Up to now Belfast has been more of a city to keep away from, with the «troubles» and the conflict, and there are few cities that I might less relatively explore. And as someone who was born and bred in Northern Eire, I might honestly be utterly lost for suggestions if asked what to do in Belfast? «No idea… Saint Anne’s?» No less than this was back within the day. When tourism and curiosity within the city had been always centred on little more than boozers (e.g. George Best), terrorism (‘the troubles’), and a big sinking ship (the Titanic).
Where to Stay in Belfast?
There could be various areas to base a keep in Belfast which I will split into the nearby train stations in Belfast City which are all found on the primary tourist line between Belfast and Bangor (dubbed the Goldcoast Trainline). Anyway, these stations and area embrace:
Great Victoria Street Station (Europa): For top hotels in Belfast City Centre.
Botanic Station: For top hotels in Botanic’s Student space of Belfast.
Lanyon Place Station (formerly Belfast Central: For hotels on Belfast Lagan Riverside.
Belfast Titanic Quarter: For Hotels close to the favored Titanic shipyard district.
Personally I’d start out from Great Victoria Street (Europa) given it’s closest to most of the city’s best bars, eating places and nightlife. At the same time, it is less than a mile (a kilometre and 6 bits) between either Nice Victoria Street and Botanic or Great Victoria and Lanyon Place. As Belfast really is a city that can be simply covered on foot.
Nice Victoria Street Station
Aka Belfast Europa Station (Glengall Street) the place the principle train and bus transit hubs join conveniently in the midst of Nice Victoria Street in an space dubbed as Belfast’s «Golden Mile». And this can be the obvious area to stay, not only for onward journey in Northern Eire, but additionally to access the primary Belfast vacationer sights and best things to do in Belfast NI. As it is less than 400 meters by foot to arguably essentially the most central level of Belfast at Belfast City Hall.
This is also where we’d start when travelling in from outside of Belfast, as most vacationers do, exiting onto the principle Great Victoria Street Road on the Europa Hotel which is famed as being the world’s most bombed hotel.
The Crown Liquor Saloon: Belfast’s Best Bar?
I probably shouldn’t start straight off boozing in a bar, but The Crown Liquor Saloon is definitely a must-see in Belfast and it is discovered directly opposite the train and bus stations on Great Victoria Street. And, why not, as it is one of Northern Eire’s most popular pastimes.
The Crown Liquor Saloon is just a relatively impressive Victorian pub (restored and funded by the National Trust) and it just looks proper fancy decorated with intricate mosaics, tiles, carvings and stain glass. Then, at the bar, there’s a load of locally crafted beers and ciders on faucet, and I will forever recommend getting in early to steal one of many snugs which are like cosy partitioned room for more private boozing sessions.
Donegall Sq.: The Vacationer Centre
From Great Victoria Street, just previous Belfast Grand Opera House (for shows in Belfast) take a right onto Wellington Park a brief-ish walk past reasonably magnificent red brick Victorian architecture finds Donegall Square and Belfast City Hall. Which would be the centre level of Belfast City the place the Belfast Vacationer Office for tourist information (Discover Belfast) is found as well as a terminus for most of the big bus tours.
The Donegall Square area is kind of split into 4 areas North, South, East and West, and it divides the commercial (North) and business (South) areas of Belfast, but all are within a stone’s throw from each other on each side of the City Hall. And there really are some nice views overlooking Belfast City Hall including the quite fancy Cafe Parisien (North) which is pretty much opposite the gates of the City Hall compound.