Belfast Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Belfast

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Overview

Things to do

Suitability

Country Info (Northern Irel...

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Belfast is the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland. It is also the second largest city on the island (after Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland). Situated at the mouth of the River Lagan on Belfast Lough, Belfast is surrounded by low hills and is relatively small and easy enough to explore by foot.

Belfast was transformed by the Industrial Revolution, and its grand public buildings give it a vigorous, 19th-century feel. Investment in recent years combined with the optimism engendered by the peace process have restaurants, cafes and pubs flourishing with craic to burn.

This compact city boasts a massive arts festival, waterfront artworks and the new Odyssey Complex.

Belfast's compact city centre curls around the undulating west bank of the River Lagan. Most points of interest are within easy walking distance of each other, and City Hall on Donegall Square is a good central landmark to use if you lose your bearings.

Belfast hosts a plethora of festivals and special events. Summer in the City is a council-run programme of events from May to September covering everything from classical and traditional music concerts to community events and the Lord Mayor's Show.

Late March sees the week-long Belfast Film Festival, while on the 17th is St Patrick's Carnival, a celebration of Ireland's national saint marked by community festivals and a grand city-centre carnival.

The Belfast hosts a poplar Marathon and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival which is twelve days of drama, music, poetry, street theatre and art exhibitions held annually around May. Féile an Phobail, said to be the largest community festival in Ireland, takes place in West Belfast over 10 days in early August, with a carnival parade, street parties, theatre performances, concerts and historical tours of the City and Milltown cemeteries.

The Belfast Festival at Queen's is the UK's second-largest arts festival and is held in and around Queen's University during three weeks in late October and early November. The Halloween Carnival is held from 27 to 31 October, with special events across the city, including a carnival parade, ghost tours and fireworks.

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Population: 1.724.400
Languages: English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic
Currency: British pound
Currency code: GBP
Local Times:
U.K. - Northern Ireland - Belfast

Country Dialling Code: +44
Voltage: 230V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
3 large flat prongs

Northern Ireland is a land of blue mountains and forest parks, mazy lakes and windswept moors, white Atlantic sands, an inland sea. Dozens of small towns are hidden away down among the green places of the countryside, and fishing villages string out along the shores. The towers and steeples of parish churches mark the high ground beyond trimmed hedgerows.

The heritage of Northern Ireland is largely rural. Ulster people are outdoor people. They spend their leisure time pottering around the coast or going on family expeditions to the mountains at weekends. The rivers are full of fish , with friendly hotels and B&Bs along the banks to welcome anglers at the end of the day, and lively musical evenings in nearby hostelries. For golfers there are the famous fairways of championship courses and whole series of lovely links, many in enchanting cliff-top settings.

Dozens of small towns are hidden away down among the green places of the countryside, and fishing villages string out along the shores. The towers and steeples of parish churches mark the high ground beyond trimmed hedgerows. The country's turbulent past, which still resonates today, has also helped shape the landscape.

The weather can be fickle but the rain keeps the land a magical emerald green and, when the wind blows the clouds away to sea, the sky like the mountains is blue. The air is clean - and so sweet that you will want to open the car windows to let the breezes in.

There are 50 miles of cruising waters on Lough Erne , sailing on Lough Neagh - the biggest lake in the British Isles - sea fishing off Strangford and the Antrim coast , and many other Water sports. You can go cycling and pony trekking along the seashore and backpacking in the Mournes.

some places to visit;

The three historic cities of Belfast , Derry and Armagh .

The Mountains of Mourne and the sea lough of Strangford .

The Causeway Coast and the Glens of Antrim .

The Fermanagh Lakeland in the south-west.

The Sperrin Mountains and the empty moors of western Ulster

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Belfast Travel Guide

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