Belfast & Derry~Londonderry, 2 day itinerary
These two cities will dazzle you with two days of discovery.
Northern Ireland is full of hidden gems, spread from coast to coast. You will experience some of the very best these cities have to offer. Gain insight into the past and learn about traditions, meet some local characters who will help you delve into the spirit of this place. From political history to music and culture this tour takes you from Belfast through the heart of the countryside to Derry~Londonderry.
Day 1
Parliament Buildings Stormont
Start your inter-city adventure with a tour of one of Northern Ireland’s most striking pieces of architecture. Parliament Buildings is home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the legislative body for Northern Ireland established under the Belfast Agreement 1998 (Good Friday Agreement). Built in 1921 at a cost of nearly £1.7 million, it was designed to house the newly formed Government of Northern Ireland and was officially opened on 16th November 1932 by the then Prince of Wales, on behalf of King George V. On your tour, you’ll learn the symbolic reasons for the building’s width, its number of floors, and why it was once painted with cow manure!
Titanic Belfast
This will astound you – Titanic Belfast is the world's largest Titanic visitor experience and must-see attraction in Northern Ireland. After a few hours immersed in sights, sounds and stories from the world’s most famous ship, you’ll know why this won World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2016 (World Travel Awards). Titanic Belfast features nine interactive galleries that explore the stories of the Titanic, as well as the city and people which made her – this whole area has been restored and developed.
The Wee Tram – Titanic Quarter
Here’s a tour with a twist. Now you can explore the Titanic Quarter by tram, a tribute to the old tramcars used by shipyard workers in the days of the Titanic’s construction. It will take you to visit the Titanic’s Dock and PumpHouse, slipways, HMS Caroline, SS Nomadic and much more.
Belfast City Hall
The idea to build the Titanic came from Viscount William Pirrie, and City Hall is another one of his bright ideas. You will tour this Baroque Revival masterpiece, wandering marbled hallways to find grand chambers and a fascinating exhibit on civic life in Belfast through the years. The Official Guided Tour grants you an extraordinary glimpse into areas not usually accessible to the general public. Ascending the Grand Staircase, the experienced guide will lead your group through a series of rooms including the Irish oak-panelled Council Chamber and Italian and Greek marble-clad Rotunda highlighting stunning civic regalia and historic portraits along the way.
Traditional Music Tour Trail
The well-worn cobbles of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter have seen many a wild night in their time. Weaving through its narrow streets, music old and new pulsates from historic buildings. This is the beating heart of the city – there’s no finer place to soak up the traditional Irish music scene. Join local musicians on a traditional music trail around Belfast, where you’ll visit bustling bars in some of the city’s oldest buildings.
Day 2
Seamus Heaney HomePlace
Step into Seamus Heaney HomePlace, and discover the world-renowned poet in his beloved hometown. Journey through the life and works of this literary giant, greatly valued locally for his decency and humility, and experience the place, the people and the landscape that so inspired his work. Here, you’ll see Heaney’s leather school satchel and his wooden desk from Anahorish Primary School, handwritten transcripts from the poet, and books donated by the Heaney family. You’ll learn about the people who were integral to his life and poetry: his family, Barney Devlin at The Forge, and countless others from the area.
Ballyscullion Park
Nearby, you will visit Ballyscullion Park for lunch and a tour of this stunning 1787 estate. The owner will lead you through the house, gardens and centuries of stories. You’ll also discover which parts of the property were Game of Thrones® filming locations and why the gardens attract special scientific interest.
Unlocking the Walled City Experience – Tour of the City Walls and the City
“If stones could speak…” reads a 1633 foundation stone in Derry~Londonderry’s St Columb’s Cathedral. Here, in the vestibule of this historic church, all is quiet. But if Derry’s walls were to speak – from 400-year-old ramparts, to modern-day political murals – they’d have some mighty tales to tell. On a walking tour of Ireland’s only completely walled city, you’re taking in this vibrant, diverse and friendly place from its finest vantage point. Derry’s origins date back to the 6th century, when St Columba founded a monastery here; the city’s name comes from the old Irish word for oak-grove. It has seen its fair share – a siege, emigration, the Troubles – and survived. “We’re the city with the acorns that become giant oaks,” says tour guide and local woman Finola Faller.
The Guildhall
Now for an architectural treat. The Guildhall is packed with fascinating features and stories, from the 23 beautiful stained glass windows to the Big Ben-inspired clock tower. The cutting-edge exhibit inside will tell you all about the building’s origins in the 1800s and the two times it was destroyed!
Peace Bridge Here’s the modern face of the city. The award winning Peace Bridge is an important symbol for Derry~Londonderry. Its design reflects the city’s vibrant creativity – it’s the only self-anchored bridge in these islands – and also symbolises a handshake between two previously divided areas of the city.
“If stones could speak…” reads a 1633 foundation stone in Derry-Londonderry’s St Columb’s Cathedral. Here, in the vestibule of this historic church, all is quiet. But if Derry’s walls were to speak – from 400-year-old ramparts, to modern-day political murals – they’d have some mighty tales to tell. On a walking tour of Ireland’s only completely Walled City, you’re taking in this vibrant, diverse and friendly place from its finest vantage point.
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 the Titanic’s story from conception through to its first and final journey across the Atlantic, as well as the historical and cultural impact on Belfast and beyond.
Fashioned in neo-gothic style, the Guildhall is one of the most striking buildings in the North West and was originally built in 1887. The building now boasts a multifaceted tourism experience providing a central hub for visitors exploring the city
Parliament Buildings is home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the legislative body for Northern Ireland established under the Belfast Agreement 1998 (Good Friday Agreement).
Completed in 1906, Belfast City Hall is a magnificent Baroque Revival 'wedding cake' built to reflect Belfast's city status, granted by Queen Victoria in 1888. The grounds are also used for many events from continental markets to open air concerts.
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’.
Seamus Heaney HomePlace takes you on an inspiring journey through the life and work of one of Ireland’s greatest writers. Situated between his two childhood homes at Mossbawn and The Wood, and only a few hundred yards from St Mary’s Church, Bellaghy, which he chose as his final resting place, HomePlace is at the heart of the area that inspired so much of the poet’s work.
