the coming year. Belfast and the Causeway Coast came ahead of places like Alaska, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France and the Aeolian islands in Italy.

Welcoming the news, Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “The inclusion of Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the Number One Region in the world in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 is wonderful news and will surely help to inspire travellers everywhere to put Northern Ireland on their holiday wish-list for next year. It is another well-deserved accolade, which provides Tourism Ireland with a great hook to continue to promote Belfast, the Causeway Coast and Northern Ireland around the world as a ‘must visit’ destination.”

Belfast is described in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2018 as "full of hip neighbourhoods that burst with bars, restaurants and venues to suit all tastes. The rusting old docklands are now the vibrant Titanic Quarter, home to fancy apartments and a sensational museum”. Belfast shares the accolade with the Causeway Coast, "whose timeless beauty and high-grade distractions – golf, whiskey and some of the world's most famous rocks – are more popular now than ever”. 

Titanic Belfast © Tourism Northern Ireland

Tourism Ireland’s campaign to promote this accolade will include a specially created page on Tourism Ireland’s international website, Ireland.com, which includes a brand new video created by Lonely Planet, highlighting Belfast and the Causeway Coast.

In addition, Lonely Planet named the United Kingdom as the seventh best value destination for 2018. Following the UK’s referendum on EU membership in 2016, the pound has weakened against almost all major currencies, making a visit to Britain much better value than it has been for a while.

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, said: “It is great to hear that Belfast and the Causeway Coast has been named the number one region to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet. Belfast really is one of the UK’s most exciting cities, with so much to see and do. In addition, the Causeway Coast, which includes the Giant’s Causeway – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is perhaps one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world and a must-see for anyone visiting Northern Ireland.”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a visit to Belfast and the Causeway Coast on a tailor-made tour of Northern Ireland, please do contact our friendly team today.