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Why we love Belfast

A colourful and dynamic port city with a colourful past, Belfast is a vibrant cultural hub on northern Ireland’s eastern coast. Packed with lively pubs, an eclectic food scene, iconic buildings, boutique shopping and a myriad of immersive experiences, you can delve into history, science, literature and more.

Each of the city’s Quarters tells a story – from the history of one of the world’s most famous ships at the The Titanic Museum to tales of the city’s past at the Ulster Museum. Use the city as a base for discovering Game of Thrones filming locations, step aboard HMS Caroline for a taste of First World War maritime combat or see creative colours on a walking tour of Belfast’s famous murals. Whether you’re a culture vulture, party-goer or an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll find an array of memorable things to do in Belfast.

Things to do in Belfast

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Were these 40,000 interlocking basalt columns created by an ancient volcanic eruption, or built by the fabled giant Finn MacCool? You decide…

Discover the legends at Giant’s Causeway

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Sunset over the red basalt column. Sea views
Giant's Causeway

Calling all Game of Thrones fans! Enter the world of The Seven Kingdoms, complete with original costumes, props and weapons.

Go behind the scenes on the Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Linen Mill Studios / WarnerMedia / Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Costume Gallery at the Game of Thrones Studio Tour
Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Even 100 years after this mighty ship sank, its story still captures our imagination – brought to life by Titanic Belfast.

Explore Titanic Belfast

Tourism Northern Ireland

The Titanic, Belfast
Titanic Belfast

Art, nature, history, science: this vast museum puts centuries of heritage at your fingertips, featuring local and international treasures alike.

Plan your visit to Ulster Museum

Ulster Museum/Johnny Frazer

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Piece of artwork in the Ulster Museum, Johnny Frazer
Ulster Museum

Experience 150 years of history in Northern Ireland’s only remaining Victorian prison, which offers both self-guided and guided tours.

Book your tickets for Crumlin Road Gaol

Tourism Northern Ireland

Belfast

Family pretending to be locked in a cell at Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol

From the Oh Yeah music hub in the heart of Belfast, journey through the UNESCO City of Music.

Book a Belfast Music Tour

Creative Tours Belfast

Stub

Group of people on street taking part in Belfast Music Tours
Belfast Music Tour

Were these 40,000 interlocking basalt columns created by an ancient volcanic eruption, or built by the fabled giant Finn MacCool? You decide…

Discover the legends at Giant’s Causeway

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Sunset over the red basalt column. Sea views
Giant's Causeway

Calling all Game of Thrones fans! Enter the world of The Seven Kingdoms, complete with original costumes, props and weapons.

Go behind the scenes on the Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Linen Mill Studios / WarnerMedia / Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Costume Gallery at the Game of Thrones Studio Tour
Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Even 100 years after this mighty ship sank, its story still captures our imagination – brought to life by Titanic Belfast.

Explore Titanic Belfast

Tourism Northern Ireland

The Titanic, Belfast
Titanic Belfast

Art, nature, history, science: this vast museum puts centuries of heritage at your fingertips, featuring local and international treasures alike.

Plan your visit to Ulster Museum

Ulster Museum/Johnny Frazer

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Piece of artwork in the Ulster Museum, Johnny Frazer
Ulster Museum

Experience 150 years of history in Northern Ireland’s only remaining Victorian prison, which offers both self-guided and guided tours.

Book your tickets for Crumlin Road Gaol

Tourism Northern Ireland

Belfast

Family pretending to be locked in a cell at Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol

From the Oh Yeah music hub in the heart of Belfast, journey through the UNESCO City of Music.

Book a Belfast Music Tour

Creative Tours Belfast

Stub

Group of people on street taking part in Belfast Music Tours
Belfast Music Tour

Places to stay in Belfast

Cathedral Quarter

Surround yourself with culture in the heart of the city’s historic and creative quarter where you’ll find a mix of lively pubs, incredible architecture, places to dine and a good selection of trendy and cutting-edge galleries.

Smithfield and Union Quarter

Spend a lively time in the heart of the city’s vibrant clubbing hotspot and LGBTQI+ hub. It’s seen as one of the city’s coolest clubbing hotspots in Belfast and is home to the city’s 130-year-old Central Library.

Queen’s Quarter

Away from the centre, discover Belfast’s quieter, budget-friendly options close to Queen’s University. It’s home to the city’s Botanic Gardens and also No Alibis, Northern Ireland’s only independent crime fiction bookshop.

Explore nearby

A land of mighty scenery and epic stories, this wild corner of Northern Ireland will steal your heart.

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Man and boy sitting on the red basalt columns

Getting to Belfast

Northern Ireland’s capital lies in the east of the country with an array of connections via land, sea and air. Belfast International Airport is 18 miles (29km) to the northwest of Belfast (around 30 minutes by car) and serves more than 70 destinations around the world. Translink bus services link the airport with the city. Situated around five miles from Belfast city centre, the George Best Belfast City Airport serves routes from elsewhere in Britain, as well as Amsterdam, providing a transfer option for international travellers.

Getting around

Translink provides an extensive public transport network. Purchase a Belfast Visitor Pass for unlimited travel the centre of Belfast over 1,2 or 3 days, as well as special offers and discounts on many Belfast attractions.

By foot

With wide pathways and pedestrianised areas, the centre of Belfast is best explored by foot. In fact, it takes less than 30 minutes to cross from one side of the city centre to the other.

By bus

An extensive bus network connects the main things to do in Belfast. Metro and Belfast Rapid Transit – Glider services serve destinations in Belfast itself, with Goldline and Ultrabus providing connections to the rest of Northern Ireland.

By bike

You can hire bikes to explore Belfast from locations all over the city. Belfast Bikes has nearly 50 docking stations with pay as you go.

Want to know more?

For tips from those in the know head to Visit Belfast and discover a wealth of things to do in Northern Ireland’s capital city.