Belfast for grown ups

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

It's next on my list for a trip away (fingers crossed it's 2021 rather than 2022).

Any must do stuff? I know a jail tour is on dhs list. Best area to look for a room - somewhere with a couple of nice pubs or restaurants, not massive drinkers so don't need a pub crawl or nightclubs.

Oh and I put "for grown ups" as we will be leaving the dc with my sister for a couple of nights so am happy to swerve anything "family friendly"

The political walking tour is very good.

The Titanic museum. It’s fabulous.

If you want to stay in the city:

Fancy - The Merchant
More affordable - Bullitt

Both in cathedral quarter - bars and restaurants.

I’d swerve titanic museum if you want to avoid family friendly stuff unless you are really interested in the titanic! Crumlin Gaol tour much more interesting but it’s dark.

Belfast Food Tours excellent walking tour of city - I think they do a food one, a gin one and maybe a whisky one?

We stayed at The Fitzwilliam Hotel which is ideally located, plus has valet parking. Right down the road is The Crown Liquor Saloon which is historic and lovely.

We went to the Titanic Experience which is a must even if you think its not really your scene (that was me). Its incredibly interesting and moving and not like a "museum" at all. You wear headphones and move from one point to the next whilst there is commentary and real immersive things going on in your ears.

We also did a Bus Tour all around Belfast of the Troubles, which was great but not very in depth. When we go again we would definitely do one of these Black Cab Tours.

If you like fish, we ate at Deanes Love Fish which was right near the hotel and absolutely gorgeous.

St George’s Market in the city centre on a Saturday and Sunday morning/ early afternoon is lovely.

Lots of locally owned stalls and excellent food. There’s usually a great atmosphere as well.

Red bus tour and hop off at Crumlin Gaol.

Day trip on the small spacious bus up to Giant’s causeway - the coast is beautiful.

We stayed at The Clayton hotel which was very central.

Th titanic museum is very interesting and not a hint of ‘my heart will go on’ until right at the end, book for afternoon tea afterwards if you like that kind of thing.

Food market/food tour sounds ideal! I didn't have Titanic stuff on the radar as I've done other Titanic museums elsewhere. Will reconsider if you all tell me I must.

Loved the Titanic museum.

We also did some Game of Thrones related tours.

The Crown Liquor Saloon is one of the oldest pubs in Belfast, and served the most amazing irish stew ever. We went twice.

We stayed at The Raddison Blu. Lovely and central.

By the way the best holiday me and DH ever went on (on our own, no kids, about 5 years ago) was driving around the North Antrim coastline and the Wild Atlantic way, starting and finishing in Belfast in a loop. We stayed at hotels and Air B&Bs all the way round and it was bloody amazing, plus it was August and NI was having a rare heatwave. Some of the isolated beaches looked like something out of the Caribbean I kid you not.

Bernadette you really must reconsider the Titanic museum! I’m a Titanic geek and have been to several exhibitions but the Belfast one is easily the best. It’s extra moving knowing that you’re literally in the place where Titanic was built.

There's a few hotels near the Europa bus station which is handy for the airport buses and walking around the city. The Hop on/off bus tour with live commtary was really good. Titanic museum is amazingly but huge, we did the ticket option that included an hour guided tour and that was well worth it. The jail got favourable reviews but I missed it due to flight being delayed :(
St George's market for brunch, full breakfast soda to cure the hangover! We enjoyed a walk round the grounds of stormont too.
If you have time to hire a car up to the Antrim coast or do a guided tour up there then it's well worth doing.
I love Belfast, have done 2 weekends and want to go back!

kelly’s cellars and if you are feeling very brave the three cs for fiddly Dee music.

Thanks everyone!

AC Marriott is a fabulous hotel, and very convenient to the city centre, cathedral quarter and all the Titanic stuff too.
There's lots to do and see in NI, Belfast is a good base, wee day trip to Derry on the train, or hire a car and do the coast road from Belfast up to Portrush. I live here so hoping you're able to come, me and dh were saying today how odd Belfast is without tourists, can't wait to welcome some back!!

Lovely walks around Belfast Castle and Cavehill in the north and Stormont Buildings in the east too. Victoria Square for shopping. A show at the Grand Opera House or Lyric Theatre . A concert at the Ulster Hall. The Empire for comedy club or music and a boogie. Titanic Quarter for unique Museum about Belfast history not just the ship and day walkabout. Cathedral Quarter at night.

City hall tour is free and worthwhile too.

Stormont tour is good too and the member's dining room for a meal or afternoon tea. It's actually pretty family friendly though and the mo mowlam play park at stormont is great so might be one to save for when you come back with the kids.

The viewing dome at the top of Victoria Square (shopping centre)

I enjoyed the Palm house tour at botanic gardens- architecture and plants, you'll know if it's your bag- and it's free, book with Belfast city council.

Worth taking a spin out to cs Lewis square to see the Narnia statues. We hired bikes here and cycled to stormont.

I'm from northern Ireland and I always stay in premier Inn cathedral quarter. There's a wee museum opposite it called royal Ulster rifles, if you like military history it's great and the volunteer staff are very knowledgeable. It's all weapons. If you like that sort of thing.

For food I like home, Mourne seafood bar, boojum for snacks, thought Neills hill a bit over rated, the academy (university of Ulster restaurant run by students) good but very limited opening times....