Things to see & do in Belfast
Titanic Belfast
Built on the slipways where the ship itself was constructed over 100 years ago, Titanic Belfast isn’t just a museum – it’s an experience. Inside the shimmering exterior, you’ll find nine galleries spread across six floors 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.
Later, give a nod to Samson & Goliath (Harland and Wolff’s yellow cranes) and head to Hamilton Dock to see Titanic’s little sister, the SS Nomadic, now fully restored and offering a unique onboard time-travel experience.
St. George’s Market
For an authentic taste of Belfast life, make your way to the renovated St. George’s Market. It’s in full flow 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.
Black Taxi Tour
One of the best ways to see Belfast’s famous wall art is to sign up for a Black Taxi Tour. Knowledgeable drivers supply an informative history lesson peppered with local tidbits, which reflects on both the city’s intrinsic traditions and tells the story of the troubles.
Political turmoil and past conflicts 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.
Ulster Museum
Gleaming from a multi-million pound redevelopment, there are marvels wherever you turn in the Ulster Museum, 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. Works of Asian, African, European and Pacific 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.
Botanic Gardens
A short stroll away from the Ulster Museum are the Botanic Gardens. Designed in the 19th 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.