Portrush (Port Rois in Irish), in County Antrim, is a fun-loving seaside town on Northern Ireland’s north coast, and has been a popular holiday destination since Victorian times - golden beaches, friendly locals, and championship golf at the world-famous Dunluce Links, part of Royal Portrush.
Portrush sits 5 miles west of the Giant’s Causeway, on the coastal road between Portstewart and Portballintrae. The town’s population was recorded at 6,150 in the 2021 census - under 7,000, as often quoted - though that swells considerably during summer with visitors and, via a short hop from nearby Coleraine, students at Ulster University’s Coleraine campus (not, as sometimes claimed, a campus in Portrush itself - the university is about 3 miles away, on the River Bann).
A Brief History
Portrush’s transformation from fishing village to resort town dates to the arrival of the railway. Portrush railway station opened on 4 December 1855, linking the town to Coleraine and the wider rail network - one of the earliest lines in Ireland, engineered by Charles Lanyon and built by contractor William Dargan. The railway was, in a real sense, what made Portrush: it put a Victorian seaside holiday within reach of the growing middle class almost overnight.
Portrush’s other transport claim to fame is stranger still. In 1883, the Giant’s Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Tramway opened between Portrush and Bushmills, powered by a hydroelectric generating station at Walkmill Falls - making it the first hydroelectric tramway in the world. The line was extended to the Giant’s Causeway itself in 1887 and ran for over sixty years before closing on 30 September 1949, when running costs became impossible to sustain. Sections of the route are still walkable today, and the modern Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway runs a shorter heritage service nearby.
Getting There
Portrush is about 60 miles (1 hour 15 minutes) by car from Belfast via the A26 and M2, and roughly 3 hours from Dublin. NI Railways runs a direct line via Coleraine, with a journey time of around 2 hours - a scenic, car-free option if you’d rather not drive the Causeway Coastal Route in one sitting. Translink coach services also connect Portrush to Coleraine and the wider coast.
North West 200
Every May, the North West 200 motorcycle race roars along the coast road into Portrush, one of the fastest closed-road races in the world. The 2023 Superbike race delivered a home victory that thrilled the crowds lining the route.
Getting Around
Portrush occupies a mile-long peninsula with coastline on both sides, rising to Ramore Head at its tip. The town is easily walkable, with amusement arcades, restaurants, and shops concentrated along the seafront.
Things to Do in Portrush
Between Ramore Head, the town’s coastline, the arcades on Main Street, and a round on the Dunluce Links, most visitors find a day in Portrush fills itself without much planning.
Ramore Head and the Harbour
Ramore Head has cliff-edge trails with genuinely dramatic views. From Easter to mid-September, there’s tennis, bowls, and a supervised children’s inflatable adventure park, with grassy areas for picnics.
Portrush Harbour, below Ramore Head, was built in 1827 and was primarily used for passenger steamers to and from Scotland until 1939 - today it’s fishing and leisure boats, with several bars and restaurants nearby. Worth a wander even if you’re not taking a boat out, and boat tours run from here along the coast.
Main Street
Main Street is the fun end of town - arcades, restaurants, shops, and cafés, including “The White House,” a department store with 120 years of history. If you’re travelling with kids, expect to lose an hour to bingo, air hockey, and penny falls at Curry’s Fun Park - the fairground long known as Barry’s, reopened under new operators in 2022 and, at 2.23 acres, one of the largest amusement parks in Northern Ireland.
One honest correction worth making plainly: Waterworld, the indoor water park at Harbour Road, has been closed since February 2020 and remains derelict - this isn’t a temporary closure. The site is council-owned, and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was still reviewing its future as of May 2026, with no confirmed reopening plan. Don’t plan a visit around it.
Nightlife
Portrush’s nightlife was once anchored by Kelly’s Complex, a nightclub that drew visitors from across Northern Ireland for 25 years before permanently closing in 2021; the site is now family entertainment and holiday accommodation. Evenings today centre more on restaurants than clubbing.
The Three Beaches
Portrush has three Blue Flag beaches, among the town’s top attractions:
West Strand Beach runs from the harbour railway bridge toward the coast, with a walking/cycling path alongside, a large car park, and toilets. It’s pet-friendly and suits both swimming and a straightforward walk.
East Strand, on the other side of the peninsula past Ramore Head, spans over 2 miles of ancient sand dunes and beach - good for swimming, walking, and dogs are allowed.
Whiterocks Beach, an extension of East Strand, is known for its white limestone chalk cliffs (estimated at 65-142 million years old). Reachable on foot, by bike, or by the winding coast road to the shoreline car parks - popular with surfers.
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Just outside town, Royal Portrush Golf Club is the reason golfers put Portrush on their map long before anyone mentions the coastline. Founded in 1888 as “The County Club,” it was renamed twice more before settling on Royal Portrush in 1895, under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. Its championship Dunluce Links, laid out along dune-backed cliffs with the Giant’s Causeway visible in the distance, is consistently ranked among the best golf courses in the world.
Royal Portrush has hosted The Open Championship three times - a rare honour, since The Open is almost always played in Great Britain. Max Faulkner won there in 1951, the first time the Championship left Britain; the Open didn’t return to Northern Ireland for 68 years, until Shane Lowry’s win in 2019 in front of record crowds; it returned again in 2025, when Scottie Scheffler claimed the Claret Jug. It’s a private members’ club, but visitor tee times on the Dunluce Links (and the shorter Valley Links) can be booked directly through the club, well in advance during summer.
Things to Do Near Portrush
Portrush makes an easy base for the wider north coast: Dunluce Castle, the medieval ruin perched on its own sea cliff, is a short drive east toward Bushmills, and the Giant’s Causeway itself is only 5 miles away. The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, a short drive further along, is another easy half-day trip. Portstewart, with its own beach and golf club, and the Glens of Antrim further along the coast, are both within easy reach for a day trip from Portrush.
Where to Eat
Portrush’s dining scene centres on the Ramore Restaurant Group, a family-run cluster of restaurants and bars stacked above the water, covering everything from stone-baked pizza to seafood and Asian-inspired dishes within a short walk of each other - useful if you’re travelling with a group that can’t agree on a cuisine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Portrush from Belfast? About 60 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car, or around 2 hours by direct train via Coleraine.
Portrush or Portstewart - which is better? They’re 4 miles apart and often paired on the same trip. Portrush has the bigger stretches of sand, the amusements, and Royal Portrush Golf Club; Portstewart is quieter, with its own championship links and a well-known promenade and strand. Neither is objectively “better” - it depends whether you want livelier or calmer.
Why is Waterworld closed? The indoor water park on Harbour Road has been closed since February 2020 and remains derelict. It’s council-owned, and as of the council’s most recent review there was still no confirmed reopening plan - don’t build a visit around it.
Who owns Royal Portrush? It’s a private members’ club, not a public course, though visitors can book tee times directly outside championship periods.
