Things to See and Do in Belfast
Stormont
Stormont in East Belfast is home to the government of Northern Ireland. The beautiful architecture of the building is reflective of a Greek classical tradition and measures exactly 365 feet wide, one foot for each day of the year.
Highlights include the Great Hall, the Assembly Chamber and the Senate.
W5
W5 is Ireland’s award winning science and discovery centre at the Odyssey Complex in Belfast. It is home to 160 interactive exhibits providing lots of fun for visitors of all ages. Start, Go, See, and Do are the four areas of the centre where your imagination and creativity can run wild as you are encouraged to interact with and explore everything.
Ulster Museum
Overlooking Belfast’s beautiful Botanic gardens, the Ulster Museum offers vi
sitors a feast for the senses.
It has long been one of Northern Ireland’s top attractions and offers a rich exploration of history, art and science through its numerous visually stunning galleries and outstanding exhibitions.
Favourite exhibits include the famous ‘Takabuti’ Egyptian mummy, the renowned Belleek Collection, one of the finest porcelain collections in the world, and artefacts from the Spanish Armada galleon ‘La Girona’, which foundered off the north Antrim coast in 1588.
Belfast Castle & Belfast Zoo
The historic Belfast Castle, built in 1870, is a magnificent sandstone building on the slopes of Cave Hill. The Adventurous Playground, an informative visitor centre and the exquisite Cellar Restaurant mean that Belfast Castle provides a fun day out. The nearby Belfast Zoo, home to over 140 species, has protected threatened animals since 1933.
Titanic 100 Festival
Possibly the most famous ship of all time since tragically sinking on its maiden voyage in 1912, the Titanic is celebrated in the city of her birth every April. Exhibitions and tours, including a boat tour from the river, shed a light on the disaster, while also celebrating the skills of the Harland & Wolff workers who created the liner and Belfast’s rich industrial heritage.
Queens University & Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queens
Established in 1845, Queen’s University is one of the oldest universities in Ireland and certainly one of the most beautiful: the striking main building, designed in the Tudor Gothic style, is a distinctive sight on the Belfast skyline.
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival’s unique, fun-fi lled atmosphere has attracted big names including Dizzy Gillespie, Ravi Shankar, Laurence Olivier and Jimi Hendrix and continues to attract the best acts in music, comedy and theatre to the city.
Enjoy a meal in one of Belfast's renowned restaurants
Belfast’s restaurant scene has never been livelier, with daring menus created by world-class chefs. Deane’s Restaurant and Bar is home to one of the finest, Michael Deane, who emphasises simple food cooked well. Another famous restaurant that champions Irish cuisine is Paul Rankin’s ‘Cayenne’ restaurant on Belfast’s Shaftesbury Square.
Things to do after dark!
Belfast’s trendy club scene and top traditional bars make the city a night-time treat. The Cathedral Quarter boasts many clubs which offer a mixture of DJs and live entertainment to dance the night away.
Kelly’s Cellars on Bank Street is one of Belfast’s oldest and best pubs and for the traditional, a visit to the Crown Liquor Saloon is a must.
You’ll be transported back in time to Victorian Belfast as you enjoy a pint of Guinness in one of the famous ‘snugs’.
Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Cultra
Set in 170 acres, the Folk Museum houses over 50 exhibits, which illustrate the way of life and traditions of the people of the north of Ireland from the early 20th century.
The site also houses the Transport Museum, displaying Ireland’s largest and most comprehensive transport collection, including horse drawn carts, motor cars, railway locomotives and aircraft.
For everything to see and do in Belfast visit the
Belfast Welcome Centre