Portrush is located in Northern Ireland's County Antrim. The nearest airport is in Belfast, 60 miles or 97 km to the south. NI Railways connects Portrush to Belfast several times daily. The journey is roughly 100 minutes. UlsterBus and the seasonal Antrim Coaster Bus Service connect Portrush with North Coast sights including Dunluce Castle and Giants Causeway.

Portrush is easily navigated on foot. Most hotels, sights and restaurants are within walking distance of the center. Portrush is on the Coastal Coast Cycling Route and Causeway Coast Way, two of Northern Ireland's most notable trails. The Coastal Coast Cycling Route is a 23-mile bike route on quiet roads and traffic-free cycle paths. The route begins in Castlerock and ends in Giants Causeway. The Causeway Coast Way is a 33-mile waymarked hiking trail. The route begins in Portstewart and ends in Ballycastle.

The climate of Northern Ireland is temperate marine and the one certainty about the weather is variability. The average annual temperature range is 16° C or 28° F. It rains, on average, more than 200 days a year. It's possible to experience a multitude of seasons in single day. The warmest months are June through August with an average high temperature of 18° C or 64 ° F. The coldest months are January and February with an average low of 2° C or 36° F. The driest months are April and May, the wettest December and January. Pack for all seasons in summer and plan to dress in layers whether traveling in June or January.