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Has anyone been to Belfast Before? What's there to do there?
guttridge
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Hi all planing a busy to Ireland soon will prob head to Belfast what is there to do in Belfast ? Any highlights?
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guttridge
Posts: 1,884
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That asides there are tons of great bars and restaurants, the titanic museum and shipyard. its a brilliant city. youre also close to everything in NI so you can go to the giants causeway, the antrim coast (which is probably one of the most stunning views in the world) and much more. All mostly within an hours drive
I'd suggest either visiting Derry which has a little more character or Dublin if you want to stick to cities. If you don't mind driving around quite a bit there are plenty of places to visit outside the cities - you could take one of the Antrim coast tours which takes you up to the Giants Causeway with several stops en route for instance.
Like I say I wouldn't recommend Belfast. I don't think there's an awful lot to do culturally speaking although the tourism people blab on about the culture so much. I don't particularly rate the Titanic Museum either, although many others seem to enjoy it so perhaps it's worth a look to decide for yourself.
How can you say not a lot to do in Northern Ireland capital yet think Derry is great? Which part you visit bringing up sectarianism. Wise up. Belfast is great
Titanic isn't bad but I think you need to have a bit of an interest in it already, I went to it with my friend and her boyfriend and he was bored senseless.
Stormont is a little bit out but it's not a bad place to visit either, even if just for the views from outside it.
Like has been said before if you have access to a car, take yourself outside the city and up to somewhere like the Giant's Causeway or the Glens of Antrim if you can, the north coast is beautiful.
Person makes a thread wanting advice for things to do in Belfast. You type up a load of tripe about not going to belfast.
Wise up.
Check out what's on at the opera house or ulster hall while you're there. Or the Waterfront hall. There is always something on there.
Go into belfast city centre and you have any amount of bars and clubs and restaurants. For tourists the Crown bar is probably the best.
Further into the city centre you have botanic gardens and the ulster museum which is all free.
Titanic centre again is somewhere to go.
Think there is boat tours you can go on down the river Lagan.
For shopping go to Victoria Square in yeh city centre.
Their whole identity is based on the troubles whereas the countryside culture is built upon generations of Gaelic culture.
Like the south, Northern Ireland is all about the countryside.
Best stay where you are.
Rubbish. You couldn't get somewhere less soulless. I go out every weekend in Belfast and there is NOTHING about the troubles in the culture I experience.
Countryside culture?? What...farmers, gay haters, traditional folk bloody greyhound racing or some shit? Sounds boring.
I'm sure there isn't, I've seen all those sex tapes in belfast nightclub toilets.
The only troubles for them hussies is that the belfastie men can't satisfy them.
Dublin has an interesting history regarding the Vikings, etc, if you are into that sort of thing.
However one thing I don't like about Dublin is that their museum has many archaeological artifacts that were originally found in the lands of modern Northern Ireland hence the Ulster Museum in Belfast should really have them.
It isn't, unfortunately, a 'museum'. It's a 'thing'. There are more genuine Titanic artifacts in Southampton's town museum than in the Belfast attraction. Most of the artifacts raised from the sea floor are currently being pimped around a casino in Las Vegas.
That is as idiotic as bleating about American rurals and redneck culture.
Belfast is a nice city, people are generally friendly and there are lots of things to see and do. Some great places to eat and some nice pubs for the 'craic' as well as the more touristy things as well. Even somewhere like Victoria Square and going up to the dome to see the views from there is worth a visit. The Titanic centre is meant to be good that's what you're into (I haven't been myself but I intend to) and the troubles tours can be interesting as well for visitors. It's a nice city at night as well and although there are rough areas, I find that if you stick with the city centre or around the Golden Mile at night, you should be okay.
If you're into your food and that, there's St George's market at weekends which has a wide selection of food and also craft stalls, and Victoria Square has a market on a Sunday.
I'm from up the coast from Belfast but am there all the time as I love the city.
I do agree with some of the other posters above though, the Antrim coast is a nice part of the world and if you're a GoT fan, there's lots of places to visit from the show. There's also the Giant's Causeway and the Rope Bridge up around that part of the world, but as they are National trust owned, the prices can be quite steep.
Derry is a lovely city and one I visit often but I don't think it can quite rival Belfast. I'm lucky I guess that where I live is roughly the same distance to both cities so I fairly central where I live.
It's actually possible...if you happen to work in Stormont Estate, to reach 127mph on a motorcycle between the front gate and Carson's Statue on that stretch of well-kept tarmac...
I found it amazing to hear the story of Michael Stone, getting as far as the front entrance to Stormont before being stopped!
Yeah it's 1mile between the front gates and the building apparently (or was it 1km?) In any event, the distance seemed less than that. Optical illusion I guess. I think reaching almost 130mph on that road is a story worth telling!
Titanic quarters
Stormont
Shankill road and Falls road
Crumlin Jail
Ulster museum
Peace wall
Shankill road is a must to walk down, it can look a intimidating place what with all the murals etc etc but I have been there few times and locals are really friendly and dont mind you taking pictures of anything you like. Just remember the treat the place with respect and you will be fine
The whole estate is absolutely beautiful