Ireland Vs Northern Ireland: Which Is Best To Visit?

Ireland and Northern Ireland are both incredible regions of continental Europe that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. But, because Ireland and Northern Ireland are technically separate countries, it can be hard to decide exactly where to stay. So, which is best? Ireland vs Northern Ireland?

Here we’ll discuss the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which country is best for you, the geographical differences between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and cultural differences between Northern Ireland vs Ireland.

Ireland Vs Northern Ireland: Which Is Best To Visit? — Cliffs of Moher in Ireland

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Table of Contents

Are Ireland and Northern Ireland the same?

First thing’s first, are Ireland and Northern Ireland the same?

No, Ireland and Northern Ireland are not the same. Even though they are located on the same island, Ireland and Northern Ireland are separate countries with separate laws, currencies and cultures.

Ireland, AKA the Republic of Ireland, is the most visited country between the two, as it is home to the major city of Dublin and the iconic Cliffs of Moher. Since 1921, Ireland has been independent from the United Kingdom.

ireland vs northern ireland — Stoop Your Head pub in Ireland

If you’re looking for endless rolling green hills, and the best pub scene, you’ll want to go to the Republic of Ireland.

On the contrary, Northern Ireland, which is located on the northwestern coast of the island, is home to the legendary Causeway Coast and the city of Belfast. Northern Ireland is still a part of the United Kingdom to this day.

northern ireland vs southern ireland — Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland

If you’re looking for epic adventures filled with jaw-dropping cliffs, otherworldly rock formations and magical castle ruins, you’ll want to go to Northern Ireland.

Ireland Vs Northern Ireland: Which is best?

Overall, Northern Ireland is best to visit if you’re hoping to see epic Irish landscapes. Ireland is best to visit if you’re hoping to immerse yourself into the best pub scene.

However, there are still great pubs in Northern Ireland, and the Republic certainly doesn’t lack beautiful landscapes.

So, let’s dive a little deeper into this comparison.

Ireland is best for you if…

You should visit the Republic of Ireland over Northern Ireland if you hope to experience the best city scene, pub life, traditional Irish music and dance, and popular destinations like the Cliffs of Moher.

First, Dublin is arguably the best major city in all of Ireland for several reasons. Here, you’ll find the Guinness Storehouse (where Guinness is still brewed to this day), the iconic Temple Bar (a fantastic Ireland Instagram spot) and Grafton Street (shopping, live music, live dancing and more).

northern ireland aesthetic — Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland

belfast northern ireland — Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland

You can get to all of these places by booking a hop-on-hop-off tour bus ticket here.

Similarly, many tourists visit Ireland solely for the nation’s notorious pub scene. While Northern Ireland is slightly quieter, in the Republic of Ireland, you can grab a pint at a rowdy pub on just about every corner.

Moreover, if you can’t leave Ireland without seeing the famous Cliffs of Moher and green Irish countryside, which are 100% worth the journey from Dublin in my opinion, you’ll definitely want to make your way toward Galway during your trip.

bangor northern ireland — Cliffs of Moher in Ireland

You can find all the most unique places to visit in Ireland here.

Northern Ireland is best for you if…

You should visit Northern Ireland over the Republic of Ireland if you look forward to taking epic adventures, seeing once-in-a-lifetime landscapes and walking through mystical castle ruins.

For those of you who don’t know, I grew up in the Republic of Ireland for a decent portion of my childhood. While my family was living there, we took countless trips around the island. Northern Ireland was and still is, by-far, our favorite of the two countries.

And, the Causeway Coast can take full credit for this.

On the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland, you get to witness otherworldly rock formations at Giant’s Causeway (my personal favorite), risk crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, walk through massive coastal castle ruins at Dunluce Castle (my mom’s favorite) and more.

ballycastle northern ireland — Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland

You can find my Northern Ireland itinerary to see all of the best places in Northern Ireland here.

But, like I said, both countries are amazing places to visit. So, if you have the time and budget, you should visit both Ireland and Northern Ireland on your trip.

Cultural Differences Between Ireland And Northern Ireland

Although the cultural differences between Ireland and Northern Ireland are subtle and practically unnoticeable to foreigners, there are a few differences worth briefly mentioning.

Currency. Ireland uses the European euro; whereas, Northern Ireland used the British pound.
Language. These two countries speak different English dialects and have some varying slang.
Accent. The Northern Irish accent is softer and slightly more influenced by British accentuation.
Food. Northern Irish cuisine is more influenced by British cuisine.
Music. Ireland’s music contains more flute, harp and traditional Irish instrumentation.
Religion. Ireland is predominantly Catholic; whereas, Northern Ireland is predominantly Protestant.

Ireland Vs Northern Ireland FAQ

Is Ireland part of the UK or EU?

Ireland, formally known as the Republic of Ireland, has been part of the EU since 1973. Of course, this is not to be confused with Northern Ireland, which is still a part of the UK.

Is Northern Ireland part of the EU?

No, Northern Ireland is not part of the EU. As mentioned, Northern Ireland is still part of the UK.

Is Southern Ireland part of the EU?

Southern Ireland, which is the same as Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, is not part of the UK. Southern Ireland has been independent from the UK since 1921 and a member of the EU since 1973.

Is Dublin in Northern Ireland?

No, Dublin is not in Northern Ireland. Dublin is the capital city of the Republic of Ireland, which about a two-hour drive south of Northern Ireland.

Ireland Vs Northern Ireland Map

Now, to give you a geographical look at the difference between Ireland vs Northern Ireland, here’s a map distinguishing the two countries.

If you’re flying into Dublin, Dublin is about a two-hour drive from the Ireland-Northern Ireland border.
You won’t have to pass through border control from Ireland to Northern Ireland, but you will need to have access to pounds (Northern Irish currency) and/or a travel credit card without foreign transaction fees.

Ireland Vs Northern Ireland Flag

Believe it or not, Ireland and Northern Ireland also have separate flags.

The flag of Ireland is a simple three-striped flag with one green strip, one white strip and one orange stripe. The green represents the Catholics residing in Ireland, the orange represents the Protestants residing in Ireland, and the white represents the peaceful union between these two religious groups.

On the other hand, the flag of Northern Ireland is comprised of a complex red and white cross, hand, star, and crown to signify Northern Ireland’s loyalty to the United Kingdom.