Portrush in winter is a different place from the busy summer town. The beaches are quiet, the light is low and golden on a clear day, and when the Atlantic gets up there’s no better show on the coast. Here’s how we’d spend a winter weekend, with almost everything a short walk or drive from our apartments in central Portrush.
Before you go
- Opening times are shorter in winter. Check each place’s official website before you set off, and book restaurants ahead at weekends.
- Pack layers, a waterproof and shoes with good grip. The wind off the sea can be sharp even on a bright day, and rocks and paths get slippery.
- Daylight is short in December and January, so plan the coast for the middle of the day and save the cosy stuff for the evening.
- Want to know what it costs? Our winter stays page has real prices. On the day we checked (3 November 2026), a weekend from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 January 2027 in our 1-bedroom Central Apt with Terrace came to £194.85 in total for two adults.
Friday evening: arrive and settle in
Check-in is from 3pm and arrival is by keysafe, so there’s no rush to get here. Drop your bags, put the kettle on, then walk down to the harbour. The Ramore Wine Bar is a Portrush institution, and it’s worth booking on a Friday or Saturday. For a pint, the Harbour Bar is just along Harbour Road. If you’d rather stay closer to the station end of town, The Quays on Eglinton Street is a popular bar and gastropub, with a dog-friendly beer garden.
Saturday morning: beach, coffee and the headland
Start the day on West Strand, the town beach right beside the harbour. It’s a Blue Flag beach, and in winter you’ll often have long stretches of it to yourself. Keep an eye on the water: the council notes that harbour porpoises are seen offshore.
Warm up afterwards at Babushka Kitchen Cafe, in the old lifeboat station on the South Pier. Then, if you’ve got the legs for it, follow the West Bay and Ramore Head walk. It’s a 2.9-mile circular route on surfaced, mostly flat paths, from West Strand round the harbour and Ramore Head and back along the East Strand promenade. On a wild day the waves breaking around the headland are a sight to see. Stay well back from the edge and let the sea do its thing.
Saturday afternoon: Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway
Head east along the coast road to Dunluce Castle, about 12 minutes away. The ruins sit right on the cliff edge, and they’re at their most atmospheric under a winter sky. From 1 November the castle opens 9am to 4pm, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. You don’t need to book, but it can close in extreme weather.
Carry on to the Giant’s Causeway, about 20 minutes from Portrush. The coastline is open from dawn to dusk. On the November day we checked, the visitor centre was open from 10am to 4pm, and the National Trust says pre-booking is essential for the Visitor Experience, which includes parking, guided tours and the exhibition. We’ve put everything you need in our guide to the Giant’s Causeway from Portrush.
Prefer something warmer? Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, dating from 1608, is nearby in Bushmills village. Book your tour online before you go. Children under 8 can’t join the tour.
Saturday night: music or a night in
If your weekend falls in mid-November, you might catch Atlantic Sessions, a music festival with more than 40 artists across Portrush and Portstewart. Alongside the ticketed headline gigs there are free music trails, so you can wander from bar to bar. In 2026 it runs from 12 to 15 November. In December, look at the Christmas events listings for markets and Santa events along the coast.
Or simply stay in. Every one of our apartments has a full kitchen, and there’s a lot to be said for a home-cooked dinner, a film and the sound of the sea outside.
Sunday: Whiterocks and the Causeway Coast Way
Whiterocks, about 2 minutes away, makes a great winter walk. White limestone cliffs run from Curran Strand towards Dunluce, with caves and arches along the way, including the Wishing Arch, Elephant Rock and the Lion’s Paw. Parking is free. The clifftop path is part of the Causeway Coast Way, a 31.5-mile route from Portstewart to Ballycastle. Its Portrush to Portballintrae section is 9.3 km, past Whiterocks and Dunluce Castle, if you fancy a longer walk before you head home.
Golfers have three famous links courses to choose from. Royal Portrush has the Dunluce and Valley links and has hosted The Open three times, most recently in 2025. Portstewart and Castlerock are a short drive west. Check visitor tee times on each club’s website, as winter conditions vary.
For a late lunch, drive the few minutes to Portstewart Strand and Harry’s Shack, a beach restaurant right on the sand. Finish with an ice cream from Morelli’s on the Promenade. It’s never too cold for a cone.
Staying a bit longer?
Why not turn a weekend into a week, or even a month? Our weekly rate applies automatically to stays of 7 nights or more, and our monthly rate to stays of 30 nights or more. On the day we checked, a 30-night stay from Monday 4 January 2027 in our Central Apt with Terrace (1 bedroom) came to £1,508.91 in total, about £50 a night. You’ll find more examples on our winter stays page.
Booking is simple. Pay 50% when you book (non-refundable), and the rest any time before you arrive. Book direct for our best price, and if you have a question, just call us on 028 7044 5054.