Ballymena's most compelling attraction sits outside the town itself: Slemish Mountain, a stark volcanic plug rising from flat farmland to the southeast, is one of the most atmospheric sites in Ireland. In the town, The Braid arts centre and museum offers an introduction to local history and culture. For something more indulgent, Galgorm Resort draws visitors from across Ireland and beyond to its spa and grounds on the River Maine. The village of Gracehill, just outside town, is a remarkably intact piece of eighteenth-century planned settlement — easy to overlook but genuinely worth the short detour.