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Sightseeing
If you're passing through Belfast on a whistle-stop day trip, join the open top bus tour (see Tours) for a one-hour scoot round most of the major sights.Belfast City Hall, Botanic Gardens, Queen's University and the Shankill and Falls Roads are all on their route, as is a brief diversion into Stormont Estate and Harland & Wolff shipyard, home of the big yellow cranes and birthplace of Titanic.
If you have time to spare, and don't see it on the tour, catch a N°4 Metro Bus for the 15-20 minute journey to the Stormont Estate where you can gaze at one of the city's most iconic buildings and take a leisurely stroll around its manicured grounds.
Another great outdoor location and stunning city backdrop has to be Cavehill. Head north on Metro Bus N°1, jumping off at Belfast Castle for unrivalled views across the city.
Finally, if you want to sandwich the sightseeing in between some serious shopping, hop on the Belfast Wheel for birds-eye views of the city. Find it in the grounds of the City Hall.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Public art... and not a mural in sight.
Belfast's al fresco art scene isn't all gable end walls proclaiming political messages. Take an eye-catching stroll along the city
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Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
If you want to trace your NI roots you'll need to visit PRONI. Thousands of documents of value to family historians are stored in its archives,
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Titanic Walking Tours
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Coiste Political Tours
These indepth tours give the Republican viewpoint as trained guides from the political ex-prisoner community take tourists on an in-depth journey of
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Titanic Tours Belfast
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CHOC-O-BLOC
Get to grips with gooey strands of melted chocolate and create your 'good enough to eat' take-away treat. Inspired by their three daughters,
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Latest Comments
I took a coiste tour with 20 other Basques. It was fantastic. These tour guides should be proud of their journey. They even had a tour provided by a Basque Political Ex-prisoner. We had no problem arranging this tour at all. One telephone call and a[...]
The Coiste tour was fantastic. These guides were well informed of their history and really have been part of the struggle and are now part of the peace process. It was a privalege to have been on the falls road with Coiste ex-prisoners.[...]
Since the mid 1880's my family has gone to St. Malachy's and it is wonderful to see how beautiful the restoration has turned out. Now we get to pass it onto future generations to love and cherish just as we have.[...]
Thanks for the info, Martin. The change has been duly made. -Ed.[...]
The bell turret wasn't the city's largest, the actual bell itself was. Also it wasn't removed in 1868, it was only covered with cloths to soften the peal and still rings several times each day![...]
I took a group of sixth form students and the content of what they provided in terms of in depth political and historical analysis was excellent. In fact the men running Coiste, and the others they introduced us to are the most interesting bit of th[...]
William - unfortunately the only way you can take a tour is through your MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly). As you are not a resident, I presume this will be virtually impossible (unless you know someone over here who can organise a tour). Pu[...]
I would like to have a sight seeing tour of the New N.Ireland Assembly building please as i will be over christmas for three weeks.[...]
Dont trust black taxis. I was in one on thursday night and left mt phone in it, you cant trace a black taxi down so im not going to get my £450 samsung toco ultra back![...]
I was looking for CS Lewis statue last year in time for my boyfriend's first visit in Belfast in February 2009. He was the one who informed me that the author of The Chronicles of Narnia live in Belfast. I live in Belfast and I didn't know this. It [...]
I've been in tour with Robert (Coiste) and everything was great. PS: if u want to do something u'll find the way ... looser[...]
I have contacted Coiste who tell me they are working on a brand new website and are still, most certainly, open for business. Check out the new website around the end of October. - Ed.[...]
Phone is not answering, web page is not working. How you could go to that tour? You can not! Just choose www.turais.org. I did that and was very happy![...]
I THINK IT SHOULD BE KNOWN AS THE THE HOUSE OF LIES AND COMEDY OF ERRORS.IT SHOULD BE TURNED INTO A MUSEUM.IT IS OUR HISTORY AND OUR CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST SO THEY DO NOT DO NOT REPEAT IT IN THE FUTURE.[...]
Sept. 09. The first day of our 'Round Britain cruise' was made memorable by a wonderful personally escorted tour of the Titanic sites with Susie Millar. Knowledgeable, friendly and professional, she drove us round in a comfortable Mercedes taking us[...]