Things to do · Belfast · United Kingdom
17 best things to do in Belfast
17 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Belfast are Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall and Murals and peace walls of west Belfast. Of the 17 picks below, 10 are free, 6 work on a rainy day and 6 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Titanic Belfast
- Free sights
- 10
- Good on a rainy day
- Titanic Belfast
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanic Belfast | Titanic Quarter | 2–3 hours | Expensive |
| Belfast City Hall | City Centre | 1 hour | Free |
| Murals and peace walls of west Belfast | Falls and Shankill | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| SS Nomadic | Titanic Quarter | 45 minutes | Mid-priced |
| Ulster Museum | Queen's Quarter | 2 hours | Free |
| Botanic Gardens and Palm House | Queen's Quarter | 1 hour | Free |
| Crumlin Road Gaol | North Belfast | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| St George's Market | City Centre | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Crown Liquor Saloon | City Centre | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral | Cathedral Quarter | 2 hours | Free |
| Cave Hill and Belfast Castle | North Belfast | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Belfast Zoo | North Belfast | 3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Grand Opera House | City Centre | 2–3 hours for a show | Mid-priced |
| Linen Hall Library | City Centre | 45 minutes | Free |
| Stormont Estate | East Belfast | 1.5 hours | Free |
| Lagan waterfront and the Big Fish | City Centre | 1 hour | Free |
| C.S. Lewis Square | East Belfast | 30 minutes | Free |
The 17 best things to do
Museum · Titanic Quarter
1.Titanic Belfast
Built on the site of the slipways where the Titanic and her sister Olympic were constructed, this angular, silver-clad building tells the story of the ship and of Belfast's industrial peak across nine interactive galleries, including a ride through a recreated shipyard. Outside, the outline of the slipway is marked on the ground.
Leave time to walk the slipways outside and look up at the Samson and Goliath cranes of the Harland & Wolff yard.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Entry is by timed ticket and summer and weekend slots fill up; book online in advance.
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Architecture · City Centre
2.Belfast City Hall
The Portland-stone, copper-domed City Hall opened in 1906 and dominates Donegall Square. 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.
Tours are free but limited in size; pick up a slot at reception early in the day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Falls and Shankill
3.Murals and peace walls of west Belfast
The Falls Road and Shankill Road, divided by peace walls built during the Troubles, are covered in political and memorial murals that show the history and identities of each community. Black-taxi tours and walking tours, often led by local guides from each side, are the clearest way to understand them.
Visitors sign the international peace wall on Cupar Way; a guided tour gives context you won't get on your own.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
- Art
- Photo spot
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Historic site · Titanic Quarter
4.SS Nomadic
The last surviving White Star Line vessel was built in Belfast as a tender to ferry passengers out to the Titanic and Olympic at Cherbourg. Restored and set in Hamilton Dock, she can be explored from the first-class lounge to the engine room.
Entry is usually included with a Titanic Belfast ticket, so visit straight after the main exhibition.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
Museum · Queen's Quarter
5.Ulster Museum
Northern Ireland's national museum covers art, natural history and local history, with an Egyptian mummy named Takabuti, a dinosaur gallery, treasure from the Spanish Armada ship Girona and a measured gallery on the Troubles. Entry is free.
Pair it with a walk through the Botanic Gardens, whose gates are right beside the museum.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Art
Garden · Queen's Quarter
6.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. The lawns fill with students and families on sunny days.
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
Historic site · North Belfast
7.Crumlin Road Gaol
This Victorian prison held suffragettes, Republican and Loyalist prisoners until it closed in 1996. 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.
Tours are guided and can sell out on weekends; buy tickets online before you go.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
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Market · City Centre
8.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. Saturday's food and craft market is the busiest.
Arrive hungry on a Saturday or Sunday morning for an Ulster fry bap or fresh seafood from the stalls.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Historic site · City Centre
1.Crown Liquor Saloon
Opposite the Europa Hotel on Great Victoria Street, this Victorian gin palace owned by the National Trust has stained glass, ornate tiles, gas lighting and carved wooden snugs with doors and bells. It is still a working pub.
Visit mid-afternoon on a weekday to have a better chance of getting one of the snugs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
- Food
Neighbourhood · Cathedral Quarter
2.Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral
St Anne's Cathedral, with its stainless-steel Spire of Hope, anchors a district of cobbled lanes, street art and pubs such as the Duke of York and the Dirty Onion. Commercial Court's hanging umbrellas and murals make it one of the most photographed streets in Belfast.
Come back after dark, when traditional music sessions start in several of the pubs.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Food
- History
Nature · North Belfast
3.Cave Hill and Belfast Castle
Cave Hill rises about 370 metres above north Belfast; its basalt cliff, Napoleon's Nose, is said to have inspired Jonathan Swift's sleeping giant in Gulliver's Travels. Trails start from Belfast Castle, a 19th-century Scottish Baronial mansion with free grounds, and reach the summit for views over Belfast Lough.
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
4.Belfast Zoo
Set on the steep slopes of Cave Hill, the zoo keeps animals including Asian elephants, red pandas and gorillas, with views over Belfast Lough between the enclosures.
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 · City Centre
5.Grand Opera House
Frank Matcham's 1895 theatre on Great Victoria Street has an exuberant gilded, oriental-style auditorium and survived several bombings during the Troubles. It reopened after a major restoration in 2020 and stages touring musicals, drama and pantomime.
Seeing a show is the best way to see the auditorium; the Christmas pantomime is a long-running local tradition.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours for a show
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- After dark
- Couples
Historic site · City Centre
6.Linen Hall Library
Founded in 1788, the Linen Hall is the oldest library in Belfast, opposite City Hall on Donegall Square North. Its reading rooms and café are open to visitors, and it holds a large collection of political material from the Troubles.
Stop at the upstairs café for a quiet cup of tea in the book-lined rooms.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · East Belfast
7.Stormont Estate
Northern Ireland's neoclassical Parliament Buildings stand at the top of a mile-long avenue on the Stormont Estate. The grounds are a popular park with woodland trails and playgrounds, and free guided tours of the building are usually offered on weekdays.
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
8.Lagan waterfront and the Big Fish
The riverside walk from Lanyon Place past the Lagan Weir to Donegall Quay passes the Big Fish, a ten-metre ceramic salmon whose tiles carry images and text from the city's history. Footbridges lead across to the Titanic Quarter.
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
Landmark · East Belfast
9.C.S. Lewis Square
A public square at the Connswater Greenway celebrates the Narnia author, who was born in east Belfast, with seven bronze sculptures of characters including Aslan, the White Witch and Mr Tumnus.
Children love finding all the statues; combine it with a walk or bike ride along the Connswater Greenway.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Titanic Belfast, Murals and peace walls of west Belfast, Ulster Museum and Lagan waterfront and the Big Fish |
| History | Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic, Belfast City Hall and Ulster Museum |
| Views | Cave Hill and Belfast Castle |
| Outdoors and nature | Botanic Gardens and Palm House, Cave Hill and Belfast Castle, Belfast Zoo and Stormont Estate |
| Food and markets | St George's Market, Crown Liquor Saloon and Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral |
| After dark | Crown Liquor Saloon, Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral and Grand Opera House |
| With children | Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic, Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens and Palm House |
| On a rainy day | Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, Ulster Museum and Crumlin Road Gaol |
What to book ahead
- Titanic Belfast: Entry is by timed ticket and summer and weekend slots fill up; book online in advance.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Belfast?
Titanic Belfast. Built on the site of the slipways where the Titanic and her sister Olympic were constructed, this angular, silver-clad building tells the story of the ship and of Belfast's industrial peak across nine interactive galleries, including a ride through a recreated shipyard.
+What can you do for free in Belfast?
Belfast City Hall, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens and Palm House, St George's Market and Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Belfast when it rains?
Head indoors to Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, Ulster Museum and Crumlin Road Gaol.
+What is there to do in Belfast at night?
Crown Liquor Saloon, Cathedral Quarter and St Anne's Cathedral and Grand Opera House are best after dark.