Travel bible Lonely Planet has named Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the number one region to visit in the world in its annual 'Best in Travel' publication for 2018.
As reported by The Irish Independent, it describes Belfast as being "full of hip neighborhoods that burst with bars, restaurants and venues to suit all tastes, while the rustling old docklands are now the vibrant Titanic Quarter, home to fancy apartments and a sensational museum."
Meanwhile, the publication proclaims that the Causeway Coast's "timeless beauty and high-grade distractions - golf, whiskey and some of the world's most famous rocks - are more popular now than ever."
In relation to exploring the region, Lonely Planet recommends taking "a black taxi tour to discover the political legacy of the troubles, before heading north for golf on the stunning Portstewart links, food at nearby Harry's Shack, and of course, a visit to the Giant's Causeway."
The news of Belfast and the Causeway Coast being named the number one region to visit in the world in 2018 arrives just over two months after Lonely Planet named western Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal route as two of the "world's ultimate road trips" in a publication entitled Epic Drives of the World.
The full list of Lonely Planet's 10 Best Regions to visit in 2018 is as follows:
- Belfast & The Causeway Coast
- Alaska, USA
- Julian Alps, Slovenia
- Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- Kii Peninsula, Japan
- Aeolian Islands, Italy
- Southern USA
- Lahaul & Spiti, India
- Bahia, Brazil
- Los Haitises National Park, Dominican Republic
