Balmoral Hotel Belfast, Belfast

Energetic capital city

Belfast sits on the north east coast of Northern Ireland. This bustling energetic capital city is a popular weekend break destination. Art, culture, shopping, entertainment and history bring visitors in ever increasing numbers. You choose what type of weekend you fancy. The old city centre is packed with places to go and things to do. The Cathedral Quarter and the Linen Quarter are great areas to explore on foot. The surrounding countryside and coastline is perfect for wild walks, top class golf and historical sites.

Picnic lunches in the sun

The monumental Belfast City Hall sits proudly in the heart of the city. The grounds are busy with visitors admiring the Victorian façade and the Titanic Memorial. During the summer you will also find the local Belfast population enjoying a picnic lunch in the beautiful surroundings. The area north of the City Hall is busy with shops, markets, bars and restaurants. There are several large shopping centres with the area around the Victoria Shopping Centre particularly popular.

Explore the Titanic Quarter

Belfast plays a significant part in the history of the Titanic. The doomed liner was built in the Harland and Wolff shipyard on Queen’s Island. The area is now known as the Titanic Quarter and is home to the impressive Titanic Belfast – a massively popular visitor attraction that sits on the very slipway the Titanic was launched from. Beyond the city and the dockyards, Belfast acts as the perfect base from which to explore the wild north eastern coast of Ireland. The Giant’s Causeway, the Antrim Coast Road and the picturesque coastal towns of Portrush and Portstewart are all within one and a half hours by car.

From the lively pubs serving top quality bar meals to a wide range of cafes and restaurants offering the best in local produce, Belfast is a real food lover’s destination. The city is busy with excellent cafes and restaurants alongside coffee shops and take away stops. The Cathedral Quarter is a cultural hotspot and there are some nice cafes as well as bars and restaurants in the area. If you want to go straight from food to a night out you might prefer the lively Queen’s Quarter. This area in South Belfast is home to Queen’s University and the choice of bars, restaurants and clubs reflects the local population.

Top Tip:

Start your day with an Ulster Fry. You may not need to eat again until the evening!

There are great pubs and bars spread across the city centre and surrounding area. You will find grand old pubs playing host to local musicians, modern bars and a good range of gastro pubs for a family night out. For a lively night head to the bars and clubs of the Queen’s Quarter which are busy seven nights a week thanks to the local student population. Take your pick from authentic pubs, lively lounge bars and large nightclubs. Take the chance to explore other areas of Belfast including the Linen Quarter behind the City Hall and the little streets running off the Royal Avenue.

Belfast is blessed with an impressive range of high street shopping opportunities as well as several large indoor shopping centres. Victoria Square is at the heart of the retail zone with a large indoor centre full of large high street brands and places to eat and drink. The pedestrianised streets surrounding the centre are lined with shops including local speciality stores. Look out for the ‘Spirit of Belfast’, a sculpture at the centre of Arthur Square – it’s a great meeting point. North of Victoria Square is the Royal Avenue – a broad street running towards Buoy Park and Ulster University on the outskirts of the city. Just off Royal Avenue is the Castle Court Shopping Centre, home to an equally impressive range of outlets including large department stores.

Top Tip:

Make time to visit the historic St George’s Market. This Victorian indoor farmer’s market is home to a wide range of stalls and traders. Great for foodies.

Things to do in Belfast

You must pay a visit to the Titanic Belfast across the river on Queen’s Island. The area is in constant re-development and the visitor centre is at the heart of this exciting area. Within the city centre take the time to visit the imposing City Hall on Donegall Square. The gardens are lovely to walk around and the interior is amazing. Away from the centre, take a trip to Belfast Castle, north of the city and standing proudly over the surrounding landscape with amazing views of the coast and working docks. On a clear day you should get a good view of the twin cranes in the Harland and Wolff shipyard – Samson and Goliath. These bright yellow cranes are a real landmark on the Belfast horizon.

We Recommend

This historic pub should be on every Belfast visitors to do list. The Victorian façade and interior appear unchanged and the Guinness is as good as any in Belfast. If you’re lucky you will manage to secure one of the ornate, private booths complete with gas lighting.

Tucked in behind the Royal Avenue, this popular seafood restaurant serves the very best local seafood in cosy surroundings. From simple dishes of fresh oysters to curried mussels and large portions of fish and chips, this seafood bar is a winner. It may be worth booking if you plan to visit at the weekend.

Belfast comes alive for this annual celebration of St Patrick. Parades, carnivals and a city wide party await.

Fast Facts

·         Currency – GBP

·         Time Zone – GMT

·         Travel Time – Belfast (BFS) - 1 hour 25 minutes (London)

·         Transfer Time – 35 minutes (Taxi)