Outdoors · Belfast · United Kingdom
5 best outdoor things to do in Belfast
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Botanic Gardens and Palm House, Cave Hill and Belfast Castle and Belfast Zoo. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 9–10 hours across 4 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 9–10 hours
- Areas
- Queen's Quarter, North Belfast and East Belfast
Outdoors in Belfast
Garden · Queen's Quarter
1.Botanic Gardens and Palm House
The Tropical Ravine and Palm House are free and make a warm escape on a cold, wet afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · North Belfast
2.Cave Hill and Belfast Castle
Allow about two hours for the circular walk to the summit and wear boots; the paths get muddy.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Zoo · North Belfast
3.Belfast Zoo
The site is very hilly; bring a sturdy pushchair or a carrier for small children.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Architecture · East Belfast
4.Stormont Estate
Take the Glider G1 east to the end of the line, then walk up the Prince of Wales Avenue for the classic view.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- History
Waterfront · City Centre
5.Lagan waterfront and the Big Fish
Walk from the Big Fish over the Lagan Weir footbridge to reach Titanic Belfast in about 20 minutes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Art
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Queen's Quarter | Botanic Gardens and Palm House | 1 hour |
| North Belfast | Cave Hill and Belfast Castle and Belfast Zoo | 2–3 hours + 3 hours |
| East Belfast | Stormont Estate | 1.5 hours |
| City Centre | Lagan waterfront and the Big Fish | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 4 free, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Cave Hill and Belfast Castle; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Queen's Quarter and North Belfast): Botanic Gardens and Palm House → Cave Hill and Belfast Castle, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (North Belfast and East Belfast): Belfast Zoo → Stormont Estate, at least 5 hours.
- Half-day 3 (City Centre): Lagan waterfront and the Big Fish, at least 1 hour.
The best months to be outside
- June: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. Long days, with light until after 10pm, and outdoor concerts and events around the city.
- July: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 12 rainy days, busy crowds. Warmest month; the 12 July holiday sees parades, some business closures and busy roads, so plan around it.
- August: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 12 rainy days, busy crowds. Mild summer weather and festivals; one of the busiest months for Causeway Coast tours.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- City Centre — City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs
- Queen's Quarter — Student cafés, Botanic Avenue and the Lanyon Building
- East Belfast — C.S. Lewis Square, the Connswater Greenway and Ballyhackamore brunch spots
More of Belfast
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Belfast?
Botanic Gardens and Palm House. The Victorian Botanic Gardens beside Queen's University centre on the curvilinear iron-and-glass Palm House, one of the earliest of its kind, and the sunken Tropical Ravine with its jungle plants.
+Which of these are free in Belfast?
Botanic Gardens and Palm House, Cave Hill and Belfast Castle, Stormont Estate and Lagan waterfront and the Big Fish.