Top 5 Things to Do in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Last month, I took a short trip to Belfast. Admittedly, it’s not somewhere I’d planned to visit before, but I really enjoyed it. The main reason for travelling was to watch Chelsea FC play in the Super Cup, at Windsor Park. I spent 3 nights in the city, and packed a LOT into such a short space of time! So, if you’re planning a trip, I’ve put together this essential guide for the top 5 things to do whilst in Belfast, Northern Ireland…

1. Visit Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast is a world leading visitor attraction, and the museum is excellent. You’ll experience the stories from when Titanic was constructed, launched, and of course, the incredible history. It’s completely self-guided, and I paid £2 for a mobile-friendly guide that allowed me to use my own earphones. Alternatively, you can pay £4 to use their own handheld guide, which comes with single-use disposable earphones. I thought the mobile version worked well, and it enhanced the overall experience.

The Shipyard Ride is included in the ticket price, which is a fun way to learn more about RMS Titanic. It’s a short car ride that takes you through the construction process, with visuals and sounds along the way. It’s worth waiting for if you have enough time!

Titanic Belfast is easy to get to from the city centre, with lots of access to public transport nearby. We got a bus from the centre to Titanic Quarter, which took around 10-15 minutes, and it’s a short walk from there to the main entrance.

The cost of tickets (as of September 2021) are: £19.50 for adults, £15.50 for students and over 60s (Monday-Friday), £8.75 for children (5-15 years), and under 5s are free. You can also purchase a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) for £48. The Titanic Experience ticket also includes entrance to SS Nomadic, which is just outside the main building. It’s worth pre-booking your tickets to guarantee entry, which you can book here.

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2. Go On a Black Taxi Tour

Something that had to make my list of top 5 things to do in Belfast is the Political Conflicting Stories Taxi Tour. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best ways to learn about the history of Belfast. The tour consists of 2 different drivers (from Protestant and Catholic communities), and it takes around 2 hours in total.

You’ll hear stories from the perspective of both sides of the conflict, giving you a completely unbiased view of growing up in Belfast. The company we booked with is “the only tour of Belfast that is conducted by ex-combatants who were personally involved in ‘The Troubles’.”

During the tour, there are numerous stops for you to get out and see the area. You’ll see the various murals and memorials, and be able to take photos, if you wish. The tour also takes you around Shankill Road, Falls Road, and to the Peace Wall.

I found this tour really eye-opening, and I discovered lots of information I didn’t already know about. I’d highly recommend booking onto one of these Black Taxi Tours if you’re in Belfast, because you’ll learn a lot. Tickets cost £33 each, but look out for discount codes on their website, as we saved 20%. You can book directly here.

3. Explore Giant’s Causeway

Granted, it’s not actually in Belfast, but I’d recommend a day trip to Giant’s Causeway! It was one of my favourite parts of the whole trip. Tickets cost £25 each, which is great value. The coach had a tour guide, which helped us understand where we were and what we were seeing along the way. En route to Giant’s Causeway, we stopped at: Carnlough Harbour, Cushendun Caves, and The Dark Hedges.

We stopped for lunch at a pub, in addition to the cost of the ticket. Although it’s optional, I didn’t notice anywhere else you could purchase food from nearby. (Maybe bring your own food if you don’t want to eat at the pub!) The order is taken on the coach, so when you arrive, it should be ready. However, I didn’t think the food was that great. It was expensive for what it was, and the service wasn’t very good.

Finally, after lunch, we headed to Giant’s Causeway. I really enjoyed the experience, and it was fascinating to explore such a naturally beautiful place! We had around 2 hours free time to walk around and enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage Site. After leaving Giant’s Causeway, the final stop was near Dunluce Castle. Our driver pulled over so we could briefly stop and get out for a quick photo – despite the rain!

Overall, it was a packed day, but it was brilliant. It’s easily one of the top 5 things to do in (and around) Belfast! The tour we went on was called ‘From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Fully Guided Day Trip’, but it looks as though it’s since been changed on their website. The closest trip I could find can be booked here.

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4. Have a Drink in The Crown Bar

The Crown Bar, also known as The Crown Liquor Saloon, is one of the most famous pubs in Belfast. Dating back to the 1880s, it was originally a Victorian gin palace, and many of its original features still remain the same. It’s now a Grade A listed building owned by the National Trust, and it’s well worth a visit.

We stopped for lunch and a drink, and we were lucky enough to be seated in one of the snugs. You simply open the snug door when you want to order, which made the experience even more special. I ordered fish and chips, but I thought the food was poor, which was disappointing. I was really looking forward to eating in such a historic place, but it was the only let down. (It wasn’t overly hot and the portion was very small for the price.)

Even just seeing the building from the outside is worth it, but I’d recommend going in for a drink, if nothing else. It’s incredible to see the interior and experience the atmosphere in such an iconic place!

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5. Visit Belfast City Hall

Located in the heart of the city, in Donegall Square, Belfast City Hall is a truly iconic building. Even though we didn’t go inside, it was still great to see it from the exterior. However, if you do choose to have a look around, admission is free of charge. I’m sure it would be lovely to see the interior, but we didn’t have enough time during this trip.

Also within the grounds of Belfast City Hall is the Titanic Memorial Garden. It opened on the 15th of April, 2012 – the 100th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic. There are many bronze plaques that list the names of over 1,500 people who lost their lives in the tragedy. In addition, there are a few other memorials around the grounds that are worth having a look at too.

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Belfast is a wonderful place to visit for a short break. I managed to see and do a lot of things in only a few days, but I felt like I saw most of the city! I enjoy going out and exploring the local area when I travel to new places, but if you want a more relaxing trip, you could spend an extra couple of nights in the city, to explore at a slower pace. Above all, I enjoyed my time in Belfast, and I hope that this list of the top 5 things to do will help you find inspiration for your trip!

From this list of my top 5 things to do in Belfast, is there anything you’d like to do?