Article Travel Leisure Tip

Introduction:

Nestled in a valley and bordered to the east by the Irish Sea
the capital of Northern Ireland
Belfast
is a vibrant and lively Celtic city that lives up to its nickname of “The Hibernian Rio.” Situated on the River Lagan
the pedestrian-friendly city enjoys a focal point in Donegal Square where the architecturally stunning City Hall dominates the skyline
and elsewhere Victorian and Edwardian architecture can be enjoyed by visitors on foot.

Places of interest:

Belfast’s glorious seafaring history and place at the forefront of the industrial revolution is evident in the greatest shipyard in Great Britain
where the Titanic was built. The city’s name is derived from the Irish “beal feirste” which means “at the mouth of the sandpit” and nightlife
arts
festivals
dining and shopping are all in abundance in the city. The sea front in particular is now pedestrianised and visitors can enjoy the best of Irish culture in street musicians and theatre against the backdrop of the Irish Sea.

Standing 120 metres above sea level
Belfast Castle offers breathtaking and panoramic views of the city
bay and surrounding areas. Belfast Castle was the ancestral home of the Chichester
later Donegall
family who were descendants of Arthur Chichester who planted the land that was to become the city in the 1600s. The history of the castle
and city
are celebrated in the Cave Hill Visitor Centre in the castle grounds.

Ulster Museum
set over 8000 square metres of grounds
is likely to take up a full day
so extensive and fascinating are its archaeology
ethnography
art
history and natural sciences exhibits. The collections portray and celebrate the history
culture
artistic
scientific and industrial achievements: in short
the story of the Irish people from their ancient roots up until modern day. The museum houses both permanent and temporary collections
and regular
creatively planned tours are offered to distil some of the wonders of the museum into palatable chunks.

For stunning hiberno-romanesque architecture
the Belfast Cathedral is worth a visit
and the exciting
interactive and interpretive St. Patrick Centre tells the story of Ireland’s patron saint
in his own words.

The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and City of Belfast International Rose Garden
in the southern outskirts of Belfast features an International Rose Exhibition
as well as gardens
walks
a children’s playground and live music concerts.

The Linen Hall Library was established in 1788 and boasts a collection of over 20
0
volumes of Irish literature and an enviable Robert Burns collection.

Things to do:

Belfast will never leave tourists wondering how to entertain themselves! Plenty of things to do and see exist in Belfast.

The world class Belfast Zoo features plenty of don’t-miss attractions
including the monkey park
reptile house and children’s playground.

Walking Tours of Belfast include The Old Town
Titanic Trail and the City Centre Walk.

The oldest covered market in Ireland
St George’s Market offers a range of fish and speciality foods that are unrivalled in Europe.

The world’s largest dry dock
Haarland and Wolfe
is where the Titanic was built and its famous cranes
Samson and Goliath
can be seen from all over the city.

At the The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum a fascinating insight into the history and the daily lives of Ulster people can be found.

The Home Front Heritage Centre features collections that portray the Belfast experience of the Second World War
and is also home to the museum of the Royal Ulster Rifles.

W5 is a world renowned innovative and interactive centre of science and technology exploration
with activities
exhibits and demonstrations to expand and intrigue minds of all ages.

Food & Drink:

If it is excellent food the tourist seeks
they won’t have to look far in Belfast.

Traditional pub fare in a historical atmosphere is to be found at Belfast’s most famous pub
the Crown Liquor Saloon in the heart of the historical district.

Altos was rated number one by Yahoo travel for stylish and contemporary cuisine
serving cutting-edge Mediterranean food and featuring an extensive wine list and speciality coffee choices.

The Gypsy Queen Vegetarian Restaurant is on of Europe’s premier vegetarian dining destinations. All dishes are GMO approved
and organic wherever possible.

For the cuisine enthusiast
Deane’s Restaurant is a high end
luxurious dining experience
featuring dishes created by one of Ireland’s top chefs.

Live music pubs are a staple of Belfast nightlife
including the Duke of York
Morrisons and at the docks
Pat’s Bar Princes.

Belfast Hotels & Accommodation:

As befitting a major European destination
a full range of accommodation options are available in Belfast. Visitors can chose from cosy
family run bed and breakfast establishments
a variety of self catering options and luxury five star hotels to suit every taste
set of requirements and budget.

Ravenhill Guest House
The Crescent Townhouse
Europa Hotel
The Malone Lodge Hotel
Tara Lodge
The Park Avenue Hotel
The Stormont Hotel
The Chimney Corner Hotel
Culloden Hotel
Days Hotel
Jurys Inn Belfast
Ramada Belfast
Parkview Lodge
Ten Square

Entertainment

Nightlife is one of Belfast’s main attractions
with revellers enjoying everything from world class dance clubs to traditional pubs. The Potthouse
opened in November 2004 was built on the site of Belfast’s first pottery factory and comprises The Potthouse Bar & Grill
Sugar Nighclub
which plays Top 40
House and classic Disco
and the Soap Bar guestroom. The Fly and The Grill Room and Bar are also notable Belfast nightspots. The Movie House Cinema on the Golden Mile offers the latest cinema releases
as well as arthouse and independent films
and Ireland’s only 3D and 2D large format cinema
the SheridanIMAX is located on Queen’s Quay. Fantastic shopping is available in the city centre Donegall Place and the Waterfront Concert Hall hosts concerts and music tours from all over the world.

Belfast enjoys an enviable position at the forefront of Hibernian culture
scenery and history. With an ideal and unique combination of Celtic culture and British industrial influence
Belfast is an ideal seaside destination for family friendly events
educational and historical attractions and a nightlife that is second to none throughout Europe. In common with much of the British Isles
Belfast experiences a temperate and often wet climate
but is protected by the surrounding mountains of Divis Mountain
Black Mountain and Cave Hill.