In short: the best things to do in Belfast are Titanic Belfast, a black taxi tour of the murals and peace walls, City Hall, St George’s Market, Crumlin Road Gaol, the free Ulster Museum and a night in the Cathedral Quarter, plus a day trip to the Giant’s Causeway. Remember Belfast is in the UK: it uses pounds sterling, and most non-Irish, non-British visitors need a UK ETA.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Belfast has reinvented itself. The city that built the Titanic, and was once known mostly for the Troubles, is now one of the most rewarding places to visit on the island of Ireland: world-class museums, brilliant pubs, friendly people and the Causeway Coast on its doorstep.
Here are the best things to do in Belfast, with practical tips for your trip.
Jump to
- 1. Titanic Belfast
- 2. A black taxi mural tour
- 3. Belfast City Hall
- 4. St George’s Market
- 5. Crumlin Road Gaol
- 6. The Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens
- 7. The Cathedral Quarter and the Crown Bar
- 8. Cave Hill
- 9. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour
- 10. A day trip to the Giant’s Causeway
- Before you go: ETA, money and getting there
- Where to stay
- FAQ
1. Titanic Belfast
The RMS Titanic was designed and built here, in the Harland and Wolff shipyard, and launched in 1911. Titanic Belfast opened in 2012 on the slipways where she was built, and its galleries take you from the boom-town city to the shipyard, the sinking and the discovery of the wreck. Allow at least two to three hours.
Your ticket also covers the SS Nomadic, the last surviving White Star Line ship, which ferried passengers out to Titanic at Cherbourg. Book ahead with this Titanic Experience and SS Nomadic ticket, or see titanicbelfast.com.
2. A black taxi mural tour
To understand modern Belfast, you need to understand the Troubles. A black taxi tour takes you to the political murals of the Falls and Shankill roads and the peace walls that still divide some communities, with a driver who lived through it. It’s moving, often funny, and the most talked-about experience in the city.
Try this highly rated murals taxi tour, or the political conflict walking tour if you’d rather go on foot.
3. Belfast City Hall
The grand domed City Hall, finished in 1906, sits at the centre of the city. Free guided tours run most days and take you into the council chamber and banqueting hall, and there’s a Titanic memorial garden in the grounds. Details at belfastcity.gov.uk.
4. St George’s Market
Belfast’s last surviving Victorian covered market, built in the 1890s, is at its liveliest at weekends. Come hungry for local food, crafts, antiques and live music. Check opening days at St George’s Market.
5. Crumlin Road Gaol
This Victorian prison held suffragettes, loyalists and republicans before it closed in 1996. Guided tours take you into the cells, the tunnel to the courthouse and the condemned man’s cell. See crumlinroadgaol.com.
6. The Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens
Free to enter, the Ulster Museum covers everything from Egyptian mummies and dinosaurs to a thoughtful gallery on the Troubles. It sits inside the Botanic Gardens, home to the Victorian Palm House. See nmni.com.
7. The Cathedral Quarter and the Crown Bar
The cobbled streets around St Anne’s Cathedral are Belfast’s best area for pubs, live music and restaurants. Don’t miss the Crown Liquor Saloon on Great Victoria Street, a gloriously ornate Victorian gin palace now owned by the National Trust, with its original snugs still in use.
8. Cave Hill
For the best view of the city, climb Cave Hill. Its rocky outline, known as Napoleon’s Nose, is said to have inspired Jonathan Swift’s sleeping giant in Gulliver’s Travels. Start from Belfast Castle and allow a couple of hours.
9. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour
Much of Game of Thrones was filmed in Northern Ireland, and the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge has the original sets, costumes and props. It’s about 40 minutes from Belfast. Fans can also join this Game of Thrones and Giant’s Causeway day tour to see filming locations on the coast.
10. A day trip to the Giant’s Causeway
Around 40,000 basalt columns step down into the sea on the Antrim coast. Legend says the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill built it, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s about an hour and a quarter from Belfast, and the coast road past Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Dunluce Castle is one of the most beautiful drives in Ireland.
No car? This Giant’s Causeway full-day trip from Belfast is the top-rated option. Visitor centre information is on the National Trust website.
Before you go: ETA, money and getting there
- It’s the UK. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, so prices are in pounds sterling, not euro.
- Check if you need an ETA. Most visitors who aren’t Irish or British citizens now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation, and that includes crossing the land border from the Republic, even though there are no border checks. Apply on gov.uk before you travel. Visit Belfast explains who’s exempt.
- From Dublin: the train and the bus both take about two hours. If you’re driving around the north coast, compare car hire on Discover Cars.
- From Dublin on a tour: this Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges and Belfast tour covers the highlights in one long day.
Where to stay in Belfast
Stay in the city centre or the Cathedral Quarter for pubs and restaurants on your doorstep, or near the Titanic Quarter for the museum and the waterfront. Queen’s Quarter, by the university and Botanic Gardens, is quieter and good value. Search hotels in Belfast on Booking.com.
Belfast FAQ
Is Belfast safe to visit?
Yes. Belfast is a welcoming city, and tourists visit the mural areas every day on organised tours. As in any city, use normal common sense at night.
How many days do you need in Belfast?
Two days covers the city, and a third lets you do the Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coast.
Do I need a passport to go from Dublin to Belfast?
There are no routine passport checks on the border, but carry photo ID, and check whether you need a UK ETA before you travel.
Keep exploring Ireland
Featured photo: Titanic Belfast by Suicasmo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Love this? Save it to your Pinterest board for later.
A little bit of Ireland in your inbox every Friday ☘️
The free Weekly Dose of Irish: an Irish joke, a Celtic symbol, an Irish fact, a poem and the week’s best articles in one short email. Join 9,600+ readers.
Free. One short email every Friday. Unsubscribe any time.