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Activities & Attractions in Belfast

Things to do

What to do, what to see and where to go in Northern Ireland's capital city

For such a small and compact city, Belfast has an amazing array of activities and attractions for you to choose from. There are not too many cities in which you can visit a world-class visitor experience, see a top-class rugby team, take in a blistering ice hockey game and visit the stomping grounds of one of the greatest musicians of all time. Belfast is one of those cities where there is a story on every street.

Popular attractions

An unmissable visit to Titanic Belfast

Catching your first glimpse of Titanic Belfast in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, is an unforgettable moment. 1,000 workers spent four years on the construction of this landmark building. When it was completed in 2012 nothing of its kind had ever been seen in Ireland before. It is a stunning work of architecture and design. The shimmering glass and aluminum building dominates the area. It even manages to outshine Harland and Wolff’s two great yellow cranes - Samson and Goliath.

Inside is no less impressive and the story of the Titanic, its building, its people and its fate is told with cutting edge interactive tools that bring the whole thing to life. We’ve said it once, but we will say it again: this is without doubt one of the top things to do in Belfast.

A room with a view and two mountains too

You’ll catch another glimpse of the biblical cranes from the Dome at Victoria Square. This glass dome rises high above the city’s skyline and boasts 360-degree views across Belfast. It’s completely free and, should you feel the urge to, as they say, buy the T-shirt, there is a rather large shopping centre right underneath.

The best views of the city however are out in the mountains. Both Divis and the Black mountain offer a fantastic trail along the edge of Belfast’s hills, but be warned that it will take you half a day to complete and you’ll need a good pair of walking shoes. Although a little steeper, you might be better venturing up to Cave Hill and looking over the city from there. Locals know the hill as Napoleon's Nose and according to legend its resemblance to the face of a sleeping giant, gave Jonathan Swift the inspiration for Gulliver.

There are several routes you can take to the top of Cave Hill but the most popular, and probably best, is via the stunning Belfast Castle. There has been a castle of some sort on this site since the 12th century. John Lanyon designed and completed this spectacular sandstone construction in 1870. Inside, the Castle Tavern and Cellar Restaurant offer breakfast, lunch and dinner but you might want to wait until you’re down the hill for that!

Botanic, Queens and surrounding areas in Belfast

Closer to sea level and the city centre, you need to visit the city’s famous Botanic Gardens. Even if you’re not so keen on horticulture, it’s a soothing spot for a stroll, to take a book or have a picnic with your family. Fans of the BBC/RTE series The Fall will recognise it, but we sadly can’t promise you’ll bump into Jamie Dornan when you go. You will however see a statue of Lord Kelvin who invented the Kelvin Scale, used to measure temperatures. There is also the spectacular Palm House built by Charles Lanyon in 1839.

Right next to the wonderful gardens, are the grounds of Queen’s University. Ranked well within the top 200 universities in the world, Queen’s has always been a beacon of learning in Northern Ireland. It has produced some of the land’s finest minds. As well as politicians, presidents and prime ministers there have been poets Seamus Heaney and Paul Muldoon, actors Liam Neeson and Stephen Rea and the BBC’s finest disc jockey, Annie Mac. The rather functional-looking Whitla Hall played host to Jimi Hendrix on his 25th birthday.

Trace the tunes of Van Morrison

Did somebody mention music? Well you’re in Belfast, so it’s never far away. So let’s get onto Van Morrison. Crossing over the Lagan from the Botanic Gardens and walking or cycling through the city’s oldest public park, Ormeau Park, will take you to Elm Grove Primary School. It doesn't look like much, but this is where Van the Man attended primary school and it is the starting point of the Van Morrison Trail. If you have even a passing interest in “Van the Man” then this 3.5km tour is well worth following. This area inspired much of Morrison’s acclaimed album, Astral Weeks, and on the tour you’ll find out why. It’s a lovely thing to do in Belfast as it gives you an insight into a man whose soul was steeped in the city.

More sport than you could shake an ice hockey stick at

Speaking of Belfast Giants, sports fans will want to consider taking in a game of ice hockey and seeing the current Elite League Champions at their home in the SSE Arena. And followers of rugby will not want to miss a Friday night at the Kingspan Stadium, an often raucous but always good-natured stadium. This is the home of Ulster Rugby where you can get up close and personal with some of the world’s greatest exponents of the game... while enjoying a few pints.

Do some time in The Crum

You’ll hear more about locks and wings when you visit the impressive Crumlin Road Gaol. Known locally as ‘The Crum’, this was an active prison until 1996. Since then it has become an extremely popular tourist attraction. The prison tours are top-class.

Finish with food and drink at the Victorian St George’s Market

Morning is the best time to visit the beautiful St. George’s Market. This bustling indoor street market hosts around 300 traders, artists, musicians, and food vendors. It is open Friday to Sunday and is the perfect place to soak up a bit of local atmosphere while trying local produce. It’s yet another unique experience that Belfast has to offer.

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Belfast Photo Tours

Belfast

Address

Olympic Way, Titanic Quarter (Tour Starting Point), Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9EP

Telephone
+44 (0)7904 155 036

mark@belfastphototours.com

Price
Price £29.00 Per Ticket to £195.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

Welcome to the world of film photography on this small group photo walking tour of Belfast like no other. Explore the iconic Titanic Quarter of Belfast and on into the vibrant Cathedral Quarter where all things make great photographs on this…

Dates

From:

14 Apr 2025to30 Sept 2025

Price
Price £29.00 Per Ticket to £195.00 Activity

More Info
Dunmurry Golf Club

Belfast

Address

91 Dunmurry Lane, Dunmurry, Belfast, County Antrim, BT17 9JS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9061 0834

info@dunmurrygolfclub.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

In 1983, Dunmurry Golf Club moved from its original location north of Dunmurry village to a site overlooking the River Lagan and adjacent to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park. With views up the Lagan valley to the south and north towards the Belfast.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
The Secret Day Spa

Belfast

Address

30 Belmont Road, Belfast, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 2AN

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9067 1914

contact@thesecretdayspa.co.uk

Type

Type:

Spa and Well-being

The Secret Day Spa on Belfast's Belmont Road is a dedicated deluxe boutique spa with gorgeous surroundings and great pampering packages.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
108 reviews
Prison Island

Belfast

Address

Unit 3, 17 Balmoral Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT12 6QA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9038 0862

admin@prisonislandbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

4 Activities in 1 Venue - One of Belfast’s Top Attractions.
Open late 7 days a week, located 10 minutes from the city centre.
Prison Island Belfast | Multi-Activity Venue is a MUST for the Bucket List this visit to Belfast.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- Ramp to main entrance
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wi-fi available
Crescent Arts Centre

Belfast

Address

2-4 University Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT7 1NH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9024 2338

info@crescentarts.org

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and Courses

The Crescent is a diverse community arts centre which has served the population of Belfast and beyond with a wide range of arts and cultural activities for almost 30 years.

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Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)

Belfast

Address

2 Titanic Boulevard, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9HQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9053 4800

proni@communities-ni.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Ancestry / Tracing Your Routes

PRONI holds an extensive range of private archives and is the main venue for researching family and local history or for discovering the economic, social and political history of Northern Ireland.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Blackwood Golf Centre

Bangor

Address

150 Crawfordsburn Road, Bangor, County Down, BT19 1GB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 2706

info@theblackwoodgc.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

Premier pay and play golf facility with open Stableford every Friday. Visitors are always most welcome to come along and play the course..

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

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Hilden Brewery

Lisburn

Address

90-192 Grand Street, Hilden, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT27 4TY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9266 0800

info@hildenbrewery.co.uk

Type

Type:

Brewery

Hilden Brewery is Ireland's Oldest Independent Brewery. We have been running for over 40 years and in the last seven have added a second brew house, a bottling line and a canning line. *CURRENTLY CLOSED TO VISITORS*

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Stormont Estate

Belfast

Address

Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 3LP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9037 8103

stormontemu@finance-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Public Park

Stormont Estate is a Green Flag Award winning public park recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s best green spaces. On a visit, you can enjoy the beautiful gardens, walking and fitness trails and children’s play park.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Waterworks

Belfast

Address

Waterworks, Cavehill Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 3AS

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Belfast's former water supply is now home to many birds and wildfowl. A popular place for local people.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Funky Monkeys - Kennedy Centre, Children's Indoor Play Centre

Belfast

Address

Unit 57 Kennedy Centre, 580 Falls Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT11 9AE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9061 2292

kennedycentre@funkymonkeys.ie

Type

Type:

Indoor Play Area

Funky Monkeys Soft Play Café are NI’s leading indoor play centres for children aged eight and under, featuring play frame equipment which has been specifically designed through the recognition that children can learn and develop their minds.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Street Art Walking Tour

Belfast

Address

Commercial Court, (starting point), Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2NB

Telephone
+44 (0) 7843 590 097

info@seedheadarts.com

Type

Type:

Arts and Culture tours

Belfast is a place where street art has flourished & artists from around the world have come to paint. Devised and led by the local artists this is a two hour, gently paced guide to the ever changing face of street art in the Cathedral Quarter.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1125 reviews
Belfast Castle Estate

Belfast

Address

Antrim Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 5GR

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9077 6925

bcr@belfastcastle.co.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Public Park

Belfast Castle estate is situated on the lower slopes of Cave Hill Country Park in North Belfast. It contains both parkland and mature mixed woodland and offers superb views of the city from a variety of vantage points.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Licensed
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises - Reopened May 2024 Opening hours Sunday - Thursday 12pm-7pm Friday and Saturday 12pm-8pm Booking essential (For menus and to book visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastcastle/eat-drink/cellar-restaurant )
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi - Belfast Public Wifi on site
- Wi-fi available
Aberdelghy Golf Course

Lambeg

Address

1 Bell's Lane, Lambeg, Antrim, BT27 4QH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9266 2738

aberdelghy@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

An attractive 18 hole parkland Course situated minutes from Lisburn City Centre.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Somme Museum

Newtownards

Address

233 Bangor Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 7PH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 3202

claire@sommeassociation.com

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

The Museum examines Ireland's role in the 1st World War with special reference to the cross-community involvement in the 3 local volunteer Divisions: the 10th and 16th (Irish) Divisions and the 36th (Ulster) Division.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Ulster Historical Foundation

Newtownards

Address

Ulster Historical Foundation, Bradley Thallon House, Unit 44D, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4TJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9181 2073

enquiry@uhf.org.uk

Type

Type:

Ancestry / Tracing Your Routes

The Ulster Historical Foundation, est. 1956, is a not-for-profit educational charity. Learn about the history of Ulster and your ancestors' lives and migration experiences first-hand through talks and tours to some of Ulster's most historic sites.

More Info
Whitespots Country Park

Newtownards

Address

233 Bangor Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 7PH

Telephone
028 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Walking Route - Short (<5 miles)

Whitespots has a fascinating industrial heritage and a walk here gives an insight into the lead mining which took place here from the late 18th century until the 1910s. In the mid 19th century, around 40% of the total lead produced in Ireland was…

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Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland

Belfast

Address

Assembly Buildings, Fisherwick Place, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 6DW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9072 7330

phsilibrarian@pcinet.org

Type

Type:

Ancestry / Tracing Your Routes

The library and archive of the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland is an important resource for the history of Presbyterianism in Ireland and for those with Presbyterian roots.

More Info
Ards Arts Centre

Newtownards

Address

Town Hall Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4NP

Telephone
028 9181 0803

arts@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Arts Centre

Located in Newtownards’ beautifully restored Georgian Town Hall in the centre of town, the Ards Arts Centres a welcoming space which supports a wide range of community arts activities alongside our own initiatives.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
118 reviews
North Down Museum

Bangor

Address

Bangor City Hall, Castle Park Avenue, Bangor, County Down, BT20 4BT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 1200

museum@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Visit North Down Museum to explore the fascinating saga of the North Down area from the Bronze Age to the present day. The Museum takes you on a journey through Early Christian heritage and the Vikings to Scottish Settlers and the Victorians.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi