Travel to Northern Ireland

Travel to Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland, which compared to the Republic of Ireland by more industry, is still a worthwhile holiday destination for tourists. This is mainly due to the original nature; special highlight Northern Ireland ‘s Giant’s Causeway is on the north coast – a natural monument of a special kind. Here you will find around 40,000 evenly shaped basalt columns, due to their uniqueness, these have also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Of course, the beautiful landscape of Northern Ireland is also ideal for an active holiday; Hiking, mountain biking or golfing is a very special experience here. The Mountain of Morne, a mountain range about 50 kilometers from Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is particularly suitable for hiking. Here is also the Slieve Donard, with a height of 849 meters, the highest point in Northern Ireland.

Economically speaking, Northern Ireland has had major problems in the past. Many of the young people emigrated and looked for training, a place to study or work in other countries or in England. Many working-class families also moved away due to the poor situation. This great wave of emigration also took place in the Republic of Ireland. Another reason for the large emigration was the recurring tension with ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Because of the difficult political situation in Northern Ireland, hardly any investment funds flowed from abroad. By 1997, unemployment rose enormously in Northern Ireland. At that time, the decision was made to invest more in tourism and expand it. After initial difficulties, tourism turned out to be a blessing for Northern Ireland. Today the entire infrastructure works wonderfully for tourists. There are enough hotels and apartments available and the tourist services are of international class. The beautiful landscapes do the rest, so that the visitors come to Northern Ireland in large numbers.

Northern Ireland climate

Northern Ireland has a temperate maritime (oceanic)climate, with more precipitation falling in the west than in the east. It is almost all year round in the entire region. In winter, due to the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, it is milder and more rainy, in summer it is cooler and more humid than in other regions at the same geographical latitude. The Gulf Stream leaves the coasts of Northern Ireland ice-free even in winter.

The weather is unpredictable at all times of the year and although the seasons are different, they are less pronounced than in continental Europe.

The average daily highs in Belfast are 6.5 ° C in January and 17.5 ° C in July. Frequent winds often make the perceived temperatures in Northern Ireland appear lower than the real ones. In the mountains of Sperring, Glen Of Antrim and the Morne Mountains, more rain falls than lowlands. The driest time in Northern Ireland is spring, with most precipitation falling between October and January.

The Ards Peninsula is the sunniest region in Northern Ireland with 1,500 hours of sunshine a year.

The humid climate and extensive deforestation in the 16th and 17th centuries resulted in large areas of green meadows being covered.

Best time to visit Northern Ireland

Travel to Northern Ireland can be done all year round, with May and September being most pleasant. The sunniest month on average in Northern Ireland is May.

Northern Ireland – key figures

Land Area: 13,843 sq km

Population: 1.76 million (2008 estimate). 91.0% born in Northern Ireland, 3.7% in England, 1.0% in Scotland, 0.2% in Wales, 2.3% in Ireland, 0.6% in the rest of the EU, 1.2% outside the EU. Whites (Caucasia) make up 99.15% of the population. The largest minority are Chinese (0.25%).

Population density: 127 residents per square kilometer

Capital: Belfast (277,000 residents, 2003)

Highest point: Slieve Donard, 849 m

Lowest point: Irish Sea, 0 m

Type of government: Northern Ireland is a constitutional parliamentary monarchy and a part of the United Kingdom (United Kingdom, UK). Northern Ireland has 18 MPs in the UK House of Commons (the 5 Republicans are not currently taking their seats). The Northern Ireland Assembly (108 members) has been regulating the country’s internal affairs since May 8, 2007.

Administrative division: 26 Districts: Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus,Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Derry, Down, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Morne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh and Strabane.

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952)

Head of Government: First Minister Peter Robinson (since June 5, 2008)

Language: English is the first language for almost 100% of the population.

Religion: Roman Catholic 40.3%, Presbyterian (Protestant) 20.7%, Church of Ireland (Protestant) 15.3%, other religions (including other Protestants) 9.9%, 9.0%, no details, no religion 5.0%.

Local time: CET -1 h. Northern Ireland has daylight saving time (CET) between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
The time difference to Central Europe is -1 hour in both winter and summer.

International phone code: +44

Internet identifier:.uk

Mains voltage: 230 V, 50 Hz

Northern Ireland – Geography

Northern Ireland, located on the Irish island, is part of the United Kingdom Great Britain and Northern Ireland and is dated by the North Channel of the Atlantic British Motherland separated. With a total area of ​​13,843 square kilometers, Northern Ireland is the smallest part of Great Britain that, in addition to the natural border of the sea, also has that with the Republic of Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, that continues in Northern england and southern Scotland, with its rugged coastline, bays and loughs, as well as mountainous regions and green floodplains, the varied landscape prevailing. The Northern Irish coastline is about 500 kilometers; the north-south extension of the country is 130 kilometers, the extension from east to west is 180 kilometers.

With its 16% share of the entire Irish island, Northern Ireland is relatively small, but is characterized by an extremely diverse and varied landscape. The many inland loughs – the Irish Celtic name for a bay or lake – are as typical of this region of Britain as that mostly undulating terrain in Northern Ireland. The Lough Neagh is the largest lake, while the Lough Erne The multitude of peninsulas, islands and inlets offers the most beautiful natural sights. Lough Neagh is surrounded by flat and often very swampy plains; Flat landscapes can also be found along Northern Ireland’s largest river, the River Bann. The rest of the country’s regions are predominantly mountainous.

The Antrim Mountains in the north-west of Northern Ireland are the most beautiful and famous mountain ranges in the country, while west of them – on the other side of the River Bann – the Sperrin Mountains extend. The Morne Mountains in the south-east of Northern Ireland there is only a small mountain range, but the Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in the country, rises here at 852 meters.

Rugged, jagged rock and deep, beautiful sea bays characterize the Northern Irish coast. A particularly spectacular natural phenomenon is the Giant’s Causeway on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, where thousands of basalt stumps rise from the ground.

Northern Ireland How To Get There

Airplane: the main Irish airlines with connections to Northern Ireland are Aer Árann, Air Lingus and Ryanair. While Aer Árann primarily offers domestic flights and connections to Great Britain, Air Lingus denies the international flight connections. Ryanair offers low-cost connections to the UK and Europe.
Almost all international airlines use Dublin as their starting point or hub in Ireland. Airlines that offer flights to and from Ireland include Adria Baltic,Air France, Air Malta, British Airways, City Jet, Easy Jet, Finnair, Lufthansa, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines and Swiss Airlines.

Airports: International flights to Northern Ireland land at Belfast International (BFS), Belfast City (BHD) and Derry (LDY) airports.

Ship: there are ferries and speedboat service from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The main routes run between Liverpool and Belfast and between Stranraer and Belfast.

Travel to Northern Ireland