Shopping · Belfast · United Kingdom
Shopping in Belfast
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bazonka, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Belfast's shopping centres on Donegall Place and Royal Avenue, with Victoria Square's glass dome, while independent shops, markets and local design studios are scattered through the Cathedral Quarter and south Belfast. Best souvenirs: Irish linen, Irish whiskey and Titanic memorabilia.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Irish linen
Where to shop
Donegall Place and Royal Avenue
The main high-street shopping streets running north from City Hall, with department stores and chains.
Victoria Square
A modern shopping centre whose glass dome has a free viewing platform over the city.
Lisburn Road
Independent fashion boutiques, interiors shops and delis in south Belfast.
Cathedral Quarter
Small independent shops, galleries and craft stores among the bars and restaurants.
Markets
St George's Market
The Victorian covered market's weekend food and craft markets are the city's best place for local produce and crafts.
What to buy
Irish linen
Tablecloths, tea towels and handkerchiefs recall Belfast's history as a linen capital; check the label for Irish-woven linen.
Irish whiskey
Bottles from Bushmills and Belfast's own distilleries are sold in specialist shops and distillery shops.
Titanic memorabilia
The Titanic Belfast shop sells models, prints and books on the ship and the shipyard.
Yellowman and fudge
Honeycomb toffee and local fudge from sweet shops and market stalls.
Local art prints
Prints of Belfast landmarks and street art from galleries in the Cathedral Quarter and St George's Market stalls.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Market · City Centre
St George's Market
Belfast's last surviving Victorian covered market, built in the 1890s, comes alive from Friday to Sunday with stalls selling local produce, fish, crafts and street food, often with live music.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Soda bread and potato bread, Fifteens, Yellowman and Guinness and Irish whiskey. Local bakeries and supermarkets; buy a pack to fry at home or have one toasted with butter in a café. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| City Centre | $$ | City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs |
| Cathedral Quarter | $$$ | Cobbled lanes, St Anne's Cathedral and pubs with live music |
| Queen's Quarter | $$ | Student cafés, Botanic Avenue and the Lanyon Building |
| Lisburn Road | $$$ | Boutiques, brunch cafés and red-brick terraces in leafy south Belfast |
| East Belfast | $$ | C.S. Lewis Square, the Connswater Greenway and Ballyhackamore brunch spots |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in GBP. About 10% is usual in restaurants with table service, unless a service charge is already on the bill. Tipping is not expected at the bar, though rounding up for good service is appreciated.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- April: Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (usually late April to early May)
- August: Féile an Phobail — community arts and music festival in west Belfast (usually August)
- August: Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle (usually last Monday and Tuesday of August)
- October: Belfast International Arts Festival (usually October)
- November: Christmas Market in the grounds of City Hall (usually mid-November to late December)
- December: Christmas Market at City Hall continues (usually until just before Christmas)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and budget
City Centre
City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Belfast?
Irish linen, Irish whiskey, Titanic memorabilia and Yellowman and fudge.
+Where is the best shopping in Belfast?
Donegall Place and Royal Avenue: The main high-street shopping streets running north from City Hall, with department stores and chains.
+What are the best markets in Belfast?
St George's Market.