Northern Ireland
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Northern Ireland - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. City Hall
Central DistrictBuilt of Portland stone between 1898 and 1906 and modeled on St. Paul's Cathedral in London, this Renaissance revival–style edifice—the cynosure of central Belfast—was designed by Brumwell Thomas (who was knighted but had to sue to get his fee). Before you enter, take a stroll around Donegall Square to see statues of Queen Victoria and a column honoring the U.S. Expeditionary Force, which landed in the city on January 26, 1942—the first contingent of the U.S. Army to arrive in Europe during World War II. A monument commemorating the Titanic stands in the grounds, and in 2012, a granite memorial was unveiled in a Titanic memorial garden opened for the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking. The memorial, on the east side of the grounds, lists the names of everyone who died in the tragedy. Enter the building under the porte cochere at the front. From the entrance hall (the base of which is a whispering gallery), the view up to the heights of the 173-foot-high Great Dome is a feast for the eyes. With its complicated series of arches and openings, stained-glass windows, Italian-marble inlays, decorative plasterwork, and paintings, this is Belfast's most ornate public space—a veritable homage to the might of the British Empire. After an £11 million restoration, the modernized building has been brought into the 21st century and is home to the Bobbin café. A permanent self-guided interactive exhibition on the history of Belfast spanning 16 rooms covers six theme zones including cultural heritage, sporting celebrities, and laureates of the arts. Look out for the exhibit of ceremonial keys presented by visiting dignitaries from 10 U.S. towns and cities, reflecting the close ties between Northern Ireland and America. In the courtyard a 60-jet fountain has been dedicated to Belfast City Council members killed during the Troubles. Free, one-hour guided tours of the building are available or you can rent headphones for £3.50. Tours are held weekdays at 11, 2, and 3, and weekends at noon, 2, and 3.
Belfast, Co. Down, BT1 5GS, Northern Ireland028-9027–0456Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours free -
2. Linen Hall Library
Central DistrictWith its distinctive grayish-yellow brick, this library—the oldest subscription library in Ireland—is a comfortable place to escape the bustle of the city streets. The library, which has been awarded museum status, has an unparalleled collection of tens of thousands of documents and books relating to the Troubles, regarded as the definitive archive and attracting scholars from all over the world. A digital archive launched in 2018, Divided Society, features a wide range of material relating to the peace process of the 1990s resulting in the Belfast Agreement on Good Friday in 1998. One early librarian, Thomas Russell, was hanged in 1803 for supporting an Irish uprising; another early user, Henry Joy McCracken, a founding member of the United Irishmen, went to the scaffold owing the library £1.30 in subscriptions arrears, a debt that was eventually paid by a descendant in 2001. American visitors in particular like to see one extremely rare item: the original document recording the first ever acts passed by the American Congress in New York on March 4, 1789. On the walls are paintings and prints depicting Belfast views and landmarks. Much of this artwork is for sale. Look out for the beautiful stained-glass windows on the first floor featuring portraits of men eminent in literature and science. It's an ideal hideaway for relaxing with a newspaper, enjoying the library's café, and falling into conversation. Guided 45-minute tours are held at 10:30 am weekdays.
17 Donegall Sq. N, Belfast, Co. Down, BT1 5GB, Northern Ireland028-9032–1707Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, tours from £5, Closed weekends -
3. Titanic Belfast
Titanic QuarterThis world-class attraction headlines a "Titanic Experience" exhibition along with showcasing nine linked interpretative galleries that outline the Titanic's dramatic story as well as the wider theme of Belfast's seafaring and industrial heritage. The stunning bow-shape facade of the six-story building reflects the lines of the great ship, the shardlike appearance created from 3,000 different-shape panels each folded from silver anodized aluminum sheets into asymmetrical geometries. The ultimate, startling effect is of light caught by a cut diamond. As you wander through Titanic Belfast, you learn about the thriving boomtown at the turn of the 20th century; the ride through the reconstruction of the shipyards echoes with the sounds and sensations of more than 100 years ago. In one of the galleries, the ship's saga is brought up to the present with the discovery of the wreck and into the future with live links to contemporary undersea exploration. Also on-site is a movie theater designed by the Titanic explorer Robert Ballard (he discovered the wreck in 1985), which shows films about the ship. From time to time new exhibits are added; one of these is the original plan used during the British Titanic Inquiry held one month after the sinking. The historic plan was a vital reference tool and contains markings indicating where the liner struck the iceberg. The inquiry concluded that the loss of the liner had been brought about by "excessive speed." Tours are self-guided; audio guides are available in seven languages and cost £4. The one-hour Discovery Tour (£10) explores the symbolism of the Titanic building and incorporates the new Titanic Hotel, the converted former drawing offices of Harland & Wolff shipyard. The admission price to Titanic Belfast includes access to the nearby SS Nomadic, Titanic's original tender ship and the last remaining White Star Line vessel. Following a stint as a Parisian restaurant and nightclub, Nomadic was restored and visitors can experience a permanent and tangible piece of maritime heritage at Hamilton Dock. You can separately book a visit to the Nomadic on its own. Tickets are £7. You can also buy a White Star Premium Pass (£30) for daylong benefits such as discounts in the bistro and in the Titanic Store, as well as access to SS Nomadic and a personalized souvenir photograph of your visit. Tickets for Titanic Belfast are based on a timed ticketing, with slots available every 15 minutes throughout opening times; last admission is one hour, 45 minutes before closing time. On selected Sundays, afternoon tea is hosted by the grand staircase in the Titanic Suite, but must be booked in advance. The cost is £28.50, £35.50 with a glass of prosecco, or £39 with a glass of Heidsieck Monopole Champagne, the official champagne of the RMS Titanic.
6 Queen's Rd., Belfast, Co. Down, BT3 9DT, Northern Ireland028-9076–6386Sight Details
Rate Includes: £19.50 includes Titanic Experience tour at Titanic Belfast and entrance to SS Nomadic; discovery tour £10 -
4. Albert Memorial Clock Tower
Central DistrictTilting a little to one side—not unlike Pisa's more notorious leaning landmark—this clock tower was named for Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. The once-dilapidated Queen's Square on which it stands has undergone a face-lift, and a restoration has brought the clock back to its original glory. The tower itself is not open to the public.
View Tours and ActivitiesBelfast, Co. Down, BT1 3FG, Northern Ireland -
5. First Presbyterian Church
Central DistrictDating back to 1644, the First Presbyterian Church has been located in Rosemary Street since 1783, and in 2019 held a special service to mark 375 years of worship. It is the oldest church building in Belfast in continuous use and it is worth calling to see its elliptical interior and sampling some music. It hosts free lunchtime recitals on Wednesdays in July and August. Guided tours, lasting 45 minutes, are held on weekday mornings at 11 and are free.
41 Rosemary St., Belfast, Co. Down, BT1 1QB, Northern Ireland078-4885--7614 -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. High Street
Central DistrictOff High Street, especially down to Ann Street (parallel to the south), run narrow lanes and alleyways called entries. Though mostly cleaned up and turned into chic shopping lanes, they still hang on to something of their raffish character, and have distinctive pubs with little-altered Victorian interiors. Among the most notable are the Morning Star (Pottinger's Entry off High Street), with its large windows and fine curving bar; White's Tavern (entry off High Street), Belfast's oldest pub, founded in 1630, with plush seats and a big, open fire; and the delectable Muriel's Café Bar in Church Lane, with its damask drapes and velvet seats, themed on a 1920s hat shop. Look into St. George's Church, at one end of High Street, a beautiful building with a magnificent portico transported by canal from the house of the eccentric Earl Bishop of Derry. Don't miss Kelly's Cellars, a 200-year-old pub in Bank Street, not far from High Street. The bar was the meeting place of the militant nationalist group, the Society of United Irishmen, whose leader Wolfe Tone is remembered as the founder of Irish Republicanism. A colorful wall mural erected in the upstairs bar in 2018 features the poet Seamus Heaney, writers such as Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan, and Samuel Beckett, and musicians including Phil Lynott and Sinéad O'Connor. At lunchtime they serve tasty bowls of filling beef stew, but get there early as stocks are limited ( 028/9024--6058).
High St., Belfast, Co. Down, Northern Ireland -
7. Lagan Boat Company N.I. Ltd
Central DistrictTo see the city from a different perspective, board the Titanic harbor tour, which takes in the shipyard where the famous liner was built. The 65-minute tour leaves daily (March--October) from Donegall Quay at 12:30, 2, and 3:30 pm near the Big Fish sculpture (a gigantic salmon covered in tiles and printed with text and imagery about Belfast). Weekend tours are held in the winter months. Tickets can be bought in the Maritime Emporium shop beside the Obel tower at Donegall Quay.
66 Donegall Quay, Belfast, Co. Down, BT1 3NG, Northern Ireland028-9024–0124Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours £12.50, Titanic tour end of Mar.–Oct., daily noon, 2, and 3:30; Jan-Mar weekends, times vary. -
8. Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC)
Cathedral QuarterEye-catchingly beautiful, and flooded with light, the Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC) is Northern Ireland's flagship home for the arts and energizer of the Cathedral Quarter's flourishing creative scene. Six stories tall, and with two theaters, three art galleries, and artists' studios—along with a café, bar, and restaurant—the MAC is the centerpiece of the neo-Palladian St. Anne's Square development. The MAC makes an astonishing statement with redbrick and dark basalt, oak furnishings, Danish fabric panels, steel balustrades, bronze window frames, and dark-gray terrazzo flooring. Downstairs is a 350-seat auditorium, while upstairs is a 120-seat studio. The galleries present up-and-coming Northern Irish artists as well as attention-grabbing temporary exhibitions incorporating the works of world-renowned artists. The only permanent display is a sculptural artwork by Mark Garry, commissioned by the MAC and the Thomas Devlin Fund, created in memory of a 15-year-old boy killed in an unprovoked attack in North Belfast. Made up of 400 metal wires in the main foyer, it creates a color spectrum through the space with the aim of highlighting the futility of violence. Ushers, known as "MACtivists," are on hand to help point you in the right direction.
Exchange St., Belfast, Co. Down, BT1 2LD, Northern Ireland028-9023–5053Sight Details
Rate Includes: Galleries free, Closed Mon. and Tues. -
9. Sinclair Seamen's Church
Central DistrictBy the riverfront is one of the most appealing churches, Presbyterian Sinclair Seamen's Church. Designed by Charles Lanyon, the architect of Queen's University, it has served the seafaring community since 1857. The pulpit is shaped like a ship's prow; the bell is from HMS Hood, a Royal Navy battleship sunk in Portland Harbor on the south coast of England in 1914; and even the collection plates are shaped like lifeboats. Tours are offered between March and December on Wednesday from 2 to 4:30 pm.
Corporation Sq., Belfast, Co. Down, BT1 3AJ, Northern Ireland028-9031–9931Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Jan. and Feb. -
10. St. Anne's Cathedral
Cathedral QuarterAt the center of the eponymous Cathedral Quarter, St. Anne's is a turn-of-the-20th century edifice in the Irish neo-Romanesque style. Lord Carson (1854–1935), who was largely responsible for keeping the six counties inside the United Kingdom, is buried here by virtue of a special Act of Parliament. His is the only tomb. The 175-foot stainless-steel Spire of Hope atop the cathedral's roof adds to the city's skyline and shines brightly as a beacon of newfound optimism for the future. A multilingual audio guide allows visitors to immerse themselves in the history of the cathedral's walls though speech and music. A new trail, incorporating the history and highlights of the building, was launched for visitors in 2020. The German Luftwaffe bombed this section of Belfast during World War II; on the cathedral's Talbot Street side, at No. 21, the Northern Ireland War Memorial has an interactive exhibit about the war.
View Tours and ActivitiesDonegall St., Belfast, Co. Down, BT1 2HB, Northern Ireland028-9032–8332Sight Details
Rate Includes: £5, includes tour, guidebook, and audio guide -
11. St. Malachy's Church
Central DistrictOpened in 1844, this is one of the most impressive redbrick Tudor revival churches in Ireland. One of the interior highlights is the densely patterned fan-vaulted ceiling, a delightfully swirling masterpiece of plasterwork—whose inspiration was taken from the chapel of Henry VII at Westminster Abbey in London—that's been tastefully repainted in cream. The painting over the high altarpiece, Journey to Calvary, was carried out by portraitist Felix Piccioni, whose family were refugees from the Austrian region of Italy. In 1868, the largest bell in Belfast was added to the church, but after complaints that its deafening noise was interfering with the maturing of whiskey in the nearby Dunville distillery, it was wrapped in felt to soften its peal and vibration. Along the southeast wall of the church gazing out in contemplative mood with his brown eyes and torn chocolate-brown coat is the delicate statue of the Ragged Saint. St. Benedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of the unemployed, welcomes visitors into the ethereal elegance of one of Belfast's most architecturally romantic buildings.
Alfred St., Belfast, Co. Down, BT2 8EN, Northern Ireland028-9032–1713Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
12. St. Peter's Cathedral
West BelfastThe elegant neo-Gothic "twin spires" of St. Peter's Cathedral dominate the skyline of West Belfast. Finding this Roman Catholic cathedral is difficult, but worth the effort. Built in 1866, when the Catholic population was rapidly increasing, St. Peter's acted as a focal point for the community.
Belfast, Co. Down, BT12 4BU, Northern Ireland028-9032–7573 -
13. Ulster Hall
Central DistrictIt has hosted Charles Dickens, the Rolling Stones, and Rachmaninov as well as a diverse range of Irish politicians from Charles Stewart Parnell to Ian Paisley. Built in 1862 as a ballroom, the Ulster Hall, affectionately known as the Grand Dame of Bedford Street, is still thriving. Much of W. J. Barre's original decor has been restored and 13 historic oil paintings reflecting the history and mythology of Belfast by local artist Joseph Carey are on display in their original magnificence in the Carey Gallery. Another highlight is an interpretative display featuring poetry, pictures, and sound telling the history of the hall through personal reminiscences. During World War II, the building was used as a dance hall by U.S. troops based in Northern Ireland. The hall is also the permanent home of the Ulster Orchestra. Drink in some of Belfast's colorful history, and reflect on the fact that it was here in March 1971, Led Zeppelin debuted "Stairway to Heaven" on stage. At the box office you can buy tickets for all upcoming events at both Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall.
View Tours and Activities -
14. W5 Belfast
Titanic QuarterPart of the Odyssey complex in Belfast's docks, the W5 center underwent a £4.5 million revamp during 2020, and it takes a high-tech approach to interpreting science and creativity for adults and children. It offers scores of brand-new exhibits for kids to explore through games. Video displays and flashing lights enhance the futuristic feel, and you can do everything from exploring the weather to building houses, bridges, and robots. The Discovery exhibits for children under eight cover subjects such as spying, forensics, and nature. A huge multistory climbing structure called Climbit, a cross between a maze and a jungle gym, is a fun feature in the atrium for kids three and up. Make your way to the upper floors for spectacular views over the city and beyond.
2 Queen's Quay, Belfast, Co. Down, BT3 9QQ, Northern Ireland028-9046–7700Sight Details
Rate Includes: £9.50
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