A seaside city on Belfast Lough with a marina, a coastal path and the Ards Peninsula on its doorstep. Bangor became a city in 2022.
Bangor, in County Down, is a seaside city on the southern shore of Belfast Lough, about thirteen miles east of Belfast. It became a city in 2022. For centuries it has been known for its great abbey, founded in the sixth century, which made it one of the most important centres of learning in Europe.
In the Victorian age, Bangor became a popular seaside resort for the people of Belfast, and it still has a lively seafront, a large marina and lovely coastal walks. It is a gateway to the Ards Peninsula and Strangford Lough. This guide covers six things to see and do.
1. Bangor Marina and the seafront
Bangor Marina is one of the largest marinas in Ireland, with hundreds of boats moored in its sheltered waters. The seafront around it has been improved in recent years, with walkways and public spaces. It is a lovely place for a stroll.
The McKee Clock, on the seafront, is a local landmark and meeting place. The seafront has cafés, restaurants and ice cream shops. On a sunny day, it is full of families.
Boat trips run from the marina along the coast and out to the Copeland Islands, home to seabirds and seals. You can also hire boats and try watersports. The views across Belfast Lough are lovely.
Bangor’s seafront hosts events and festivals through the year. It is a short walk from the station and the town centre. Sunsets over the lough are beautiful.
2. The North Down Coastal Path
The North Down Coastal Path runs along the shore of Belfast Lough from Holywood, past Bangor, to Orlock, a distance of around fifteen miles. It follows the shoreline past beaches, coves, woodland and grand houses. It is one of the loveliest coastal walks in Northern Ireland.
The path passes Crawfordsburn Country Park, with its beaches, woodland walks and a waterfall. Helen’s Bay, nearby, has a sandy beach. The path is easy to follow and mostly flat.
You can walk a short section from Bangor, or walk from station to station, as the railway runs close to the path. Along the way there are views across the lough to County Antrim. Seabirds are everywhere.
The path is lovely in every season. Bring a waterproof, as the weather can change quickly. There are cafés along the way.
3. Pickie Fun Park and Castle Park
Pickie Fun Park, on the seafront, is a popular family attraction. It is famous for its giant swan pedal boats, which glide around a small lake. There is also adventure golf, a miniature railway and play areas.
The park is a great place for young children. It has a café. Entry to the park is free, with charges for the activities.
Castle Park, in the town centre, surrounds Bangor Castle, a Victorian mansion that is now the town hall. The park has woodland walks and gardens. The Walled Garden, nearby, has been beautifully restored.
The North Down Museum, in the old stable block of Bangor Castle, tells the story of the area, from the abbey to the Victorian resort. It is free to visit. It is a good place to learn about the town’s history.
4. Bangor Abbey
Bangor Abbey was founded in 558 by St Comgall, and it grew into one of the greatest monasteries in Europe. At its height, it is said to have had thousands of monks. It was a famous centre of learning.
Monks from Bangor travelled across Europe, spreading Christianity and learning. St Columbanus, one of the most important Irish missionaries, set out from Bangor to found monasteries in France, Switzerland and Italy. The Antiphonary of Bangor, a book of hymns written here in the seventh century, is now kept in a library in Milan.
The present church on the site dates mostly from later centuries, with a medieval tower. The churchyard is peaceful and full of history. The abbey is still a place of worship.
The abbey is a short walk from the town centre. It is a reminder that Bangor was once one of the most famous places in Europe. The North Down Museum tells more of its story.
5. The Ulster Folk Museum
The Ulster Folk Museum, at Cultra between Holywood and Bangor, is one of the best open air museums in Europe. Historic buildings from across Ulster have been moved here and rebuilt, including farmhouses, cottages, a school, churches and shops. They show how people lived about a hundred years ago.
The museum has a recreated town and countryside, with costumed guides who demonstrate traditional crafts such as spinning, weaving, blacksmithing and baking. You can buy bread baked over an open fire. It is a fascinating and relaxing place.
Next door, the Ulster Transport Museum has a large collection of trains, trams, cars and bicycles. It also has an exhibition about the Titanic, which was built in Belfast. Children love it.
The two museums share a site, and you can visit both on the same day. Allow at least half a day. Cultra has its own railway station.
6. The Ards Peninsula and Mount Stewart
The Ards Peninsula, south east of Bangor, is a long, narrow peninsula between the Irish Sea and Strangford Lough. It has fishing villages, beaches and quiet roads. It is lovely for a drive.
Mount Stewart, on the shore of Strangford Lough, is a grand house looked after by the National Trust, with some of the finest gardens in the world. The gardens are full of plants from around the globe, thanks to the mild climate, and they include statues of animals and mythical creatures. The house is full of treasures.
Donaghadee, on the coast just south of Bangor, has a pretty harbour and a lighthouse. Scrabo Tower, on a hill above Newtownards, has views across Strangford Lough. At Portaferry, at the southern tip of the peninsula, a small car ferry crosses the narrow mouth of the lough.
Strangford Lough is one of the most important places for wildlife in Europe, with huge flocks of birds in winter. A car or a driver for the day makes it easy to explore the peninsula.
Getting there and getting around
Bangor station, in the town centre, has frequent trains to Belfast in around half an hour, stopping at Holywood and Cultra. The A2 links Bangor with Belfast.
George Best Belfast City Airport is about ten miles away, around twenty minutes by road, and Belfast International Airport is about forty five minutes away. A car booked ahead is the easiest way to travel between Bangor and the airports, and to explore the Ards Peninsula.
Ride with ZeroLanes. From your door, the station or the airport to anywhere in Bangor, at a price fixed before you confirm. Travelling between cities? Get a fixed price for the journey, or keep a car and driver for the day with hourly hire.