Things to do in Belfast and beyond
Sightseeing
Titanic Belfast sits in the shadow of the unmistakable yellow Harland and Wolff Samson and Goliath cranes that dominate the East Belfast skyline. An award winning, world recognised museum dedicated to the famous, ill-fated White Star Line ocean liner constructed on nearby slipways over 110 years ago.
Nearby you can tour the restored SS Nomadic, fondly referred to as ‘Titanic’s little sister’, which resides in dry-dock, a tender ship constructed by H&W that ferried passengers to Titanic at ports where she couldn’t dock.
At the end of the slipways you’ll find a themed ‘Glass of Thrones’ stained glass window, sister to another window located adjacent to SS Nomadic.
Follow the path beyond the slipways and you’ll find the ‘The Great Light’, a 130 year old lighthouse optic, considered a rare marine artefact.
Further along the road you’ll find the Thompson dry dock and pump house where Titanic and Olympic were fitted out after launch of their hulls.
324 locals recommend
Titanic Belfast
1 Olympic WayTitanic Belfast sits in the shadow of the unmistakable yellow Harland and Wolff Samson and Goliath cranes that dominate the East Belfast skyline. An award winning, world recognised museum dedicated to the famous, ill-fated White Star Line ocean liner constructed on nearby slipways over 110 years ago.
Nearby you can tour the restored SS Nomadic, fondly referred to as ‘Titanic’s little sister’, which resides in dry-dock, a tender ship constructed by H&W that ferried passengers to Titanic at ports where she couldn’t dock.
At the end of the slipways you’ll find a themed ‘Glass of Thrones’ stained glass window, sister to another window located adjacent to SS Nomadic.
Follow the path beyond the slipways and you’ll find the ‘The Great Light’, a 130 year old lighthouse optic, considered a rare marine artefact.
Further along the road you’ll find the Thompson dry dock and pump house where Titanic and Olympic were fitted out after launch of their hulls.
Parliament Buildings
Ballymiscaw RoadC.S. Lewis Square
402 Newtownards RdRedburn Country Park
Old Holywood RoadGeorge Best's Childhood Home
16 Burren WayCrawfordsburn Country Park
32 Bridge Rd SUlster Folk Museum
153 Bangor RdScrabo Tower
Belfast City Sightseeing
10 Donegall Square WestBlack Taxi Tour Belfast
67 Squires Hill RdThe Palm House in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens is one of the oldest examples of a curvilinear cast-iron glasshouse. Following the designs of Charles Lanyon, construction of the Palm House began in the late 1830s. Richard Turner of Dublin was the ironmaker and master engineer, and a few years later, he built the world-famous Palm House at Kew Gardens.
The Belfast gardens were established in 1828. It was an era when the public’s interest in botany, horticulture, and gardening was piqued by the specimens explorers and collectors brought home from abroad.
Opening Times
Mid April to mid August 10:00-21:00. After this date closing times vary.
Palm House open: April to September 10:00-16:45
October to March 10:00-15:45.
The Palm House
3 College GardensThe Palm House in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens is one of the oldest examples of a curvilinear cast-iron glasshouse. Following the designs of Charles Lanyon, construction of the Palm House began in the late 1830s. Richard Turner of Dublin was the ironmaker and master engineer, and a few years later, he built the world-famous Palm House at Kew Gardens.
The Belfast gardens were established in 1828. It was an era when the public’s interest in botany, horticulture, and gardening was piqued by the specimens explorers and collectors brought home from abroad.
Opening Times
Mid April to mid August 10:00-21:00. After this date closing times vary.
Palm House open: April to September 10:00-16:45
October to March 10:00-15:45.
The former Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Offices built c. 1886 is listed building. Once the control centre for the largest shipyard in the world, it was the centre of Harland and Wolff activities for more than a century, where men created, designed and built thousands of ships including the White Star Olympic Class Liners – Olympic, Titanic and Britannic and naval warships such as HMS Belfast.
In 2017 the building was re-opened 30 years after last being used by H&W, having been restored and extended to provide hotel accommodation.
The drawing offices within which Titanic and her sister ships were designed under the oversight of Thomas Andrews are now the main restaurant and main bar of the hotel respectively.
324 locals recommend
Titanic Belfast
1 Olympic WayThe former Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Offices built c. 1886 is listed building. Once the control centre for the largest shipyard in the world, it was the centre of Harland and Wolff activities for more than a century, where men created, designed and built thousands of ships including the White Star Olympic Class Liners – Olympic, Titanic and Britannic and naval warships such as HMS Belfast.
In 2017 the building was re-opened 30 years after last being used by H&W, having been restored and extended to provide hotel accommodation.
The drawing offices within which Titanic and her sister ships were designed under the oversight of Thomas Andrews are now the main restaurant and main bar of the hotel respectively.
Belfast City Hall
Donegall Square NorthCrumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre
53-55 Crumlin RdBangor Castle Walled Garden
Valentine RoadMount Stewart
Portaferry RoadCarrickfergus Castle
Marine HighwayBlackhead Lighthouse
20 Blackhead PathThe Gobbins Visitor Centre
66 Middle RdSeaforde Gardens & Tropical Butterfly House
Seaforde GardensMourne Mountains
Moyad RoadThe Peace Maze
6-8 Burren WalkDundrum Castle
2 Castle HillLondonderry
Inch Abbey
Inch Abbey RoadCarnlough Beach
Glenariff Forest Park
Glenariffe RoadTollymore Forest Park
Bryansford RoadCushendun Caves
Torr Head
Shopping & Food and Drink
Victoria Square is an 800,000 sqft shopping complex in Belfast City Centre that’s home to a raft of premium and designer retail outlets ranging from fashion to accessories.
Retailers include Apple, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Flannels, Guess, Hollinger, H&M, House of Frazer, JD Sports, Remus, Replay, River Island, SuperDry, Tommy Hilfiger, Vans and numerous others.
You’ll also find numerous cafe’s and coffee shops here including Costa and Starbucks, plus a range of recognised popular eateries including Five Guys, Frankie & Benny’s, Nando’s, TGI Friday’s, Wagamama, Burger King and others, in addition to a multi-screen Odeon cinema.
The complex also features a glass dome with an observation deck accessible via lift from which there are 360 degree views of Belfast.
29 locals recommend
Victoria Square Shopping Centre Victoria Square
Victoria SquareVictoria Square is an 800,000 sqft shopping complex in Belfast City Centre that’s home to a raft of premium and designer retail outlets ranging from fashion to accessories.
Retailers include Apple, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Flannels, Guess, Hollinger, H&M, House of Frazer, JD Sports, Remus, Replay, River Island, SuperDry, Tommy Hilfiger, Vans and numerous others.
You’ll also find numerous cafe’s and coffee shops here including Costa and Starbucks, plus a range of recognised popular eateries including Five Guys, Frankie & Benny’s, Nando’s, TGI Friday’s, Wagamama, Burger King and others, in addition to a multi-screen Odeon cinema.
The complex also features a glass dome with an observation deck accessible via lift from which there are 360 degree views of Belfast.
Cathedral Quarter Belfast
18-22 Royal AveIKEA
306 Airport Rd WFamily Activities
Let’s Go Hydro is a water park formerly a reservoir located on the outskirts of South Belfast, offering a wide range of water based activities including an inflatable water park, puddle park, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, open water swimming, kayaking and beach arena.
There is also a forest trail to explore and numerous eateries to choose from.
It is extremely popular, so advance booking is essential.
22 locals recommend
Let's Go Hydro Resort
1 Mealough RdLet’s Go Hydro is a water park formerly a reservoir located on the outskirts of South Belfast, offering a wide range of water based activities including an inflatable water park, puddle park, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, open water swimming, kayaking and beach arena.
There is also a forest trail to explore and numerous eateries to choose from.
It is extremely popular, so advance booking is essential.
Colin Glen Forest Park has recently been ranked in the top 10% of Trip Advisor’s world recommended attractions and offers something for the whole family.
The Gruffalo Trail will appeal to the little ones, whilst the zip lines and Skytrek Tree-top adventure will appeal to older kids and adults.
Everyone will enjoy the exhilarating Black Bull Run, a gravity based track decent through the forest with speed control, whilst there are guided walks for the less adventurous.
It is extremely popular, so advance booking is essential.
8 locals recommend
Colin Glen Forest Park
163 Stewartstown RdColin Glen Forest Park has recently been ranked in the top 10% of Trip Advisor’s world recommended attractions and offers something for the whole family.
The Gruffalo Trail will appeal to the little ones, whilst the zip lines and Skytrek Tree-top adventure will appeal to older kids and adults.
Everyone will enjoy the exhilarating Black Bull Run, a gravity based track decent through the forest with speed control, whilst there are guided walks for the less adventurous.
It is extremely popular, so advance booking is essential.
W5
2 Queens QuayStrand Arts Centre
152-154 Holywood RdPirates Adventure Golf
111 Old Dundonald RdDundonald International Ice Bowl
111 Old Dundonald RdStreamvale Open Farm
38 Ballyhanwood RdFunky Monkeys Dundonald, Belfast
Old Dundonald RoadMo Mowlam Play Park
Summerhill AvenueUlster Museum station
Belfast Zoo
Antrim RoadBangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex
3 Valentine RdFood scene
The Dirty Duck
2-4 Kinnegar RdHoratio Todd's Bar & Restaurant
406 Upper Newtownards RdNeill's Hill Brasserie
229 Upper Newtownards RdThe Lamppost Cafe
19 Upper Newtownards RdOlivers Restaurant
405 Upper Newtownards RdIl Pirata
279-281 Upper Newtownards RdCYPRUS AVENUE
228 Upper Newtownards RdGreens Pizza - Ballyhackamore
283-285 Upper Newtownards RdAcapulco Restaurant
257 Upper Newtownards RdGood Fortune
Eastleigh DriveRajput
205 Upper Newtownards RdGeneral Merchants
361 Ormeau RdCafe Mauds
555 Lisburn RdBennetts
4 Belmont RdCafe Smart
56 Belmont RdTruffles Coffee Shop
63 Belmont RdBistro Este
221 Upper Newtownards RdLittle Wing Pizzeria
10 Ann StFreight Restaurant Belfast
423 Newtownards RdYugo East
306 Upper Newtownards RdThe Hoose bistro
56 Newtownards RdKamakura Sushi and Ramen Japanese Restaurant East Belfast
18 Holywood RdNoble
27 Church RdCoffee Yard
102-104 High StWolfes
Blue Chicago Grill
Old Dundonald RoadWagamama Eastpoint
Kings RoadDaft Eddy's | Bar & Restaurant
1 Sketrick IslandFast Food
Ruddy Duck Fish House
33 Hibernia StMorton's
9 Bayview Rd