What would you do in Belfast alone?

[BrunchMonster]

I was thinking of doing a city break towards the end of August somewhere, and Belfast is looking high on the list for reasonable Ryanair flights (well, if I can get enough if an underseat bag?!) . It will just be me alone - I wish I had people to travel with, but I just don't, so I am trying to get more used to travelling alone and doing interesting things anyway! If not August, then potentially October is another option to go.

Would three nights be reasonable? I could get there very early on the first day and leave fairly late on the second, as long as I can get a train back home that late on this end. It looks like the Airport Express bus is the best way to the centre?

There are at least 3 Premier inns that come up on my search, a city centre one, a cathedral quarter one, and a Titanic quarter one. Are they are decent locations, and equally nice, or are the newer ones better? (titanic looks newest?).

As I'm alone, I need safe walking to places. And OK places to eat alone without it being too embarrassing, if anyone has any ideas. I'm interested in the Titanic stuff, maybe the jail tour, maybe a black cab tour about the Troubles (that might be too pricey alone - are there equivalents with group tours?), museums, history, theatre, classical music, landscapes - I'd quite like a day trip to the Giant's Causeway, but not sure there's enough time. On the other hand, it's just me going, and I know that when you are sightseeing alone, you end up seeing things a lot more quickly than with a family but also can end up a bit overwhelmed by trying to fill the time.

Any suggestions for good plans to fill three to four days would be appreciated. Which of the tourist things have you enjoyed most? Which things have you combined well in a morning/afternoon?

@BrunchMonster I would definitely recommend doing the Giant's causeway with a tour company. The commentary and insight into the area and the culture was invaluable. 10hrs flew by and very stress free.

The Ulster museum (free) next to the Botanical gardens was excellent. Everyone recommended the free tour of city hall (45 mins) where you get to go behind the scenes into the chambers and see the stunning architecture. We did not have time. Pre book at the desk inside the hall. Tours at 12noon, 2pm and 4pm each day, I think. The exhibition about NI life inside is very good and there is a nice community cafe run by autistic adults at the back.

The free tour of the city was tips based. We usually give £10 each, some people give more, others give less. The guide (Dave) accepted cash but had a card reader too (very 2023!!)

The Titanic museum is over-priced TBH.

Are you in Belfast on Saturday? The last Saturday in August is Black Saturday which has marches. Royal Black Preceptory is (to outsiders for want of a better term) similar to Loyal Orange Order marches, but posher and in a smaller scale. I can't think of any trouble at Black Sat. However it may cause traffic disruption.

In Belfast city centre, Avoca is nice for cafe lunch, Home for restaurant lunch and Muddlers Club for an evening tasting menu. A cocktail on the top floor bar of Grand central hotel is £££, £16 by far the dearest in town, but fab views.

For Giant's causeway I don't think the visitors centre/ audio guide really enhance the experience tbh. Maybe it's different if you don't live beside it and have heard the stories and the geological facts numerous times before.

Ballycastle will be rammed on Lammas Fair days so eat where you can get in. But Ursa minor is good (vegetarian cafe) and Thyme (cafe.) I think Morton's fish is over rated but it has won awards so.....

It's a bit of a run out of town but Stormont is interesting if you like that sort of thing - stately home, politics. In a very NI way they only do tours on week days excluding public holidays. There's a nice restaurant there too but it gets booked up quite far ahead.

There's a play park and ok ish walks around the estate but it doesn't sound like that would overly interest you.

We did not go to the visitors centre or take the audio guide at the GC. Our coach driver explained everything on the way, then explained how to see it for free. (Walk through the tunnel at the back of the carpark to the footpaths down to the GC). There are guides (in florescent jackets)down at the causeway who keep everyone safe and are happy to explain the geology of the area and where to walk.

Was it not too crowded then? That was my main reason for considering public transport, because I could get there by 9.30 or 10, whereas the buses seem to arrive between 11-2. I guess buses from other places might be earlier, though, as of course would car drivers, so perhaps not that big an advantage - if I could get there super-early, that might be different, better photos! the second reason for public transport was the Carrick-a-Rede bridge, which the buses can't go to. But I might be too scared for that anyway!! And as you say, the commentary on the bus tour could be interesting. on the other hand, I have all day, so could do what I liked within the limits of public transport.

I probably won't do the Lammas Fair after seeing photos online of the crowds!! Besides, it wouldn't be my ideal day to go to the coast anyway - only if it turns out that it's the only sunny day of my visit or something. Thanks for the recommendations of what to see/where to eat if I go on another day though. I won't be there on a Saturday.

i've heard a couple of recommendations for the city hall tour, so might be worth doing as I'll probably have plenty of time - travelling alone does that, somehow, never spend as long over things as when with others, and eating etc is often quick without the time spent drinking and chatting.

I think I'll need to go back with a car one day, so this will give me a nice little taster, from the sounds of it!

for the Giant’s Causeway, the coastal hike is amazing: I did from Whitepark bay alone and it was absolutely stunning, a fantastic way to approach the causeway.

also St George’s Market in the City during the weekend for arty stand and great brunch.

if Druid O Casey is still on at the Lyric try to get a ticket, an amazing production

Druid O'Casey sounds great but sadly is over before i get there. I'm still hoping I might find some theatre or something one of the nights.