Belfast Top Things to Do and Visitor Guide 2026

Specialist services include cardiac surgery, critical care and the Regional Trauma Centre. In 1997, unionists lost overall control of Belfast City Council for the first time in its history, with the Alliance Party holding the balance of power. Her duties include presiding over meetings of the council, receiving distinguished visitors to the city, representing and promoting the city on the national and international stage. Formerly known as Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, it specialises in vocational education. But the presence of 18 selective grammar schools in Belfast is a further feature of post-primary education in Belfast that distinguishes it from that of comparable cities in Great Britain where academic selection was abandoned in the 1960s and 70s. Primary and secondary education is divided between (Catholic) Maintained Schools and (non-Catholic/ "Protestant") Controlled Schools.

Explore the Causeway Coastline

Whether you’re looking for quirky bars, traditional shops or delicious food, Belfast has an… Find something for all the family to enjoy with our picks for family fun attractions in both Ards… Discover how you can enjoy your visit to Belfast and the surrounding area in an eco-friendly way…

Here’s the Belfast to-do list we recommend to visiting friends and family!

Titanic Quarter has historic and state-of-the-art Titanic and maritime visitor attractions, hotels, sporting activities and tours for the whole family to enjoy. Spring is the perfect time to enjoy a walk in Belfast and beyond. Walk the maritime mile to discover a number of attractions, tours and activities, from the historic… Other sportspeople celebrated in the city include double world snooker champion Alex "Hurricane" Higgins and world champion boxers Wayne McCullough, Rinty Monaghan and Carl Frampton. Using articulated buses, the £90 million service saw a 17% increase in its first month in Belfast, with 30,000 more people using the Gliders every week.

  • The Belfast landmark, Cave Hill, rises up behind the castle and if you are up for a walk, we highly recommend taking the time to walk to the top of Cave Hill for spectacular views over Belfast Lough and towards the Mournes – on a clear day.
  • The Belfast Marathon is run annually on May Day, The 41st Marathon in 2023, with related events (Wheelchair Race, Team Relay and 8 Mile Walk) attracted 15,000 participants.
  • By the 17th century, the town was a busy port with small shipbuilding interests, which became firmly established after William Ritchie founded a shipyard (1791) and a graving (dry) dock (1796).
  • Belfast Castle is a relatively modern building, having been built by the third Marquis of Donegall in 1862 in what was his deer park.

The SCENEic Route

Next door, its successor, Marks and Spencers, is housed behind the red sandstone, Florentine Gothic, facade (1869) of a rival linen business that was burned out in the Blitz. On the east side, a branch of the Ulster Bank is built behind the classical portico of a former Methodist church dating from 1846. The Baroque revival City Hall was finished in 1906 on the site of the former White Linen Hall, and was built to reflect Belfast’s city status, granted by Queen Victoria in 1888. Of the much larger Victorian city a substantial legacy has survived the Blitz, The Troubles and planning and development.

The nearby Muddlers Club has become something of a Belfast institution as famous for its theatrical open kitchen as its mouth-watering food. Today, it’s full of Belfast’s young and those in the know out for a night of craic and fine food. Sunday includes the lot and even throws in music from local bands. Saturday mixes specialty foods from around the world with stalls displaying handmade crafts, flowers, plants, local photography, pottery, glass and metal work.

Were these 40,000 interlocking basalt columns created by an ancient volcanic eruption, or built by the fabled giant Finn MacCool? From arrests to ambushes, this walking tour reveals the locations where the hit TV series was filmed. Glide around Belfast on a Belfast city bike tour for an exciting and eco-friendly way to see the city’s sights – don’t forget to stop off for some ice-cream at the docks.

Discover an oasis of calm in bustling Belfast – a delightful mix of Victorian charm and natural beauty. More than just a city, Belfast is the experience of a lifetime. But you don’t have to go very far from the city centre to enjoy a bit of outdoor adventure. Cutting-edge food, traditional pubs and incredible Titanic history take Belfast to the next level. Cutting-edge food, traditional pubs and Titanic history take Belfast to the next level. From the city’s airport at Aldergrove, 13 miles (21 km) northwest, services are maintained with some principal international cities.

The 14 best restaurants in Belfast

Spot the Belfast street art that brings the city’s art scene to life, on a creative walk around the city. Each of the city’s quarters tells a story – from the history of one of the world’s most famous ships at Titanic Belfast to tales of the city’s past at the Ulster Museum. A dynamic port city with a colourful past, Belfast is a vibrant cultural hub on Northern Ireland’s eastern coast. Celebrate Belfast’s dynamic arts scene at this popular festival in the city’s cultural heart.

From city cabs belfast Black Taxi tours to food trails, there’s more than one way to explore Belfast. Hop on a bus or train from Belfast and explore some of the island’s most thrilling sights. Buildings and walls throughout the city are adorned with murals that reflect the city’s social, cultural, and political traditions and history. The city is the shopping, retail, educational, commercial, entertainment, and service centre for Northern Ireland and the seat of many of its largest businesses and hospitals.

Join in the festive cheer in Belfast – explore the magic of Christmas with twinkling market stalls and sparkling illuminations. Get a flavour for Belfast with tours to its top food and drink spots, from cosy dining and gin jaunts to off-the-beaten-track surprises. From bobbing along in an inflatable water zorb to paddling on a two-person kayak – take to Belfast’s River Lagan for an adventurous and adrenaline-filled time. Visit the Titanic Memorial Garden, and tour one of the city’s most iconic landmarks – all for free. Grab your mates and tuck into a feast of amazing street food, craft beer, great wines and artisan cocktails. Founded in 1951, this is one of Belfast’s top spots for picnics, walking and outdoor events.

Sadly this local hero met an untimely death after being hit by a lorry but he is now immortalised in this lovely piece of street art. The Victorian market opens Friday to Sunday and is the place to go for fresh produce, ‘street-food’ dining, live music and of course shopping for gifts and gadgets. But we guess you didn’t come to Belfast for Vietnamese or Thai food? Experience an authentic black cab tour of Belfast and discover the murals and unique characters of both the nationalist and unionist communities. We often find that a city bus tour is the best thing to do on arrival at any destination so that you can quickly get oriented and Belfast is no exception to the rule. Over the years we’ve visited Titanic Belfast a number of times and while we’ve been impressed, our recent visit to the upgraded experience left us both awed and even a little bit emotional.

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