Belfast Travel Guide: Best Things to Do in Northern Ireland’s Capital
Why Visit Belfast?
Belfast is Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital, famous for the Titanic Belfast museum, colorful political murals, Victorian architecture, lively pubs, and its role as the gateway to the spectacular Causeway Coastal Route. Whether you’re interested in history, photography, or exploring Northern Ireland, Belfast is an unforgettable destination.
Stacy and I arrived in Belfast in the mid-afternoon (from Dublin). It was a nice ride, and I think we both enjoyed the glimpses of Irish countryside after being in the big city for three days. After catching a taxi from the train station to our hotel in the Cathedral Quarter, we only had a few minutes of daylight left to capture a few photographs. Our stomachs were calling too—so I really didn’t get a chance to shoot many pictures, since our primal urges overtook us.
Albert Memorial Clock
The Albert Memorial Clock was visible down the street south of us. This was going to be my first stop the next morning (again, I am always planning ahead on where to shoot the next day). I like getting to town mid-afternoon since it gives me a little time to learn the layout of the land (whether photographic sites are walkable or need a metro, for example). I’m also always on the lookout for beloved restaurant bars that overlook the city (check out the next post on Edinburgh for some juicy photo hints).
Quick history detour (because Belfast actually has receipts): the Albert Memorial Clock was erected between 1865 and 1869 as a memorial to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort—and it’s sometimes called Belfast’s “leaning tower” because it was built on reclaimed land near the River Farset and developed a noticeable tilt.
Fine art prints available:
See the creation on this painting on my YouTube Channel:
Cathedral Quarter/ City Hall
I began early the next morning with a stroll south of our hotel to revisit Albert’s Memorial Clock. Yes, I was standing in the middle of the street for some of these photographs—something that is only possible in the early morning traffic (and only if you enjoy living dangerously… in a polite, Northern Irish way).
I continued my way through Cathedral Quarter, capturing many photographs of the old pubs and restaurants. Mornings are such a joy because there are very few people—the drunks have all passed out, the robbers have already robbed everyone, and I’m usually left alone to shoot a ridiculous amount of reference photographs.
Purchase this original painting and fine art prints HERE
More Cathedral Quarter context: today it’s Belfast’s cobblestoned maze of old warehouses and trading buildings turned into pubs, restaurants, and arts venues—basically the perfect neighborhood for photographers who like texture, alleys, and moody light.
Capturing City Hall is a must, of course. I shot multitudes of images before the caffeine cravings began to kick in. My girlfriend usually stays in the room in the mornings—she likes her sleep, and I like to treat her to a coffee in bed when I return. It is a win-win for both of us.
City Hall history (worth knowing when you’re photographing it): Belfast City Hall opened on August 1, 1906, after Belfast was granted city status in 1888—so the building was meant to flex Belfast’s prosperity and industrial confidence at the time.
Black Cab Tour- History of the “Troubles”
I won’t lie, I hate tours. Usually. All the guidebooks recommended taking a Black Cab Tour in Belfast. I hate to admit it, but I was completely ignorant about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. I always thought it was Protestants vs Catholics. Turns out it’s more complicated than that: political identity, nationality, and constitutional status are at the center of it—unionist/loyalist communities (who generally want Northern Ireland to remain in the UK) and nationalist/republican communities (who generally want a united Ireland), with religion often overlapping but not being the whole story.
The conflict is usually dated from the late 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement (signed April 10, 1998), which helped end the long cycle of large-scale violence.
These insights have helped me realize a lot of things about my country, and myself—and it’s one of the reasons I continue to travel and grow as a person (and for photos too).
I was surprised to find large areas of Belfast are still segregated—with gates and walls surrounding entire neighborhoods. At least people aren’t fearful of Molotov cocktails being thrown onto the roofs of their houses anymore. Our driver told us there are many places in the city where he will never walk.
A little “why” behind that: the “peace walls/peace lines” began going up in 1969 and still exist in parts of Belfast; many have gates that open during the day and close at night.
Stacy and I had a long day. Our Black Taxi driver dropped us at the exterior of the Ulster Museum, which was a mistake because I realized we needed to go back to the Crumlin Road Gaol before it closed. We taxied to Crumlin Gaol to see the infamous prison. I love prisons and prison stories! Not sure I would ever paint them, but it was nonetheless fun. After touring the Gaol, we waited for our next taxi to take us back to the Ulster Museum.
Ulster Museum note: the Ulster Museum (in Botanic Gardens) opened in its current building in 1929, and it’s one of those places where you can bounce from art to archaeology to Northern Ireland’s recent history without ever leaving the building.
Crumlin Road Gaol
Crumlin Road Gaol history (the short version): the gaol dates back to 1845 and closed as a working prison in 1996. It was designed by Charles Lanyon, and the layout was based on London’s Pentonville Prison. There’s also an underground tunnel that connected the gaol to the courthouse (because nothing says “justice system efficiency” like moving prisoners under a road).
I was standing there telling Stacy I would have spent all my time as a kid in that building (after ignoring the surrounding fence meant to keep you out) when, literally, three kids exited the ruins and jumped the fence right in front of us. I was jealous.
(Exterior facade of Queen’s University Belfast)
Queen’s quick history: Queen’s was founded by Royal Charter in 1845 (originally Queen’s College Belfast) and became an independent university in 1908—so if you’re photographing those gothic-revival vibes, you’re basically shooting Belfast’s 19th-century ambition in brick form.
I had one more early morning excursion in the Cathedral Quarter the next morning. I have barely begun to touch the photographs I shot (and I’m already planning more trips overseas as we speak). Belfast was such an interesting city—definitely grittier than Dublin, yet very intriguing because of its history. I would like a return visit.
And no, we didn’t visit Titanic Belfast. The building looked really cool and I’m sure we would have enjoyed the museum. Next time, darling—next time.
Tiny Titanic context anyway: Titanic was built at Harland & Wolff in Belfast and was launched there on May 31, 1911—so even if you skip the museum, the city’s shipbuilding history is still baked into the place.
Explore More Ireland
- Cliffs of Moher
- Rock of Cashel
- Kilkenny
- Belfast
- Killarney
- Dublin
Next: Three Days in Edinburgh, Scotland
See Our Second Stop in Ireland
References:
Hotels
Titanic Hotel Belfast– the boat sank. The hotel won’t
The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast– 5 Star Opulence
Coffee
Unfortunately, most bakeries and coffee shops in don’t open until 7:30 a.m. For photographers chasing summer sunrises, that means being up hours before your first shot of caffeine—an impossible situation. I was convinced I’d die of coffee deprivation before then. My advice: stock up the day before on supermarket iced coffees and drink just enough to survive until the cafés open (a strategy I tested and can confirm works).
Tours
Find things to do in – day trips (museums and public transport), and more:
Travel Guides
Here is the recently published Lonely Planet Guide. This is what I used to plan the trip (in conjunction with the all-beloved internet):
Pocket Guide Weekender: Belfast
Lonely Planet Pocket Belfast & the Causeway Coast
Another travel guide available for :
Flights:
My GF and I took the train from Dublin. Belfast does have an international airport though:
Trains:
Ireland Trains- we arrived from Dublin
https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie
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Ryan Fox Painting
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