With its rugged coastline, bountiful countryside, and lively cities, Northern Ireland packs everything in, along with a hospitable population who’ll be happy to show you their favorite neighborhood spots — and quite possibly accompany you there. It takes little more than a couple of hours to drive across the landscape in any direction, but you’ll find yourself doing it much slower, because there’s so much to appreciate in Northern Ireland, from the famous basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway on its stunning north coast to the vast expanse of Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles by surface area.

Even Northern Ireland’s major peaks, separated by less than 100 miles, offer contrasting scenery, from the high drama of the granite Mourne Mountains to the unspoilt uplands of the rolling Sperrins. Fishing ports, seaside resorts, and historic forts contribute to some of the United Kingdom’s prettiest towns, from Kilkeel and Coleraine to Bangor and Ballymena, while the cities of Belfast and Derry/Londonderry have emerged as hubs of contemporary urban culture.

Northern Ireland’s chief airport is Belfast International (BFS); nowhere in the region is more than 100 miles from it. City of Derry Airport (LDY), in the northwest, is a regional hub serving UK destinations, and ferry services connect Belfast with the rest of the British Isles. Belfast and Derry/Londonderry are easy to navigate on foot and well served by public transport and taxis. There’s also a train line connecting these principal cities, with a number of other major destinations served by the region’s four train lines, including Newry, Portadown, Coleraine, Portrush, Larne, and Bangor. Otherwise the public transport system relies on the region’s comprehensive bus network, although services may be infrequent, especially in rural areas. Renting a car is a good plan if you want to explore further, while cycling is also a popular option to see the countryside.

June to August are the warmest and often sunniest months in Northern Ireland, a region where rain clouds are never absent for very long. It’s also a time when many major cultural events take place, including the Belsonic music festival in Ormeau Park in June and the annual celebration of Samuel Beckett’s work in Enniskillen in July. Ballycastle’s Ould Lammas Fair in August is a traditional affair that has been taking place for 400 years. Autumn is beautiful in Antrim, when the trees of its nine glens turn colours, and there are a number of harvest-style celebrations, including the Armagh Food and Cider Festival in September. But the countryside is also beautiful between April and May, when the land is at its greenest and full of the sights and sounds of spring.

Rathlin Island

This L-shaped island sits six miles off the coast of County Antrim, across the Sea of Moyle. From April through June it’s home to tens of thousands of visiting birds, from razorbills and kittiwakes to guillemots and gannets, the most popular draw being its colourful puffins. Its unique “upside-down” lighthouse, built into the cliff face, was constructed in 1912.

Derry/Londonderry

The perfectly preserved 400-year-old walls that run all the way round this city are just one part of its historic character. With landmarks that range from a 17th-century cathedral to a neo-Gothic Guildhall to the stunningly contemporary Peace Bridge, it’s a place with a diverse and vibrant cultural legacy.

Slieve Gullion

This mountain peak in the far south, just outside Newry, is part of a stunning landscape of heathland, forest, and bog that spills over the border into the Republic of Ireland. The formation of volcanic hills that encircles it, known as the Ring of Gullion, is a unique geological landform that dates back 65 million years and is laden with mythology.