Top 10 reasons to visit Belfast
Belfast's Top 10 Things To Do are brought to you courtesy of the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau
Visit the Welcome Centre to help make the most of every minute in Belfast
Start by planning your visit on arrival - Visit the Belfast Welcome Centre, located at 47 Donegall Place in the City Centre's main shopping precinct (near City Hall). This has a wide range of services to assist you in planning your visit to Belfast City, Northern Ireland and your holiday in the rest of Ireland. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's official website
Visit Historic Belfast
City Hall is a fine example of Classical Renaissance style, free tours are available of this Edwardian masterpiece (1906). St Anne's Cathedral, designed in 'Hiberno-Romanesque' style, took 77 years to complete, but visitors agree it was worth the wait!
Discover the story of Belfast
Visit the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum's carefully recreated 'Old Town', which tells the story of life in Ulster in the early 1900's. The Ulster Museum has an award-winning Early Ireland gallery and outstanding 'Made in Belfast' exhibits, while Fernhill House tells the story of Belfast's Shankill district.
Take a Walk
Stroll through the Victorian streets of Belfast with one of the Walking Tours including The Old Town, Titanic Trail, Blackstaff Way tours and the City Centre Walk.
Family Fun
There's so much for children to enjoy in Belfast: fabulous attractions and entertainment of all kinds plus fun places to eat and shop. The Odyssey Complex is great for kids and is home to W5 Interactive Discovery Centre, the IMAX Cinema, Hard Rock Café and the Odyssey Arena – home of the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey Team. Experience exotic animals at close range in Belfast Zoo, built into towering Cave Hill, or get a more 'hands-on' experience at Streamvale Open Farm.
Tour Belfast
By boat or black taxi, open top bus or mini-coach, chauffeur driven or by bicycle – to discover the best of Belfast, old and new, take a tour. And if you want to explore further, tours to the beautiful Northern Irish countryside depart from Belfast daily.
Shop 'til you drop!
Belfast offers a wonderful array of products ranging from the traditional to the more contemporary. A must for all shoppers is the central shopping area which runs from Donegall Place to Royal Avenue, and is easily explored on foot. St George's Market (the oldest covered market in Ireland) runs a Variety Market every Friday morning which boasts the largest indoor fish market in Ireland with 23 seafood stalls! The Saturday morning Farm & Speciality Food Market offers a wide range of local high quality specialist food products. The Lisburn Road in the south of the city boasts a trail of chic designer boutiques, with plenty of al fresco cafes to offer a rest stop along the way. There are also many fine shopping centres throughout the city and suburbs.
No visit to Belfast would be complete without a trip around it's famous and historic pubs. The hospitality of Belfast city and it's people is legendary and there's no better way to enjoy the 'craic' and the banter with the locals than over a few Bailey's.
Dining Out
Since local celebrity chef Paul Rankin first put Belfast on the culinary map, the landscape of restaurants and cafes here has changed beyond its wildest dreams. From Michelin Star excellence, cosy neighbourhood brasseries, authentic Asian cuisine to traditional Irish pub grub – you'll find something to suit all tastes in Belfast.
Nights out in the City
"If you haven't had a night out in Belfast, you haven't lived" Sara Cox, BBC Radio One DJ. Sara's right, this is a great city to party. All you need is a lot of energy and a little inside information! Sample a local brew in one of Belfast's historic hostelries, visit one of the traditional pubs for a live Irish music sessions, or check out the hip and trendy bar and club scene, you'll find it all in Belfast!
You'll also find a fantastic programme of top name concerts at the Odyssey Arena, a variety for all tastes at Belfast Waterfront Hall, top West End productions and performing arts at the Grand Opera House and the best of local theatre and drama at the Lyric Theatre. Belfast also offers an array of Festivals throughout the year.
All the information shown above has been adapted from the official Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau website.
| Crossing times to the Isle Of Man from: |
| Belfast |
2h 45m |
If you require any further information which is not available on this website, please contact our reservations centre on + 44 (0) 871 222 1 333.