Areas of Interest in Belfast

Donegall Place offers usual high street shopping.  For something different try St George’s marked, refurbished with shops and restaurants.  Open on Fridays 6:00am to 1:00pm when its mainly a farmers market and Saturdays 10:00am to 4:00pm accompanied by live music.  Try Lisburn Road for all types of individual one off stores including some upmarket fashion boutiques.

For those interested in the culture visit the Queen’s University and the Ormeau Baths Gallery.  The biggest cultural draw is the Ulster Museum, but it closed for refurbishment until spring 2009.  St Anne’s Cathedral is Belfast’s version of the Sagrada Famlia although it does not have the scale of the temple in Barcelona.  Built in Hiberno-Romanesque style it features the largest Celtic Cross in Ireland, sculptures and mosaics.

Catholic Falls Road and the Protestant Shankill Road are memorable to every visit.  You can wander freely along both sides of the sectarian divide, take a bus or a Black Taxi Tour which will also take in Milltown Cemetery the Peace Line and the Harland and Wolff shipyard.

In the grounds of the City Hall there is a monument to the Titanic, the doomed vessel that set sail from the city in 1911.  From many parts of Belfast ‘Samson and Goliath’ yellow cranes can be seen at the Harland and Wolff Shipyard where the Titanic was built.  Tours of these areas and the city are available Monday to Saturday.  The simplest and possibly most rewarding of the hikes is the ‘Highway to Health’ a circular and sign posted trail through the city centre beginning at the City Hall.

Eating Out in Belfast

For a late breakfast the Giraffe on Stranmillis Road.  Relax in comfy chairs with coffee, muffins, bagels and bacon sandwiches.  There are plenty of other eating options near by.

For a quick lunch or snack try Molly’s Yard on College Green Mews.  The interesting menu offers something different such as mushroom and wilted rocket toast topped with melted cheese or poached crayfish with Caesar salad.

For simple good quality Irish food, visit Nick’s Warehouse in the evening close to the Merchant on Hill Street.  Open from Tuesday to Saturday there are excellent seafood and vegetarian options also available.

Belfast Night Life

On Great Victoria Street The Grand Opera House can be seen with Indian style façade and tiny turrets.  Inside there is a recently refurbished elegant and spacious new foyer.  If you do make it into the auditorium notice the sculpted elephants that support the boxes and the gaudy ceiling.

The Crown Liquor Saloon is a preserved Victorian drinking den.  With elaborate decorations and painted carvings, each seating booth comes with its own service bell and drink prices are affordable too.

The Merchant is worth visiting to enjoy the rich luxurious surroundings.  The cheapest glass of wine available is around £5 so you will probably only stay for one.

Local Information

The Belfast Welcome Centre tourist office is on Dongall Place and provides all the information you could need.

From the Airport to Belfast

The easiest airport for weekenders it the George Best City just two miles east of the city centre.  A bus runs frequently to the city’s bus depot beside the Hastings Europa Hotel.

Belfast’s International Airport is 12 miles west.  Buses also run from here to the city’s bus depot.