Known above all for being the scene of a fratricidal and bloody struggle between unionists and republicans, the city of Belfast has long remained in the tourist shadow of Dublin, its southern competitor. However, and in just a few years, the capital of Northern Ireland has opened up to the world and now offers its charms to visitors from all over the world. And there are things to see in Belfast! Its rich and eventful past, the powerful nature that surrounds it, everything is ready to welcome the traveler in search of legendary Ireland.
Random stroll through central Belfast
Belfast is a fairly important city but has managed to keep on a human scale. It is therefore quite possible to discover most of it on foot, letting yourself be guided by your instinct. We recommend in particular the cathedral district, one of the most typical and lively in the city. Beautiful buildings are linked by intimate little alleys, with colorful walls of inventive street art, and in which it is always easy to find a welcoming pub in the evening. Can also from the Saint-Georges market to go up the course of the Lagan river to the Titanic district, and thus explore the history of Belfast during a bucolic stroll.
Belfast center
Admire the frescoes of Belfast
In Northern Ireland, freedom of expression was largely suppressed throughout the period of the Troubles. The artists then decided to seize the urban fabric to shout their demands in the face of the world. The country has more than 2000 murals, but the most important are to be seen in Belfast. True symbol of the ideological and territorial divide between Catholics and Protestants, the "murals", as they are called here, have become a particularly attractive tourist spot and many companies offer tours with guide and historical commentary.
Street art in Belfast
Discover the shipyards
Belfast is a city known for its shipyards. Indeed, many ships were born in Northern Ireland, including the Titanic. Discover the Pump-House and relive the history of Harland & Wolffs, the company that has built liners as famous as the Britannic, the Olympic or the Titanic. The Thompson Dock is a reconstruction of the Titanic and allows you to realize the gigantic aspect of this ship. Visit the interpretation center, in which you will learn about navigation and the conditions for building a ship.
Belfast Shipyard
Visit the Saint-Patrick Center
Saint-Patrick's Day, all beer lovers know. But do you know who is the man celebrated in this way each year? In Belfast, an entire museum is dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland. You will have the opportunity to see illuminated manuscripts, but also various documents on medieval preachers.
St. Patrick Center
Take in the eyes of the nine gorges of Antrim
The Antrim gorges allow you to enter a succession of breathtaking landscapes! Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenaan, Glencorp, Glenshesk, Glentaisie, Glenballyeamon, Glendun… Discover waterfalls, paths in the undergrowth, and sumptuous viewpoints on the surrounding nature. A must visit to see in Belfast!
Glenariff Forest Park
Explore Fermanagh Lakes
The Fermanagh Lakes are less well known than the Connemara Lakes. It is wrong, in view of these immense wilderness. Become an explorer in the caves of Marble Arch, among the most beautiful in Europe. You can also visit the medieval Enniskillen Castle, which houses a museum.
Fermanagh Lakes
Tramping on the Giant's Causeway
The Giants Causeway is certainly one of the most amazing geological formations on the planet. These thousands of hexagonal basaltic columns emerging from the sea are, according to legend, the work of Irish giant Finn MacCool who wanted to reach the coast of Scotland to fight his rival there. Scientists have since demonstrated that it is in fact the result of lava flows, immediately petrified by their plunge into the sea. No offense to diehard Cartesians, the place is endowed with an almost supernatural power, who does one of the must see sites in Belfast!
The Giants Causeway
Relive History in Crumlin Road Prison
For those who wish to go a little further in memory, visiting Crumlin Road Prison is a must. It was between these walls that thousands of prisoners passed, heroes for some, terrorists for others, martyrs no doubt. You can borrow there the underground tunnel which led directly from the prison to the Palais de Justice, to sit in the governor's chair and for the most enterprising, visit the dark corners of convict cells.
The prison on Crumlin Road
Useful information
- Getting to Belfast from France is very easy thanks to the many charter flights that serve Ireland. Direct flights exist for less than 100 euros but some prefer to land in Dublin and then take a two-hour bus ride to the capital of Northern Ireland.
- Side visits, we highly recommend the London Pass, a 6-day ticket that gives free access to many of the city's museums, such as the Ulster Museum, and the city's most unmissable landmarks, including South Park Cathedral.
- We can also add a "travel card" which allows interesting reductions in urban transport and a comprehensive guide to accommodation and catering services will be provided to you.
The pretty Belfast town hall
The must-sees in Belfast… What next?
Just like his southern alter ego, the capital of Northern Ireland is a successful mix between welcoming urbanity and an almost magical surrounding nature. The Troubles that shook it for many years did not ultimately get the better of its appeal, on the contrary. Today, she is more than ever part of a fabulous island, where each region has its own culture and tourism interests. After you've done the Belfast sightseeing tour, we bet you'll be wanting more… so why not head to Galway or Dublin?
