Holiday in Belfast

[catsandchaos]

Hope it's ok to post this here. Would love to visit Belfast in October. Which is the best area to stay in? any recommendations what to see and what to avoid? Thankyou

There's practically riots every year over something or other I've yet to have one near me or accidentally stumble into one.

OP, will
You be with or without kids on the trip? There’s sooo much for kids to do or if you’re leaving them behind then we can. Just get the pub recommends going!

No offence to Glasgow but it’s not even remotely in the league of Belfast, so that was a rubbish comparison!

Dione- have you spent much time in Clonard and Divis?
Yes.

Two minutes from St Peter’s and Clonard Monastry and the political wall.
but yes- totally safe.
Yes. Totally safe on the Clonard/St Peter's side of the wall.

Marble Arch Caves are the ones near Enniskillen. We spent some fantastic time there boating on the waterways of Lough Erne and all the tiny islands there. Really recommend hiring a cruiser for a few nights and doing that. There’s also a boardwalk over the hills and loads of hotels in that area and just a quick drive into county donegal. About 2 hours from Belfast

I have to say I’ve lived in Northern Ireland for over 40 years with many days and nights spent in Belfast and I’ve yet to stumble across any kind of violence in any part of the country... touch wood. It’s usually pockets of youths at night in their own housing estate areas.

Similar could be said at times about London/ Germany/ France /Spain or various places in the world where terrorist attacks have happened. I went on a cruise from Barcelona when the Catalans were rioting. I actually saw them in the streets on the way from airport to cruise terminal. Never seen anything in Belfast in my life.

The OP is talking about October. If we all put our plans on hold because of something that might happen in 6 months we’d never go anywhere.

There’s plenty to see and do in Northern Ireland other than viewing the old troubles areas. Worth a visit yes but if you have to scrub it off your itinerary there’s plenty more to do and see.

Also first time I went to Ibiza we had to be diverted to Majorca because the separatists had planted a ( hoax? Can’t remember) bomb in Ibiza airport...like typical!

Depends on your budget, we stayed at the Premier Inn in the Cathedral Quarter, easy to get to everywhere, they do a lovely Ulster Fry and a nice hotel for the money with lovely friendly staff. Receptionist asked if we were there for pleasure or business, when I told her I was showing my kids the city and the places I remembered when I visited my granddad as a child, she took back our keys and said we could have the best rooms. The city bus tour is worth it, the Titanic Centre, definitely the Antrim Coast, spend some time at the Giant's Causeway, St George's market. Just wandering round the city is great. The zoo was a big success as well.

Have a great time.

If I had a choice, and decent budget, I’d stay at the Fitzwilliam or Merchant

@MissMarks, I've just come back from buying milk. A Glider went past. People are walking their dogs. Clonard and Divis are fine. The Shankhill side of the wall not so much.

I will also pull you up on your earlier depiction of such neighbourhoods being dangerous to tourists @MissMarks. Yes, there is poverty, but there is also warmth, friendliness and helpfulness and attacks on visitors are very, very rare. Our children are not skulking round corners, off their heads, waiting to mug tourists.

Whatever you work at, I hope it doesn't have a detrimental impact on the residents of that area, who you view so narrowly and with such ignorance and judgement.

@MissMarks wind yer neck in love!

Honestly the op asked for October not right now or on a few weeks time. Your massively derailing the thread. Also if you do work/represent tourism I suggest you look for something else your scare tactics are damaging the whole country at this rate.

Also lol at the UDA run titanic quarter

Belfast is fab OP and there are brilliant recommendations and pointers here already. I'd second factoring in Derry if you have the time to see the Halloween festival, and explore the North Coast - it'll be cold in October but such an experience (especially if you are GoT inclined). We live right in the middle of NI and can be in Belfast/Derry/North Coast within 45 mins, I miss the pre Covid days out

Belfast is brilliant to visit! Cathedral quarter is a great place to base yourself.

Ps .... it is entirely possible to visit Belfast and not get a single whiff of the past troubles or any wee pockets of mini flare ups. All that tends to be in estates and you will know as there will be flegs , painted lamposts and kerbstones showing you what area you're in.

Just seen the trouble on the news. It isn't Clonard, it's nowhere near Divis, is not known for its murals and is well off the tourist track.

My sympathy to the people who live there.

The boat tour around Belfast harbour is very good value. I didn't even know we had seals living so close by until I went on it.

That's Springfield Road, it's not Clonard or Divis. As you would know if you worked there @MissMarks.

I have to say, I've lived in Belfast all my life. I hate the place, always have done. North Coast etc all lovely yes but never really seen the appeal in Belfast. Don't get all the craic with Titanic quarter etc. Also people act to others like we are all warm and friendly, but you don't have to dig too deep under the surface to see the real truth. A woman with a newborn thrown off a bus before its petrol bombed, kids out rioting being cheered on by their mother's. Keep it classy Belfast. If it wasn't for having to look after my Dad I would have packed kids up years ago.

That's Springfield Road, it's not Clonard or Divis. As you would know if you worked there In fairness, it's not a stones throw from it.

It's a good half hour walk from Divis and 20 minutes from Clonard. And nowhere near the tourist trail.

I'm another down voter for the Titanic museum. I could have wept at the admission fees and it really was nothing special. The Ulster museum and Botanic Gardens is much better.

Derry is a nice city and people are very friendly. Derry is very autism friendly. Lots of shops/restaurants/hotels have trained their staff on autism (much more so than London) and in my experience staff in Derry customer services tend to bend over backwards to provide whatever is needed. It has loads of beaches nearby and is a bit more relaxed.