One Day in Belfast for First-Timers
One day in Belfast for first-timers: an honest itinerary
Belfast is not a pretty-postcard city, and it does not pretend to be. It is a shipbuilding town that built the Titanic, a city that lived through thirty years of the Troubles, and today one of the friendliest, liveliest places in these islands. One day is not enough, but it is enough to understand why people come back.
Key facts
- Belfast: capital of Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom; the currency is the pound sterling
- City Hall: free; the building opens Monday to Friday 9am–5pm and at weekends 10am–5pm; free guided tours Monday to Friday at 11am, 2pm and 3pm
- Titanic Belfast: adult £24.95 online or £26.95 at the door; allow 2 to 3 hours
- St George's Market: Friday, Saturday and Sunday only
- Ulster Museum: free entry; closed on Mondays
- Entry rules: the same as for the rest of the UK; see UK visa and entry rules
Morning: City Hall and the centre
Start at Belfast City Hall on Donegall Square, completed in 1906 when Belfast was one of the great industrial cities of the empire. Its marble halls, stained glass and dome were built with the money of linen, rope-making and shipbuilding. The free guided tour on weekdays at 11am is excellent value: tickets are given out at reception on the day, first come, first served, so arrive early. At weekends you can walk in and look around on your own.
In the grounds is the Titanic Memorial Garden, listing the names of those who died when the ship went down in April 1912. It is a good introduction before you head down to the shipyards where she was built.
Midday: Titanic Belfast
Walk or take the Glider bus east to the Titanic Quarter, about 20 minutes on foot along the river from the centre. Titanic Belfast stands on the slipways of the Harland & Wolff yard where the ship was built. The building alone, shaped like four ship's bows, is worth seeing. Inside, the galleries tell the story of the city, the shipyard, the ship and the sinking, and the ticket includes the SS Nomadic, the small tender that carried first-class passengers out to the Titanic at Cherbourg.
Book a timed slot online: it is cheaper and sold-out slots are common in summer. Is it worth the price? Read our honest Titanic Belfast review before you decide. On the way back, look up at Samson and Goliath, the two giant yellow Harland & Wolff cranes that dominate the skyline.
Afternoon: the market, the murals, or the museum
St George's Market (Friday to Sunday)
Belfast's last surviving Victorian covered market, built between 1890 and 1896, is packed at weekends with food stalls, local produce, crafts and live music. Come hungry. On other days it is closed, so swap it for one of the options below.
The murals and the peace walls
To understand Belfast you need to see west Belfast: the Falls Road and the Shankill Road, the political murals, and the peace walls that still separate some communities. The best way is a black taxi tour with a local driver, who will tell you the story from their side; some tours use drivers from both communities. It is not a theme park. Be respectful, and remember that people live here.
Ulster Museum and the Botanic Gardens
If it rains, and in Belfast it may, head south to the free Ulster Museum, with its Troubles gallery, Irish art and natural history, and the Victorian Palm House in the Botanic Gardens next door. Remember that the museum is closed on Mondays.
Evening: the Cathedral Quarter
End the day in the Cathedral Quarter around St Anne's Cathedral, with its cobbled lanes, street art, traditional music sessions and some of the city's best pubs and restaurants. Belfast's nightlife is relaxed and sociable: you will probably end up talking to strangers, and that is part of the point.
Practical tips
- Money: Northern Ireland banks print their own sterling banknotes. They are legal money in Northern Ireland, but some shops in England may refuse them, so spend them before you leave or ask for Bank of England notes.
- Getting there: Belfast has two airports, Belfast International and the George Best Belfast City Airport close to the centre. Trains also run from Dublin, and ferries cross from Scotland and England.
- From the Republic of Ireland: there are no border checks, but UK entry rules still apply to visitors. See our visa and entry rules guide.
- Weather: bring a waterproof jacket, whatever the season.
- Politics: people are open and welcoming, but avoid taking sides in conversations about the Troubles or flags. Listen more than you talk.
Tours and experiences
Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but are always welcome.
Read next
Our full, honest review.
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