Overview
Portrush has three Blue Flag beaches within walking distance of each other, a championship links that hosted the Open in July 2025, and a clifftop path that runs east toward the Giant’s Causeway. It sits on Ramore Head, a peninsula poking into the Atlantic; the Irish name Port Rois means ‘promontory port’. The railway turned a fishing village into a Victorian resort in the 19th century, and the town still trades on that split personality – seaside amusements and harbour cafés on one side, wild Atlantic coast on the other. If you have a single afternoon, walk the coast path east from Whiterocks toward Dunluce Castle; it beats any of the beaches for drama.
History and town heritage
The Town Hall dates from 1872 and has recently been renovated. Nearby stands the town’s War Memorial, unveiled in 1922: its bronze Angel of Victory was sculpted by Frank Ransom in collaboration with the English sculptor George Frampton, and it remembers 78 local men lost in the First World War and 30 in the Second. Portrush’s lifeboat story runs back further still – the first RNLI station here was established in 1860, after the Countess of Antrim petitioned for one.
Beaches and coastal walks
The peninsula splits the shoreline into three Blue Flag beaches, all of which held the flag in 2025:
- West Strand curves west toward Portstewart, backed by a promenade, the railway viaduct and large car parks. Good for a morning walk, a cycle, or a first surf lesson.
- East Strand runs about 2.5 km (1.6 miles) east from the town, backed by dunes and the fairways of Royal Portrush. It is the one for runners, dog walkers and summer events. Its car park charges 50p an hour from 8.30am to 6.30pm, year round, with around 537 spaces.
- Whiterocks lies further east along the Causeway Coastal Route, under white limestone cliffs. It is quieter, wilder, and the pick for experienced surfers.
For a proper walk, the Portrush to Bushmills Coastal Walk follows the Causeway Coast Way past coves, limestone outcrops and the Magheracross Viewpoint on the Dunluce Road, where the view opens across the Skerries islands to the silhouette of Dunluce Castle on its crag. It is a moderate walk rather than a stroll.
Water sports and sea adventures
The Atlantic here throws up consistent, clean waves, which is why Portrush is one of Northern Ireland’s main surf towns. Schools like Portrush Surf School, Troggs Surf School and Alive Adventures run group and private lessons, plus paddleboarding and bodyboarding; the harbour is the calm option for beginners, while Whiterocks and East Strand suit stronger surfers. If you would rather stay dry, boat operators run from the harbour – Aquaholics does wildlife cruises that turn up dolphins, seals and the occasional basking shark, and Causeway Boats runs a ‘catch your breakfast’ fishing trip. Freedive Northern Ireland organises snorkelling around the Skerries.
Family days out
Portrush has been a family resort for generations, and Curry’s Fun Park (formerly Barry’s Amusements) is the heart of it – Northern Ireland’s largest indoor fun park, on the West Strand, open seasonally from April to October with rides, arcades and slot machines. For a wet day, the Portrush Coastal Zone on Bath Road has interactive marine displays and touch pools with live sea creatures; it opens June to September, 10am to 4.30pm daily, and it is free. A short drive inland, North Coast Alpacas runs meet-and-feed sessions and dusk treks.
Food and drink
The harbour and Ramore Head are the centre of the eating and drinking. The Ramore Restaurant Group runs several places here, from the Harbour Bar to the small-plates Neptune & Prawn. Kraken Fish Bar does locally caught fish and chips, burgers and tacos, mostly on outdoor terraces, and The Arcadia, out on its promontory over East Strand, is a long-standing café spot with a playground for younger visitors. In the evening the harbour pubs fill; the Harbour Bar pairs a historic front bar with a gin lounge upstairs, and there is live music around the town most weekends.
Golf
Golf is woven through the town. Royal Portrush Golf Club, founded in 1888, runs two championship courses, the Valley and the celebrated Dunluce Links. It hosted the Open in 1951, in 2019, and again in July 2025. Tee times go fast, so book well ahead. The neighbouring Rathmore Golf Club is the more casual option. One practical warning for the big years: when the Open is in town there is no public parking at the course – spectators use Park & Ride sites and shuttle buses, and the whole town is packed.
Events and getting around
Two events dominate the calendar. The North West 200 motorcycle races in May turn the roads between Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart into a circuit that pulls crowds of up to 150,000. In August, the Causeway Coast Airshow (formerly Airwaves) takes over East Strand with everything from vintage Spitfires to modern aerobatics. Getting here is easy: Translink trains run from Belfast Lanyon Place in about 1 hour 20 minutes and from Derry-Londonderry along one of Ireland’s most scenic lines, into the central Portrush station a short walk from the harbour. Goldline coaches and Ulsterbus link the surrounding towns, and the peninsula itself is small enough to cover on foot.
Practical information
The beaches, promenades and coastal walks are free; parking near the harbour and beaches is pay-and-display in season. For ticketed sights like the Giant’s Causeway, book online ahead in summer. Portrush works best as a base for the wider Antrim Coast and Glens: within a 20-minute drive you can reach Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Bushmills Distillery. Check the tide times before you surf or walk the lower paths, and bring a windproof layer whatever the forecast says.