A day to yourself
You can really get to know our cities in a single day... and night!
In Belfast, the Waterfront Hall and the Grand Opera House are the top venues for theatre, shows and concerts, but there’s also a thriving club and live music culture.
The Odyssey Arena not only attracts big name acts, but is also home to Ireland’s only professional ice hockey team, the Belfast Giants. If you’ve never seen this incredibly skilled and speedy sport, it’s an exhilarating experience.
The City of Londonderry too is well known for its nightlife, from traditional sessions to international artistes. The Millennium Forum is the premier performing arts centre, but you’ll find plenty throughout the city. The agenda is especially full if a festival is in full swing - which seems to be every other week in these parts.
When it comes to dining out, both cities offer the ideal combination of choice, quality and value, whether you’re looking for an informal pizzeria, ethnic cuisine, sophisticated café bar, or even a Michelin starred experience. Belfast has many fantastic bars steeped in character and serving a very good pint. So if you’re up for a good night out, a traditional pub tour is the very thing. No better way to get to know the real city and even make a few friends.
Or why not spend a day away from the hustle and bustle of the cities?
With over 90 exceptional links and parkland courses in just six counties, there’s always golf. But that’s only the beginning. From Belfast make the short drive to historic, flower festooned Hillsborough village, home of the world renowned oyster festival, and Hillsborough Castle, the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and host to visiting Royalty and Presidents. Why not take the official tour (tours specific times only - contact Armagh & Down Tourism). Afterwards enjoy a gourmet pub lunch in one of the village pubs.
From there it’s a short journey to Hilden Brewery, Ireland’s oldest independent brewery. Or visit the pretty seaside suburb of Holywood and admire the restored 19th Century village. The nearby Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is one of Ireland’s foremost visitor attractions illustrating the way of life and traditions of the people of the north of Ireland. The award winning galleries of the Transport Museum display Ireland’s most comprehensive transport collections including the mighty steam locomotives which graced our railways to the history of ship and aircraft building.
Even our most imposing medieval fortress, Carrickfergus Castle, is just up the road. The Walled City of Londonderry is not far from the remote moorland beauty of the Sperrin Mountains. A world away from the stress of modern life and a favourite destination for walkers. Uncover local history and geology at one of the Sperrin Mountains’ nature and heritage centres. The open air Ulster American Folk Park recaptures country and frontier life on both sides of the Atlantic and tells the story of Northern Ireland’s emigrants.