Belfast City Breaks

A guide to Belfast

Belfast is a compact, friendly and intimate city with some fine examples of ornate Georgian and Edwardian architecture. However, it has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last decade with wholesale regeneration. There are plenty of wholesome family days out with action and excitement for younger visitors, for example the award-winning W5 Interactive Science Centre, the city zoo and Exploris aquarium, and children also can’t resist a visit to Aunt Sandra's Candy Factory or a trip on the Belfast Big Wheel for terrific views of the city skyline. Belfast boasts lush rolling hills and verdant woodland and a few hours exploring this lovely scenery will be rewarded with some fabulous views.

A compact city of historic elegance

Belfast displays a multitude of graceful and ornate architecture that makes it one of the most attractive cities in the UK. Civic buildings such as the commanding City Hall, Queens University, Crumlin Road Gaol and Belfast Castle dominate the urban landscape and offer compelling contrasts to the many modern developments which dot the city. Other essential stops for lovers of history include Castleward, an exuberant stately house, and the gothic Clonnard Monastery. The unique geological phenomenon, Giants Causeway, is located on the windswept Antrim coast, with these hauntingly beautiful rock formations remaining as enchanting and mysterious as ever.

Explore the verdant Ulster countryside

Soak up the pleasant Ulster ambience with a leisurely walking tour of the city and explore a rich heritage in literature, following in the footsteps of CS Lewis or back to Belfast's heyday as the centre of world shipbuilding. The city is notable as the birthplace of the Titanic and has a popular interactive museum providing a colourful history of its construction. Glimpse soaring peaks such as the Black Mountain, serene Belfast Lough and undulating meadows of wildflowers at nearby Divis, which offers the perfect spot for an afternoon of bird- watching.