to start a what's great about Belfast thread

[isthatapugunicorn]

in response to the other one decrying this beautiful city as a 'stinking hole'??

I'll go first:

it's a really lovely, easy to get around city. Hills on one side, lough on the other - gorgeous

people - they can't help but talk to you. Super friendly.Like really, really friendly.

Food - from the food at St George's Market to Deanes, Molly's Yard to Coppi, Made in Belfast to Boojums. There's seriously good food, reasonably priced and lots of locally sourced ingredients.

The craic, and the music, and the craic - You can go to a bar that's near 500 years old (Whites Tavern) or the one's that are a mere 100/200 years old all within walking distance of each other. You can see live music, hang out with the locals, and enjoy the fact our standard measures are larger! The Sunflower, The Spaniard, Laverty's, - classics. Perch, Muriels, new and fabulous.

Titanic Museum - Titianic Studios - GOT - the entire quarter - all brill.

W5 - awesome science experience.

Anyone else?

Ulster museum - go and see the GOT tapestry in the style of the Bayeux tapestry! It’s fab, museum is in Botanic gdns and free.

I'm taking the kids 6 and 12 - loving to hear all the good stories of things to do!

Atomic - W5, seriously! Plus it’s right by Titanic. Zoo’s very good too, they have a wee seal hospital there and it’s spread up across the cave hill so picturesque AND will knacker your kids...

The traffic-takes hardly any time to get anywhere! At the weekend that's true. At 8am on a weekday between September and June it's one of the most congested cities in the UK. Probably because we have such poor public transport that lots of people have no real option but to commute by car.

But enough negativity. There are great bars, great coffee shops, great restaurants and loads of lovely walks. It's safe and friendly.

The traffic isn’t a patch on London or any other city IMHO! Plus I can catch get a cab from belfast city to my hotel
5 miles out for less than a black cab journey from Victoria to Piccadilly...

Awk this just makes me so proud of our wee city!

The people are very friendly.

Great places to visit include:
Belfast castle
W5
Stormont Park
Bangor Pickie Park
Giants Causeway
Carrick a rede rope bridge
Marble Arch caves
Silent Valley
Carnfunnock Park
Lisburn leisure pool for kids slides

Muriel's!!
AMPM supper club
The rooftop bar
There's a fab pizza shop on the corner too which soaks up the alcohol after a great night out

The museum - particularly when they have special exhibitions, such as the GOT or the dinosaurs
Botanic Gardens

The brilliant train/bus service

Tourists buses (did it once with Scottish visitors and loved it!!)

And a short ride from Belfast is Giants Causeay, Carrick a rede rope bridge, Portrush, portstewert, Ballycastle, Ballintoy, Portballintrae..... Beautiful, breathtaking scenery ♥️

Born in Belfast and now live just outside it, this thread is really making me smile. Agree that the people in Belfast are great, generally polite, friendly and will help you out. There's a nice energy and optimism about the city which is great to experience. I love living here and being close to good beaches, parks, some beautiful scenery. We have such good restaurants, was at Edo recently and it was amazing, great pubs and some lovely architecture. Education system is pretty good and there's loads to do with kids. It's fairly compact as a city and getting about, either by driving or public transport (at least from where I live) takes no time at all.

I haven't been to Belfast since 1969, so my memories are way too old but I used to visit my Grandparents for the summer holidays, I loved it, the friendliness of the people and my GP's neighbours.
I thought the OP in the other thread was very shitty so I'm pleased to see a positive thread about a city that I have so many happy memories about. Well started op.
Note to self, must go back and soon

Love this thread, thanks for starting it OP.

So many wonderful places listed here. I'll add the short trip to the North Down Coastal Path. A walk along the sea or Lough is my favourite thing to do.

You can do a tour of city hall,
It’s lovely inside.
Linen Hall library too... easy to pop into while up bynDonegall Square

We visit 4/5 times a year, and love Belfast. George’s Markets, Deanes, Victoria Square, we always do a shop around Boucher Rd on the way back. I find it easy to get around (but am peeved that my handy Grosvenor car park is gone while it’s redeveloped). We love the Christmas markets, and bring friends every year. The only downside is we struggle to find an affordable hotel room, but that’s similar to Dublin, Galway and Cork.

The Giants games are good craic to go to... and it’s always worth checking out which gigs are on in town too...

I love the jewellery shops - Margaret Forbes in Ann Street.
Fred J Malcomson
and Lunns Jewellers.

Avoca shop. I love Avoca.

W5 and the Titanic exhibition are well worth a visit.
The bus tour is sooo interesting.
Belfast has a Lakeland.

Bullitt - had a phenomenal meal in there...

There can't be enough mentions of St. George's market, Nicky and his fresh strawberries yum! Plus all the veggie carby treats.

No way, is Fresh Garbage really still going? I loved that shop!!

Just back from a weekend trip to Belfast. Absolutely loved it and planning to return. It's an amazing city, everyone is so friendly and helpful.

Deane's
The Crown
The MAC
Duke of York
Botanic gardens
Snacks in the city (seriously good for salads)
Scones
Easy to get out and visit other places like the north coast and the giants causeway
Taxi's are easy to find by

Nothing is more than 90mins away, mountains, historical sites, blue flag Beaches (the only no ln contentious flag lol), city nightlife. Belfast itself can be navigated easily on foot, great music scene, fantastic food, lots to see and go with kids. absolutely love it ❤️

Ooh this thread is really making me want to go. Planned to take DD last year but funds didn’t allow. Is it good for little kids? I’ve read about W5, I think she’s a bit little (5) for Titanic stuff. Which is a shame because I’d love that and the GOT stuff

TweezerMay For little kids I'd recommend W5, the Nomadic (small boat next to Titanic) and HMS Caroline. Ulster Museum has got some exhibits that small children love too, and best of all it's free.

Muriel's! Walking through the botanical gArdens. The people.

The people.

W5 and titanic are great museums. But we've been other places with great museums. The difference is with the people working there. They really made you feel like they really wanted you to have a good time. We also had the nicest taxi drivers we'd ever met.