10 Best Things to Do in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Granted, the last few years have seen Belfast emerge from a turbulent past and steadily shake off its reputation as a troubled city, but for a long time it remained firmly off the tourist radar. I’ll be honest – because of that, I’d never really considered it as a travel destination.
However, while spending over two months in Ireland, living and working in Dublin, we made the most of our weekends by exploring many of the country’s larger cities, including Galway, Cork and Kilkenny. Naturally, Belfast felt like the next best option – and one that would soon prove me completely wrong.
Arriving with zero expectations turned out to be the best possible approach. Over the course of an incredibly eye-opening and fun weekend, we discovered just how much the city has to offer. From its lively bar scene and thought-provoking museums to striking architecture and powerful history, this trip opened my eyes to the best things to do in Belfast – and there are far more than you might expect.
With attractions to rival many European cities, a thriving food and nightlife scene, and a short flight time with easy access from all over the UK, Belfast is a destination that’s more than worthy of a mini break – and one I’d happily return to.
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Things to do in Belfast
Belfast Black Cab Tours
If you only do one ‘touristy’ thing in Belfast, it should be this one! I’m not particularly into history, but this is one of the best ways to see Belfast’s famous wall art and learn about The Troubles.
Alongside an informative history lesson peppered with local tidbits, you’ll see the largest Peace Wall, plenty of murals, security gates and learn about The Troubles from someone who has lived through them. Travelling by taxi is a great way to see how segregated the city still is today.
There are plenty of companies that offer this tour, but we booked with the original Paddy Campbell tours, as their TripAdvisor reviews were phenomenal and our guide, Ciaran, was extremely knowledgeable.
This specific tour doesn’t exist any more, but you can book the same top-rated tour with a different company here. The tour is one hour long and they pick you up and drop you off to a location of your choice – I couldn’t recommend this enough. It was one of the most fascinating tours I have ever been on.
Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall is in the heart of Belfast, in Donegall Square. This green-domed building is one of the most iconic buildings in Belfast, dating back to 1906.
It is the city’s main civic building and you can take a free guided tour inside. You just need to register at the visitor exhibition/guided tours reception. Alternatively, you can explore the monuments, memorials and gardens outside – including the Titanic Memorial Garden.
Political Conflict Walking Tour
The Political Conflict walking tour is a popular tour in Belfast that is likely to sell out. If you are fascinated by Belfast’s troubled history, you will learn more about it on this 3 hour walking tour with both Republican and Loyalist ex-political prisoners.
Explore both their neighbourhoods and hear their personal stories.
Giant’s Causeway
Technically, the Giant’s Causeway isn’t in Belfast, but if you visit Northern Ireland, this place is one not to miss. Located along the coast in Co. Antrim, this is a beautiful natural phenomenon featuring a huge network of interlocking stone columns that were created by volcanic eruptions. Or, as legend has it, they were built by the Irish giant Finn McCool so he could cross the causeway and fight Scottish giant Benandonner.
You can decide which story you prefer, but you won’t want to miss seeing this extraordinary sight!
Top tip: Assuming you’ve hired a car (which I highly recommend doing), ignore google maps and take the Causeway Coastal route from Belfast. It may take more than twice as long to get there, but you don’t want to miss the jaw-dropping scenery along the way. Save the motorway for the journey back.
I have been on this roadtrip twice now, and I can confirm it is so worth it!
The Causeway Coastal Route
This is a stretch of road that hugs the eastern coastline of Northern Ireland and it’s one of the most breathtaking drives in the world.
Whether you decide to take a trip to the Giant’s Causeway or not, I’d recommend a drive down at least some of the Causeway Coast, even if you don’t go very far. The road twists and turns past sweeping bays, through tunnels formed out of cliffs and alongside castles, harbours, pretty villages, and views that stretch for miles upon miles.
There are numerous lookout points along the way to stop, it’s the ultimate road trip – with every mile that passes you feel further from the real world, and more and more as though you’ve entered the pages of a fantasy tale.
St. George’s Market
St. George’s Market is a vibrant experience within Belfast’s oldest covered market, dating back to the Victorian era. It is only open from Friday to Sunday, with fresh local produce, artisan foods, crafts, antiques and unique souvenirs, they also have live music and a lively atmosphere.
This market is a cultural hub, offering everything from award-winning seafood to homemade goods, making it a must-visit for foodies, shoppers and anyone wanting to soak up local life
The Crown Liquor Saloon
Owned by the National Trust, this Grade A listed building is Belfast’s oldest and most famous bar and well worth a visit. The Victorian decor is stunning; from the mosaic tiled crown at the entrance, high ceilings, dark hand carved columns, tiled floors and booths all lit by gas lamps.
There are ten ‘snugs’ or booths inside which seat around 10 people in a private area with doors that are kept closed and these can be reserved in advance or may be available if you chance it and arrive at the right time.
Crumlin Road Gaol
Crumlin Road Gaol, also known colloquially as ‘The Crum’, offers an immersive journey through 150 years of Belfast’s history. It hasn’t served as a prison since 1996, and is a great place to visit if you’re interested in Belfast’s more recent history. The best thing to do is to combine with with a black taxi tour for the best experience (check availability and book tickets here).
This high security prison dates back to 1846, but became most famous for imprisoning both Republicans and Loyalists during The Troubles. A guided tour will allow you to explore its Victorian architecture, hear tales of famous inmates like Ian Paisley, experience the chilling execution chamber and understanding its role during the Troubles.
While this is a unique and educational attraction, I also think it is pretty intense. I visited Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin and had to walk out half way through the tour as it wasn’t for me.
Titanic Belfast
Built on the slipways where the ship itself was constructed over 100 years ago, this isn’t just a museum – it’s an experience. Sadly, we ran out of time to visit, but it’s one I definitely want to visit the next time I’m in Belfast.
Check availability for the Titanic Belfast here – these tickets sell out pretty fast.
C.S. Lewis Square
This is a small park with many of the main characters from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe in sculpture form. However, unless you’re a big Narnia fan, I wouldn’t make a detour to come here as it’s quite a distance away from the city centre and there isn’t all that much to see.
Where to eat in Belfast
Jumon
A fabulous vegetarian South-East Asian restaurant with a great atmosphere that I have now visited twice. Prices are purse-friendly and regardless of whether you’re vegan or not, if South-East Asian food is your bag, then you need to try this!
Just make sure you call ahead and book a table as they have strange opening hours and when they are open, they tend to get fully booked very quickly – I can totally see why!
Yügo
Another South-East Asian restaurant, and while the prices aren’t budget friendly, they aren’t extortionate either. Perfect for a nice dinner in the evening. The atmosphere is beautiful, they offer an extensive vegan/vegetarian menu and their sushi is to die for. Again, just make sure to call and book in advance.
The Crown Liquor Saloon
While the pub itself is a definitely one to visit, I wouldn’t say you need to dine here, but if you can get a booth downstairs, then I would. Sadly it was full when we visited so we had to go to the ‘dining room’ upstairs and it wasn’t anything special.
The menu, which I assume is the same as downstairs, isn’t badly priced and they have some great comfort food and all the pub classics with decent vegetarian options too.
Where to stay in Belfast
I have stayed at two different hotels in Belfast; the Holiday Inn which is a great budget friendly option. My favourite hotel was room2 Belfast Hometel, a boutique hotel with interiors that quite literally blew me away!
The Holiday Inn Belfast
Located on the edge of the city centre, the Holiday Inn is a great option. The rooms are pretty much what you’d expect from a basic chain hotel, but it’s worth noting that we had a room upgrade as we had some IHG rewards loyalty points.
The lighting in the room was pretty dim and combined with all the dark furniture, it just made the room feel quite dingy and not very modern. It doesn’t make for a great environment to sit and work or, nor is it easy to apply makeup, but the hotel was undergoing some renovation/building work when we stayed back in 2019 so hopefully that’ll change in the future.
They don’t have onsite parking, but there is a set-down area and a public car park across the road which you can get a discounted rate for. The car park is located above a shopping centre/bus station and you can cut through it to get right into the city centre.
We had dinner in the hotel when we arrived, which I wouldn’t recommend, but their breakfasts aren’t too shabby! The staff were really friendly and accommodating – they even made me a dairy-free porridge with soya milk every morning which was the nicest touch!
Room2 Belfast Hometel
On my second trip to Belfast in 2024, we stayed at room2 Belfast Hometel; a quirky, stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Belfast City with all the amenities you could possibly want and more. It was by far my favourite hotel stay in Belfast, and it’s easy to see why.
The interior design of this place is incredibly well thought-out, with great little touches like a mini box of games that can elevate any stay.
True to their ethos, you really do feel the ‘home away from home’ vibe with all the best bits of a hotel stay – the cosy rooms are not only spotless but exceptionally comfortable too. I highly recommend staying here.
Is Belfast safe?
Yes, Belfast is generally considered safe, having transformed significantly since its troubled past, with low violent crime and a welcoming atmosphere for tourists. The stereotypes of Belfast being an unsafe city filled with car bombs and the IRA are nonsense.
Present-day Belfast is actually one of the safest cities in the United Kingdom, with Northern Ireland boasting some of the lowest crime rates in Europe. Belfast’s crime statistics show recent decreases, making it a secure place to visit and tourists don’t generally need to worry about anything beyond the usual threat of petty theft that comes with visiting any city.
The best time to visit Belfast
Much like the rest of Ireland, the summer months are the best time to visit Belfast. Between May-September, you have a higher chance of having more sunny days over rainy days – but nothing is guaranteed. You should still pack a raincoat or an umbrella, just in case!
How to get to Belfast
Belfast has an international airport, making it easy to get to for tourists around the world. Alternatively, you could fly into Dublin, which has a much larger airport and either hire a car for a 2 hour drive to Belfast or take the train.
The first time I visited was driving from Dublin and the second time we flew straight into Belfast and hired a car to explore more of Northern Ireland beyond the city.
How many days do you need in Belfast?
You technically could see the highlights of Belfast in one day, but it would be a very full day! But I recommend spending at least 2 days in Belfast to fully experience all the city has to offer, making it perfect for a long weekend break.
Can you take a day trip to Belfast?
Yes, you can take a day trip to Belfast from Dublin. This tour from Dublin will take you on a day trip to Belfast, showing you the highlights; the Giant’s Causeway & Belfast Titanic. Personally, I prefer to slow travel and experience things myself, and by doing a day trip, you’d miss out on so much of the charm of Belfast. However, it is possible.
Is Belfast worth visiting?
Yes, Belfast is absolutely worth visiting! The city has fascinating history to learn about, a unique Irish charm and some noteworthy attractions to visit – not to mention, an excellent foodie scene.
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After decades of political uncertainty, Belfast is firmly back on the tourist map, and I couldn’t recommend a weekend trip there enough! I have since been back again for another road trip around Northern Ireland from Belfast to The Giants Causeway.
Read more about Ireland:
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- How To Plan The Perfect 3 Day Northern Ireland Road Trip Itinerary
- 10 Best Things to Do in Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Check out my vlog below for a closer look at our stay and the things we got upto!
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