Northern Ireland: Overview

When you cross from the Republic into Northern Ireland you immediately notice two big differences; the street signs are in miles and the roads are well maintained. Soon enough though, you find that these aren't the only differences; the accent here is distinctly different, the currency is pounds sterling (making everything more expensive) and you remark once more about how nicely maintained the roads are. Yes, you are now in the UK.

From the looming city walls of Derry to the breathtaking scenery along the Causeway Coast to the architecture in Queen Victoria's pet city of Belfast, Northern Ireland has always had a bevy of things to attract visitors. Unfortunately, decades of guerrilla warfare deterred most tourists and it wasn't until within the past five or 10 years that they finally started to return.

Today Northern Ireland seems rejuvenated. Belfast is a happening place with a stellar nightlife and an excellent culinary scene, while Derry appears to be coming into its own as a cool, artistic city. The stunning Causeway Coast and its namesake, the geologically anomalistic Giant's Causeway, get more and more visitors each year, while lesser-known towns like Enniskillen are suddenly finding that they have a decent tourist trade, too.

That's not to say that the scars of the Troubles have healed, but at least people are getting along, which at this point in time is all that anyone can ask for.

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