Belfast: A Treasured Northern Ireland City Often Overlooked

• St. George‘s Market is one of Belfast’s oldest attractions and one of the best markets in the UK and Ireland. There has been a Friday Market on the site since 1604. Today it is a covered market with fresh produce, food stalls, fish, meat and crafts. Often live musicians perform.

• City Hall – One of Belfast’s most iconic buildings opened its doors in 1906. Take the self-guided tour of the stained glass window collection, the monuments, artwork, and memorials that dot the grounds.

• Ulster Museum – A treasure of the past and the present set within the beautiful Botanic Gardens. The five-story museum houses a vast array of art and historical artifacts. You will certainly learn the history of Northern Ireland by visiting this museum.

• Black Cab tour – A must when visiting Belfast. Your guide will take you through the narrow streets of Belfast and explain the stories behind every mural. Hear firsthand what it was like to live through Northern Ireland’s most brutal period.

• Peace wall – You will see this on your Black Cab tour. Stop and sign it!! The walls were erected as a separation barrier between Irish republican or nationalist catholic neighborhoods from the predominately British loyalist and unionist Protestant neighborhoods. The most famous is a 30-foot wall with painted murals that tell stories about the troubles and are also a show of solidarity today.

• Titanic Museum/Experience – An architecturally unique structure built on the site where the Titanic was built. The museum tells the story of the Titanic from conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through construction and launch to the maiden voyage. You can also tour the SS Nomadic ship.

Now head to the Causeway Coastal Route with stops along the way:

• Carrickfergus – One of the oldest towns in Ireland and is most famous for the Carrickfergus Castle which is one of the best-preserved castles in the country. You can visit the castle by joining a tour to learn more about its history. It’s easily viewed from the waterfront area in town.

• Carnlough – The Harbour is one of the nine Glens of Antrim. It is a stop along the Causeway Coastal route for Game of Thrones Fans. Fans may recognize the stony staircase leading down to the sea, filmed as part of the Free City of Braavos Canal, where Arya Stark crawled up from the waters after being stabbed by the Waif in season 6.

• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge – The bridge was originally built to serve as a way for fishermen to have access to the salmon routes around Carrick-a-Rede Island. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It is 65 feet long and 100 feet above the rocks below. It’s mainly a tourist attraction today that is fun to walk.

• Giants Causeway – An area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns which is the result of an ancient volcanic fissue eruption. The Causeway is the only UNESCO World Heritage site in NI. This dramatic site has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. Explore it – it’s free of charge.

• The Dark Hedges – An avenue of beech trees in Country Antrim that form an atmospheric tunnel that was used as a location in the Game of Thrones. It is just off the Causeway Coastal Route.

Day Trips:

If you are heading toward Dublin, you can add this to your list of MUST SEE. Otherwise, it’s a 90-minute drive from Belfast.

• Newgrange and Knowth - The passage tombs of Knowth and Newgrange were built circa 3200 BC. They were ceremonial structures with lots of megalithic art etched on many of the stones.

• New Grange is a 5000-year-old Passage Tomb famous for the Winter Solstice illumination which lights up the passage and chamber for 17 minutes. Your tour will allow you to go inside as they simulate the winter solstice illumination. Remember to duck when entering!!!

• Knowth is a prehistoric monument that comprises a large passage tomb surrounded by 17 smaller tombs. Both monuments are visited on the same tour.

Breakfast:

• St. George‘s Market is one of Belfast’s oldest attractions and one of the best markets in the UK and Ireland. A covered market with fresh produce, food stalls, fish, meat, and crafts. Often live musicians perform. Stop in, sit a while, and have breakfast or lunch.

• Established Coffee – In the Cathedral quarter - known for its legendary “pie and drip” or coffee and pie along with a good brunch menu.

Dinner:

• Crown Liquor Saloon bar and pub which is the oldest bar in Belfast, dating back to the 1820s. The Stained-glass windows are magnificent and all the old wooden pieces also. It was once a gin bar. Must have fish and chips.

• Muddlers Club – One Michelin Star restaurant named after a secret society. Unusual dishes and ingredients, highlighting Irish produce. Great wine list and fantastic staff. Who knew what salsify was so our waiter brought one out from the chef – it’s a root vegetable belonging to the dandelion family.

• Great Room in the Merchant Hotel for fine dining in a gorgeous Victorian space that was originally the main bank of Ulster built in the 1820s.

• Ox – One Michelin Star restaurant with menus designed around the best available seasonal product. The chef is formerly from Paris’ Taillevent.

• Ox Cave – Nextdoor to Ox and a perfect wine bar for small, grazing plates.

• Edo – A modern brasserie with an international menu.