Three Days in Belfast, Ireland

A world-famous aspect of Belfast’s history is that the Titanic was built in its shipyards. The excellent Titanic Museum is a gleaming, modern masterpiece located a stone’s throw away from the very dry dock she was built in. Spend a half day or so exploring and learning more about the ground-breaking, doomed ship and those that built her.

If the museum isn’t enough Titanic history, pre-book a tour at Titanic Distillers, located in the historic dry dock pump house just down the road. You can climb into the original dry dock with your guide and walk where the ship last rested on dry land. Alternatively, if you’re ready to pivot to a different subject, you can book a tasting tour instead and learn more about the process of making Irish spirits.

A Black Cab tour is my top, must-do activity when you are in Belfast. You’ll spend an hour and a half or so driving through the Unionist and Republican Belfast neighborhoods that were central to the sectarian violence during the Troubles from the 1960s-90s. Your cabbie/tour guide will be a local that lived through those times and can provide a personal perspective on both the history and how that period of history still impacts life in Northern Ireland today.

After you arrive back in the city center, walk past the impressive City Hall, built at the height of Belfast’s Industrial wealth during the Victoria era. Step inside to marvel at the grand interior, and swing through the free museum covering the history of the city.

Spend the rest of your evening exploring the Cathedral District, the former trade and warehouse district that contains some of the oldest buildings in the city. Tuck into some historic pubs for a pint and live music. My top suggestions:

• The Crown Liquor Saloon with its original Victorian wooden snugs is truly a grand dame, with intricate tilework and red granite bar.

• Kelly’s Cellars - dating from 1720, this historic pub is great for live music.

• If it’s history you’re after, White’s Tavern is truly the oldest pub in the city - it dates from 1630!

Get out of the city and take a day trip to enjoy some of Northern Ireland’s stunning natural beauty. Either rent a car or book a tour to visit the Giants’ Causeway, a natural rock formation on the northern coast of Ireland resembling giant steps and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, enjoy the drive on the Antrim Coastal Road, and perhaps stop at a historic castle as well.