VISITING BELFAST: EPIC BELFAST BUCKET LIST & TRAVEL GUIDE

What do YOU think of when you think of Belfast? For me all I could think is a troubled past, Titanic and the well known natural phenomenon Giants Causeway. Other than that I had no idea what I was going to discover on my visit and my expectations were low, which is a good thing, but what’s better is that they were exceeded. Like through the roof!

As you may know, Belfast is in Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom, my current home. What I loved about visiting Belfast was that I needed to hop on a plane so it gave me the feeling I was travelling abroad when I actually wasn’t. That might be you too!

Nowadays Belfast is my second home, as I own short term accommodation properties in the city. I’m constantly advising and engaging tourist so I do dare say I know a lot. So if you are visiting do me a favour and stay in one of them… wink, wink!

VISITING BELFAST: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / Belfast City is quite small and fully walkable, there’s buses of course, but frankly you don’t even need them. However, I do encourage you to get a rental car so you can independently visit the rest of Northern Ireland which is also very small so you can use Belfast as your base. Book your rental using DiscoverCars, the website I recommend for all international car hires. If you are not renting a car, should you require an airport transfer, I always use WelcomePickups.

Tours / There are countless tours on Belfast but these are the most popular ones, and the Giants Causeway one is obligatory if you should you not rent a car:
Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Day Tour
Belfast: Political Taxi Tour
The Titanic Experience with SS Nomadic Visit
Political Conflict 3-Hour Walking Tour
Belfast: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Stay / We own various properties in Belfast so you can find one that suits your needs here. Our properties have 5 star reviews across the board and are perfect for families and groups of 4/5 people, while still affordable and walking distance from the city centre. If you are looking for something smaller or we don’t have availability (which is more frequent than not) then check out these hotels:

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast $$$
The Merchant Hotel $$$
AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast $$
Bullitt Hotel $$
Malone Lodge Hotel $$
Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre $


Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Belfast, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for UK.

WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN BELFAST

Hop-on; hop-off Belfast’s main sites

A great way to start your trip is to take a hop-on; hop-off bus across all Belfast city top attractions. It’s the perfect way to get started and get an overview of the city if you are short on time and an efficient way to get around the furthest away sites. I took this one with Belfast City Tours and loved it. It stops on 19 sites (many which I feature below) and pricing wise it’s great. Book it here, or below:

Relax at the grounds of Belfast City Hall

The grounds of this iconic Belfast landmark are the perfect spot to take a pause from sightseeing or shopping with an ice cream or coffee in hand. Don’t forget to relax! Also there is a you of the city hall which used to be free and now costs a very small fee which I’d great to understand the city a bit better. Plus you get to dress up and pretend you are a mayor!

Visit the Titanic Belfast Experience

As I mentioned, Titanic is a Belfast must do. This self guided experience is the best way to discover the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship. Book your tickets here.

Spot the Samson & Goliath Cranes

Samson and Goliath are two large shipbuilding cranes owned by Harland and Wolff, and they are situated within the Titanic Quarter in the Harland & Wolff shipyard. They were built in 1969 and 1974 at a time when Harland & Wolff was still one of the largest shipbuilders in the world and were named after the Biblical figures of the same name. Although you can’t get too close to the cranes as they are in an active and private industrial area, they are súper easy to spot. The two yellow cranes with the H&W logo dominate the skyline and can be seen from many parts of the city.

Have a pint of Guinness at The Crown Bar

The Crown is the most famous pub in Belfast and perhaps even the UK! The pub was opened around 1826 by Felix O’Hanlon as The Railway Tavern but it was renovated and renamed in 1885 by the Flanagan family that would turn it into the pub we know today. It was known as one of the most beautiful Victorian era gin palaces in the world. It is absolutely gorgeous and you should not leave Belfast without visiting it! It’s pretty popular so make sure to book in advance.

Attend a Candlelight Concert

Enjoy a host of concerts illuminated by candlelight and performed by live musicians in some of the most iconic venues in Belfast. The concerts cover the best musician of all times, movies, and more! Book it here.

Shop till you drop and admire Belfast from above at Victoria Square

Belfast is known to be great for shopping, and this is the place to do it. In Victoria Square you’ll find four levels of shops, food and drink venues plus 360 views from Belfast at The Dome. So many people come over from Southern Ireland to Belfast just for shopping!

Tour the Grand Opera House

The Grand Opera House will immediately catch your eye as you walk through central Belfast, definitely did so for me! It was built in 1895 by famous English theater architect Frank Matcham and has become a city landmark. It is the only Victorian theater still remaining in Northern Ireland and is well-known for its beautiful interior. The good thing is that you can do a guided tour of its inside! Plan your visit here.

Enjoy a walk around Belfast Castle

Don’t forget to discover the scenic trails from this beautiful 1870 baronial castle. You can also enjoy lunch or afternoon tea here, as well as take in the views from the city and Belfast Lough. Plan your visit here.

Browse the stalls of St George’s Market

This Victorian market is a Belfast must do if you are visiting from Friday to Sunday. You’ll find the finest produce as well as some lovely hot food. Also it’s the perfect place to buy a unique Belfast souvenir. As a market lover, I really enjoyed St George’s.

Tour St Anne’s Cathedral

Pay a visit to this magnificent place of worship and treasure trove of Belfast’s art, history, culture and music. Plan your visit here.

Have drinks in Belfast’s best beer gardens

Belfast City Center has so many cool spots where you to enjoy a drink or two! Here are my recommendations in order of preference: The Dirty Onion, The Bone Yard, CARGO, Babel Rooftop Bar & Garden, Cutters Wharf, The Perch, Kelly’s Cellars and Granny Annie’s. Save them in Google Maps!

Check out Belfast’s Street Murals

The street murals in Belfast are well-known worldwide and it is a popular city for street art enthusiasts. Even if you are not interested in street art, you are bound to run into many of them as they are everywhere.

Initially most of the street murals were political and related to The Troubles in Northern Ireland, and were created by people with a variety of perspectives from both sides. Most of the more politically focused murals are further from the city center with many located around the Peace Wall (see next point).

See the Peace Wall

What shocked me during my visit is that there are actual walls dividing areas of Belfast (and Northern Ireland). The first physical divides or peace lines were built in 1969 after the outbreak of riots in Northern Ireland and the beginning of the Troubles. The walls, fences, and other barriers were used to divide predominately Protestant/Unionist areas of a neighbourhood from predominately Catholic/Nationalist areas of a neighbourhood. The walls were meant to be temporary but they remain today and have actually grown in quantity over time which is even crazier.

The most well known roads that are known to be divisive and were major roads during the troubles are Shankill and Falls Roads. Visiting the Shankill, The Falls and the Peace Wall is absolutely safe if you are a tourist. Some locals might not be willing to visit these if they consider themselves as part of one of the sides. I visited them in my Belfast Hop-on, Hop-off tour but there are more specific tours such as this one if you want to learn more.

Walk the Glass of Thrones trail

Did you know Belfast’s Titanic Studios were for 10 years part of the set of Game of Thrones? Because of this, there is now huge stained glass windows depicting some of the most iconic scenes from Game of Thrones which form a trail along the Maritime Mile. They are such a nice ‘wee’ walk to do during your visit (Northern Irish add ‘wee’ to everything all the time!). Do it on your own or get a guide for almost no money.

Have a wander through Belfast’s Botanic Gardens & Ulster Museum

Located in Queen’s Quarter, the Botanic Gardens are a nice place to drop by if you love a green spot. The greenhouse is beautiful and super insta friendly! You’ll also find the Ulster Museum right by it (it’s free to visit).

Try an Ulster Fry

Nope, no English Breakfasts in Northern Ireland! You need to try an Ulster Fry when in Belfast. It will certainly give you energy for the day ahead. IT IS HEAVY. Care to try potato bread? Mmm, yes! Here’s a recommended spot.

Say hi to The Big Fish

In Belfast’s Maritime Mile you’ll find a ceramic fish with blue scales called The Salmon of Knowledge. Personally I didn’t find it particularly interesting, but legend has it that if you kiss it you’ll gain all its wisdom. We all have a kiss to spare don’t we?

Visit Crumlin Road Gaol

This Belfast jail built in 1843 has an interesting past which can be explored via a unique interactive self-guided tour. I really enjoyed the way it was put together in an out of the box way. Before you go in, make sure you take a look at the derelict building in front of it which was the court house. Prisoners were sentenced there and sent to the jail via an underground tunnel. Mad isn’t it? Book it here.

Take the perfect Instagram shot at Commercial Court

If you are like me and you are always wondering what the best insta spot is then I have that figured out for you! Commercial Court is the answer. Colourful umbrellas, flowers and quaint bar signs are the recipe for success. Find it here and let me know if you agree with this being Belfast’s most instagrammable spot.

Play an epic Zombie Escape game

Before visiting Belfast a friend of mine said: ‘You are going to Belfast? You HAVE to do this escape game’. I followed their advice and it was epic! Zombies are involved but only minor scares, the puzzles are what make the game. Book it here.

Take a day trip to the Causeway Coastal Route

You can’t visit Northern Ireland and not see Giants Causeway. Belfast city is lovely but there is more to see outside it! Pack more in by taking this Giants Causeway tour by City Tours Belfast, and seeing other sites such as the majestic Dark Hedges, Dunluce Castle, and many more! If you are a Game of Thrones fan you can take a slightly more GOT focused version. The tour is well worth it, you just forget about planning and just enjoy. Don’t want to get your hopes up but I even saw jumping dolphins on my tour! Book it here.

Get down to Hillsborough Castle

Hillsborough Castle is an 18th century Georgian house build for the Hill family which now is an official government residence in Northern Ireland and is managed by the Historic Royal Palaces. It is currently used as the residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the official residence of the British Monarch and other member of the British royal family when visiting the region. In other words, this is where Queen Elizabeth crashes when she visits Nothern Ireland. Book it here.

WHERE TO STAY IN BELFAST

Belfast has a variety of accommodation for all needs and wants, as well as budget. Belfast is very small so it’s easy and affordable to stay in the city centre and even if you are slightly outside the centre it’s only a short walk to it.

We own various properties in Belfast so you can find one that suits your needs here. Our StayByNumbers properties have 5 star reviews across the board and are perfect for families and groups of 4/5 people, while still affordable and walking distance from the city centre. Note we also have a property in Hillsborough should you wish to stay there for a few nights and enjoy the castle and countryside.

If you are looking for something smaller or we don’t have availability (which is more frequent than not) then check out these hotels:

• Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre $: A budget-friendly and reliable option with comfortable rooms and modern amenities. Its central location is perfect for exploring Belfast without breaking the bank.
• The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast $$$: A luxurious 5-star hotel in the heart of the city, offering sleek, modern rooms and exceptional dining. Its central location is perfect for exploring Belfast’s top attractions.
• The Merchant Hotel $$$: A lavish option housed in a historic building, combining old-world charm with modern luxury. Known for its opulent interiors, rooftop hot tub, and world-class dining.
• AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast $$: A stylish and contemporary hotel located along the River Lagan. Guests appreciate the comfortable rooms, river views, and proximity to the Titanic Quarter.
• Bullitt Hotel $$: A trendy boutique hotel with a focus on simplicity and style. With a buzzing social scene, rooftop bar, and chic design, it’s ideal for younger travelers or couples.
• Malone Lodge Hotel $$: A family-friendly option located in the leafy Queen’s Quarter. This charming Victorian townhouse hotel offers spacious rooms and a welcoming atmosphere.

HOW LONG TO STAY IN BELFAST

As there is a load to do, I recommend you stay at least three or four days, one or two days visiting the city with, one day in Giants Causeway and half to one day in Hillsborough (with the rest spent in the city).

HOW TO GET TO BELFAST AND AROUND

Belfast is in Northern Ireland which is part of the UK but on the island of Ireland. It is one hour flight away from London and you can’t drive there (unless you are taking a ferry). I found my flight to Belfast using Skyscanner and there are direct flights from Europe’s main cities.

You can explore Belfast city on foot. Renting a car is a good way to get outside the city to places like Hillsborough and Giants Causeway, unless you prefer to take the tour I mention above.

BEST BELFAST TOURS

If you, like me, like being shown around and being taught by those who know, then these are my top picks for tours:

BEST FAQ

Is Belfast worth visiting?
Absolutely! Belfast is a city steeped in history, culture, and stunning scenery. From its Titanic heritage to the vibrant arts scene in the Cathedral Quarter, there’s plenty to explore. Plus, Belfast is a fantastic gateway for day trips to Northern Ireland’s iconic attractions like the Giant’s Causeway and the Dark Hedges.

What is the best time to visit Belfast?
The best time to visit Belfast is from late spring to early autumn (May to September), when the weather is milder and more attractions, like the Botanic Gardens, are in full bloom. However, Belfast’s Christmas markets in December are also a magical experience if you don’t mind cooler temperatures.

How long should I stay in Belfast?
A two-to-three-day stay is ideal for exploring the city’s main attractions, such as Titanic Belfast, the Crumlin Road Gaol, and the Cathedral Quarter. If you’re planning day trips to the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, or Game of Thrones filming locations, consider extending your stay to four or five days.

Do I need a car to get around Belfast?
No, Belfast is a compact and walkable city with excellent public transport options. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other. If you’re planning to visit the Giant’s Causeway or other rural spots, you can join an organized tour or rent a car.

What currency is used in Belfast? Can I use euros in Belfast?
Belfast is part of Northern Ireland, so the currency used is the British Pound Sterling (£). Make sure you have cash on hand, as some smaller businesses may not accept cards.

Is Belfast safe for tourists?
Yes, Belfast is a safe city for tourists. As with any destination, it’s always a good idea to stay aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Stick to well-lit areas and avoid discussing political topics unless you’re familiar with the sensitivities surrounding Northern Ireland’s history.

What food is Belfast known for?
Belfast has a fantastic food scene with a mix of traditional and modern dishes. Don’t miss trying an Ulster Fry (a hearty breakfast), soda bread, and Irish stew. For seafood lovers, Belfast’s location near the coast means fresh seafood dishes are a highlight.

Can I take a day trip from Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway?
Yes, the Giant’s Causeway is about a 1.5-hour drive from Belfast and makes for an excellent day trip. You can either rent a car or join one of the many organized tours that include stops at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Dunluce Castle.

What is the public transport like in Belfast?
Belfast’s public transport system includes buses operated by Translink. The Glider bus service is particularly useful for traveling between East and West Belfast, and there are plenty of options for getting around the city centre.

What is Belfast’s weather like?
Belfast has a mild but unpredictable climate. Rain is common year-round, so it’s a good idea to pack a waterproof jacket and umbrella. Temperatures range from around 4–8°C (39–46°F) in winter to 15–20°C (59–68°F) in summer.

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