When I set off for my trip to Northern Ireland earlier in the year, I was pretty focused on the fact that the majority of my trip was going to be all about discovering the Game Of Thrones filming locations. (Read about it over here!) And I mean, yes, that part was kinda amazing. (Seriously, there were direwolves and everything!)
But I hadn’t really thought much of the day we were spending in Belfast. I didn’t have anything in mind I wanted to do there, and I hadn’t heard anyone rave about it as a destination, y’know?
Well as it turns out, Belfast is a pretty cool city.
In the 24 hours I had to explore Belfast, I managed to see a few of the sights and I got a good vibe from the place. It seems like an A+ city to visit if you want to go out, the nightlife is decent. But it also has lots of history and a few fun things to do there.
So yes, here’s what I got up to on my day in Belfast. It’s by no means a full city guide as I was limited on time, so do let me know in the comments if there’s anything else you’d recommend!
24 Hours in Belfast
Discover The Street Art
I love street art. I just think it gives a city character. Some of my favourite cities are known for their street art – think New York, Manchester, Berlin – but I had no idea Belfast had such a big street art scene too!
I kicked off my morning with a brief tour of the best street art in the city and spotted some really great pieces. A couple of my faves were “The Dream” by Dan Kitchener and “The Dual of Belfast” by Conor Harrington.
Head to the Cathedral Quarter to check out the artwork on North Street, Hill Street, Talbot Street and Exchange Street. But to be honest you could just wander and find some cool stuff on your own. I even found one of RuPaul.
Belfast Black Cab Tour
When limited on time, a city tour is always a great way to get a vibe for a city and see lots of things in one go. So I went on a speedy half-day black cab tour with Billy Scott from Touring Around Belfast. Billy knows everything there is to know about Belfast and will tailor the city tour based on exactly what you want to see.
From City Hall to the Titanic Quarter to the Cathedral Quarter to Belfast’s famous scultures, Billy pointed them all out and described the history of each area we drove through. It’s pretty cool and I soon learned that Belfast has quite a lot going on. Billy also knows all the goss if you want to ask him about local celebrities like the Game of Thrones cast. He has stories for sure!
This would be a good city tour to start you off before deciding where to spend your time in the city, pal.
Titanic Museum
Here’s the thing, the Titanic Museum is one of Belfast’s major tourist attractions, but I didn’t actually go inside…
I needed to leave to catch my flight so to get a bit of a taster, I visited the Titanic Hotel across the road from the museum. Y’see the hotel is actually the former headquarters for Harland & Wolff, builders of RMS Titanic, so has a lot of original artefacts and artwork to do with the ship. Plus it’s just a really nice building to wander.
But on my next visit to Belfast, I for sure need to go to the Titanic Museum. I hear good things from friends that have been, so I thought it was worth adding to this list!
Go To the Pub!
Belfast’s nightlife is really good. I mean, I visited when I was 8 weeks pregnant so couldn’t actually indulge in a bevvy or two, but I appreciated that this would be a banging place to go out with mates.
We checked out The Dirty Onion and the Duke of York on this trip and both were really fun, bustling pubs with a great atmosphere. The kind with people spilled out the front, having a laugh, y’know?
If you’re feeling classy, I also ventured to Cave, which is a real fancy wine bar that also serves delicious cheeses. I mean, what’s not to love?
Ulster Museum
I also went to the Ulster Museum on this trip, but it was mainly just to check out the Game Of Thrones tapestry. Yeah I know, it sounds lame, but it’s a 77m long tapestry showcasing every key scene from the GOT TV series! It’s actually kinda cool so worth checking out.
The museum is also good for local history as well as dinosaur bones and even an Egyptian mummy. Plus, admission is free, so winning.
St George’s Market
Got to love a market on your travels, huh? They just seem to give me a sense of local life, plus offer a multitude of options for authentic souvenirs!
So naturally I visited one of Belfast’s most loved markets on this trip – St George’s.
They sell a variety of wares at St George’s Market from fresh fruit and veg to local arts and crafts. But head there on the weekend when you’ll find local musicians playing and a great atmosphere to enjoy with a coffee. Word on the street is it’s pretty cool here at Christmas too with festive gifts and a choir singing! Sounds dreamy.
Stay at House Belfast
Ok I couldn’t write this post without giving a shout-out to the really cool hotel I stayed at during my visit – House Belfast.
I’ve written a full review on the hotel but let’s just say it’s boutique and cool and has a cherry blossom tree in the middle of the bar. So I mean, what more could you want, huh? (Read my full review over here.)
Is there anywhere you’d recommend to visit in Belfast? Does it sound like your kinda city?
Let me know in the comments below or head over to my Twitter and Instagram pages for regular updates on my travels and life in general.
Total Blogger Transparency: I visited Belfast on a complimentary press trip with Tourism Ireland but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I wouldn’t play you like that, shorty.