Recent years have seen Belfast emerge from a troubled past and shake off its reputation as a troubled city. For years it was off the tourist scene, but now it is firmly established as a destination worthy of a short break, with bars, museums and sights to rival many European cities.
With a flurry of new restaurant openings – and a couple of Michelin stars – there’s never been a better time for great food in town, as well as some after-dinner fun. The short flight time and ease of access from across the UK are also a bonus.
Discover everything you can do in Belfast in a few days
Belfast is a relatively small city, divided into several neighborhoods, each known for its own distinctive character. On your visit, you will likely spend most of your time in the central Cathedral Quarter , with its twisty streets, bustling pubs and high-end restaurants. Further south is the leafy Queen’s Quarter , where you’ll find the Botanical Gardens and Queen’s University , along with some quirky cafes and restaurants that are well worth the half-hour walk.
To the east, on the other side of the River Lagan, is the Titanic Quarter, named for the infamous ship that was built there in 1912. It is home to an impressive Titanic-themed museum. Meanwhile, the Gaeltacht neighborhood in the west of the city is a fairly representative area of the Irish language and culture. Highlights include important political sites, cemeteries, and places where you can enjoy some of the best traditional music and dance Belfast has to offer.
Get to know the city and its culinary highlights with a gastronomic guided tour. The Belfast Food Tour with Taste & Tour starts at St George’s Market . You will meander around the stalls, while sampling all the local delicacies: Suki tea, blue cheese, Broughgammon goat and “fifteends” frozen cake . The walks continue through the city, stopping at chocolate shops for truffles, cider houses and pubs for beer.
Another thing you can do in Belfast on a weekend is stroll through the Botanic Gardens. This area is located in the Queen’s District , about a 30-minute walk south of the Cathedral Quarter, and is an ideal place to spend an afternoon in the sun. Stroll through the flowers and trees to the Palm House, a beautiful Victorian conservatory that houses tropical plants and birds. The gardens are open every day from 7.30 am to 9 pm, and admission is free.
The Irish city is also synonymous with shipbuilding, and particularly its most important achievement, the Titanic. The exhibition center, Titanic Belfast, is located in the Titanic Quarter, just a short walk east of the city center . The self-guided tour is quite interactive: a walk takes you through the shipyard , with coals that warm your face; a railing vibrates as you watch a televised view of the sea . The voices of the survivors represent the moment of disaster in a dark corridor , as the sounds of Morse code fill the air. The underwater images of the wreckage are shown on a large movie screen and also underfoot, under a glass floor. Tickets cost around € 25. It is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm in the summer, hours vary slightly in other months.
