There are millions and one reason’s that you should visit our wonderful city of Belfast, but my guess is that you would like a condensed list that you have a chance at working through throughout your stay and not a novel.
You might think Belfast is just another city and because it’s smaller than some of the other big cities on the island like Dublin, maybe you might think it’s not worth visiting. You might also be wondering whether it’s safe based on our troubled past. Well, I am delighted to tell you that it is worth it and it’s actually safer than most capital cities.
Belfast as a city will definitely surprise you. It’s a real hidden gem on the island. It’s still at the start of its tourism journey so it isn’t swarmed with other tourists like some other places.
It’s such an authentic place. If you go anywhere in the city you’ll be surrounded by real life Belfast people full of chat. It’s the buzzing cultural hub of Northern Ireland with world class bars and restaurants.
Check out the Cathedral Quarter area with its cobbled streets and quirky bars like Duke of York, Dirty Onion and Thirsty Goat. All squeezed into a few streets. Literally, every bar is a winner. There are some outstanding restaurants like Muddler’s Club, Ox and Deane’s and fantastic brunch spots across the city as well. It’s got some incredible sights and things to do when you’re here.
The Titanic Exhibition Centre was voted the best tourist attraction in the world a few years ago and showcases everything about the famous ship. Your ticket even gets you entry to one of the original white star line tug boats that pulled it out to sea. The biggest TV show in the world, Game of Thrones, was filmed here- we are so proud of this.
Anything green and wet or cold was probably shot here, the rain can be a pain, but it’s the rain that gives us our famous greenery, so we can’t really complain – they do say that beauty is pain. But also a lot of the interior shots of the castle at King’s Landing too as we had massive tv studios built. You can take GOT tours and can even see the set from the last few episodes right beside where the famous Titanic left on its maiden voyage.
Belfast is also a great base to explore the Causeway Coast. The Causeway Coastal route starts from Belfast and goes all around the East and North Coast of Northern Ireland with incredible scenery and places to stop all along the way. On the North Coast itself, there is Carrick-A-Rede Rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills Distillery and some world class beaches as well if you fancy a slightly chilly dip there’s always a famous hot Bushmills whiskey and lemon to revive you – and right from the distillery that makes it down the road – the taste and overall experience are just that little bit better. At the end of the day, this drive really, really is one of the best drives in Europe, the rugged beauty of the North Coast of Ireland is surreal, stunning and truly unforgettable.
Scenic spots back in the capital city itself include Cavehill. Another hidden gem that not many visitors know about, but is quickly gaining a tourism map spot. Botanic Gardens with the Ulster Museum or even a walk along the river lagan that flows through the city centre are other options that you could partake in.
Hop on a city sightseeing tour which takes in the famous murals and of course, you should take a dedicated political history tour to hear about the troubles.
Belfast as a destination is completely different to anywhere else on the island. It has its own culture, its own slang and its own amazing things to do. Belfast is an exceptionally safe city. Especially in the city centre and we don’t have any pickpockets like is the case in many other European cities. The troubles are a thing of the past and now we’re moving forward by sharing our history with visitors.
If you’re planning a trip to Ireland you have to consider Belfast. It’s the biggest hidden gem on the island and a perfect base to explore all that Northern Ireland has to offer. We didn’t have a tourism industry for 30 years because of the Troubles but now we can be proud of what we have to offer.
We’re just getting started, so come and join the craic and get yourself a warm Belfast welcome from the friendly, proud people that make the city stand shoulders above the rest. If you are visiting us soon, book into our cosy home from home apartments and then start getting your head around the accent and the slang with the video below.