Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, a friendly, compact city between green hills and the sea lough where the Titanic was built. You come for Titanic Belfast, one of the world’s great museums, on the very slipways where the ship was launched; for the murals and peace walls of West Belfast, told by the people who lived through the Troubles; for the pubs and live music of the Cathedral Quarter; and as the gateway to the Causeway Coast, the Giant’s Causeway and many Game of Thrones filming locations. Give it two days for the city and a third for the coast.
Right now in Belfast
- Wed 6–12°C 44–53°F 1 mm Light showers
- Thu 6–12°C 43–54°F 6 mm Rain
- Fri 11–15°C 51–58°F 2 mm Mostly clear
Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB
Top tours in Belfast
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Belfast at a glance
- Best for: maritime history, recent history and political murals, pubs and live music, food markets, and the Causeway Coast.
- How long: 2 days for the city, 3–4 with the Causeway Coast and the Game of Thrones locations.
- Best time: May to September for the coast and long evenings; any time of year for the city.
- Getting in: two airports (Belfast City, close to the centre, and Belfast International), ferries from Scotland and England, and the Enterprise train from Dublin.
- Entry rules: Belfast is in the United Kingdom, so most visitors need a UK ETA, even if they cross the land border from Ireland (see below).
- Before you go: money and general safety are in our United Kingdom travel guide.
Belfast’s areas and who each one suits
The city centre
Around Donegall Square and City Hall, with the main shopping streets, Victorian buildings, the Linen Quarter and Belfast Grand Central station. Best for: first visits and easy access to everything.
The Cathedral Quarter
Belfast’s oldest streets, around St Anne’s Cathedral, are now its cultural heart, with cobbled lanes, street art, historic pubs such as the Duke of York and the Spaniard, and live traditional music most nights. Best for: nightlife and a lively atmosphere.
The Titanic Quarter
The former Harland and Wolff shipyard on Queen’s Island, now home to Titanic Belfast, the SS Nomadic, the Titanic Hotel in the old drawing offices and a waterfront walk. The yellow cranes Samson and Goliath still tower over it. Best for: families and history lovers.
The Queen’s Quarter and South Belfast
A leafy student area around Queen’s University, with the Botanic Gardens, the free Ulster Museum, cafés and restaurants along the Lisburn Road and Botanic Avenue. Best for: a relaxed stay and good-value food.
West Belfast
The Falls Road (nationalist and Catholic) and the Shankill Road (unionist and Protestant), separated by the peace walls, with hundreds of murals. Best for: understanding the city’s recent history, ideally with a local guide.
Top things to see in Belfast
Prices and hours below were checked on the official sites in October 2026. They change, so check before you go.
Titanic Belfast
The striking building, shaped like four ship hulls, stands at the head of the slipways where the Titanic and her sister the Olympic were built. Nine interactive galleries tell the story of Belfast’s industrial boom, the building of the ship (with a ride through a recreated shipyard), the launch, life on board, the sinking and the discovery of the wreck. As of October 2026, tickets cost £24.95 for adults, £11 for children aged 5–15 (under-5s free) and £62 for a family of two adults and two children, and include the SS Nomadic, the Titanic’s tender and the last White Star Line ship in the world. Opening hours change with the season; last admission is 1 hour 40 minutes before closing. Book a time slot online, especially at weekends and in summer, and allow 2–3 hours.
Belfast City Hall
The domed Edwardian City Hall dominates Donegall Square, with a Titanic memorial garden in its grounds. As of October 2026, guided tours last 45–50 minutes and cost £6 for adults (children free, but they need a ticket). From October to April they run on weekdays at 11 am, 2 pm and 3 pm, with more tours and Saturday tours from May to September. Tickets are sold first come, first served at the reception on the day, so arrive 15 minutes early.
The Cathedral Quarter
Start at St Anne’s Cathedral, with its stainless steel “Spire of Hope”, then wander the lanes around Commercial Court, Hill Street and Waring Street, full of murals, pubs and music bars. The Crown Liquor Saloon on Great Victoria Street, a short walk away, is a gorgeous Victorian gin palace owned by the National Trust.
The murals and the peace walls
West Belfast’s murals cover everything from the hunger strikes and paramilitary memorials to international solidarity and local heroes, and they are repainted as the city changes. The peace walls, built from 1969 to separate nationalist and unionist neighbourhoods, still stand; some gates close at night. The best way to visit is on a black taxi tour or a walking tour with a local guide, often an ex-prisoner or a resident from each community, who can explain both sides of the story. Visitors can write a message on the wall on Cupar Way. Be respectful when taking photos of homes and memorials.
Crumlin Road Gaol
The Victorian prison on the Crumlin Road held suffragettes, republicans and loyalists until it closed in 1996. You walk through the tunnel to the courthouse across the road, see the cells and the condemned cell, and learn about life inside. As of October 2026, self-guided visits take 60–90 minutes; adult tickets cost £18.50 at the door, less if booked online at least 24 hours ahead, and children £12. It opens on weekdays from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm and at weekends from 10 am to 4 pm.
More things to see
- Ulster Museum: free museum of art, history and natural history in the Botanic Gardens, with a moving Troubles gallery.
- St George’s Market: a Victorian covered market with food, crafts and live music from Friday to Sunday.
- Cave Hill: a hike above the city to McArt’s Fort for views over Belfast Lough, with Belfast Castle below. See our hiking guide.
- The Lagan towpath: a riverside walking and cycling route south from the city. See our cycling guide.
Other sights
- Belfast City Hall
- SS Nomadic
- Titanic Belfast
Museums
- Ulster Museum
Parks and gardens
- Botanic Gardens
Palaces
- Belfast Castle
Peaks and mountains
- Cavehill
Nature
- Giant's Causeway
Day trip: the Causeway Coast and the Giant’s Causeway
The Causeway Coastal Route runs north from Belfast through the Glens of Antrim and along the north coast, one of the most beautiful drives in Ireland. Its star is the Giant’s Causeway, about 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive from Belfast: some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, mostly hexagonal, left by volcanic eruptions about 60 million years ago, and Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tickets and access. The National Trust runs the site. You can walk to the stones for free, but the on-site car park is only for people with a Visitor Experience ticket (and National Trust members). As of October 2026, the Visitor Experience costs from £16 for adults, £8 for children aged 5–17 and £40 for a family, and includes reserved parking, the visitor centre exhibition, an audio guide in 11 languages and hourly guided walks. Prices are lower when you book online in advance, which the National Trust strongly recommends, especially in summer. The visitor centre opens from 9 am to 5 pm; the coastline is open from dawn to dusk. Without a car, the Causeway Rambler (402) and the open-top Causeway Coast bus (177) run along the coast in season, and many day tours run from Belfast.
Along the same coast:
- Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge: a swaying rope bridge to a tiny island, run by the National Trust; book a time slot ahead.
- Dunluce Castle: dramatic ruins on a cliff edge.
- Ballintoy Harbour and the Dark Hedges: two of the best-known Game of Thrones locations.
- Bushmills: Ireland’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery.
- Portrush and Whiterocks: golden beaches and surf. See our beaches guide.
Game of Thrones in Northern Ireland
Much of Game of Thrones was filmed in Northern Ireland, and fans can visit both the studios and the locations. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour at the Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, about 40 minutes south of Belfast, has original sets, costumes and props; book ahead. On the coast, Ballintoy Harbour was the Iron Islands’ Lordsport, and the Dark Hedges, an avenue of twisted beech trees near Armoy, was the King’s Road (the road is closed to cars, so park nearby and walk). Other locations include Castle Ward in County Down (Winterfell) and Cushendun Caves. Several Belfast operators run full-day Game of Thrones coach tours.
Eating and drinking in Belfast
Belfast’s food scene has grown up fast, with a Michelin-starred restaurant, excellent local produce and some of the friendliest pubs in these islands.
- The Ulster fry: the classic breakfast, with bacon, sausages, eggs and the local soda bread and potato bread, fried.
- Seafood: oysters, mussels and fish from Strangford Lough and the County Down coast; try the stalls at St George’s Market at the weekend.
- Pubs and music: the Cathedral Quarter pubs have traditional music sessions most evenings; the Crown Liquor Saloon is the most beautiful bar in the city.
- Whiskey and gin: Irish whiskey from Bushmills, Echlinville and the city’s own distilleries, plus a lively craft gin and beer scene.
- Where to eat: the Cathedral Quarter and the Linen Quarter for restaurants, the Lisburn Road and Botanic Avenue for cafés and casual dining.
Activities and best months
- City sightseeingVisit Belfast's Titanic Quarter guide features Titanic Belfast (the world's largest Titanic visitor experience), SS Nomadic (Titanic's tender) at Hamilton Dock, HMS Caroline at Alexandra Dock, the one-hour Titanic Discovery Tour of the slipways, the Maritime Mile waterfront and the W5 science centre. · source
Getting to Belfast
By air
George Best Belfast City Airport is about 5 km from the centre, with flights from London and other UK cities; a short bus or taxi ride gets you into town. Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove, about 30 km north-west, has more flights from Europe and beyond, with an express bus to the city centre. Dublin Airport is about 2 hours away by direct coach.
By ferry
Car and foot ferries sail to Belfast from Cairnryan in south-west Scotland and from Birkenhead, across the Mersey from Liverpool (Stena Line), and to Larne, north of Belfast, from Cairnryan (P&O Ferries). Taking your car from Scotland or England is a good way to combine Belfast with the Causeway Coast.
By train from Dublin
The Enterprise train, run jointly by Translink and Iarnród Éireann, links Belfast Grand Central station with Dublin Connolly every hour or so: 15 times a day Monday to Saturday from 6 am, and 8 times on Sundays, stopping at Portadown, Newry, Dundalk and Drogheda. The journey takes a little over two hours. As of October 2026, online adult singles from Belfast cost £14.99 to £16.99, and returns £29.98 to £33.98. Book online up to 80 minutes before departure and collect tickets from a machine.
The UK ETA and the Irish border
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, while the rest of the island is the Republic of Ireland, an EU member. There are no passport or immigration checks on the land border, and you can cross freely by road or train. But the UK’s rules still apply: if you need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK, you need one to enter Northern Ireland, including when you cross the land border from Ireland.
- Who needs one: most visa-free visitors to the UK, including from the EU, the US, Canada and Australia. British and Irish citizens don’t, and nor do people with permission to live, work or study in the UK.
- Residents of Ireland: non-Irish citizens who legally live in Ireland, and whose nationality does not need a visa to visit the UK, do not need an ETA when travelling from within the Common Travel Area, as long as they carry evidence of their residence.
- Cost and validity: as of October 2026, an ETA costs £20 (up from £16 in April 2026) and is valid for multiple visits of up to six months over two years, or until your passport expires if sooner.
- How to apply: on the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK only; a decision usually comes within a day but can take up to 3 working days.
Getting around Belfast
The centre is small and flat, and easy to walk. Translink Metro buses and the Glider rapid buses cover the city, with a Glider line running east to west through the centre and another to the Titanic Quarter. Belfast Bikes, the public bike-share scheme, is handy for the waterfront and the Lagan towpath. For the coast and the Game of Thrones sites, take a tour, the train to Portrush (via Coleraine) and the coast buses, or hire a car.
When to go and how long to stay
Belfast has a mild, cloudy and damp maritime climate, with few extremes. The table uses the Met Office’s 1991–2020 averages for the Belfast Newforge station: average daily highs and lows, and days with at least 1 mm of rain.
| Season | Average high / low | Rainy days per month | What it’s like | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | 10–16 °C / 3–7 °C | 11–13 | Fresh, with sunny spells; May is the sunniest month | City walks, the coast, Cave Hill |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 18–20 °C / 10–12 °C | 11–14 | Mild, long days, showers; busiest on the coast | The Causeway Coast, beaches, festivals |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | 17 °C falling to 11 °C / 10 °C falling to 4 °C | 12–16 | Calm September; wet and windy by November | Museums, pubs, the Belfast International Arts Festival in October |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 8–9 °C / about 2 °C | 13–15 | Cool, grey and wet, rarely freezing; short days | The Christmas market at City Hall, indoor sights, live music |
Belfast gets about 940 mm of rain a year on around 156 days, with the wettest months from October to January. Bring a waterproof whatever the season.
Belfast in 2 days
Day 1: Titanic Belfast and the SS Nomadic in the morning, City Hall in the afternoon, and dinner and music in the Cathedral Quarter. Day 2: a black taxi tour of the murals and peace walls, Crumlin Road Gaol, then the Ulster Museum and the Botanic Gardens.
Belfast in 3–4 days
Add a full day on the Causeway Coast with the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede and Dunluce, and a Game of Thrones tour or the Studio Tour in Banbridge. With four days, stay a night on the north coast at Portrush or Ballycastle.
Weather month by month
Averages from Met Office normals 1991–2020, Belfast Aldergrove (airport) · Last reviewed 4 Oct 2026
Where to stay in Belfast
- City centre and the Linen Quarter: the widest choice of hotels, close to everything and to the station.
- The Cathedral Quarter: for nightlife; noisy at weekends.
- The Titanic Quarter: for the Titanic Hotel and waterfront hotels near the museum.
- The Queen’s Quarter: for guest houses, B&Bs and good-value food near the Botanic Gardens.
- The north coast: Portrush, Portstewart, Bushmills or Ballycastle for a night near the Giant’s Causeway.
Book ahead for summer weekends, concerts and big events.
Practical tips for Belfast
- Currency: Northern Ireland uses the pound sterling, not the euro. Local banks print their own notes, which are legal tender in the UK but sometimes refused in shops in Great Britain; spend them before you leave.
- Respect on tours: murals and memorials are part of living communities; ask before photographing people.
- Parades season: around 12 July, parts of the city are busy with parades and bonfires; check local advice and plan around road closures.
- Book ahead: Titanic Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede in summer.
- Phones: if you cross into Ireland, check your roaming plan, as UK and Irish networks differ.
- Emergency number: 999 or 112.
What to pack for Belfast
A waterproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes, layers for changing weather and a warm sweater for windy cliff tops on the Causeway Coast. Bring shoes with grip for the wet basalt stones of the Causeway, and a small day pack and refillable bottle for day trips.
What to pack
- City walking shoesLisbon and Porto are steep, with polished limestone cobbles that get slippery, so grippy soles matter.
- Day packs and anti-theft bagsA small zipped or anti-theft bag makes crowded trams and viewpoints less stressful.
- Rain jacketsFrom October to April Porto and Lisbon see rain on roughly a third of days.
- Travel adapters and convertersPortugal uses Type C and F sockets at 230 V, so most visitors from outside Europe need an adapter.
Belfast travel FAQ
How much are Titanic Belfast tickets?
As of October 2026, £24.95 for adults, £11 for children aged 5–15 and £62 for a family of four, including the SS Nomadic. Book a time slot online.
Is the Giant’s Causeway free?
Walking to the stones is free. The National Trust’s Visitor Experience ticket, which includes parking, the visitor centre and an audio guide, costs from £16 for adults as of October 2026, and the car park is only for ticket holders and members.
How do I get from Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway?
By car in about 1 hour 15 minutes, on a day tour from Belfast, or by train to Coleraine or Portrush and then the Causeway Coast buses in season.
Do I need a UK ETA to visit Belfast?
Most visa-free visitors do, including when crossing the land border from Ireland. British and Irish citizens don’t, and non-Irish residents of Ireland from visa-free countries are exempt with proof of residence. As of October 2026 an ETA costs £20.
Are there border checks between Belfast and Dublin?
No. There are no passport or immigration checks on the Irish land border, but you must still meet the entry rules of each country, including the UK ETA for Northern Ireland.
How long is the train from Belfast to Dublin?
The Enterprise takes a little over two hours between Belfast Grand Central and Dublin Connolly, about hourly. As of October 2026, online singles start at £14.99.
Can you visit City Hall in Belfast?
Yes. Guided tours of 45–50 minutes cost £6 for adults as of October 2026, sold on the day at reception, first come, first served.
Is it safe to do a murals and peace walls tour?
Yes. Black taxi and walking tours of West Belfast are a normal part of visiting the city. Go with a licensed local guide, be respectful and follow their advice.
Where can I see Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland?
At the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge, and on location at Ballintoy Harbour, the Dark Hedges, Castle Ward and Cushendun Caves. Coach tours from Belfast visit several in one day.
Does Belfast use pounds or euros?
Pounds sterling. Northern Ireland is part of the UK. The Republic of Ireland uses the euro.
How many days do you need in Belfast?
Two days for the city, and a third for the Causeway Coast and the Giant’s Causeway.
Nearby destinations
- Causeway Coast77 km
- Dublin140 km
- Glasgow176 km
- Lake District183 km
- Eryri (Snowdonia)227 km
- Edinburgh230 km
- Liverpool233 km
- Galway252 km
Sources
- © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL · fetched 4 Oct 2026
- Wikidata · CC0 · fetched 4 Oct 2026
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Titanic Belfast: the attraction’s official site; City Hall tours: Belfast City Council; Crumlin Road Gaol: the official site; Giant’s Causeway: the National Trust; the Enterprise: Translink; UK ETA: GOV.UK and Visit Belfast; climate: Met Office 1991–2020 averages for Belfast Newforge. Prices, opening hours and entry rules change, so check the official links before you go. For money and general safety, see our United Kingdom travel guide.
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