2 days in Belfast

Day by day

1. Day 1: Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic

   Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic, Belfast City Hall and Murals and peace walls of west Belfast, then Crown Liquor Saloon in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Titanic Belfast

      Outside, the outline of the slipway is marked on the ground.

   2. Late morning

      SS Nomadic

      Restored and set in Hamilton Dock, she can be explored from the first-class lounge to the engine room.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ulster fry

      Cafés across the city, hotel breakfasts and the stalls at St George's Market on weekends.

   4. Afternoon

      Belfast City Hall

      Inside, a free exhibition covers the city's history, the marble staircases and council chamber can be seen on free guided tours, and the grounds hold a Titanic memorial garden listing those who died.

   5. Late afternoon

      Murals and peace walls of west Belfast

      Black-taxi tours and walking tours, often led by local guides from each side, are the clearest way to understand them.

   6. Evening

      Crown Liquor Saloon

      Visit mid-afternoon on a weekday to have a better chance of getting one of the snugs.

2. Day 2: Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens and Palm House

   Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens and Palm House, Crumlin Road Gaol and St George's Market, then Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ulster Museum

      Entry is free.

   2. Late morning

      Botanic Gardens and Palm House

      The lawns fill with students and families on sunny days.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Soda bread and potato bread

      Local bakeries and supermarkets; buy a pack to fry at home or have one toasted with butter in a café.

   4. Afternoon

      Crumlin Road Gaol

      Guided tours take you through the tunnel that once led to the courthouse across the road, the cells, the condemned man's cell and the execution room.

   5. Late afternoon

      St George's Market

      Saturday's food and craft market is the busiest.

   6. Evening

      Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral

      Come back after dark, when traditional music sessions start in several of the pubs.

Before you go

• Titanic Belfast: Entry is by timed ticket and summer and weekend slots fill up; book online in advance.

If it rains

• Swap in Linen Hall Library (City Centre): Stop at the upstairs café for a quiet cup of tea in the book-lined rooms.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–16 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.3 hours in December to 17.2 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking is the easiest way to see the centre, and the waterfront path links the Big Fish to the Titanic Quarter over the Lagan Weir footbridge.

More or fewer days

• One day in Belfast
• 3 days in Belfast

Questions travellers ask