Belfast has thankfully put its troubled past behind it and is now thriving. Its economic development can be seen in the modernization of the city, but there is still respect for the past. This make Belfast a fun mixture of old and new.
Belfast's main airport is Belfast International Airport, which also handles flights from the UK mainland and Dublin. There is a 24/7 express bus service to the city center. The bus route is 300 and it is run by Translink. The nearest railway station is Antrim, about 10KM away and can be reached by the 109A bus. George Best Belfast City Airport, is mainly a domestic airport. The 600 bus (Translink) runs a frequent service from the airport to the city center. Sydenham Railway Station is literally next to the airport and runs plenty of trains to the city center.
Although it is a relatively small city, Belfast city center is home to four railway stations: Belfast Central, Great Victoria Street, City Hospital and Botanic. These stations all connect to each other and to key urban areas in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. NI Railways runs most of the former services and Enterprise most of the latter, including the popular link to Dublin.
The Europa bus station is right in the city center and is the place to go for a bus to anywhere in Northern Ireland and much of the ROI. There are also international buses, including National Express services to the UK mainland and Europe.
Belfast is a lovely city to walk around but the high volume of cars is less than ideal for cyclists. Getting around Belfast by bus is very straightforward and affordable.
A trip to Belfast might not be the first place you think of for taking a city break, however, this city has turned into a secret jewel of the UK. Having recently recovered from a tumultuous 30-year civil war, best known under the name The Troubles, Belfast, to locals is now seen as a completely brand new city.
It is impossible to compare the Belfast from 20 years ago to the Belfast today. Tourists were almost non-existent – now Belfast welcomes around 8 million visitors a year! From the classic tourist attractions like the Samson and Goliath cranes, and the new seasonal attractions like the Continental Christmas Market, you will never be lost of things to do in Belfast!
St.Georges Market
Join Belfast Hidden Tours
Have a cold pint in a traditional Belfast pub
Carrickfergus Castle
Filthy mcNastys (bar)
The Belfast Murals
Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails at the Art Noveau Café Vaudeville
Explore all the hidden wonders of Queens University Belfast
Step Aboard the Titanic Belfast Visitor Center
Take a hike up the Divis
Dine at Northern Ireland’s Master Chef, Michael Deane’s Restaurant
See the Laganside at Night
Watch the Giants
Walk around West Belfast
Scrabo Tower
The Merchant Hotel
The Christmas Market at Belfast City Hall: Number one on our list of things to do in Belfast, without a doubt has to be the Belfast Christmas Market. Situated in the heart of the city, Belfast Christmas Market has turned into one of the highlights of the year.
Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, is a Victorian era industrial powerhouse which has witnessed a striking process of regeneration in the last two decades. Tourist numbers have increased enormously thanks to a fascination with the Titanic, constructed in the shipyards here, as well as the TV show Game of Thrones, much of which was filmed nearby. A city center walk starts on the northeast side of central Belfast at the impressive Titanic Belfast exhibit on the banks of the Lagan, a memorable and moving tribute to the doomed liner. A stroll down the river to the central area offers sightseeing opportunities that include the 19th century Romanesque St. Anne's cathedral. Adjacent to the restored Victorian Grand Opera House is the world famous Europa Hotel on Great Victoria Street, which was a favorite media hangout during the Troubles. The same goes for the beautifully ornate Crown Liquor Saloon on the opposite side of the street, one of the region's most decorative bars. Belfast city center has no shortage of traditional pubs, as well. The scene offers live music, notably at the Dirty Onion or Kelly's Cellars, which are centuries-old establishments where you can enjoy a pint and Ireland's celebrated craic, that mysterious combination of wit, bonhomie and magic.