Belfast must-sees, dos and eats!

[Chelsea26]

Hello folks

DP and I are heading to Belfast this weekend, Saturday - Tuesday.

Can anyone give us any ideas on what we shouldn’t miss? We’re staying near Queens University and are definitely doing the Titanic Museum and Crumlin Road Gaol but any other tips for things to do, places to eat etc

We’re climbing Slieve Donard on Monday so really only have two days to explore so trying to make the most of it!

We all loved Belfast Botanics, had a ride on the ferris wheel, lovely views.
But the best bit was the tropical ravine building. It was so good.

We also went to a cafe on the corner for ice cream milkshakes at Maggie Mays. In fact we went twice,once for breakfast and then after the botanics for a milkshake.

I also dream of going back to Jumon restuarant. Asian fusion and vegan, but if you're not, don't let it put you off. My meat eating dh and ds said it was one of the best meals they've ever had.

And leave a loooong time for the Titanic museum. There is a lot to see. In fact I wish we had gone earlier and stopped for lunch there too. Its great. Not just about the Titanic but the history of the industries that were there already.

The Titanic museum is fascinating, about way more than just the ship itself, but the Belfast highlight for me was the Irish coffee in the Garrick Bar. I might have had two. Or three.

Ooh thanks - Jumon looks lovely actually. Good to know about botanic gardens too, I was probably going to pass on that so thank you.

The Garrick has been mentioned by a couple of people so that’s definitely on the list too

I could have spent even longer in the Ulster Museum and Belfast City Hall - I love a museum but DH has a low threshold for Information, particularly anything historical/political. The displays on The Troubles are, as you'd expect, very powerful; I wasn't prepared for how quite how emotional it would be, and brought back a lot of memories of my 80s childhood (not even in NI!).

You can roll the Botanic Gardens into a visit to the Ulster Museum (literally next door) - the plants are interesting (if you like plants), and I loved it just for fact that the pattern on a custard cream is apparently a fern, as per the now-forgotten Victorian mania for ferns.

Boojams in Belfast and villa Vinci while your in Newcastle.

You could do a taxi tour of the city - will give you a wee bit of history and wouldn't take that long. Get to see a few murals and the like.

Ulster museam is really good.

Top of the Victoria square shopping center has a glass dome with a decent view of Belfast. If looking nice N.I. made gifts/souvenirs then leave the shopping center by the yo sushi/urban outfitters exit and turn right, and it's just a few shops up on the left.

Are you just doing Belfast or can you get out to the coast? Giants Causeway, Cushendun, Cushendall.

Cave hill is good for a walk.

Do a taxi tour. Brilliant. Well worth the money

There's actually a guided tour of the Falls and Shankill on the Sunday morning as part of the Féile, although it's £20 per person

https://feilebelfast.com/events/the-joint-falls-shankill-tour-comhthuras-de-cheantar-na-bhfal-na-seanchille-2/?occurrence=2024-03-03&time=1709460000

Firestone is a Japanese restaurant near to the university (Shaftesbury Square) and it's great. Worth checking out definitely if you can fit it in.

Do you know Slieve Donard? DH regularly goes up it - I could ask him for advice if you would like some?

You’ve got to go to St George’s indoor Market! Great for food, coffee, local artists, crafts & live music, it’s a proper Belfast atmosphere :)

If you are going to be near Newcastle, I would heartily recommend Murlough National Nature Reserve.

Ulster Folk and transport museum are interesting. Crawfordsburn for a beachy walk.

Oh wow! Thank you everyone! Popped out to the shops and made dinner and loads of suggestions appeared. I will look at all the restaurant suggestions now - so excited to eat all the things…

@idontlikealdi - think probably sticking to the city centre this time as we’re taking Monday out for the f-ing big hill!

@Thymeforbed Would love some advice from your husband if he has any, we’re relatively experienced hikers (DP more so than me) and have done a few mountains but always good to get a bit of advice - thank you.

@AriannasGuitarCase thank you for that link - I’ve sent it to DP to see if he’s up for it. It’s his birthday weekend but my dad is from Belfast so we are having to compromise on what we do a bit!

You'll love what you've already got planned. I'd say definitely do either the taxi tour or hop on hop off bus tour. They are excellent and throughly interesting (I personally prefer the open top bus but wrap up warm)

Just a couple of great bars...

The Crown Liquor Saloon
Kelly's Cellar
The Duke of York (usually great live music at night)
John Hewitt

Have a lovely time. I love Belfast.

Looks very unassuming from outside but Darcy’s is truly phenomenal for food: you may need to book ahead as it gets busy. https://www.darcysbelfast.co.uk/

Recommend taking a Black Cab Tour of Belfast. They will pick you up from your hotel and drive you round and tell you the history and show you the murals and places where historic incidents happened and explain the Troubles. I think it lasted 1 hour, maybe a bit longer.

The Crumlin Road Gaol was the highlight for us when we went