Ease into the trip with a relaxed breakfast at The Beach House Café on Worthing seafront, where you can enjoy sea views and pack travel snacks while checking ferry schedules; afterwards stroll the Worthing Pier to stretch your legs and confirm luggage and documents in a quiet spot. Finish the morning by topping up your car essentials at Marine Parade Service Station and making a quick visit to High Salvington Windmill for a short scenic detour and photos before an afternoon departure toward the ferry port.
After topping up and morning checks, spend the afternoon doing last-minute errands and a relaxed local exploration: browse independent shops and pick up travel supplies at Montague Street's boutiques, then enjoy a late lunch and coffee at the cozy Jacksons of Montague where you can confirm ferry and accommodation bookings. Before setting off for the ferry port, take a short scenic drive up to Goring-by-Sea Green for a brisk seaside walk and final pack adjustments, arriving at the port with time to spare and a clear plan for tonight's onward travel.
As the day winds down, enjoy a relaxed dinner at The Crabshack Worthing for fresh seafood and sea views, then wander the nearby Steyne Gardens to enjoy the evening light and plan the route to the ferry port. Finish the night with a pre-departure briefing over drinks at The Dolphin Inn, where you can confirm timings, stow last-minute items in the car, and get a good night's rest before tomorrow's drive.
Start the morning with a hearty breakfast at Green Almond Café in Worthing before setting off, then take a scenic coastal drive and stop for photos and a brisk walk at Cissbury Ring to break up the journey and enjoy panoramic chalk downland views. Continue toward the ferry port with a coffee refuel at The Tin Shed service stop, and arrive early enough to handle check-in calmly and take a last stroll along the car deck near Portsmouth Harbour while the ferry prepares to board.
After departing the ferry area, pause for a scenic refreshment stop at The Boathouse Café near Southsea Common for light fare and harbour views, then continue to the port with time to spare for final boarding formalities. On arrival in Belfast later that afternoon, take a relaxed first walk through Customs House Square to stretch your legs, followed by a comforting early dinner at the atmospheric Bullitt Hotel Bar & Restaurant to sample modern Northern Irish dishes and plan tomorrow's city exploration.
After arriving in Belfast and settling in, take a gentle riverside stroll along the Lagan Towpath to unwind and watch the city lights reflect on the water, then head to St. George's Market (evening stalls or nearby cafés) for a relaxed browse of local crafts and treats. Finish with a cozy dinner at Made in Belfast to taste locally sourced comfort food and plan tomorrow's full day of sightseeing over a pint or artisan coffee.
Begin with a full Irish breakfast at St George's Market Café before heading to the atmospheric murals and heritage of Falls Road for a guided walking tour that explains Belfast's recent history and community art. After the tour, visit the interactive exhibits at Titanic Belfast to dive into shipbuilding stories and then stroll the regenerated Cathedral Quarter for independent galleries, early coffee at a laneway café, and a peek inside historic pubs and street murals as the city awakens.
After a morning of murals and the Titanic story, spend the afternoon wandering the leafy terraces of Queen's University Belfast and admiring the Victorian architecture, then cross into the peaceful green spaces of Botanic Gardens for a restorative walk through the Palm House and outdoor sculptures. Continue with a hands-on visit to Ulster Museum to fill gaps in local history and natural science, then enjoy late-afternoon coffee and people-watching at the lively café scene on Botanic Avenue as you plan an evening in the Cathedral Quarter.
As dusk falls, wander the lively lanes around Smithfield Market for street-food stalls and live music, then savour modern Northern Irish cuisine at Ox Belfast for a relaxed multi-course dinner. Afterward, enjoy craft cocktails at the speakeasy-style The Spaniard or catch an intimate live gig at The Empire Music Hall, letting the evening's energy bridge your daytime history explorations with Belfast's contemporary night scene.
Leave Belfast after breakfast and head north briefly to pause at Carrick-a-Rede Coastal Path for bracing sea-air views and a short cliff walk (note seasonal access), then cut inland toward the charming village of Murlough National Nature Reserve for a gentle dune stroll and birdwatching to break up the drive. Continue south with a scenic coffee stop and artisan pastry at The Olde Village Café in Newtownards before crossing into the Republic, keeping the pace relaxed to arrive in Dublin refreshed for an afternoon of city sights.
Pause mid-afternoon for a cliff-top stroll and seafood tasting at Portstewart Strand, then cross into County Down for a leisurely detour through the picturesque village of Carlingford where you can explore the medieval laneways and pick up handmade chocolates at Carlingford Chocolate Studio. Finish the drive with a scenic break at Malahide Castle and Gardens-wander the parkland and tea-room before continuing into Dublin refreshed and ready for the evening.
As daylight fades, settle into Dublin with a relaxed riverside walk along the Grand Canal before dinner; the towpath atmosphere is perfect for stretching after a day of driving and watching barges glide by. For dinner, savour modern Irish small plates at Chapter One or traditional seafood at Fish Shop, then finish the night with live traditional music and a pint at the cozy The Cobblestone in Smithfield to soak up Dublin's evening rhythm.
Start with a leisurely coffee and artisan pastry at Kaph, then join a guided tour of the literary treasures inside Marsh's Library to follow the footsteps of Dublin writers; afterward wander the Georgian streets to admire the doorways and pop into The Little Museum of Dublin for a lively, local-curated overview of 20th-century city life. Finish the morning with a peaceful walk through St. Stephen's Green and a stop at a lakeside bench to plan your afternoon museum hop, keeping the pace relaxed after the previous days' drives.
Head to the literary and historic heart of Dublin with a visit to Trinity College Library to marvel at the Long Room and the Book of Kells exhibition, then cross the Liffey to explore contemporary Irish art at the airy galleries of The Hugh Lane where you can linger over canvases and the unique Francis Bacon studio. Wrap the afternoon with a relaxed riverside coffee and people-watching at The Fumbally, then browse independent vinyl and book stalls in the creative lanes around Grand Canal Dock as you prepare for an evening of live music.
As twilight falls, take a leisurely stroll through the restored Georgian courtyard of Dublin Castle and linger at the atmospheric Dubhlinn Gardens before dinner. Savor modern Irish flavours at Forest & Marcy (seasonal tasting plates) then finish the night with intimate traditional music and locally brewed ales at the welcoming O'Donoghue's Pub, letting the city's live-music heartbeat round off your day.
Leave Dublin after an early breakfast and stretch your legs with a brisk coastal walk at Bray Promenade, taking in the sea air and views of Bray Head before a coffee at the seafront The Magpie Café. Continue south with a scenic stop at Powerscourt Waterfall for a short woodland stroll and photos, then refuel the car and pick up picnic supplies at the charming Avoca Handweavers in Kilmacanogue for a relaxed lunch later in the day as you make your way toward the ferry port.
Mid-afternoon, pause the drive for a restorative stretch and seafood tasting at Howth Harbour-wander the pier, grab fresh fish and chips from a harbour stall, and watch the local fishing boats come and go. Afterward, take the scenic coastal road south and stop for a brisk cliff-top walk at Dalkey Cliff Walk, then enjoy a late-afternoon tea and scones in the charming village at Lennox Café before continuing toward the ferry port with time to spare.
As the ferry voyage approaches England, unwind with dinner aboard at The Ocean View Grill (or the ship's signature restaurant) enjoying panoramic sea vistas and a glass of wine while you review highlights from the trip. Once ashore, take a short detour for a twilight stroll along Worthing Harbour before a celebratory final meal at The Beach House Worthing, where fresh local ingredients and seaside ambiance provide a warm bookend to your road-trip adventure.