A weekend in Belfast: Everything you need to know to plan the perfect stay

If you are planning to getaway for a weekend in Belfast this article is for you. We go through absolutely everything you need to know for the perfect stay in the Northern Irish capital. From attractions, accommodation, and nightlife we have you covered.

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About Belfast

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, and is the largest city in the country. But in terms of the island of Ireland Belfast is second in size and population to Dublin.

Belfast has an industrial history where it built ships, produced rope and tobacco and was a key player in the linen industry. It gained the nickname Linenopolis by the end of the 19th Century due to this.

As mentioned above Belfast is in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. That means that you will need to pay for things in British Pounds not Euros.

Are you wondering if Belfast is worth visiting? Here is a helpful guide.

Starting your weekend in Belfast – getting here

Getting to Belfast is relatively easy. Chances are your weekend in Belfast will start at the Belfast International Airport. This is the main airport in the city, and this is where the majority of your European flights arrive into, as well as limited US flights.

Once you land at Belfast international, the easiest way to get into the city is to hop on the 300 or 300A bus. A return ticket is £12.50 and you can purchase this at the bus stop from the ticket machine.

There is also the Belfast City Airport. This is a much smaller airport, with limited flights mostly from European destinations. This airport is a lot closer to the city, and you have the option of getting a bus or train into the centre.

If you are coming from Dublin you can either hop on a us or a train which should get you to Belfast in somewhere between 2 – 3 hours.

Also if you are trying to decide between Belfast or Dublin here is a handy guide.

Where to stay during your weekend in Belfast

Belfast is a relatively small city, and so you ideally want to book accommodation that is central and close to attractions. Here are some areas that we recommend when booking accommodation for your weekend in Belfast.

Cathedral Quarter

The Cathedral Quarter is where we recommend staying during your weekend in Belfast. It’s very central, and is close to the hustle and bustle. A lot of bars are in this area, as well as some great food options.

Titanic Quarter

The Titanic Quarter, is a little bit out from the hustle and bustle of the Cathedral Quarter, but it is within walking distance. It is obviously where the Titanic Museum is located, so it’s perfect if you want to be near here.

It’s a much quieter area but there is still some good food and drink options.

Queens Quarter

This is great if you are wanting to visit Queens University, the Ulster Museum, or the City Botanical Gardens. It’s a quiet leafy area and is very laid back. There are some good food and drink options but it is a lot calmer than say the Cathedral Quarter.

Things to do as part of your weekend in Belfast

There is so much to do during your weekend in Belfast, so here are some of our top suggestions.

Ulster Museum

If you are a history fan the Ulster Museum is a must for your weekend in Belfast. The museum has everything from dinosaurs to Egyptian artefacts. There is also a mixture of art, and natural science exhibits to explore. It’s perfect for those rainy Belfast days.

Belfast City Hall

Belfast City Hall is an incredibly iconic building in the city. It opened in 1906 and these days you can actually do a tour of the inside of the building. If you get the chance we highly recommend it because the inside is just incredible. And best of all the tours are completely free.

It’s usually done on a first come first serve basis so get in early. There are 3 tours per day from Monday to Sunday.

Botanic Gardens

The Belfast Botanic Gardens are the perfect spot to visit for your weekend in Belfast, particularly if you are into nature. The Gardens started as a private park in 1828, and nearly 70 years later they were opened to the public.

They are a little bit out of the city centre but worth the trip for something a little different. There is a large selection of plants, and trees, with the highlights being the Palm House and the Tropical Ravine.

Titanic Belfast

Visiting the Titanic Museum is by far one of the best things to do during your weekend in Belfast. The museum is located by the old Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast’s docks, which is actually where the Titanic was built.

The area was once derelict, but now is home to the museum, various ships, a distillery and much more. The museum is interactive, and takes you back to Belfast’s shipbuilding heyday.

Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock

After visiting the Titanic Museum we do recommend having a wander over to Titanic Distillers. Here they distill whiskey and vodka, and you can do a 30 minute tour of the site. There is also an outdoor bar area which is perfect for a cocktail after a long day of exploring.

Queen’s University 

Queen’s University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. It dates back to 1845, and is one of those buildings that kind of reminds you of being in Hogwarts. It’s right near the Botanic Gardens and Ulster Museum so worth a visit if you are down that way.

Crumlin Road Gaol

Founded in 1846 Crumlin Road Gaol is an important historical site in Belfast. It housed murderers, as well as Unionist and Republican terrorists. Some suffragettes were also held here at various points.

You can do a tour to learn all about the history, which includes 17 executions, and the cells in which these took place.

St. George’s Market

St George’s Market is one of the oldest in Belfast, and was built between 1890 and 1896. It’s open Friday – Sunday, and there are a number of stalls to explore. The food here is amazing. And don’t get me started on some of the sweet treats that were for sale!

St Anne’s Cathedral

Located on the site of the Old St Anne’s Parish which dates back to 1776, you will find St Anne’s Cathedral. It’s neo-Romanesque style architecture, which is really beautiful among the Belfast cityscape. If you have time pop in and see if you can find the Good Samaritan window, which is the only surviving bit of the old Parish from 1776.

Explore the Cathedral Quarter

One of our favourite spots in Belfast is the Cathedral Quarter. It’s full of cobbled streets, quirky graffiti and murals, plus tons of bars and restaurants. It does get lively particularly in the evening, and is a great place for an evening pub crawl. There are so many great places to take photos, and we recommend visiting both when it is lively and quiet to really appreciate it.

Eating during your weekend in Belfast

Belfast does some pretty awesome food, in fact we were surprised at how much of a culinary gem it is. Here we list some of the best places to eat during your weekend in Belfast. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but will hopefully help you find where to start.

Also if you are spending the weekend in Belfast restaurants particularly in the city centre get very busy. we highly recommend you book a table somewhere just to make sure you get in. We must have been refused from 5 restaurants, before someone took pity on us and let us eat dinner on some bar stools.

Established Coffee

Established coffee is a good place to visit for brunch during your weekend in Belfast. They do a fantastic cup of coffee, and some decadent brunch treats. The highlight is the Black Forest French Toast.

The Pocket

The Pocket is another great choice for brunch. They do things like mushrooms on toast and our favourite, Candy Floss French Toast. It gets pretty busy here at the weekend, so get in early to avoid having to queue.

Orto Pizzabar

If you like pizza head to Orto in the Cathedral Quarter. It’s great because they do locally sourced ingredients and honestly the pizzas are just out of this world. You really do need to make a reservation if you are having dinner here, because it does get incredibly busy.

Coppi

Sticking with the Italian theme we highly recommend Coppi again in the Cathedral Quarter. They do a range of small plates and some freshly made pasta dishes. Again book in advance to avoid missing out.

Buba

Buba is another good choice if you want small plates, or burgers, or even steak. It’s just across from Coppi, and again you do need to book particularly at the weekend.

Drinking during your weekend in Belfast

Belfast really knows how to party, so if you are planning a few drinks during your weekend in Belfast you are in luck. Here are some of the must try bars we recommend.

Duke of York

The Duke of York is located in the Cathedral Quarter, down a street with cobbled stones, and tons of quirky trinkets. Inside it is just as cool though. The walls are covered with old advertisements and the atmosphere is just incredible. Order a pint of Guinness or a Whiskey and people watch.

The Crown Liquor Saloon

The Crown Liquor Saloon is one of the most famous pubs in Belfast as it dates back to the 1880s. It also has a lot of its original interior including gas lamps. It’s definitely a must for your weekend in Belfast.

Bittles Bar

Located in the iconic flatiron building Bittles is a must for Guinness lovers. It’s an Irish themed bar with a quirky interior that includes a lot of paintings of famous Irish personalities. The atmosphere here is great as well so we highly recommend a visit.

Liquor XXX

I’m adding Liquor XXX to this list just in case you are sick of drinking pints of Guinness (although they do serve them) and want a cocktail instead. It’s a Latin American themed bar with fun cocktails, live music, and a slick interior.

Sample Belfast itinerary

Here is a sample itinerary for your weekend in Belfast to help you plan the perfect trip.

Day 1

Start your weekend in Belfast with some breakfast in town before making your way to Town Hall. Try and join one of the tours, otherwise you can explore the outside yourself.

Head to St George’s Market at lunch and grab a bite to eat. Then make your way over to the Titanic Museum. You probably need a good few hours here, and when you are done head to the Titanic Distillers for a wee drink.

In the evening, explore the Cathedral Quarter and have dinner and a few drinks in the area.

Day 2

On the second day in Belfast after grabbing some brunch head over to the Botanic Gardens and spend the morning exploring. Afterwards head to the Ulster Museum, before finishing the day at Queens University. You can grab some dinner at one of the cool restaurants in the area, and you can also checkout some of the bars too.

How to get around during your weekend in Belfast

We found Belfast to be a pretty walkable city. We were based around the Cathedral Quarter so it is easy to walk to Town Hall and St Georges Market from here. It’s around 25 minutes walk then to the Titanic Belfast. Queens University and the Botanical Gardens are in the opposite direction from the Titanic Belfast, but if you are trying to get here from the Cathedral Quarter it’s about a 30 minute walk.

You can also use public transport particularly if you are going a little bit further out to places like Crumlin Road Gaol. The best way to pay for the buses is to pay as you go. You can tap your card on the reader as you board. If you are planning to use a lot of public transport though you should purchase a travel card.

Translink operate the buses in Belfast and you can find more information on ticket types and costs on their website.

Budgeting for a weekend in Belfast

If you are planning on spending a weekend in Belfast you might be wondering how much money you need for your trip. Overall we did find Belfast a little bit expensive, but not as expensive as Dublin.

As a general guide we would recommend budgeting around £100 – £150 per person per day. This includes things like attractions, drinks (several of these) food, and transport. Accommodation is not included in this total as we paid for this separately.

To give you an idea on costs in Belfast, here are some of the average prices we paid during our weekend in Belfast. For example we spent around £22 on 2 x cocktails at one of the city bars. If you want a pint of Guinness instead you should expect to pay about £4.50. A meal for both of us including drinks set us back about £60 and brunch for 2 set us back about £35.

In terms of accommodation, we did find this to be incredibly expensive in Belfast. This could have been because we visited in August, and smack bang in the middle of school holidays. We ended up paying £170 per night for a 4 star hotel in the city centre. Our advice here would be to book your accommodation early.

Best time of the year to plan your weekend in Belfast

I won’t sugarcoat it, it does rain a lot in Belfast. In fact there is a neon sign in the Cathedral Quarter that says there are seven types of rain in Belfast, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday……..

So if you are wondering the best time of year to plan your weekend in Belfast we would say somewhere between April and October. This gives you the best chance of brighter days.

One thing to keep in mind though is that August is peak school holiday season so hotel prices go up, and it does get super busy. If you can avoid August we would recommend it, but if you can’t well just book things well in advance.

How long do you need in Belfast?

Belfast is relatively small so honestly a weekend in Belfast is enough time to see the main attractions, try some Guinness, and chow down on some great food. If you decide to go further afield like to the Causeway Coast, and you are using Belfast as your base you may want 4 – 5 days to do some day trips.

What to pack for a weekend in Belfast

Apart from your standard packing list here are some items we think you should pack on your trip to Belfast.

• Rain jacket and umbrella
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Reusable drink bottle
• Warm, waterproof clothes

Tips for planning your weekend in Belfast

Finally here are some tips to plan the perfect weekend in Belfast.

• Book restaurants in advance particularly for dinner to avoid missing out
• Book attractions in advance too, especially the Titanic Belfast as entry is timed and must be purchased in advance
• Hotels should also be booked in advance to get the best rates.

Is it safe to spend a weekend in Belfast?

I think Belfast and Northern Ireland for that matter often get a bad wrap when it comes to safety. Yes historically there has been a lot of political turmoil, but modern Belfast is a peaceful place.

That being said, you do need to be careful discussing politics or religion as it can still be incredibly sensitive.

Overall though, Belfast is one of the safer UK cities. Tourists rarely have issues here. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions though. Like any European city you need to be mindful of pickpockets and petty crime. And whilst we always felt safe walking around even at night, we would recommend getting a taxi if travelling late in the evening just as a precaution.

Day trips from Belfast

Belfast is a great base if you are planning some day trips. Admittedly you will need more than a weekend in Belfast to do these trips but if you do have a bit longer here are some ideas.

Causeway Coastal Route

The Causeway Coastal Route is a great option for days trips from Belfast. You can explore historic castles like Dunluce, climb across the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, and walk around the Giant’s Causeway.

Dark Hedges

Game of Thrones fans will love visiting the famous Dark Hedges. It’s a little over an hours drive from Belfast so is easy to do in a day.

Should I spend a weekend in Belfast?

Hopefully this article has been useful in answering the question should I spend a weekend in Belfast. And hopefully that answer is yes. Belfast might be small but it is the perfect destination to visit for a weekend city break. You will find so much to see and do in Belfast, from the world class Titanic Museum, to the beautiful parks and gardens. It’s also got some incredible nightlife, which really ramps up at the weekend.

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Enjoy your weekend in Belfast and Happy Travels!