Belfast and Causeway Coast named No1 Region in world to visit in 2018

The Lonely Planet has named Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the Number One Region in the world to visit in 2018.

Northern Ireland came ahead of places like Alaska, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France and the Aeolian islands in Italy.

The leading travel media company revealed this accolade on Tuesday in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 – a collection of the world’s hottest trends, destinations and experiences for the coming year.

Belfast is described as "full of hip neighbourhoods that burst with bars, restaurants and venues to suit all tastes. The rusting old docklands are now the vibrant Titanic Quarter, home to fancy apartments and a sensational museum”.

The city shares the accolade with the Causeway Coast "whose timeless beauty and high-grade distractions – golf, whiskey and some of the world's most famous rocks – are more popular now than ever”.

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “Is wonderful news and will surely help to inspire travellers everywhere to put Northern Ireland on their holiday wish-list for next year.”

Top ten regions in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018: