The practical stuff for a first visit — for currency and cross-border basics, see our currency and Northern Ireland vs. the Republic guides. This page covers everything else.
Driving
Drive on the left. At roundabouts, give way to traffic from the right. Speed limits are in mph: generally 30mph in towns, 60mph on most rural roads, 70mph on motorways — road signs are in English and Irish, with distance signs in miles (this switches to km once you cross into the Republic). Seatbelts are mandatory for everyone; using a handheld phone while driving is illegal. The drink-drive limit is stricter than many visitors expect — 0.08% BAC, but the safest plan is simply not to drink and drive at all.
Rough driving times from Portrush: Belfast 1.5 hours (64 miles), Derry/Londonderry 55 minutes (36 miles), Dublin around 3 hours.
Electricity
Same as the rest of the UK — three-pin type G sockets, 230V. Bring an adapter if you’re coming from outside the UK/Ireland; US and EU devices will need one.
Tipping
Not obligatory but appreciated for good service. Roughly: 10–15% at sit-down restaurants, round up for taxis, a pound or two for hotel porters and concierge. Bar staff in pubs generally aren’t tipped.
Shop, bank, and post office hours
Most shops run 9am–6pm Monday to Saturday, with shorter Sunday hours (often 1pm–6pm) for larger stores — smaller towns and independent shops vary, so check ahead if you have somewhere specific in mind. Banks typically close for lunch (around 12:30–1:30pm) and post offices run roughly 9am–5:30pm.
Public holidays
Banks, post offices, and many shops close on public holidays — expect reduced hours elsewhere. The recurring ones each year: New Year’s Day, St Patrick’s Day (17 March), Good Friday, Easter Monday, the early May and late August bank holidays, the Twelfth of July, and Christmas/Boxing Day. Dates shift slightly year to year for the moveable ones (Easter, bank holidays) — worth a quick check against the current calendar before you travel.
VAT refund — the Northern Ireland exception
Tax-free shopping for tourists was scrapped in Great Britain in 2021, but Northern Ireland is a genuine exception: overseas visitors from outside the EU can still reclaim VAT on qualifying goods bought here. Look for shops offering “tax-free shopping,” ask for the voucher at purchase, and get it validated at the airport when you leave.
Health and emergencies
Emergency number: 999 (or 112, which also works). Pharmacies (“chemists”) handle most minor issues and are easy to spot by the green cross sign. Northern Ireland’s NHS covers emergency treatment, but travel insurance is still worth having for prescriptions, private care, lost luggage, or trip cancellation.
Wi-Fi and mobile signal
Wi-Fi is widely available in accommodation and larger towns; signal can drop out in more remote stretches of the coast and countryside, so download offline maps before heading out to anywhere rural.
What to pack
Layers, a waterproof jacket, and proper walking shoes if you’re doing any of the coastal paths or Carrick-a-Rede — the weather changes fast here. Smart-casual is fine for most restaurants; nowhere on the Causeway Coast expects black tie.
