Belfast

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thinking about doing an Easter trip to Belfast. Do people tend to book flights and hotel separately for such a thing, or might I be better off booking as an Easyjet holiday (you get a baggage allowance this way)?

Any favourite hotels and restaurants?

We're thinking of three nights so that we could do a Giants Causeway coach trip, perhaps (I've done it before, but the others haven't).

Will probably do a return visit to the Titanic Museum and the Botanical gardens/museum there.

We enjoyed the open top bus tour on a previous visit.

Anything else we should definitely look out for?

Thanks!

I’m from and live in Belfast! Favourite hotels in the city by far are Bullitt (very cool & unique) and Grand Central (luxurious and newly built so very modern). Restaurant wise Taylor & Clay in Bullitt & Grand Café in Grand Central also happen to be two of our favourite restaurants. Smart casual with local, amazing quality food.

Deanes @ Queens in University Quarter (near Botanic gardens & the Ulster museum) is also fabulous, a local favourite in a beautiful setting.

Black cab tour is great. Also Crumlin road jail.

Also, at Easter the Culloden in Cultra would be beautiful either to stay in or just to visit for a drink/meal. Gorgeous views over Belfast Lough and only a short 15/20 minute train ride from central Belfast. Helen’s Bay & Crawfordsburn are lovely for a coastal walk and you can walk all the way to Bangor on the coastal path. Jamaica Inn is great for lunch or a pint. Holywood is another very sweet coastal town, loads of nice brunch spots and little shops!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie make sure you have lunch at the Titanic Hotel! Amazing food, especially the burgers with Ballymaloe relish!

These are great, thanks. We won’t have a car, but good to know that we could maybe get to some nice places by train.

Room2 is a brand new, fabulous hotel and really central!
The public transport system in NI isn't wonderful so just check and double check times, you should do a day trip in the train to Derry/Londonderry, lots of museums etc there
Enjoy!!

Are you able to hire a car?

Public transport really isn't very good across Northern Ireland.

Nope to hiring a car.

Happy to do a coach tour to the Causeway and then stay fairly central for the rest of the time.

I am posting here partly to capture the fabulous recommendations you’re getting. I absolutely love visiting Belfast.

I will second the recommendation for Crumlin Road jail for a visit should you have a rainy couple of hours to spare.

Oh and just A heads up as I don’t know what your mobility is like, it’s quite a long steep walk from the visitors centre / car park down to the actual Giants Causeway. Fine for me (slightly unfit 56 year old with dodgy knees) but if anyone has mobility issues it could be a bit too much.

We did an Experience Belfast walking tour, it takes about 2.5 hours and was excellent. The tour guide is a really knowledgeable local man. It was a great way to see the city and learn some of the history.

You can take the shuttle bus down

Firestone, a Japanese restaurant in Shaftesbury Square is a great restaurant! I went there last night and it was lovely!

Thanks again everyone. Mobility fine - must choose footwear carefully though!

I’ve never seen a shuttle bus @idontlikealdi on the numerous times I’ve been but good to know. I’d like to take my mom but that walk has put me off doing it.

The walk down is paved but if you want to do any clambering (of course you do!) then you’ll need to be shod accordingly! That whole coast is so so beautiful!

Ah it's on the NT side, you do have to pay for it, I did it with mum after she had a car accident. She was most aggrieved!

We are returning for 3rd time this year...stay at Titanic Hotel.
Crumlin Road jail is great...we did our own Fall/Shanklin Rd tour but will get a guided one next time.
We also hired a car and did lots of GOT stuff.

I live here but have stayed in the Titanic Hotel a couple of times, its worth a visit even for a drink. Its right next to the Titanic exhibition.

Thank you. I really want to go to the jail and I think we might have time for a bit of a self-guided Fall/Shanklin walk if I buy a book of walks.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie the road is called Shankill Road meaning, IIRC, the old church.

Not Shanklin. 👍

Doh! Sorry! Should've checked before C&P'g. The bus tour we did last time we visited was really good, but I do need to read more about the history.

We did a taxi (not black cab) tour of the peace murals - was £70 for 2+ hours for 4 of us and we booked a coach trip to the causeway with some other stop offs through viator.

It's the most amazing city! We went for 5 days in October and loved it. The Victorian architecture is breathtaking.

Have a look at BA flight/hotel packages, they can be very good value.

Get a Visitor Pass as it includes all public transport and gives attraction discounts.

Much better and more convenient to go into Belfast City airport rather than international (30 miles away) as you can get the bus to the centre and it's included in the visitor pass. The bus to Belfast international isn't included.

Stormont and Belfast City Hall are interesting.

Lots of amazing restaurants.

People are lovely!

Can't wait to go back again!

Oh and take a train to Carrickfergus if you like castles. Lovely little town.

Lovely definitely isn’t how I’d describe most parts of Carrickfergus but each to their own! Apart from the castle there’s not really much at all to do or see