A visit to Belfast is an essential part of any trip to Ireland. The largest city in Northern Ireland, and its capital, is bursting at the seams with history and culture, and is fully deserving of a few days of exploring. Keep reading for my recommendations of what to see in Belfast in 2 days.
A somewhat underrated and often overlooked city break destination, Belfast is nonetheless one of my favourite places to spend a couple of days. Even though I’ve been there a few times, I always find something new, interesting and fun to do on each visit.
Click here for my full Ireland road trip itinerary
When To Visit
Given its location close to the North Atlantic, the Irish Sea and the Gulf Stream, Belfast weather tends to vary from cool to cold to colder. As with any anywhere in Ireland, there is no guarantee of avoiding rainy weather at any time of the year, although visiting during the summer months offers a better chance of warm and pleasant temperatures.
Depending on what you would like to see and do in Belfast, there are some pros and cons to consider when you are deciding which time of the year to visit.
Peak Season (May – September)
- Pros: Better weather with warmer temperatures and a higher chance of sunshine. The daylight hours are also longer, which is definitely better suited to outdoor activities.
- Cons: More crowds. Inflated accommodation rates.
Shoulder Season (October, April)
This may be the best time for many people to visit, as there are less crowds and some great accommodation rates available. The weather is generally mild with more chance of rain than during the summer months, but warmer and dryer than in the off-season.
Off-Season (November to March)
- Pros: Less crowded at sights and attractions. Cheaper hotel rates.
- Cons: Colder temperatures and a much higher chance of rainy days. Shorter daylight hours.
Getting to Belfast
Belfast is easily accessible by air, ferry, road and rail. Served by its own airport just a short drive from the city centre, Belfast is also just a 90 minute drive from Dublin airport.
Regular train and bus connections are also available from many towns in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Rome2Rio is a great resource which provides up to date information on travel times and costs, as well as links to relevant websites for timetables and bookings.
Where To Stay
Belfast city has plenty of accommodation options to choose from. The following two are both properties I have stayed at in the past and can personally recommend.
Holiday Inn Belfast (an IHG hotel)
Located on Hope Street, this Holiday Inn combines a convenient location with free guest parking in their own car park at the rear of the hotel. Rooms are comfortable but affordable, making it a great base for a short stay in the city.
There are a couple of Holiday Inn properties in Belfast, so make sure to check the address before booking. Click here to see Holiday Inn Belfast on Booking.com.
Belfast International Youth Hostel
This hostel on Donegall Road in the city centre offers both dormitory and private room options at very affordable prices, as well as a small but secure car park with spaces on a first come, first served basis. It is the perfect choice for anyone with a small budget, not only because of the bargain room rates, but also because of the communal kitchen.
Click here to see Belfast International Youth Hostel on Booking.com.
The Titanic Quarter and Museum
Situated on Belfast’s Maritime Mile, the Titanic Quarter welcomes 3.5 million visitors annually, and is home to Belfast’s Titanic experience, as well as Vertigo’s indoor skydiving facility, Belfast harbour marina, and the city’s SSE Arena entertainment complex.
The Titanic Quarter offers enough sightseeing and entertainment options to easily fill an entire weekend, but if you are in the city for just a couple of days, make sure to at least include a visit to the Belfast Titanic experience, plus its neighbour, the SS Nomadic.
There is also a large selection of cafes and restaurants to choose from if you start to feel hungry while you are in the area.
Titanic Belfast
Located beside the Titanic Slipways in the very spot where the ill fated ship was designed and built, Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic from conception, through the construction phase and launch, maiden voyage, and unfortunate demise.
Spread over nine interactive galleries, the self-guided tour leads you through the ship’s story, with sights, sounds and smells included. Admission costs £24.95 per adult, £11 for children under 15, £60 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children, and entry for under 5s is free.
Click here for more pricing information, and to pre-book your tickets.
SS Nomadic
Originally used for ferrying first and second class passengers to the Titanic from Cherbourg, SS Nomadic is now back in Belfast where it was designed and built, and has become a popular tourist attraction in its own right.
Conveniently located next to the Titanic Belfast building, and included in the main attraction’s ticket price,, a visit to the SS Nomadic can easily be incorporated into your 2 day Belfast itinerary. Visitors can explore the tender ship’s four decks and learn what it was like for passengers boarding the Titanic, as well as exploring the differences between the separated class areas on board.
Belfast Peace Wall and Murals
No visit to Belfast could really be considered complete without seeing the city’s famous Peace Walls and Murals. There are many of these walls spread across the city, but undoubtedly the most famous and most visited is the one which divides Falls Road and Shankill Road.
Serving as a canvas for the murals which tell the story of “The Troubles,” the wall is several kilometres long, and is interrupted by a number of high gates, some of which, even to this day, are still locked at night to keep the two areas separated.
In Unionist areas, the murals display an obvious loyalty to the British crown, and Union Jacks and British flags are prominent. On the Nationalist or Republican side of the wall, there are murals dedicated to prominent Republican figures, including Bobby Sands and the 1981 Hunger Strike, as well as showing solidarity with revolutionary groups.
How to see the political murals
- Independently: It is quite easy to see the political murals independently. It is just a short walk from the city centre to the main Peace Wall which separates the Shankill Road and Falls Road communities. From here, you can do a loop around the wall and see the murals on each side.
- Take a walking tour: See the murals on foot, accompanied by a local guide who will explain the history of the murals.
- Take a black cab tour: See the historical murals and Peace Wall by taxi, with free pick up from the city centre, guided by a knowledgable local.
Click here to see my recommended Political and Mural Tour.
St. Anne’s Cathedral
St. Anne’s Cathedral, or Belfast Cathedral as it is also known, is a Church of Ireland cathedral located on Donegall Street and is considered to be the focal point of the city’s Cathedral Quarter. It is a popular attraction with visitors to the city due to a number of unique features.
- It serves 2 separate dioceses, and therefore has 2 bishop’s seats.
- It has only one tomb, that of Irish unionist Lord Carson.
- The Spire of Hope, installed on the top of the cathedral in 2007, a lightweight spire that was designed because the ground beneath the building is too soft to support the weight of a traditional heavy central tower.
Click here to read more about the history and features of St. Anne’s Cathedral.
Albert Memorial Clock
The Albert Memorial Clock, or the Albert Clock as it is most often referred to, is an impressive structure in Queen’s Square. Described as Belfast’s very own version of Pisa’s leaning tower, the clock was built as a memorial to Queen Victoria’s late husband Albert who died in 1861.
The clock was constructed on Belfast sleech, the marshy and muddy reclaimed land around the intersection of two rivers, the River Farset and the River Lagan. Over the years, the soft ground could not fully support the weight of the 2,000 tonne monument, and so it began to tilt.
Various ornamentation was removed from the tower in 1924 for fear that it would topple completely, and in 2002 restoration work began to strengthen the foundations and stabilise the clock. These same restoration efforts also cleaned the tower to reverse the effects of damage caused by traffic pollution and weather.
As well as including a statue of Prince Albert, the memorial also boasts a number of ornately carved Gothic style crowned lions, angels, gargolyes, and floral decorations, plus a 2 tonne bell which can be heard 8 miles away.
Grand Opera House
The Grand Opera House, designed by Frank Matcham, opened in December 1895 and is still used as a venue for musicals, drama, ballet, opera and comedy performances. It is also home to the Heritage Exhibition, which follows the theatre’s journey from its construction on the former site of Ginnett’s Circus, right through to the present day.
With a capacity of 1,058, the theatre’s stage has played host to Laurel and Hardy, Luciano Pavarotti, Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, and a young Anthony Hopkins. It was used as a cinema between the years of 1961 and 1972, then closed for a number of years during the Troubles.
After being bought by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and listed in 1974, it remained closed until 1980, after which it once again hosted well known performers including Rowan Atkinson, Emma Thompson and Darcey Bussell.
Click here to book a show or a tour on the Grand Opera House’s official website.
Outside Belfast
Belfast city is also a great base for visiting some of the sights and attractions in the surrounding area. Some of these include:
The Giant’s Causeway
An area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, located on the County Antrim coast, the Giant’s Causeway was created as the result of a volcanic eruption and is the subject of much folklore and legend
Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
A wire and Douglas fir bridge suspended 30 metres above the water, this popular walkway connects the mainland of County Antrim to the tiny Carrickarede island at the other side. Originally used by salmon fishermen for access to the island, nowadays the bridge’s main purpose is as a tourist attraction.
Dunluce Castle
Perched on a sheer cliff edge on the Causeway Coast, the ruins of Dunluce Castle are an impressive sight and are well worth a visit if you are in the area.
The Dark Hedges
This atmospheric road in County Antrim became a popular tourist photo stop after it was used as a filming location for the popular Game of Thrones TV show.
Bushmills Distillery
The Old Bushmills Distillery uses water drawn from Saint Columb’s Rill, a tributary of the River Bush, to distill its well known Irish whiskey. It is also a popular tourist attraction which welcomes around 120,000 visitors annually.
Click here to read about my day tour from Belfast to see the sights of County Antrim.
Thanks for reading my guide on what to see in Belfast in 2 days.
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