Belfast top 9 attractions guide

1. Belfast: top 9 attractions
TRAVEL
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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
Now is the time to explore Belfast’s world-class museums, rich history, varied art scene and 5,000 acres of
parkland rolling into an iconic coastline
TITANIC BELFAST
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Built on the slipways where the ship itself was constructed over 100 years ago, isn’t just a
museum – it’s an experience. Inside the shimmering exterior, you’ll nd nine galleries spread across six
oors mirroring the height of Titanic, as well as interactive exhibitions, an underwater cinema and gantry
rides. This is the whole story, from dream to tragedy. Allow at least three hours to take in a mix of moving
images, special effects and reconstructions – and do book tickets in advance.
Titanic Belfast

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
Simply awe-inspiring at each step. It’s not a museum; it’s an experience.
Later, give a nod to (Harland and Wolff’s yellow cranes) and Head to Hamilton Dock to
see Titanic’s little sister, the , now fully restored and offering a unique onboard time-travel
experience.
Samson & Goliath
SS Nomadic
ST GEORGE'S MARKET
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For an authentic taste of Belfast life, make your way to the renovated . It’s in full ow on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings (with free jazz on the weekends). More than 150 traders set up stalls
laden with everything from antiques to metalwork – but what people really visit this market for is the food.
St George’s Market

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
Incredible seafood, fresh crusty bread, Broughgammon Farm’s goat meat: whatever your tastes, St George’s
Market will provide. Tuck into some Belfast belly-buster soda bread or an Ulster fry, which will ll you for
the day, or head over to Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory stall, with its delicious fudge and colourful sweets.
We guarantee you won't leave empty-handed!
Belfast (In Old Photographs)

The images in Belfast in Old Photographs, many of them
previously unpublished, habe been drawn from the
collections of the Ulster Museum, which holds one of the
largest and most important photographic archives in
Ireland. Focusing on several central themes, they
illustrate with remarkable clarity the changing face and
fortunes of this great city during the century of so after
the Great Irish Famine
Learn more

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
BLACK TAXI TOUR
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6. Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
One of the best ways to see Belfast’s famous wall art is to sign up for a . Knowledgeable
drivers supply an informative history lesson peppered with local tidbits, which re ects on both the city’s
intrinsic traditions and tells the story of the Troubles.
Black Taxi Tour
Political turmoil and past con icts are explored by the guides, with commemoration of much older historic
and religious events also recorded across the city’s walls. Travelling by taxi is also a great way to see the
more recent murals livening up Belfast, which celebrate its modern sporting and cultural icons. Bring a
camera: this is unmissable.

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
ULSTER MUSEUM
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Gleaming from a multi-million pound redevelopment, there are marvels wherever you turn in the
, so give yourself the time to enjoy it all. Alongside exhibitions that track the rise and fall of
Belfast’s craft trades are tens of thousands of fossils, as well as the only dinosaur bones ever found on the
island of Ireland.
Ulster Museum
Works of Asian, African, European and Paci c art adorn the museum, along with the famed Egyptian
mummy, Takabuti. Meanwhile, the archaeological displays capture Ireland’s evolution from the Stone Age
right through to Late Medieval times. The excellent ne art exhibitions offer a glimpse into international
and local history and culture through costume and fashion, pottery, furniture and even jewellery.
BOTANIC GARDENS
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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
A short stroll away from the Ulster Museum are the . Designed in the 19 century by Sir
Charles Lanyon – who also designed parts of Queen’s University – and built in part by Dublin’s Richard
Turner, the Gardens and their ornate cast-iron Palm House are a tribute to Victorian Belfast.
Botanic Gardens th
A relaxing stroll, a peaceful haven
Tripadvisor
Home to an assortment of plants and trees, including geranium, fuchsia, begonia and a hornbeam-leafed
oak planted in the 1880s, the gardens are an exotic bubble in the city. The Tropical Ravine even houses
banana, cinnamon and orchid plants. For those with more of an interest in relaxation than horticulture, a
playground and bowling green are tucked away among the 150-year-old ferns...

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
THE MAC
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Trust us: the (MAC) is where you want to be for music, theatre, art, dance
and everything in between. Opened in 2012, a typical year’s events can range from roller disco to mind-
reading shows and experimental documentaries – and that’s just the theatre.
Metropolitan Arts Centre Belfast
CRUMLIN ROAD GAOL
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Super place for art displays, performances... Acoustics great and amazing architecture inside and out.
Voted one of top attractions by TripAdvisor, is a sight to behold. Closed for
business in 1996 after 150 years, today it is host to everything from educational tours to weddings and
concerts – not to mention claiming to be one of the most haunted sites in Belfast.
Belfast’s Crumlin Road Gaol
Visitors can opt to take part in the Paranormal tour, visiting the hotspots of spooky activity, as well as the
gaol’s execution chamber and ogging room. While it might not sound the best option for the faint of heart,
children and families are catered to as well, with some great kid-friendly tours.
BELFAST CITY HALL
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Belfast’s civic building, the rst opened its doors in 1906 and today runs regular free public tours.
The classical Renaissance style of the building is a source of pride for the people of Belfast – and it’s not
hard to see why. Beautiful stained glass windows adorn the Hall, depicting Celtic myths and legends, such
as the Cattle Raid of Cooley, as well as commemorating victims of the Great Famine and those who fought
in the First and Second World Wars.
City Hall
The grounds feature a number of memorials including the Titanic Memorial Garden to the east, where
bronze plaques are inscribed with the names of the 1,512 people who perished onboard the ship of dreams.

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
The park is also the site of some of the city’s most ancient history: along with the 19 century
are a stone cairn and crannóg. Perhaps the most impressive sight sits atop the basaltic outcrop of
Napoleon's Nose: McArt’s Fort, an old stone fort sitting 1,200 feet (368 metres) above sea level! The
silhouette of Cave Hill itself is said to resemble a sleeping giant protecting Belfast and even inspired
Jonathan Swift to create the character of Gulliver in Gulliver’s Travels.
th
Belfast
Castle
CAVE HILL COUNTRY PARK
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Named for the ve caves along the main Belfast cliffs, is a hive of outdoor activity:
a sprawling expanse of walking trails and orienteering routes, it is home to its own playground and is a
mere ve minutes from Belfast Zoo.
Cave Hill Country Park
Tripadvisor
Located in Belfast’s , the self-proclaimed proprietor of all things “weird and
wonderful” showcases local and international art exhibitions across three separate galleries, as well
as The Permanent Present installation in the main foyer. An added bonus is the Native by Yellow Door
restaurant, a favourite among visitors.
Cathedral Quarter
Lonely Planet Ireland (Travel Guide) Lonely Planet's Ireland is your passport to the
most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden
discoveries await you

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
Cool eats in Belfast
Music in Belfast
Belfast's musical spirit has sparked a musical revolution that echoes around the city to this day.
Titanic Belfast
A Night to Remember (1958) captured people's hearts and imaginations long before Leonardo DiCaprio and
Kate Winslet...
Belfast's food scene is buzzing, lled with cutting-edge restaurants and quirky cafés – it's a truly mouth-
watering...

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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
Speeding around the Titanic Quarter, taking a leisurely stroll around Belfast harbour... here are ve ways
that you...
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5 ways to see Belfast City
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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
Belfast: Home of the Titanic
Belfast is bursting with historic tales and legends in the making, contemporary culture and exquisite food.
Come and...
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Belfast: top 9 attrac ons
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