3 days in fabulous Belfast

Belfast Coat of Arms

Belfast is a truly fabulous city.  I had not been there since 1987 when I went to visit friends attending university there.  I lay awake that weekend listening to gun shots and a bomb.  The city I took my son too all these years later is a completely different.  We went to attend a concert and to shop and generally be tourists.  We ate out and found it much more affordable than southern Ireland.  The hotel was fabulous and even though unbeknownst to myself I had booked a place in East Belfast a Unionist area I had no problems.  I must admit I did feel uneasy driving though areas with big Unionist signs and wall murals, in case I would be targeted as I was driving  a southern reg car.   There has been a change in the last couple of years and this year it feels like the unrest in Northern Ireland has resurfaced.  Belfast did have a hard time this year as did some other cities.  This is not a place for me to voice my political thoughts, I was there with my child purely as a tourist.

Est Belfast N. Ireland

East Belfast N. Ireland

East Belfast N. Ireland

Belfast has a great International airport and you can fly to anywhere from there, you can also take the train or the bus which is half the cost of the train at 14 Euro round  trip  and only takes half an hour longer.  The main bus station is just behind the famous Europa Hotel and across from the famous Crown Liquor Saloon. Both places are “must see” locations on the main street.

Belfast N. Ireland

The big “must do” at the moment is Titanic Belfast, although if you’re not interested in the Titanic I imagine it would have limited appeal.   There is a Titanic walking tour where you can visit the Pump House and the dock where the Titanic was built.    Belfast has everything from theater to ice hockey to museums.

As for pubs, if there is one thing that Belfast is not short of, it’s pubs. However you can chug back a pint or five of the black stuff in a traditional bar like Fibber Magees, the Duke of York but don’t miss some of the old pubs with character such as Kelly’s Cellars, the Crown, Bittles. the John Hewitt or White’s Tavern, or the lush surroundings of Bert’s Jazz Bar at the Merchant Hotel or the opulence of Cafe Vaudeville.

The coiste political tours are very popular and the HOHO tours have a reputation of being unbiased which is always a good sign – but they are also very good for covering a lot of the city.

On a wet day and we have many here check out the Ulster Museum or the free Guided Tour of the City Hall which is available from Monday to Friday at 11am, 2pm and 3pm, Saturday at 2pm and 3pm. The building inside is stunning and the tour is very interesting.

Belfast N. Ireland

If you would like to go for a day trip, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, just outside Belfast, is well worth a visit! If the weather is good, you could also consider visiting Belfast Castle and going up the Cave Hill, the views from the top are absolutely amazing and worth it.

Victoria Square shopping Center Belfast

Victoria Square shopping Center Belfast

Shopping.  Many from the south of Ireland frequent Belfast for shopping as it is cheaper and not only for items to bring home but for eating out and entertainment in general.  The biggest shopping center in Northern Ireland is 1 Victoria Square located in Town Center.  It is my favorite in the whole island of Ireland and has everything including great restaurants.

The concert we came to Belfast for was double the price in the south of Ireland and I got a weekend away in Belfast including the tickets show in Dublin for the same cost of just the tickets.

Belfast arena N. Ireland

Have a fantastic time in Belfast!!

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