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!

We were pleasantly surprised by HMS Caroline - we’re naval history buffs and to my shame we weren’t expecting much but it was a brilliant visit. You walk really close to the H&W cranes on the way there too.

was going to say this. Did the bus tour and couldn't understand much, with a taxi you can ask them to repeat things. Unless you are really used to the Belfast accent!

One of our friends just picked up a random taxi and asked the driver to give him a tour. Driver was ex-IRA and he got a great tour.

Duke of York is a nice spot for a drink, its Cathedral Quarter which is very popular and very busy. Lots of people love the Harp Bar, but personally I’m not a fan.

Sure I'll give you a wee half hour guided tour up the Falls end if you fancy it. For free.

Carrickfergus Castle is always worth visiting as is HMS Caroline.

If you like Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Strangford Lough is a good place to go. It's in County Down.

If you've time, Navan Fort as I remember is good. Been more than 20 years since I visited though. New archaeological discoveries made since!

Giant's Ring outside Lisburn is good. Free, I think.

Basically, Northern Ireland is far more than what I call Troubles Porn type "attractions". 👍

Yep, I recommend that. Did it last year. Ship has a wee canteen type place halfway through if you get hungry. I had ice cream!

HMS Caroline isn't far from Titanic.

Oh, and you could get a cruise round the Rathlin Sound, trip to the island. On a good day, you'll see Scotland and will hear about history linking it with Northern Ireland. 👍

Obviously I don't just want to do 'Troubles porn'. but I'm also a bit of a history buff and feel it would be wrong to ignore the history entirely, just as it would in Rome or Berlin or indeed, most places.

I'm really grateful for all the ideas, and need to start working out a schedule of what we want to prioritise, especially as we'll be limited in terms of transport.

I think we have to fly to International, rather than city, but have done it before and the bus was easy to do.