Activities & Attractions in Belfast

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.

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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First Presbyterian Church

Belfast

Address

41 Rosemary Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1QB

Telephone
07740 362 093

firstchurchbelfast@gmail.com

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

Thomas Andrews, who attended this delightful church with his wife Helen, must have loved its boat-like interior and beautiful woodwork. Dating from 1781, it is Belfast’s oldest place of worship.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Bradshaws Brae Driving Range

Newtownards

Address

115 Old Belfast Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4TS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9181 3484

info@bradshawsbraedrivingrange.co.uk

Type

Type:

Driving Range

18 covered floodlit bays, 10 outside bays.
Also Explanar Teaching centre, resident PGA professional Gordon Fairweather.

More Info
Ballymenoch Park

Holywood

Address

Bangor Road, Holywood, County Down, BT19 6JF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Public Park

A lovely park perfect for families located only a short distance from Holywood.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Heli Power

Newtownards

Address

61 Portaferry Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 8SG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9181 1971

info@helipower.co.uk

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Heli Power is a well established Helicopter flight training school for beginners or experienced flyers. We also offer tours of Northern Ireland, transport for wedding and golf parties and many more tailor made packages.

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Belfast City Cemetery

Belfast

Address

511 Falls Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT12 6DE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9032 3112

cemeteries@belfastcity.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Cemetery / Mausoleum

Complete with bell and cast iron fountains, this Victorian cemetery was opened in 1869 as Belfast's first cross-denominational burial ground.

Price
Free

More Info
Keith Drury Art

Belfast

Address

32 Belmont Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 2AN

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9065 6007

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Art Gallery

Months of exacting work go into each of Keith Drury’s detailed artworks and they often yield surprises to those who are eagle-eyed. Each print is a top quality Giclée print on acid free paper.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Shandon Park Golf Club

Belfast

Address

73 Shandon Park, Belfast, County Antrim, BT5 6NY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9080 5031

gm@shandonpark.net

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

A championship course decidedly worth inspecting. Offering views over historic Stormont, this famous parkland layout with its notable true greens, delivers an enjoyable challenge for all.

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Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
Winterfell Trek from Belfast

Belfast

Address

Pickup from Leonardo Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 6DY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9568 0023

info@gameofthronestours.com

Price
Price £45.00 to £49.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

GoT Guided Tours

Morning trek at Old Castle Ward aka Winterfell and to Audley’s Castle aka Walder Frey’s Twins. Inch Abbey, where Robb became King in the North. Afternoon trek in Tollymore Forest to the wildling pit and where the Starks found the direwolf pups.

Price
Price £45.00 to £49.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
16 reviews
Lagan Valley Regional Park

Belfast

Address

3 Lock Keeper's Lane, Belfast, County Antrim, BT8 7XT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9049 1922

admin@laganvalley.co.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Public Park

Lagan Valley Regional Park is recognised as Northern Ireland's only Regional Park. It covers an area of 4,200 acres and extends 11 miles along both sides of the River Lagan between Stranmillis, Belfast to Union Locks, Lisburn.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Ulster Historical Foundation

Newtownards

Address

Ulster Historical Foundation, Bradley Thallon House, Unit 44D, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4TJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9181 2073

enquiry@uhf.org.uk

Type

Type:

Ancestry / Tracing Your Routes

The Ulster Historical Foundation, est. 1956, is a not-for-profit educational charity. Learn about the history of Ulster and your ancestors' lives and migration experiences first-hand through talks and tours to some of Ulster's most historic sites.

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Belfast Bikes: Public Cycle Hire

Belfast

Address

Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 5GS

Telephone
+44 (0) 343 3571551

belfastbikes@nsl.co.uk

Type

Type:

Cycle Hire & Holidays

The Frank and Honest Belfast Bikes scheme is an exciting way to link up the city. There are over 60 docking stations located throughout the city centre which offer residents and visitors to Belfast a new low cost and convenient way to get around.

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Crawfordsburn Country Park, Glen Walk

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Gently undulating walk through mature beech wood, closely following the course of the Crawford's Burn.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Victoria Park

Address

Co Down

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Oasis for wildlife in Belfast

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Groomsport Beach

Groomsport

Address

Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JP

Telephone
028 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Beach

Groomsport has one of Northern Ireland's few fully accessible beaches for all ages and abilities, located close to Bangor in County Down.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
406 reviews
Crawfordsburn Country Park

Helen's Bay

Address

Bridge Road South, Helen's Bay, County Down, BT19 1JT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 3621

nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Country / Royal Park

With tranquil walks through peaceful meadows and wooded glens and a stunning waterfall, Crawfordsburn Country Park provides a relaxing natural retreat.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking - Car Parking is available at the Main Car Park, exit road lay by, Fort Road Car Park, Grey Point Fort and Sea Park, Coastguard Avenue.