A Visitor's Guide to Belfast

 Belfast's greatest days were in the Victorian era, and there are fine examples of Victorian houses and architecture everywhere. The magnificent City Hall and St Anne's Church are well worth visiting and kids will enjoy Belfast Zoo, built into the side of the city's dominant natural feature, Cave Hill. The Ulster Museum is one of the best museums in Ireland and well worth a half day at least of your time.

Belfast CastleThe city centre is largely pedestrianised now and has excellent bars and restaurants and a very active night time club scene. You can't visit without having a least one pint in the famous Crown Liquor Saloon, whose elaborate high-victorian interior is preserved as a national monument.

Those interested in the stormy political history of the city can avail of political tours provided by Cóiste, which are guided by former political prisoners and visit both repubican and loyalist areas, gving a genuine insight into the period of the troubles. Maybe they are not for everyone, but these are very interesting and well run tours.

In the more distant past Belfast was a great city of the industrial revolution, with thriving linen and ship building industries which were dominant forces in their time. While these great industries have either disappeared or been considerably scaled down, their influence on Belfast's appearance and it's development are everywhere to be seen.

Important Note: Belfast is in the North of Ireland which is part of the UK and thus the currency used is sterling. 

Recommended Things to See & Do

Belfast Castle
Cave Hill, towering over the city of Belfast, has been the location of a castle since the late 12th century, with the current castle dating mainly from the mid 1800s. The present castle was built for the Marquis of Donegal vaguely...

Ulster Museum
Located in Belfast's excellent Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum houses an eclectic collection covering not just Ulster History but Ancient Egypt and the Spanish Armada also. A permanent exhibition on World Cultures is especially...

Belfast Zoo
A modern and well run zoo with an excellent programme of activities for kids. It is located on Cave Hill, overlooking the city, and houses some 100 species of animal, including many endangered species, in particularly large,...

What's on in Belfast City

Christmas Pantomime
Type: Theatre | Date: December 2008
Note: Sleeping Beauty was the 2007 Christmas pantomime, details of what show will be staged in 2008 are not yet available.Billing itself as "the loudest show in town"...

Belfast Children's Festival
Type: Miscellaneous | Date: May 2009
This arts event is firmly aimed at the under 12s and a series of imaginative and innovative events run both in and out of school hours, with school and family groups equally well...

Getting There & Getting Around

By Road

For detailed road directions from anywhere else in Ireland to Belfast City please use the AA Ireland Route Planner.

By Air & Sea

There are two airports in Belfast, Belfast City and Belfast International.  Regular P&O Ferries operate between from Scotland and England and the port of Larne. Stenaline operate from Stranraar to Belfast, NorseMerchant between Liverpool and Belfast.

By Train & Bus

There are good rail links to Dublin via Dundalk and Drogheda with Irish Rail, regular Bus Eireann buses link Belfast and several destinations south of the border and to other cities in Northern Ireland via Translink services.

Getting Around

Belfast is a compact city and easy to walk around. There is a very good city bus system which will give access to all the major sights and taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap.