I’ve traveled to Ireland many instances within the final 20 years, however up till 2022, my expertise with the Northern Ireland capital of Belfast was just some fleeting visits on my approach to different spots like Giant’s Causeway.
I made a decision to treatment that and eventually plan some devoted time in Belfast metropolis throughout a Northern Ireland highway journey with my husband Elliot.
Most folks exterior of the UK do not often know a lot about Belfast, until it is related to “The Troubles” that occurred there from the Nineteen Sixties by way of the Nineteen Nineties. (And even inside the UK, I get the sense that that is nonetheless principally what Belfast is “known” for.)
But Belfast is rather more than The Troubles, and in the present day is definitely one of many safer massive cities within the UK!
A number of issues to find out about Belfast
Before you go, right here are some things to find out about Belfast:
- Belfast is the capital metropolis of Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland shares an island with the Republic of Ireland, although Northern Ireland remains to be part of the United Kingdom. (The query of whether or not to affix with Ireland or stay a part of the UK is basically what has pushed battle right here because the partition of Ireland in 1921.)
- The trendy metropolis of Belfast was based round 1611, and emerged within the 1700s as an essential heart for the Ulster linen business. The metropolis additionally turned a really notable one for shipbuilding starting within the late 1700s (a little bit ship known as Titanic was constructed right here… possibly you’ve got heard of it).
- Belfast was severely broken by air raids throughout World War II, and skilled a decline in economic system and inhabitants after the warfare because it struggled with demand for its foremost industries (linen manufacturing and shipbuilding), adopted by a long time of political unrest.
- The inhabitants of Belfast metropolis is at present round 350,000 folks.
- Author CS Lewis was born and raised in Belfast, and it is probably that The Chronicles of Narnia had been impressed by the close by landscapes and castles. (Other well-known folks born in Belfast embrace: Van Morrison, George Best, Rory McIllroy, and Carl Frampton.)
When to go to Belfast
Like many of the remainder of the UK and Ireland, the summer season months are often considered the “best” time to go to Belfast. From May-September, your probabilities of hitting extra sunny days than wet ones are a lot greater – although you will nonetheless undoubtedly wish to pack a rain coat, simply in case!
I’ve visited Belfast a number of instances, all in the summertime or early fall, and I might agree that May-September is the perfect time to go to Belfast.
The greatest issues to do in Belfast
Belfast is a capital metropolis that at instances actually does really feel extra like a small city. There aren’t a TON of issues to see/do, that means you possibly can have a very relaxed go to and nonetheless see all of the highlights in about 2 days.
Based alone journeys to Belfast, listed below are the issues I feel it’s best to do there once you go to.
The must-do issues in Belfast
First, let’s discuss in regards to the absolute must-do issues in Belfast; the highest issues to do this you in all probability should not miss.
1. Visit Belfast City Hall
Start within the coronary heart of Belfast at Belfast City Hall. Sitting in Donegall Square, the long-lasting green-domed constructing is without doubt one of the most iconic buildings in Belfast. It dates again to 1906, and is the town’s foremost civic constructing.
Visitors can take free guided excursions inside City Hall (it’s good to register on the customer exhibition/guided excursions reception), or you possibly can discover the monuments, memorials, and gardens exterior, together with the Titanic Memorial Garden.
2. Take a Black Taxi tour
Chances are if you already know something about Belfast, you already know (or no less than have heard) about The Troubles, a interval of violent clashes and terrorist-style bombings that plagued cities throughout Northern Ireland for roughly 30 years. But for those who’re like me, you in all probability know little or no about what the fact of life in Belfast was like throughout that point – or what marks these years have left on the town.
To get a greater understanding of The Troubles, I extremely advocate occurring a historic Black Taxi tour of Belfast. These excursions are provided by licensed taxi drivers in Belfast who’ve private ties to the occasions that occurred within the metropolis from 1968-1998 – most of them grew up or labored in divided components of the town.
On a tour like this, you will study in regards to the varied issues that result in the battle (a sophisticated combination of politics and faith performed a task), and listen to tales of spiritual discrimination, paramilitary teams, starvation strikes, and rather more. Each tour is barely completely different primarily based in your information and what their expertise was like in Belfast throughout these years.
You could be shocked to study that components of Belfast are nonetheless divided by partitions and fences and gates. You’ll drive previous or by way of a few of the gates, and go to the biggest wall that also serves as a border between a Catholic and Protestant neighborhood.
I truthfully do not suppose you possibly can absolutely perceive Belfast with out occurring a tour like this. Learn extra about what a Black Taxi tour in Belfast is like.
(Don’t let the outline flip you off; these excursions are very protected. While you won’t wish to go wandering on Falls Road or Shankhill Road by yourself as a vacationer, it is protected to go on a tour like this!)
RELATED: Belfast and Its Troubles: What a Black Taxi Tour in Belfast is Like
There are a LOT of Black Taxi firms providing excursions round Belfast. They all are very related, they usually all make the most of drivers who lived (and typically labored) by way of The Troubles. The excursions supply informative, pretty balanced excursions of each “sides” of Belfast.
Some Black Taxi tour choices to take a look at embrace:
And listed below are another historic Belfast excursions that cowl the identical materials:
3. Titanic Belfast
The hottest attraction in Belfast would possibly really be this one, a museum and customer attraction devoted to the Titanic and Belfast’s shipbuilding historical past.
Titanic Belfast opened in 2012, and is positioned within the metropolis’s “Titanic Quarter,” a mere 100 meters from the place Titanic’s hull was constructed and launched. The museum covers practically 120,000 sq. ft and consists of interactive reveals, recreations of the ship’s cabins, and a complete gondola-style experience indoors.
The museum walks you thru the entire story of the Titanic, but in addition touches on Belfast’s historical past as an essential linen manufacturing metropolis earlier than it emerged as a ship constructing powerhouse. I realized rather a lot about Belfast right here!
Also included along with your Titanic Belfast ticket is an opportunity to go aboard the SS Nomadic. Moored at Hamilton Dock throughout the road from Titanic Belfast, the SS Nomadic served as tender boat to RMS Titanic, and is the final remaining White Star Line ship on this planet! The vessel has been restored to look how she did when she ferried passengers to the Titanic.
A be aware on visiting Titanic Belfast: The museum can get very busy, so be ready for crowds! Visit on a weekday for those who can, and undoubtedly e book your (timed) ticket upfront.
4. Explore the town heart
Belfast’s metropolis heart is not big, however is price a wander. The space north of City Hall is stuffed with retailers and eating places, and the Cathedral Quarter is a buzzy, inventive space with a few of Belfast’s greatest bars and pubs. If you wish to have an evening out in Belfast, the Cathedral Quarter is the place you wish to go.
5. St. George’s Market
Lastly, make your approach to the Victorian-era St. George’s Market for those who can. This historic coated market is a weekend staple in Belfast, and you may store for every little thing from meals to antiques. It solely runs Friday-Sunday, although, so preserve that in thoughts.
Other issues to do in Belfast
And listed below are a number of different issues I’d additionally advocate in Belfast when you’ve got the time/curiosity for them:
1. Explore the Botanic Garden
Located close to Queen’s University, Belfast’s Botanic Garden is a good inexperienced area to go to within the metropolis. The backyard dates again to 1828, and has a beautiful glass home, a palm home stuffed with tropical vegetation, a rose backyard, and plenty of strolling trails. The backyard opens day by day at 7:30 a.m., and is free to go to!
2. Visit the Ulster Museum
If you are going to the Botanic Garden, you may additionally wish to go to the Ulster Museum, which is positioned inside the backyard grounds. The museum has a variety of reveals protecting artwork, historical past, and the pure sciences. And the Ulster Museum can be free to go to!
3. Tour Crumlin Road Gaol
Related to the Black Taxi tour, you may additionally wish to go to the Crumlin Road Gaol for those who’re keen on Belfast’s newer historical past. This excessive safety jail (gaol means “jail”) dates again to 1846, however turned most well-known for imprisoning each Republicans and Loyalists throughout The Troubles.
“The Crum,” because it’s recognized colloquially, hasn’t served as a jail since 1996. Today, the positioning provides guided historic excursions, and can be (a bit weirdly) an leisure and occasion venue. (You can purchase a ticket upfront right here.)
4. Have drinks at The Observatory Bar
The Grand Central Hotel is without doubt one of the most well-known motels in Belfast, and its indoor rooftop bar, The Observatory Bar, is one you will not wish to miss. With plenty of cozy seating areas and the easiest views of Belfast, that is the proper place to seize a cocktail.
The Observatory Bar provides afternoon tea seatings throughout the day, too!
2 days in Belfast itinerary
You can simply see all of the highlights of Belfast in 2 days. If that is what you’ve got acquired, this is how I like to recommend establishing your Belfast itinerary:
Day 1 in Belfast
- Black Taxi Tour
- Crumlin Road Gaol
- St George’s Market (if it is a weekend)
- Belfast City Hall
- City heart/Cathedral Quarter
Day 2 in Belfast
- Titanic Belfast (keep in mind to e book forward, and go early to keep away from the worst crowds)
- Afternoon tea (some cool spots you possibly can e book embrace at Titanic Belfast itself, Europa Hotel, Café Parisien, or the Merchant Hotel)
- Botanic Gardens/Ulster Museum
- Drinks at The Observatory
Where to remain in Belfast
Belfast has plenty of nice lodge choices – and lots of are pretty reasonably priced! Here are my prime picks:
Find different Belfast lodge choices right here.
Have extra time in Belfast?
If you are spending extra time in Belfast, listed below are a pair different stuff you would possibly wish to do:
1. Take a visit to Giant’s Causeway
The most well-known vacation spot in Northern Ireland, Giant’s Causeway is a pure web site is thought for is step-like rock formations on the northern coast. You can take a day journey from Belfast for those who do not wish to drive your self.
2. Visit Game of Thrones websites
Northern Ireland was a serious filming location for HBO’s Game of Thrones sequence. There are a number of excursions from Belfast that can take you to filming places just like the Cushendun Caves, Ballintoy Harbour, the Dark Hedges, and extra.
You also can take a tour of the studio the place they filmed numerous Game of Thrones, with non-obligatory transfers from Belfast.
3. Causeway Coast drive
If you are visiting Belfast as half of a bigger Northern Ireland highway journey (and even Ireland highway journey), then you definately undoubtedly have to put the Causeway Coastal route in your record. This unbelievable driving route options castles, seashores, historic historical past, and epic coastal views.
RELATED: 18 Epic Stops Along the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland
Belfast FAQ
Have extra questions on visiting Belfast? Maybe you will discover the solutions right here.
You technically may see/do the highlights of Belfast (the Titanic museum, a Black Taxi tour, seeing City Hall) with someday in Belfast – although it will be a really full day! But I like to recommend no less than 2 days in Belfast to totally see all of it.
If you do not have a number of days to spend in Belfast, sure, you possibly can completely take a Belfast day journey from one other metropolis like Dublin.
You can fly into Belfast by way of its worldwide airport. Or you could possibly fly into Dublin (a a lot bigger airport) and both take a practice or drive the two hours to Belfast.
The stereotypes of Belfast being an unsafe metropolis stuffed with automotive bombs and the IRA are simply that – stereotypes. Present-day Belfast is definitely one of many most secure cities within the United Kingdom, and vacationers do not usually want to fret about something past the standard risk of petty theft that comes with visiting any metropolis.
Yes, Belfast is price visiting! The metropolis has an attention-grabbing historical past for those who’re keen to find out about it, together with a pair worthwhile sights like Titanic Belfast.
Who’s able to plan a go to to Belfast now?