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Activities & Attractions in Belfast

Things to do

What to do, what to see and where to go in Northern Ireland's capital city

For such a small and compact city, Belfast has an amazing array of activities and attractions for you to choose from. There are not too many cities in which you can visit a world-class visitor experience, see a top-class rugby team, take in a blistering ice hockey game and visit the stomping grounds of one of the greatest musicians of all time. Belfast is one of those cities where there is a story on every street.

Popular attractions

An unmissable visit to Titanic Belfast

Catching your first glimpse of Titanic Belfast in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, is an unforgettable moment. 1,000 workers spent four years on the construction of this landmark building. When it was completed in 2012 nothing of its kind had ever been seen in Ireland before. It is a stunning work of architecture and design. The shimmering glass and aluminum building dominates the area. It even manages to outshine Harland and Wolff’s two great yellow cranes - Samson and Goliath.

Inside is no less impressive and the story of the Titanic, its building, its people and its fate is told with cutting edge interactive tools that bring the whole thing to life. We’ve said it once, but we will say it again: this is without doubt one of the top things to do in Belfast.

A room with a view and two mountains too

You’ll catch another glimpse of the biblical cranes from the Dome at Victoria Square. This glass dome rises high above the city’s skyline and boasts 360-degree views across Belfast. It’s completely free and, should you feel the urge to, as they say, buy the T-shirt, there is a rather large shopping centre right underneath.

The best views of the city however are out in the mountains. Both Divis and the Black mountain offer a fantastic trail along the edge of Belfast’s hills, but be warned that it will take you half a day to complete and you’ll need a good pair of walking shoes. Although a little steeper, you might be better venturing up to Cave Hill and looking over the city from there. Locals know the hill as Napoleon's Nose and according to legend its resemblance to the face of a sleeping giant, gave Jonathan Swift the inspiration for Gulliver.

There are several routes you can take to the top of Cave Hill but the most popular, and probably best, is via the stunning Belfast Castle. There has been a castle of some sort on this site since the 12th century. John Lanyon designed and completed this spectacular sandstone construction in 1870. Inside, the Castle Tavern and Cellar Restaurant offer breakfast, lunch and dinner but you might want to wait until you’re down the hill for that!

Botanic, Queens and surrounding areas in Belfast

Closer to sea level and the city centre, you need to visit the city’s famous Botanic Gardens. Even if you’re not so keen on horticulture, it’s a soothing spot for a stroll, to take a book or have a picnic with your family. Fans of the BBC/RTE series The Fall will recognise it, but we sadly can’t promise you’ll bump into Jamie Dornan when you go. You will however see a statue of Lord Kelvin who invented the Kelvin Scale, used to measure temperatures. There is also the spectacular Palm House built by Charles Lanyon in 1839.

Right next to the wonderful gardens, are the grounds of Queen’s University. Ranked well within the top 200 universities in the world, Queen’s has always been a beacon of learning in Northern Ireland. It has produced some of the land’s finest minds. As well as politicians, presidents and prime ministers there have been poets Seamus Heaney and Paul Muldoon, actors Liam Neeson and Stephen Rea and the BBC’s finest disc jockey, Annie Mac. The rather functional-looking Whitla Hall played host to Jimi Hendrix on his 25th birthday.

Trace the tunes of Van Morrison

Did somebody mention music? Well you’re in Belfast, so it’s never far away. So let’s get onto Van Morrison. Crossing over the Lagan from the Botanic Gardens and walking or cycling through the city’s oldest public park, Ormeau Park, will take you to Elm Grove Primary School. It doesn't look like much, but this is where Van the Man attended primary school and it is the starting point of the Van Morrison Trail. If you have even a passing interest in “Van the Man” then this 3.5km tour is well worth following. This area inspired much of Morrison’s acclaimed album, Astral Weeks, and on the tour you’ll find out why. It’s a lovely thing to do in Belfast as it gives you an insight into a man whose soul was steeped in the city.

More sport than you could shake an ice hockey stick at

Speaking of Belfast Giants, sports fans will want to consider taking in a game of ice hockey and seeing the current Elite League Champions at their home in the SSE Arena. And followers of rugby will not want to miss a Friday night at the Kingspan Stadium, an often raucous but always good-natured stadium. This is the home of Ulster Rugby where you can get up close and personal with some of the world’s greatest exponents of the game... while enjoying a few pints.

Do some time in The Crum

You’ll hear more about locks and wings when you visit the impressive Crumlin Road Gaol. Known locally as ‘The Crum’, this was an active prison until 1996. Since then it has become an extremely popular tourist attraction. The prison tours are top-class.

Finish with food and drink at the Victorian St George’s Market

Morning is the best time to visit the beautiful St. George’s Market. This bustling indoor street market hosts around 300 traders, artists, musicians, and food vendors. It is open Friday to Sunday and is the perfect place to soak up a bit of local atmosphere while trying local produce. It’s yet another unique experience that Belfast has to offer.

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Number of results: 281

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
815 reviews
HMS Caroline

Belfast

Address

Alexandra Dock, Queen's Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9DT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9289 1370

enquiries@nmrn.org.uk
Gradings
- Five Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

The World War One warship HMS Caroline is the last surviving ship from the 1916 Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the conflict. Now a floating museum, it invites its visitors to experience the highs and lows of life at sea. By stepping…
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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
26634 reviews
Titanic Belfast

Belfast

Address

1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9EP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9076 6386

welcome@titanicbelfast.com

Price
Price £24.95 to £62.00 Per Ticket
Gradings
- Five Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Welcome to Titanic Belfast, an award-winning visitor experience offering the opportunity to learn about Titanic’s history, just a few minutes from where the ship herself was famously designed, built and launched in 1911. This self-guided tour tells…

Dates

From:

1 Nov 2024to31 Dec 2024Open 10:00 - 17:00
Price
Price £24.95 to £62.00 Per Ticket

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
558 reviews
Taste and Tour NI

Belfast

Address

Unit 337, Moat House, 54 Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast, County Antrim, BT5 5AD

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9045 7723

hello@tasteandtour.co.uk

Price
Price £62.50 to £70.00 Per Ticket
Gradings
- Five Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Food Tour

Enjoy the multi award-winning Belfast Food Tour or choose from a variety of other tours including Sensorium, an interactive sensory cocktail experience, as well as bespoke private tours and corporate experiences.
Price
Price £62.50 to £70.00 Per Ticket

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Lagan Legends Walking Tour

Belfast

Address

Donegall Quay, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 3NG

Telephone
+44 (0) 7563 167 521

info@belfastmictours.com

Price
Price £20.00 Per person per day

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

Take a guided walk through one of the most historic maritime areas in the world, home to the World-Famous Harland & Wolff shipyard.

Price
Price £20.00 Per person per day

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
173 reviews
Belfast Traditional Music Trail

Belfast

Address

20 Cooke Street, Ormeau Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT7 2EP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9028 8818

claire@androichead.com

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Belfast Traditional Music Trail is a unique way to experience Irish music. With two musicians as your guides, at each stop you will be treated to a performance of traditional tunes, songs and stories which make up your own personal ‘session’.

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Sensorium Experience

Belfast

Address

The National, 62-68 High Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 2BE

Telephone
028 9045 7723

hello@tasteandtour.co.uk

Type

Type:

Food & Drink Courses

Learn what kind of taster you are through an exciting and intriguing series of experiments. This experience brings your senses of taste and smell under scrutiny, and you'll enjoy spending a few hours discovering how they form an integral part of how…

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
272 reviews
Seedhead Arts Street Art Walking Tour

Belfast

Address

Commercial Court, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 2NB

Telephone
+44 (0) 7843 590 097

info@seedheadarts.com

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

Explore a changing city through its ever-evolving street art. On this gently paced, two-hour guided street art walking tour, you’ll see the incredible street art currently adding to the atmosphere of Belfast city centre. The tour will help you…

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Belfast Music Walking Tour

Belfast

Address

Creative Tours Belfast, Ulster Hall, Bedford Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT2 7FF

Telephone
+44 (0) 7305 754 028

CreativeToursBelfast@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Belfast has a rich, storied tradition in both music-making and playing, and was designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2021. Your guide around this musical city is Dolores Vischer of Creative Tours Belfast, who will accompany you to sites of musical…

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A History of Terror

Belfast

Address

Front gates - Belfast City Hall, Donegall Square North, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 5GS

Telephone
+44 (0) 7716 949 460

cu@deadcentretours.com

Type

Type:

Historical Tours

A fascinating, objective exploration of the most turbulent period in Belfast's recent past and what it was like growing up during ‘the Troubles’.

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
9317 reviews
Crumlin Road Gaol Experience

Belfast

Address

53-55 Crumlin Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT14 6ST

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9074 1500

info@crumlinroadgaol.com

Type

Type:

Historical Tours

Experience what life was like behind bars at the notorious Crumlin Road Gaol.

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
465 reviews
Irish FA Tours

Belfast

Address

Donegall Avenue, Belfast, County Antrim, BT12 6LW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9066 9458

tours@irishfa.com

Price
Price £6.50 to £10.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Irish FA Tours offer a special treat for all football fans with a behind-the-scenes visit to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
Relive great football memories at Windsor Park and remember the drama, both on and off the pitch, before…

Price
Price £6.50 to £10.00 Activity

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Belfast City Bike Tours and Bike Hire

Belfast

Address

Norm's Bikes, Smithfield Marketplace, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1JE

Telephone
+44 (0) 7780 496 969

info@belfastcitybiketours.com

Price
Price £30.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Embark on an exciting three-hour bicycle tour of the city of Belfast, suitable for all group sizes.

Price
Price £30.00 Activity

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Jewellery Making Experience with NI Silver

Holywood

Address

Holywood, County Down

Telephone
+44 (0)7879 698 286

ruth@nisilver.com

Price
Price £90.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and courses

Based in Holywood, County Down, NI Silver welcomes you to connect with a centuries-old tradition, through which you'll learn a new skill whilst creating your own unique piece of jewellery.

Dates

From:
3 Dec 2024Open 10:00 - 14:00

Price
Price £90.00 Activity

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Belfast Food Tour

Belfast

Address

Taste and Tour NI, Portview Trade Centre, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 1HE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9045 7723

hello@tasteandtour.co.uk

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

Discover the real Belfast – one bite at a time. This tour takes you down quiet streets and into hidden corners - “off the eaten track” - to meet inventive locals making world-beating products.

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‘Hidden Huntley’ A Unique Walking and Gourmet Food Tour

Belfast

Address

Upper Malone Road, Dunmurry, Belfast, County Antrim, BT17 9LA

Telephone
+44 (0) 7968 816 988

nikkijelliott@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Food Tour

A Walking and Artisan Tour taking-in the picturesque Hidden Huntley Estate.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
178 reviews
If Buildings Could Talk Tour

Belfast

Address

Donegall Square North, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 5GB

Telephone
+44 (0) 7714 684 804

barneygribbin@hotmail.com

Type

Type:

Historical Tours

Enjoy an entertaining couple of hours discovering the secrets behind some of the buildings of Belfast, from a man who used to build them.

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Cavehill Walking Tours

Belfast

Address

Experience and Explore, Belfast Castle, Antrim Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 5GR

Telephone
+44(0) 7785 738 861

rodneyferguson@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

Stone age warriors, ancient kings and quite a few cats. This is a tour packed with surprises. Situated high above Belfast, Cave Hill is visible across the city. Named for the five caves located on the side of the cliffs, it is rich in natural,…

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Worlds Within Wardrobes: A Literary Odyssey

Belfast

Address

Outside Jack Coffee Bar, 402 Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 1HU

Telephone
+44 (0) 7900 988 886

l.spence@hiddenulstertours.com

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

Join a professional guide on a tour of the East Belfast of the author’s childhood.

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Titanic Belfast Discovery Tour

Belfast

Address

Olympic Way, Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9EP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9076 6386

welcome@titanicbelfast.com

Price
Price £10.00 to £13.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Titanic Tours

Hear all the stories. See all the hidden symbolism. Discover the truth.
A visit to Titanic Belfast is incomplete without experiencing this award-winning guided walking tour. You’ll find out fact and fable as you walk in the footsteps of the…

Price
Price £10.00 to £13.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
- Parking (charge)
Facilities

Accessibility
- Ramp / Level Access
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Establishment Features
- Wi-fi available
Touring Around Belfast

Belfast

Address

Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 4FY

Telephone
+44 (0) 7798 602 401

billy@touringaroundbelfast.com

Price
Price £20.00 to £50.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Taxi Tours

Try this for an interesting tour of Belfast city, which takes place in a black cab, and it's your driver who brings the story of the city to life, combining the history and character of the place with the personal experience of people who have lived…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2024to31 Dec 2024Open 09:00 - 17:00

Price
Price £20.00 to £50.00 Activity

More Info