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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: 264

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
31 reviews
James Connolly Visitor Centre | Áras Uí Chonghaile

Belfast

Address

374 - 376 Falls Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT12 6DG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9099 1005

info@arasuichonghaile.com

Price
Price £10.00 to £22.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Áras Uí Chonghaile | The James Connolly Visitor is an award-winning modern, inspirational, visitor centre located only yards from where James Connolly, a leading Trade Unionist, Socialist and Republican and an iconic figure in Irish history, lived…

Dates

Price
Price £10.00 to £22.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
12 reviews
Helen's Bay Beach

Helens Bay

Address

Crawfordsburn Country Park, Helens Bay, County Down, BT20 5ED

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Beach

Beautiful sandy beach with excellent facilities, all within twenty minutes drive of Belfast.

Price
Free

More Info
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)

Belfast

Address

2 Titanic Boulevard, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9HQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9053 4800

proni@communities-ni.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Ancestry / Tracing Your Routes

PRONI holds an extensive range of private archives and is the main venue for researching family and local history or for discovering the economic, social and political history of Northern Ireland.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Hilden Brewery

Lisburn

Address

90-192 Grand Street, Hilden, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT27 4TY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9266 0800

info@hildenbrewery.co.uk

Type

Type:

Brewery

Hilden Brewery is Ireland's Oldest Independent Brewery. We have been running for over 40 years and in the last seven have added a second brew house, a bottling line and a canning line. *CURRENTLY CLOSED TO VISITORS*

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Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
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Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
374 reviews
Let's Go Hydro Resort & Spa

Carryduff

Address

1 Mealough Road, Carryduff, County Down, BT8 8GB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9081 4662

info@letsgohydro.com

Type

Type:

Water Sports

If you enjoy water-based fun, then Let’s Go Hydro is a must visit. The impressive outdoor attraction, including an inflatable floating obstacle course, provides fun for all. The course features an XXL Tower, slides, climbing wall, hurdles, wiggle…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Gruffalo & Stickman Guided Walk

Belfast

Address

163 Stewartstown Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT17 0HW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9061 4115

reception@colinglen.org

Type

Type:

Nature Trail

It’s Ireland’s only official Gruffalo Trail; a Julia Donaldson-endorsed walk. Step into the glorious world of the Gruffalo. Enter the deep, dark wood, meet the clever little mouse, the fox, the owl, the snake, before stumbling upon those knobbly…

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Clandeboye Golf Club

Conlig

Address

51 Tower Road, Conlig, County Down, BT23 7PN

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 1767

office@cgc-ni.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

36 Holes. There are two courses in wooded undulating parkland/heathland with clusters of gorse bushes and copses ready to claim the wayward shots.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

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Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
Albert Memorial Clock

Belfast

Address

17 Queens Square, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 3FF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9024 6609

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Designed by the architect William J Barre, the figure of Prince Albert was sculpted by Samuel Ferris Lynn and the clock is by Francis Moore.

Price
Free

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Belfast Music Bus Tour

Belfast

Address

Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15-21 Gordon Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 2LG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9031 0845

hannah@ohyeahbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Arts and Culture tours

Experience Belfast's vibrant music scene with the Belfast Music Bus Tour, celebrating its UNESCO City of Music status.

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Colin Glen Golf

Belfast

Address

115 Blacks Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT10 0NF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9060 1133

reception@colinglen.org

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

Colin Glen offers an exceptional leisure site which is home to premium golf facilities catering for people of all ages and playing abilities. With everything from Northern Ireland’s first TrackMan Driving Range, Indoor TrackMan Suite to a 9-hole…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Cab Tours Belfast

Belfast

Address

Donegall Square East, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 5HB

Telephone
+44 (0)7713 640 647

info@cabtoursbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Taxi Tours

Choose from a range of our award-winning tours. Our black taxi cabs provide comfort while showing you the sights and our local guides will answer any questions you might have. We can pick you up from any location in Belfast, seven days a week, for…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
422 reviews
Colin Glen

Belfast

Address

163 Stewartstown Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT17 0HW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9061 4115

reception@colinglen.org

Type

Type:

Forest Parks

Colin Glen is Ireland’s leading adventure park - a land of storytelling and a state of the art sports park with world class attractions. From Alpine coasteering to laser tag, golfing to the Gruffalo Trail, Colin Glen has adventure for everyone.

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

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
58 reviews
Belvoir Park Forest

Belfast

Address

Belvoir Drive, Belfast, County Antrim, BT8 7QT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4377 2240

customer.forestservice@daera-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Forest Parks

Managed by the Forest Service, Belvoir Park Forest is unique in the UK as it is a working forest within a city. Walks within the forest link to the Lagan River 'Towpath' and the Lagan Valley Regional Park.

Price
Free

More Info
Cockle Row Cottages

Groomsport

Address

The Harbour, Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 2269

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Take a step back in time with a visit to the lovingly restored Cockle Row Cottages located beside the harbour, Groomsport.

Dates

From:

1 June 2025to15 Sept 2025Various Opening Times

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Presbyterian Historical Society

Belfast

Address

26 College Green, Belfast, County Antrim, BT7 1LN

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9072 7330

phsilibrarian@pcinet.org

Type

Type:

Ancestry / Tracing Your Routes

History of Presbyterianism in Ireland and its congregations, including congregational, synod and presbytery records, and private papers of ministers and missionaries.

More Info
CabtoursNI.com

Belfast

Address

Fisherwick Place, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 6DY

bobby@cabtoursni.com

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

On a tour you will visit the Falls Road and Shankill Road where you will learn of the history of conflict between the two communities and witness the Peaceline wall which divides the two. Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides.

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Giant's Causeway and Antrim Coast Tour

Belfast

Address

c/o: Irish Tour Tickets shop, 10 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9BP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9031 0101

info@irishtourtickets.com

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Travel on one of our luxury coaches to discover the sights and attractions of County Antrim. Irish Tour Tickets are the only company travelling from Belfast that includes admission to the Giant's Causeway Visitors Centre.

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The Mystic of the East - Van Morrison Trail

Belfast

Address

Avalon House, 278-280 Newtownards Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT4 1HE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9045 1900

visitorcentre@eastsidepartnership.com

Type

Type:

Self-guided tour

The Van Morrison Trail will take you on a journey through the east Belfast of Van's youth. The Trail is a wonderful opportunity for you to visit some of the places that Morrison knew as a child growing up.

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Airtastic Entertainment Centre Belfast

Newtownabbey

Address

38 Mill Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT36 7BE

Telephone
+44 (0) 330 174 2933

belfast@air-tastic.com

Type

Type:

Indoor Play Area

Bounce down to Airtastic Belfast for some fantastic fun! Check out our Inflata Park, Bowling Alley, Mini Golf Course, Soft Play Centre and Amusement Arcade! Feeling Hungry? We also have delicious food at our American Style NY Kitchen!

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times

More Info
McConnell's Distillery & Visitor Experience

Belfast

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9590 2929

tickets@belfastdistillery.com

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket to £45.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Distillery

McConnell’s Distillery, located in North Belfast in the historic A-wing of Crumlin Road Gaol, opens this Spring. This state of the art distillery will host guided tours sharing the unique story of the McConnell’s brand and the history of distilling…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket to £45.00 Activity

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Licensed
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available