Belfast

Understand

This noble city is named for a mud bank and is built upon sludge. The lower River Lagan is tidal and receives a dozen small tributaries (nowadays culverted) which drop their silt, forming banks of sand and mud. The lowest point at which you could ford the river at low tide is where the Lagan road bridge now crosses, and in Irish this is Béal Feirste, "river-mouth of the sand-bank ford". The tributary joining at that point, the Farset, is likewise named for the mud bank, not vice versa. And besides the man-made channels and culverts, a great volume of water seeps through the alluvial silt on both sides of the Lagan. It's a slimy, thixotropic impediment to building — clay dug out of a trench quickly feels homesick and slides back in — and a deterrent to high-rise; but Paris grew up on similar foundations. Pre-industrial Belfast was a small provincial place. It grew rapidly in the 18th century with the linen trade, and in the 19th with smokestack industry, especially ship-building along the estuary. It sucked in labour, including Catholics moving off the land. In 1921 Ireland was divided: Dublin and the Republic fell behind economically, while Belfast found itself the capital city of Northern Ireland and, after the Depression, busily tooling up to fight the Second World War. It slumped in the late 20th century as textiles and smokestack industries were lost to foreign competition. Tension rose between factions and communities, the Catholic minority faced blatant discrimination in many aspects of their lives, and both sides had a 200-year old tradition of paramilitary thuggery, which escalated. All of Northern Ireland, but especially Belfast, then suffered a notorious 30 years of "The Troubles" from 1969. Civilian rule broke down and the British Army was heavily deployed to keep order; they too became targets of violence. Riots, shootings and bombings were the daily grist of the newsreels. Barriers, checkpoints and armoured vehicles marked the junctions, helicopters throp-throp-thropped over a scarred, smoke-blackened city. By the 1990s all sides were war-weary, and a confluence of political drives within Northern Ireland and externally from Britain, Ireland, the European Union and the USA led to the 1998 "Good Friday Agreement". There had been so many short-lived ceasefires and peace initiatives, and the Omagh bombing suggested that the GFA might be yet another - yet for the most part this one stuck. Cautiously the city de-militarised and normalised, though the "Peace Walls" to separate warring communities still stand. Hotels, pubs and other visitor amenities re-opened, and the city's Victorian and Edwardian heritage re-emerged. There was some mileage in "Troubles Tourism" but the final ingredient that Belfast needed was a new story to tell of itself with pride. This it received in 2012 with the opening of the Titanic Quarter east of the river.

Visitor information

Visit Belfast, 9 Donegall Square North BT1 5GB (facing City Hall), ☏ +44 28 9024 6609. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4PM. They can book accommodation and tours, recommend itineraries and places of interest and sell you tacky souvenirs. (updated Jan 2026) Belfast City Council is the portal for info on local public services.

Getting there

George Best Belfast City

1 George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD IATA), Sydenham BT3 9JH (2 miles east of city centre), ☏ +44 28 9093 9093. This airport is close to the city centre. Most flights come from the rest of the UK, mainly by Aer Lingus which has a base here. Other destinations include London Heathrow (British Airways), Amsterdam (KLM), and Frankfurt (Lufthansa) all with global connections. Loganair fly from Aberdeen and Inverness. (updated Jan 2026) Ground transport: Bus 600 runs every 30 min from the airport to Queens Square, Victoria Square, Wellington Place and Grand Central Station. It runs 6AM-10PM daily, taking less than 15 min, adult single fare is £2.30 in 2026. Taxis might cost £15 to most parts of the city, but check at the outset whether the fare you're quoted includes the £2.50 airport supplement, or the taxi driver may try to add it on when you arrive. Train: Sydenham railway station is just southwest of the terminal and there's a free shuttle bus. Walk to the 600 bus stop and press the buzzer to call the shuttle. There's a footbridge over the busy dual carriageway to the railway halt, not ideal if you have lots of luggage. Sydenham is on the railway from Belfast via Holywood to Bangor on the coast, with trains 6AM - midnight every 20 min (hourly on Sundays). The adult fare in 2026 is £2.20 to the city and £5.70 to Bangor. So you can ride it to city centre for a trivial saving over the bus, but the main advantage is to reach southside locations (such as Botanic, for Queens University) for a single flat fare.

Belfast International Airport

2 Belfast International Airport (BFS IATA), Aldergrove BT29 4AB (20 miles west of city centre), ☏ +44 28 9448 4848. Northern Ireland's main international airport, with budget flights from the rest of the UK and EU. Easyjet fly from London (Gatwick, Stansted and Luton), Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton, Glasgow and Edinburgh. They also fly year-round from Amsterdam and Paris CDG, and seasonally from Barcelona, Nice, and Bordeaux. Jet2 fly seasonally to the Med resorts. Ryanair flies from Britain (East Midlands, London Stansted, Manchester), southern Europe (Alicante, Girona, Milan-Bergamo), and Central Europe (Budapest, Krakow). See Antrim for accommodation and other facilities close to the airport. (updated Jan 2026) To the city: Ulsterbus 300 takes 50 min from the airport via Templepatrick and Queen St to Grand Central Station; it's every 20 min daytime and hourly through the night. Adult fare is £9 single. Taxis might cost £40 to Belfast city centre. To Antrim: Ulsterbus 109A runs every hour taking 15 min, adult fare is £3.10. Antrim bus station is next to the railway station, with trains from Belfast to Ballymena, Coleraine, Portrush and Derry.

From Dublin

Dublin Airport (DUB IATA) is often a good way to reach Belfast, with excellent flight connections from the UK and Europe. Its big advantage is direct flights from North America (with US pre-border clearance on return) and from the Gulf (with connections from Australia) - and the full-fare carriers handle connections much better than the budget carriers. Dublin Airport is some miles north of Dublin city, so by rental car you turn straight onto the motorway north, 100 miles (160 km) to Belfast. Hourly buses from Dublin Busáras call at the airport then take two hours to Belfast Grand Central. Operators are Ulsterbus and Aircoach, so there's price competition. Don't take the train as this involves doubling back via Connolly station in central Dublin. And don't have any truck with the taxis hanging around the airport bus stop. One other tip is, don't change money here (though it's a decent rate) as you'll get euros, use your bank card to pay for transport then buy pound sterling in Northern Ireland.

Getting around

Walk to all the central sights. The centre is within a mile or two of the Botanic Gardens, Queen's University and Titanic.

By bus

Belfast buses are run by Translink, a public corporation, check their website for timetables and fare deals such as day tickets. A single adult fare within city centre is £1.80 in 2026. There are three types of buses, which run from around 6AM to 11PM, plus Friday and Saturday night buses.

Metro are pink. Buy on board if you don't have a card. Glider is a long purple bendy-bus, and for these you must buy your ticket before boarding from the machine at the stop. There are two Glider routes: G1 crosstown from Stewartstown Road and Falls Road in the west to Newtownards Road east, for Stormont and Ulster Hospital; and G2 from city centre to the Titanic area. Ulsterbuses are blue and run to outlying towns but you can use them for city travel, e.g. the bus for Lisburn to reach the Botanic Garden. Almost all Ulsterbuses run from Grand Central but the Metro and Glider buses don't go in there. 5 Laganside Buscentre by the river weir is the terminus for buses from Bangor, Holywood, Newtownards and the Ards peninsula. It's also a hub for the Metro buses, but you normally just board those on the street.

See

Central

Belfast city centre is focused on Donegall Square and Belfast City Hall. The main thoroughfare north from the square is Donegall Place, a retail street leading to the Cathedral. The centre is bounded to the east by the River Lagan, to the south by Donegall Pass, and to the west by the convenient but ugly dual carriageway Westlink. The centre is safe enough at all hours but falls very quiet after 8PM.

The Crown is the gorgeous Victorian pub that greets arrivals emerging from the bus and railway station. It's owned by the National Trust, see Drink for hours etc, but it's worth looking in, even you don't intend a drink. Aw go on, maybe just a quick one then. 1 City Hall, Donegall Sq North BT1 5GS, ☏ +44 28 9032 0202. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM. Grand municipal architecture, built in 1906 of white Portland limestone in baroque style. Durban city hall in South Africa has the same design. Here are housed Belfast's Council chambers and admin offices. You can look in to the glorious entrance hall and rotunda anytime, but for a proper look, join the guided tour held 3 times a day. Outside stands a memorial to victims of the Titanic and a statue of Queen Victoria. Tour £6. (updated Jan 2026) Linen Hall Library is north side of the square facing City Hall. Founded in 1788, it hosts exhibitions and events, and has a huge collection of Irish books. It's open M-F 9:30AM-5:30PM. 2 St Malachy's Church is Roman Catholic, opened in 1844. It has a Tudor Revival exterior but what's most remarkable is the elaborate fan-vaulted interior, likened to "a wedding cake turned inside out". It's at 24 Alfred St at the corner of Clarence St two blocks south of City Hall, and open M-F 9:30AM-1:30PM, Sa Su 9:30AM-6PM. 3 Saint Anne's Cathedral, Donegall St BT1 2HB, ☏ +44 28 9032 8332. M-Sa 10:30AM-4PM, Sa Su 12:30-3PM. This Church of Ireland (Anglican) cathedral was built in Romanesque style around the previous parish church and opened in 1904. It's been added to and reconstructed in stages ever since, most recently in 2007 by the addition of the 130-foot, slender metal spire, floodlit at night. It couldn't have a traditional sturdy tower or spire as the soft clay foundations wouldn't support that. There are regular services. Adult £5, child free. (updated Jan 2026) Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum, 21 Talbot St BT1 2LD (next to Cathedral), ☏ +44 28 9032 0392. M-F 10AM-4:30PM. Depicting city life during World War II. Free. (updated Jan 2026) 4 Belfast Exposed, 23 Donegall St BT1 2FF, ☏ +44 28 9023 0965. Tu-Sa 11AM-5PM. Photography gallery with changing exhibitions in a refurbished warehouse. There's also an extensive photo archive. Donation. (updated Jan 2026)

5 Belfast Central Library, Royal Ave BT1 1EA, ☏ +44 28 9050 9150. M & Th 9AM-8PM, Tu W & F 9AM-5:30PM, Sa 10AM-4:30PM. The Victorian library building houses an excellent Irish section and a newspaper library, with archives of all Northern Irish newspapers. (updated Jan 2026) 6 The Legal Quarter is the block between Victoria shopping centre and the river, with the courts and other legal buildings. You can't go inside them unless you're already in trouble, but the exteriors are interesting. Good examples are the former town hall (now a court house), the Royal Courts of Justice, and the Bar Library. 7 Lagan Weir and footbridge was built across the river in 1994 just upstream of Lagan road bridge. It raised the river level, covering mudflats that were ugly and smelly at low tide. The weir can open as a gate or close as a barrage against high tides. The 1994 footbridge was replaced in 2006 with a more accessible structure. On the bank, The Big Fish is a large ceramic artwork looking on in approval of the weir, which has greatly enhanced river water quality.

Do

What's on? Check Visit Belfast as well as individual venue websites. And listen to Belfast 89FM on 89.3 MHz or read The Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News and The News Letter, all published daily. 1 Waterfront Hall, 2 Lanyon Place BT1 3WH, ☏ +44 28 9033 4400. Large events venue on the west bank of the river, see website for upcoming shows. (updated Jan 2026) 2 SSE Arena (Formerly Odyssey Pavilion), 2 Queen's Quay BT3 9QQ (Bus 26), ☏ +44 28 9045 1055. This complex contains a 12-screen cinema, the multi-use SSE Arena, conference facilities, W5 science museum (see above) and restaurants and bars. (updated Jan 2026) 3 Grand Opera House, 2 Great Victoria Street BT2 7HR. Opened in 1895, this is a splendid example of Victorian Oriental architecture, refurbished in 2020. It has a full programme of shows including panto. Oh no it doesn't! Oh yes it does! (updated Jan 2026) 4 Lyric Theatre, 55 Ridgeway St BT9 5FB (south tip of Botanic Garden), ☏ +44 28 9038 1081. The Lyric has a main theatre seating 400 and the Naughton Studio seating around 150. (updated Jan 2026) 5 Metropolitan Arts Centre (The MAC), 10 Exchange Street West BT1 2NJ (next to St Anne's Cathedral), ☏ +44 28 9023 5053. The MAC opened in 2012 and is a centre for art, theatre and dance. (updated Jan 2026) 6 Queens Film Theatre, 20 University Square BT7 1PA (at QUB), ☏ +44 28 9097 1305. Belfast's art house and repertory cinema, and the main venue for the Belfast Film Festival. (updated Jan 2026) Parks and open spaces: lots and lots. See above for: South: Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Ormeau Park and Botanic Gardens, and the Lagan towpath to Lisburn. North: Waterworks, Belfast Castle estate, Cave Hill and Alexandra Park West: Dunville and Falls Park, Colin Glen Forest Park and the City and Milltown cemeteries East: Orangefield and Victoria Park

Sports

Rugby Union, 15-a-side: Ulster Rugby are one of the four Irish professional teams playing in United Rugby Championship, the top European (predominantly Celtic) tournament. Their home ground is Ravenhill (capacity 18,000) south of Ormeau Park. Rugby league (13 a side) isn't played in Ireland. Soccer: the city has four teams in the NIFL Premiership, the province's top tier. This plays Sep-April like the rest of the UK, while the Republic plays in summer. Linfield FC often win the Premiership and qualify for European tournaments. Their home ground is Windsor Park (capacity 18,000) which also stages international matches. It's two miles south of city centre, take the bus down Boucher Rd or train to Adelaide station. Cliftonville FC play home games at Solitude Stadium, capacity 3200, north side of the city on Cliftonville Rd. Crusaders FC play at Seaview, capacity 3880, a mile north of the centre off Shore Rd. Glentoran FC notoriously rejected the young George Best for being too small and light. Their home ground The Oval has a nominal capacity of 15,000. It's east of the centre in Sydenham towards the airport that's named for that light skinny fellow. Gaelic games: Casement Park was the traditional stadium for Ulster GAA, but it's derelict, with games transferred to St Tiernach's Park in Clones. Golf: see Holywood for Royal Belfast Golf Club. The south edge of the city and Lagan valley is strewn with golf courses. Ice Hockey: Belfast Giants play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the UK's top tier. Their home rink is the SSE Arena.

Tours

These are especially useful for outlying or "interface" areas where a solo traveller might hesitate to venture, and where local knowledge from the guide is invaluable. Black Taxi tours use the London-style taxis which also ply regular city routes, see Get Around. A 90-minute tour in 2026 might be £75-£100 for 1-3 people. Operators include Taxi Trax, Paddy Campbell, Black Taxi Tour , NI Black Taxi Tours and Belfast's Past. Bus tours are run by Belfast City Sightseeing and City Tours Belfast. Both use bright red open-top double-deckers, you hop-on and hop-off at the various sights. They also run tours to the Giant's Causeway and anywhere vaguely associated with Game of Thrones. Walking tours are led by Belfast Mural Tours, Belfastology, Yellow Umbrella, DC Tours, Walking Tours Belfast, y tambien Tours por Belfast en español.

Shopping

Central Belfast has a large retail area, with Castle Court on Millfield to the west through Corn Market to Victoria Square on the east. 1 Smithfield Market, Winetavern Street BT1 1JE. M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Small mall north of Castle Court with some 30 independent retailers. (updated Jan 2026) 2 St George's Market, 12-20 East Bridge Street BT1 3NQ. F 8AM-2PM, Sa 9AM-3PM, Su 10AM-3PM. Lively indoor market in an 1896 building with a grand range of food, clothing and crafts. (updated Jan 2026) 3 No Alibis, 83 Botanic Ave BT7 1JL (next to Scalini), ☏ +44 28 9031 9601. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM. Renowned quirky independent bookshop, specialising in crime and US fiction. (updated Jan 2026) O'Neills Sportswear are within Castle Court Shopping Centre (M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 1-6PM) and at 564 Falls Road BT11 9AE. They stock their own brand sportswear, but their usp is as outlets for Gaelic Sports equipment, jerseys and memorabilia, ideal for a distinctive souvenir. Inns Cross Farmers Market is off Saintfield Rd (A24) south edge of the city near the A55 junction. It's 10AM-2PM on the first Saturday of the month.

Eat

Budget

Maggie Mays, Branches at Queens St, 50 Botanic Ave, 2 Malone Rd and 44 Castle St. M-Sa 8AM-5PM, Su 10AM-5PM. Traditionally this is where you rock up with a hangover, for colossal servings of Ulster breakfast - bacon, sausage, egg, fried bread, soda bread, and anything else cardiologically rash. But maybe times are changing: they can even cater for vegans. (updated Jan 2026) Boojum, Branches at Great Victoria St, Victoria Square and Botanic Ave. Daily noon-10PM.. Mexican chain. (updated Jan 2026) 1 Bright's Restaurant, 23 High St BT1 2AA, ☏ +44 28 9024 5688. M-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Old style breakfast and lunch, and traditional ambiance right down to the biddy brushing under your table as you're trying to eat. (updated Jan 2026) Little Italy, 13 Amelia St BT2 7GS, ☏ +44 28 9031 4914. Su-Th 5PM-midnight, F Sa 5PM-1:30AM. There when you need it - pizza takeaway behind Crown Bar opposite the bus and railway station. (updated Jan 2026) John Long’s is a trad fish & chips café by Grand Central Station at 39 Athol St BT12, open Tu-Sa noon-6:30PM. 2 The Bridge House (JD Wetherspoon), 35-43 Bedford St BT2 7EJ, ☏ +44 28 9072 7890. Daily 8AM-1AM. Reliable chain pub, good value food and drink. (updated Jan 2026) Established Coffee, 54 Hill St BT1 2LB (by cathedral), ☏ +44 28 9031 9416. Daily 8AM-4:30PM. Light meals and coffee, with much connoisseur-type folderol over which coffee beans to grind. (updated Jan 2026) 3 Doorsteps, 455 Lisburn Rd BT9 7EY, ☏ +44 28 9068 1645. M-Sa 8:30AM-3PM. Stonking great sandwiches (hence the name) and trad meals, you'll need a hearty appetite. (updated Jan 2026)

Mid-range

Deanes is a chain with five city locations. 4 Queen's Cafe Bar, 4 Queens Arcade BT1 5FF, ☏ +44 28 9024 9105. M-Sa 11:30AM-5PM. City centre pub in the shopping arcade does good grills. (updated Jan 2026) 5 Lee Garden, 14 Botanic Ave BT7 1JQ (block east of Benedicts Hotel), ☏ +44 28 9027 8882. Daily noon-10PM. Reliably good place, especially good value for lunch and dim sum. (updated Jan 2026) 6 Little Wing Pizzeria, 10 Ann St BT1 4EF, ☏ +44 28 9024 7000. M-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Slick friendly place serves pizza Napoli-style. Also has branches on Lisburn Rd and Upper Newtownards Rd. (updated Jan 2026) 7 Scalini, 85 Botanic Ave BT7 1JL, ☏ +44 28 9032 0303. Tu-Th 5-10PM, F-Su 4-10PM. Excellent pizzeria and trattoria near QUB, they make sure you realise they're Italian. (updated Jan 2026) 8 Darcy's, 10 Bradbury Place BT7 1RS (opposite Benedicts Hotel), ☏ +44 28 9032 4040. M-Th 5-9PM, F-Su noon-9PM. Large servings of Belfast cuisine in an old-fashioned candlelit ambiance. Excellent vegan/vegetarian menu. (updated Jan 2026) 9 Archana, 53 Dublin Rd BT2 7HE, ☏ +44 28 9032 3713. Daily 5-10PM. Good Indian restaurant, the lunchtime deals are great value. (updated Jan 2026) Thai Village is opposite Archana at 50 Dublin Rd, open Tu-Su 5:30-10PM.

Splurge

10 Great Room Restaurant, 16 Skipper St BT1 2DY (within Merchant Hotel), ☏ +44 28 9023 4888. Daily 8-10AM, noon-4PM, 6-10PM. Magnificent setting, the food doesn't quite equal it. (updated Jan 2026) 11 Muddlers Club, Warehouse Lane BT1 2DX (50 yards north of Premier Inn Belfast City), ☏ +44 28 9031 3199. W Th 5-9:30PM, F Sa 12:30-1PM, 5-9:30PM. Michelin-starred restaurant, reservations essential. (updated Jan 2026) 12 Shu, 253 Lisburn Rd BT9 7EN, ☏ +44 28 9038 1655. Tu-Sa noon-9:30PM, Su 12:30-6:30PM. Stylish modern French restaurant. (updated Jan 2026)

Drink

Central

1 Crown Liquor Saloon, 46 Great Victoria St BT2 7BA (opposite Europa Hotel and stations), ☏ +44 28 9024 3187. Daily 11:30AM-midnight. Gorgeous authentic Victorian pub. The stained glass windows have been replaced a few times, what with the earth tremors opposite, but the interior is mostly original and gas-lit. Inside, the booths can seat about a dozen people, and may be closed off from the bar with the attractive wood-paneled doors. They are hot property after work on a Friday afternoon, so move quickly if you want the chance to occupy one. Run by the Nicholson's pubs chain, but National Trust ensure the decor remains. Also one of the few pubs in Belfast which sells real ale on cask. (updated Jan 2026) 2 Robinsons Bar (Fibber Magee), 38 Great Victoria Street BT2 7BA (next to Crown Liquor Saloon), ☏ +44 28 9024 7447. Su-W 11:30AM-midnight, Th-Sa 11:30AM-1AM. Trad "long" pub, established 1895. The saloon (front end off GVS) is decorated with Titanic memorabilia, this is the area for a quiet pint. Head to the first floor bistro for food, served until 9PM. The back bar is Fibber Magees, which you can also enter via the alley behind Travelodge: this has trad music every night. (updated Jan 2026) Europa Hotel (see Sleep): the Piano Bar tinkles away on the first floor. 3 The Garrick, 29 Chichester St BT1 4JB, ☏ +44 28 9032 1984. M-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, Su noon-midnight. This slick Victorian pub does good beer and grub. (updated Jan 2026) 4 The Northern Whig, 2-10 Bridge St BT1 1LU, ☏ +44 28 9050 9888. M-W noon-11PM, Th-Sa noon-1AM, Su 1PM-midnight. The Northern Whigs were the United Irishmen who plotted the 1798 rebellion. The site of their seditious club became the offices of the newspaper Northern Whig, a liberal-unionist daily published 1832-1963. That in turn became a bar circa 1997, refurbished in Victorian style in 2016. It gets good reviews for drink and food. (updated Jan 2026) 5 Bittles Bar, 70 Upper Church Lane BT1 4QL, ☏ +44 28 9031 1088. Su-F 11:30AM-11PM, F Sa 11:30AM-1AM. Atmospheric little pub in a distinctive flatiron building. (updated Jan 2026) 6 Morning Star, 17 Pottinger's Entry BT1 4DT, ☏ +44 28 9023 5986. M-Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su noon-11:30PM. Grand alehouse since 1810. Downstairs is a traditional bar whilst upstairs is a food orientated lounge specialising in steaks and whiskey. (updated Jan 2026) 7 McHugh's, 29 Queens Square BT1 3FG (50 yards north of Laganside Buscentre), ☏ +44 28 9050 9999. M-Sa noon-1AM, Su 1PM-1AM. In a building of 1711, with a 100-seat restaurant, a basement bar offering live entertainment and the main gallery. Often has trad music. (updated Jan 2026) 8 Limelight (Katy Daly's), 17 Ormeau Ave BT2 8HD, ☏ +44 28 9032 7007. M W Th 10PM-2AM, F Sa 5PM-2AM. Standard pub early evening, then late night there are four music and club areas: Katy's the main bar, Limelight 1 and 2, and the rooftop Rock Garden. (updated Jan 2026) 9 The Spaniard, 3 Skipper St BT1 2DZ (opposite Merchant Hotel), ☏ +44 28 9023 2448. Daily noon-1AM. Small friendly bar with tapas and cocktails. Great fun. Lesbian friendly. (updated Jan 2026) 10 Duke of York, 7 Commercial Court BT1 2NB, ☏ +44 28 9024 1062. M-Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su 1-8PM. The main Duke of York bar is a classic mirrored beer hall, Harp Bar is a trad saloon with live music, The New Orpheus is its swish extension, The Friend at Hand is the whiskey collection, and The Dark Horse is their events venue. (updated Jan 2026) 11 Whites Tavern, 2 Winecellar Entry BT1 1QN, ☏ +44 28 9031 2582. Su-Th 11:30AM-1AM, F Sa 11:30AM-2AM. Founded in 1630 and probably Belfast's oldest pub. Cosy bar with live music on Friday nights, the Oyster Rooms are the bistro. (updated Jan 2026) 12 Belfast Empire, 42 Botanic Ave BT7 1JQ, ☏ +44 28 9024 9276. M noon-11PM, Tu-Sa noon-1AM, Su 12:30PM-midnight. This former church has three floors of bars and music venues. (updated Jan 2026) Merchant Hotel (see Sleep) has Bert's Jazz Bar in Art Deco style, The Cloth Ear with Victorian decor, and the Cocktail Bar if your budget extends to Champagne. 13 The Points, 44 Dublin Rd BT2 7HN (opposite Arcana). M-Th 4PM-1AM, F-Su 1PM-1AM. Classic Irish pub with a whiskey selection and live music. (updated Jan 2026) 14 Sunflower, 65 Union St BT1 2JG, ☏ +44 28 9023 2474. Su-W noon-midnight, Th-Sa noon-1AM. Lively pub, don't let the security cage put you off , inside is a very welcoming pub with great craft beers on tap and some of the cheapest pints in the city centre. (updated Jan 2026) 15 Kremlin, 96 Donegall Street BT1 2GW, ☏ +44 28 9018 4431. Nightly 10PM-3AM. Soviet-themed gay dance club. (updated Jan 2026) 16 Union Street Bar, 8 Union St BT1 2JF (block west of Kremlin), ☏ +44 28 9031 6060. Tu-Th 5PM-1AM, F-Su noon-1AM. LGBTQ-friendly pub and wine bar with Med food. Shoe Factory is the late club next door. (updated Jan 2026) 17 Kelly's Cellars, 30 Bank St BT1 1HL (off Castle Street), ☏ +44 28 9024 6058. Daily 11:30AM-1AM. Great pub with trad music at weekends, restaurant upstairs. It was built in 1720, and the 1798 United Irishmen uprising was plotted here. (updated Jan 2026) 18 Maddens Bar, 74 Berry St BT1 1FJ, ☏ +44 28 9024 4114. M-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, Su 1PM-midnight. Buzzing pub with trad music at weekends. (updated Jan 2026) 19 Muriel's Cafe Bar, 12 Church Lane BT1 4QN, ☏ +44 28 9033 2445. Daily noon-1AM. Friendly pub serves great gin. (updated Jan 2026)

Craft Beer

Belfast has a growing craft beer scene and now has over 7 breweries operating within the city including 2 brewpubs. Due to NI licensing and the dominance of foreign brewing companies most bars do not stock local beer however there are a number of venues now focusing on selling good quality ales and lagers.

20 Out Of Office Brewing, 96-98 High St, ☏ +44 28 9023 0771. Th-Sa 3PM-midnight. Situated at the top floor of Ulster Sports Club. This brewpub usually has a range of 4-8 of their own beers pouring. (updated Jan 2026) 21 The Deer's Head, 1-3 Lower Garfield St, ☏ +44 28 9043 4655. Th-Sa noon-1AM. Northern Ireland's 1st brewpub which has a large range of their own beers and good food. (updated Jan 2026) 22 The John Hewitt, 51 Donegall St, ☏ +44 28 9023 3768. Th-Sa noon-1AM. This pub is run by Boundary Brewing based in East Belfast. 19 taps of craft beer as well as a great selection of cans and bottles in the fridge. Franky's Lasangeria also operates in here selling great portions of chicken parm and deep-fried lasagne bites. (updated Jan 2026)

Sleep

Budget

1 Lagan Backpackers, 121 Fitzroy Ave BT7 1HU, ☏ +44 28 9514 0049. Basic small hostel, cleanliness varies. Dorm £27. (updated Jan 2026) 2 Belfast International Youth Hostel, 22 Donegall Road BT12 5JN (behind Benedicts Hotel), ☏ +44 28 9031 5435. Basic hostel, central spot near Shaftesbury Square. Dorm £28. (updated Jan 2026) 3 Botanical Backpackers, 63 Fitzwilliam St BT9 6AX. Small independent hostel near QUB, well-run and good atmosphere, LGBTQ-friendly. Dorm £33. (updated Jan 2026) 4 Travelodge Belfast Central, 15 Brunswick St BT2 7GE (opposite bus & railway station), ☏ +44 28 9033 3555, belfast@travelodge.ie. Chain hotel in great location, decor and cleanliness variable. Double (room only) £120. (updated Jan 2026) 5 Global Village, 87 University Street BT7 1HP, ☏ +44 28 9090 4687. Hostel open all year. Simple dorm, no private rooms. (updated Jan 2026) Premier Inn have three hotels: "Cathedral Quarter" on Waring St, "City Centre" on Alfred St, and "Titanic Quarter" at the marina. Ibis have two hotels: "City Centre" on Castle St, and "Queens Quarter" on University St. 6 Vagabonds Hostel, 9 University Road BT7 1NA, ☏ +44 28 9020 9600, info@vagabondsbelfast.com. Lively hostel with friendly staff, reliable wifi, a kitchen, and a large comfortable shared space for hanging out. Bunk £30. (updated Jan 2026)

Mid-range

7 Benedicts, 7-21 Bradbury Place BT7 1RQ (by Botanics railway station), ☏ +44 28 9059 1999. Lively clean mid-range hotel near QUB with good restaurant. B&B double £120. (updated Jan 2026) 8 Holiday Inn, 40 Hope St BT12 5EE (facing railway station), ☏ +44 28 9024 2494. Comfy central chain hotel. B&B double £160. (updated Jan 2026) 9 Leonardo Hotel (formerly Jury's Inn), Great Victoria Street BT1 6DY (a block north of the railway and bus station), ☏ +44 28 9053 3500. A reliable mid-range place. B&B double £190. (updated Jan 2026) 10 Malone Lodge, 60 Eglantine Ave BT9 6DY, ☏ +44 28 9038 8000. This is being refurbished and is expected to re-open in Feb 2026. (updated Jan 2026) 11 Ravenhill House, 690 Ravenhill Rd BT6 0BZ, ☏ +44 28 9028 2590. Cosy welcoming B&B open April-Oct, no children under 10 or dogs. Double (room only) £130. (updated Jan 2026) 12 Old Rectory, 148 Malone Rd BT9 5LH, ☏ +44 28 9066 7882. Comfy charming B&B near university. No dogs. (updated Jan 2026) 13 Tara Lodge, 36 Cromwell Rd BT7 1JW (by Botanics railway station), ☏ +44 28 9059 0900. Smart small hotel near Botanics and QUB. B&B double £130. (updated Jan 2026) 14 Ten Square (Doubletree by Hilton), 10 Donegall Square South BT1 5JD, ☏ +44 28 9024 1001. As central as you can get, facing city hall, can be noisy. Now part of Hilton chain. B&B double £300. (updated Jan 2026) 15 Stormont Hotel, 587 Upper Newtownards Rd BT4 3LP, ☏ +44 28 9065 1066. Good reviews for comfort and catering at this Hastings chain hotel by the gates of Stormont. B&B double £130. (updated Jan 2026)

Splurge

16 Hilton Belfast, 4 Lanyon Place BT1 3LP, ☏ +44 28 9027 7000. Decent mid-range chain hotel next to Waterfront Hall. B&B double £200. (updated Jan 2026) 17 Titanic Hotel, 8 Queen's Rd BT3 9DT (Dockland next to Titanic museum), ☏ +44 28 9508 2000. Swish modern hotel in the former Harland & Wolff offices. B&B double £250. (updated Jan 2026) 18 Europa Hotel, Great Victoria St BT2 7AP (next to GVS bus and railway station), ☏ +44 28 9027 1066. The Europa needed to be a sturdy place in the 20th century, but the only "Troubles" nowadays are raucous parties and the odd car alarm shrieking off. Great location, popular mid-range choice. No on-site parking. B&B double £140. (updated Jan 2026) 19 Malmaison Belfast, 34-38 Victoria St BT1 3GH, ☏ +44 28 9600 1405. Jazzy hotel in a great location, some gripes over noise. B&B double £200. (updated Jan 2026) 20 Merchant Hotel, 16 Skipper St BT1 2DZ, ☏ +44 28 9023 4888. Slick upscale hotel in a converted bank, with spa and rooftop gym. The Great Room restaurant is a splendid ritzy place. B&B double £240. (updated Jan 2026)

Stay safe

Belfast is for the most part a safe, welcoming city. Though there's trouble beneath the surface, it's locals settling old scores, and tourists aren't involved. After dark you should avoid the "interface areas" noted earlier, and keep your wits about you around Shaftesbury Square (between QUB and Grand Central Station), Botanic Station and Strandtown. Beyond that, just follow the same obvious rules you'd follow in any other big city. Keep your nose and big mouth out of local politics (which stretch back 300 years), and expect some banter if you wear the wrong colour of football jersey. Keep well away from rowdy youths, who may attack unprovoked.

Go next

Transport routes radiate from Belfast so virtually all of Northern Ireland is within a day trip. Holywood for the excellent Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster Transport Museum. Hillsborough is a picturesque village, with the grand powerbase of Hillsborough Castle. Giant's Causeway is the standout on the north coast, and can be reached by train or bus. With a car you can meander along the coast via Carrickfergus and Larne into the Antrim Glens and Ballycastle, for ferries to Rathlin Island. The Glens are quiet so the Causeway will feel very touristy by comparison. Derry is a fascinating historic city within its ancient walls. Dublin can be day-tripped by bus or train but deserves much longer.

More pictures of Belfast

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.