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If you have more time you can then work your way on down the list but as touristing is such thirsty work, it makes sense if you leap-frog to section 7 – visit a pub – at some point during your day. In those days Belfast’s shipyards dominated global shipbuilding, and it is no surprise therefore that Titanic, ‘the biggest ship in the world’, was built here. You’ll find Belfast just over two hours north of Dublin travelling by car/train or bus – see the ‘Getting to Belfast’ info below — and an hour and a half from Giant’s Causeway on the North Coast. Belfast is the largest city in Northern Ireland and while it is famous for the Belfast Titanic museum and ‘Troubles Tours’ around The Falls Road and Shankill areas, there is quite a bit more to enjoy about the city.
Things to Do & Events
Educational institutions in Belfast include Queen’s University at Belfast (founded in 1845 as the Queen’s College), the University of Ulster at Belfast (1849), and Union Theological College (1853). These sectors are now overshadowed by service activities, food processing, and machinery manufacture. By the late 1730s the castle had been destroyed, but Belfast was beginning to acquire economic importance, superseding both Lisburn as the chief bridge town and Carrickfergus as a port. He did much to encourage the growth of the town, which received a charter of incorporation in 1613.
Here’s the Belfast to-do list we recommend to visiting friends and family!
Belfast has become a food mecca and it’s impossible to walk the city without being lured in by world-class food. Compact, walkable taxi numbers belfast and packed with friendly locals, Belfast delivers history, food, music and bold energy, all within easy reach for a weekend escape. Welcome to Belfast, Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital where rich maritime heritage meets cutting‑edge culture. 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. It’s home to the city’s Botanic Gardens and also No Alibis, Northern Ireland’s only independent crime fiction bookshop. Away from the centre, discover Belfast’s quieter, budget-friendly options close to Queen’s University.
- This is against a background (in 2023) of 2,317 people (0.67% of residents) presenting as homeless, many of whom are in temporary accommodation and shelters.
- In the Titanic Quarter you’ll find the Titanic Hotel, a deluxe boutique hotel offering a unique maritime experience in its Harland & Wolff inspired rooms.
- The city’s name is derived from the Gaelic Béal Feirste (Mouth of the Sandbank or Crossing of the River).
- Get a flavour for Belfast with tours to its top food and drink spots, from cosy dining and gin jaunts to off-the-beaten-track surprises.
- Belfast is a quick two-hour drive from Dublin and the city is also connected to Dublin by train and bus.
What famous ship was built in Belfast?
It can be said to include, at the Skainos Centre in unionist east Belfast, Turas, a project that promotes Irish through night classes and cultural events in the belief that "the language belongs to all". After such a busy day of sights, sounds and the finest food, you’ll need the finest place to stay. Spend a lively time in the heart of the city’s vibrant clubbing hotspot and LGBTQIA+ hub. In celebration of the city’s cultural diversity, this festival features parades, concerts, markets and more.
At the same time, a British-funded welfare state "revolutionised access" to education and health care. After a cotton boom and bust, the town emerged as the global leader in the production of linen goods (mill, and finishing, work largely employing women and children), winning the moniker "Linenopolis". When early in the American War of Independence, Belfast Lough was raided by the privateer John Paul Jones, the townspeople assembled their own Volunteer militia. Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush). If hills aren’t really your thing, you can still enjoy Cave Hill Country Park which surrounds the castle and is a popular place for Belfast folk to take a walk. The Belfast landmark, Cave Hill, rises up behind the castle and if you are up for a walk, we highly recommend taking the time to walk to the top of Cave Hill for spectacular views over Belfast Lough and towards the Mournes – on a clear day.
The rebel tradesmen and tenant farmers were defeated north of the town at the Battle of Antrim and to the south at the Battle of Ballynahinch. Further emboldened by the French Revolution, a more radical element in the town, the Society of United Irishmen, called for Catholic emancipation and a representative national government. Abolitionist sentiment, however, defeated the proposal of the greatest of the merchant houses, Cunningham and Greg, in 1786 to commission ships for the Middle Passage.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, romantic escape or family city break, Belfast offers a wide range of accommodation to suit every style and budget. Once you’re here, you’re spoilt for choice – Belfast has great road, rail and bus connections to the rest of Northern Ireland, so you’re in for an easy and memorable trip. W5 is an award-winning science and discovery centre, located in the Odyssey complex at the gateway… In the Titanic Quarter you’ll find the Titanic Hotel, a deluxe boutique hotel offering a unique maritime experience in its Harland & Wolff inspired rooms.
By the 17th century, the town was a busy port with small shipbuilding interests, which became firmly established after William Ritchie founded a shipyard (1791) and a graving (dry) dock (1796). Look out for meat from Hillstown Farm Shop, prebiotic foods from Amberline Preserves and mushrooms from Spore Shore. A bronze statue of Queen Victoria is accompanied by figures representing education and Belfast’s textile and shipbuilding industries, and a memorial to the Titanic lists the names of the more than 1500 people who died when the boat sank in the North Atlantic. Small, idiosyncratic Belfast has long punched above its diminutive weight in terms of cultural impact – the hometown of George Best and Van Morrison, the RMS Titanic and Harland & Wolff shipyard, and deeply politicized murals enlivening brick gable walls.