So you’re after a list of things to do in Belfast and, honestly, you’ve picked a belter of a city. It’s small, it’s friendly, and it’s got more history packed into a few streets than places ten times the size.
Two or three days and you’ll have the lot covered—Titanic stuff, sobering Troubles tours, free museums, and pubs you won’t want to leave. Here’s everything I’d point a mate towards.
- Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, with roughly 350,000 inhabitants.
- The Titanic was built here, and Titanic Belfast is the main attraction.
- A black cab tour is the best way to understand The Troubles.
- Loads of the good stuff, such as the Ulster Museum and the Botanic Gardens.
- Give it two or three days, and you’ll see plenty.
A Bit of History of This City
It has a long history. Belfast is located on the River Lagan, tucked in below the Belfast Hills with the gorgeous Belfast Lough on its doorstep.
The crew over at A Dangerous Business reckon the modern city got going around 1611, made its money on linen, and then went big on shipbuilding — which is how a wee ship called the Titanic ended up being built here.
CS Lewis grew up in Belfast, and you can see how the hills around it might’ve sparked Narnia. Van Morrison, George Best and Rory McIlroy are all local lads too. And despite the reputation, it’s now one of the safer big cities in the UK.
Getting there is easy: about two hours from Dublin and an hour and a half from the Giant’s Causeway.
Titanic Belfast
Titanic Belfast is the most popular thing in the city for good reason. It opened back in 2012, only 100 metres from where they actually launched the hull.
The place is massive — nearly 120,000 square feet — with interactive bits, recreated cabins and a daft little ride indoors. They’ve just done a £4.5 million spruce-up, so it’s better than ever.
Your ticket also gets you onto the SS Nomadic, the very last White Star Line ship left anywhere in the world.
Black Cab Tour and the Peace Walls
If you know one thing about Belfast, it’s probably The Troubles – that’s the conflict that ran from 1968 right through to 1998. The best way to actually understand it? A black cab tour.
Your driver’s a local who lived through it, and they’ll run you along the Falls Road (Catholic) and the Shankill (Protestant) and then stop at the Peace Wall, where you can scribble your own message.
The North East Family Fun Lot summed it up perfectly on their visit — it was very strange seeing the stark differences today. They’re not wrong. It stays with you.
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Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Pushed for time? Just hop on a sightseeing bus and let it do the work for you. Two firms run them – City Sightseeing Belfast and City Tours Belfast – and both kick off from Donegal Square West, right beside the City Hall.
You’ll roll past the Titanic, Queen’s University and the Peace Line without lifting a finger. Adult tickets are around £20, but you might find deals from £14.
City Hall and a Wander Round Town
Bang in the middle of Donegall Square, you’ve got Belfast City Hall, that big green-domed beauty from 1906. The guided tours inside are free, and the Visitor Exhibition is a cheap £4 (kids under 18 go at no cost).
Out the front, there’s the Titanic Memorial Garden. Have a mooch round the centre, and you’ll clock the Salmon of Knowledge — everyone just calls it the Big Fish — and those whopping Harland & Wolff cranes, Samson and Goliath.
Got the kids with you? W5’s a brilliant hands-on science museum that will keep them entertained for hours.
Crumlin Road Gaol
Love a bit of grim history? Don’t skip Crumlin Road Gaol. Built in 1846, this old Victorian prison saw more than 25,000 inmates pass through, including Éamon de Valera and Bobby Sands.
Hangings happened here right up until 1961. “The Crum” shut its doors in 1996 and now offers cracking guided tours.
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Free Things To Do in Belfast
Some of the best bits are free. The Botanic Gardens near Queen’s are open every day from half past seven in the morning — go for the tropical palm house.
The Ulster Museum is tucked into the same grounds, also free, and its History Route takes you through “The Troubles and Beyond”. Just don’t rock up on a Monday, because it’s shut. Down by the Titanic you’ll also find HMS Caroline, the only ship left from WWI’s Battle of Jutland.
Markets and Food to Eat
St George’s Market is a proper Victorian cracker — food, crafts, live music, and the works. The catch is, it’s only open Friday to Sunday.
Look out for the wee statue of Alec the Goose, who apparently used to waddle round the stalls as if he owned the place. Stuck there midweek? The Common Market’s a great shout instead, with all food stalls and shared benches.
Cathedral Quarter and the Pubs
The Cathedral Quarter is where Belfast really comes alive — cobbled lanes, street art, and the best bars going. A Lovely Planet is a big fan of The Dirty Onion, a quirky spot with a huge beer garden, and the old-school Duke of York.
Kelly’s Cellars and Whites Tavern are among the oldest pubs in the city and ideal for a bit of trad music. Fun fact: Led Zeppelin first played Stairway to Heaven at the Ulster Hall.
Whatever you do, don’t miss The Crown Liquor Saloon by the bus station. It’s grade-A listed, owned by the National Trust, and full of snug little booths – you half expect a spy film to break out.
Fuel up beforehand with a proper Irish breakfast at Maggie Mays (the potato cakes are the business), and for sunset cocktails, the Observatory Bar at the Grand Central has the best views in town.
One More Day? Get Out of the City
If you have a spare day, hit the coast. Northern Ireland Holidays suggests a visit to the Causeway Coastal Route, and the Game of Thrones tours throw in filming locations, the Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
Closer in, Belfast Castle – built in 1862 up in Cavehill Country Park – pays you back with cracking views over the Lough. Belfast is small, but it punches well above its weight. Give it a couple of days, and it’ll have you hook, line and sinker.
Sources & References:
- North East Family Fun – You should definitely go on a black cab tour.
- A Dangerous Business – The modern city of Belfast was founded in 1611.
- A Lovely Planet – Visitors love Dirty Onion a lot, a huge beer garden.
- Northern Ireland Holidays – You can visit the Causeway Coastal Route and the Game of Thrones tour if you have one day spare.
