Where to stay · Belfast · United Kingdom
Where to stay in Belfast
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: GrimsbyT, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in City Centre. City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs. Best alternatives — families: Queen's Quarter; nightlife: Cathedral Quarter.
Key facts
- First visit
- City Centre
- Families
- Queen's Quarter
- Budget
- City Centre
- Nightlife
- Cathedral Quarter
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | City Centre | City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs |
| Families | Queen's Quarter | Student cafés, Botanic Avenue and the Lanyon Building |
| Couples | Cathedral Quarter | Cobbled lanes, St Anne's Cathedral and pubs with live music |
| Budget | City Centre | City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs |
| Nightlife | Cathedral Quarter | Cobbled lanes, St Anne's Cathedral and pubs with live music |
| Food lovers | Cathedral Quarter | Cobbled lanes, St Anne's Cathedral and pubs with live music |
| Solo travellers | Queen's Quarter | Student cafés, Botanic Avenue and the Lanyon Building |
| Shopping | City Centre | City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs |
| Quiet stays | Lisburn Road | Boutiques, brunch cafés and red-brick terraces in leafy south Belfast |
Belfast neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and budget
City Centre
The streets around Donegall Square and City Hall hold the main shops, Victoria Square's glass-domed shopping centre and a wide range of hotels. Grand Central Station, the main bus and rail hub, and Great Victoria Street with the Crown Liquor Saloon and the Grand Opera House are within a few minutes' walk.
- Good
- Walkable to most sights; Direct airport buses; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Quiet after shop hours on some streets; Little greenery
- Nearby
- Belfast City Hall, Victoria Square, Crown Liquor Saloon, Grand Opera House
$$$ · Best for nightlife, couples, food lovers and culture
Cathedral Quarter
Around St Anne's Cathedral, the old warehouse lanes of Hill Street, Commercial Court and Donegall Street hold traditional pubs such as the Duke of York, restaurants, small theatres and boutique hotels. It is the city's main area for an evening out and a ten-minute walk from City Hall.
- Good
- Pubs and live music on the doorstep; Characterful streets; Central
- Watch out
- Noisy late on weekends; Higher room rates during festivals
- Nearby
- St Anne's Cathedral, Commercial Court, Custom House Square, St George's Market
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers, culture and families
Queen's Quarter
South of the centre around Queen's University, Botanic Avenue and University Road have cafés, cheap eats and guesthouses in Victorian terraces. The Botanic Gardens and the free Ulster Museum are on the doorstep, and the city centre is a 15–20-minute walk.
- Good
- Good-value guesthouses and hostels; Parks and museum close by; Relaxed cafés
- Watch out
- Busy with students in term time; A walk or bus ride from Titanic Quarter
- Nearby
- Queen's University, Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum, Botanic Avenue
$$$ · Best for families and first-timers
Titanic Quarter
On Queen's Island across the River Lagan, the old Harland & Wolff shipyard is now home to Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic, the Titanic Hotel in the shipyard's former drawing offices, film studios and the SSE Arena. The yellow Samson and Goliath cranes still tower over the area.
- Good
- Right beside the top attraction; Modern hotels; Waterfront walks
- Watch out
- Few restaurants and pubs in the evening; Feels detached from the old city
- Nearby
- Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic, Samson and Goliath, SSE Arena
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, food lovers and couples
Lisburn Road
The long Lisburn Road runs through affluent south Belfast with independent fashion shops, delis, coffee shops and restaurants. It is residential and calm, a short bus or train ride from the centre, and close to Queen's University and the Botanic Gardens.
- Good
- Calm and residential; Good brunch and dining; Independent shops
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Needs a bus or train to the centre
- Nearby
- Queen's University, Botanic Gardens, Windsor Park
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and families
East Belfast
East Belfast is the home turf of C.S. Lewis and George Best, with C.S. Lewis Square's Narnia statues, the Connswater Community Greenway and the cafés of Ballyhackamore on the Upper Newtownards Road. The Glider rapid bus links it to the city centre, and Stormont's Parliament Buildings are at the far end of the route.
- Good
- Local atmosphere; Easy Glider link; Good-value rentals
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Sights are spread out
- Nearby
- C.S. Lewis Square, Stormont, Titanic Quarter
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| City Centre | $$ | Belfast City Hall, Victoria Square, Crown Liquor Saloon, Grand Opera House |
| Cathedral Quarter | $$$ | St Anne's Cathedral, Commercial Court, Custom House Square, St George's Market |
| Queen's Quarter | $$ | Queen's University, Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum, Botanic Avenue |
| Titanic Quarter | $$$ | Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic, Samson and Goliath, SSE Arena |
| Lisburn Road | $$$ | Queen's University, Botanic Gardens, Windsor Park |
| East Belfast | $$ | C.S. Lewis Square, Stormont, Titanic Quarter |
Getting to your hotel
George Best Belfast City Airport is about 5 km from the centre; the Airport Express 600 bus reaches the city in about 15 minutes and taxis take around 10. Belfast International Airport is about 30 km north-west; the Airport Express 300 bus runs to the centre in about 30–40 minutes, while a taxi takes a similar time and costs considerably more.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Belfast for first-time visitors?
City Centre. The streets around Donegall Square and City Hall hold the main shops, Victoria Square's glass-domed shopping centre and a wide range of hotels.
+Where should families stay in Belfast?
Queen's Quarter: Good-value guesthouses and hostels.
+Which area of Belfast is best for a budget stay?
City Centre ($$): City Hall, Donegall Place shopping and the main bus and rail hubs.