Summary
- Full-Day Tour with Titanic Experience
- City Center Eclectic Walking Tour
- Belfast City Centre Beer Bike Tour
- Political Murals, Street Art, and Peace Gate
- Causeway and Antrim Coast Private Tour
- Belfast with a Local Customized Private Tour
- History of ‘The Troubles’ Walking Tour
- Derry Girls Filming Locations Coach Tour from Belfast
- Hillsborough Castle Gardens Entrance Ticket
- Crumlin Road Gaol Historic Guided Tour
- Belfast Taxi Mural Tour
- 3-Day Hop-on Hop-off City Bus Tour with Castle
- HMS Caroline and 2-Day City Tour Pass
- Game of Thrones Tour & 3-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket
- Political Conflict 3-Hour Walking Tour
Situated on the eastern coast of Northern Ireland, Belfast is a city with a population of approximately 340,000 that is perhaps most recognized for the sectarian conflict that affected it throughout much of the 20th century.
Additionally, it serves as the capital of Northern Ireland and ranks as the 12th largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom.
Historically, the city was renowned for its industrial production, but it has increasingly become a hub for the arts, film, and tourism today.
From its wealth of cultural and historical landmarks to its scenic beauty and vibrant nightlife, Belfast offers an array of opportunities to engage travelers with diverse interests.
1. Full-Day Tour with Titanic Experience
Throughout the centuries, Belfast has emerged as one of the region’s primary centers for shipbuilding, with notable vessels such as the ill-fated Titanic launched from its shores.
This tour delves into the city’s rich maritime history, focusing on both its historical significance and the famous ship.
While Belfast’s shipyards may have changed over time, they still represent incredible feats of modern engineering and are just a segment of this comprehensive tour.
Other notable highlights include the Parliament Buildings, Belfast City Hall, and the Ulster Museum.
2. City Center Eclectic Walking Tour
Belfast is a walkable city that is enjoyable to explore on foot, despite its substantial population and lively atmosphere.
This eclectic walking tour of the city center encompasses key attractions as well as those that are often overlooked by other tours.
Participants will accompany their guide through various unique neighborhoods while uncovering the city’s complex history, resilient inhabitants, and ongoing transformation.
Each tour lasts approximately three hours and is offered at several times throughout the day, featuring stops at the Titanic Quarter and St. Anne’s Cathedral, among others.
3. Belfast City Centre Beer Bike Tour
What better combination exists than beer, bikes, and the vibrant city of Belfast?
This unique tour experience has attracted numerous enthusiastic participants.
Prospective guests need not worry about biking safety while enjoying refreshments, as this tour features a sturdy, multi-seat bicycle operated by a trained and sober professional.
The tour covers various popular locations in the city, providing a variety of drink options, and it often concludes as a highlight of many visitors’ trips.
Participants are also permitted to bring their own beverages or arrange for special orders with the operator in advance.
4. Political Murals, Street Art, and Peace Gate
For those wishing to momentarily escape global issues and simply savor their vacations, it can be challenging to overlook the darker elements of Belfast’s history.
However, these turbulent times are largely relegated to the past, and many political murals and street art are now celebrated aspects of the city’s cultural tapestry.
This two-hour walking tour invites participants to discover the city’s historical and contemporary artwork, offering insights into the creators and their inspirations.
Tours provide an engaging and educational opportunity for international travelers to rapidly grasp the city’s history.
5. Causeway and Antrim Coast Private Tour
The Antrim Coast and Giant’s Causeway are widely considered some of the most exquisite coastal routes globally, and they are just a short distance from Belfast.
The Causeway is distinguished by remarkable basalt columns that, to the untrained observer, appear almost crafted by human hands rather than nature.
In addition to the region’s breathtaking scenery, participants will have the opportunity to visit the oldest distillery in the world, sample its offerings, enjoy a leisurely lunch at a local café, and explore the historic ruins of Dunluce Castle.
The tour includes pickup from a Belfast hotel, lasts approximately eight hours, and offers three morning departure options.
6. Belfast with a Local Customized Private Tour
It is a reality that, for some visitors, many of Belfast’s most prominent attractions can be perceived as somber or distressing.
Fortunately, for those eager to expand their experiences, there are alternative options available for those who know where to look.
This customized tour allows guests, accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, to focus on distinct neighborhoods and dedicated locals, resulting in a more relaxed and engaging encounter than conventional tours can offer.
Tours include hidden treasures such as trendy eateries, unique shopping districts, and cultural highlights within walking distance of most accommodations.
7. History of ‘The Troubles’ Walking Tour
Many international visitors find it challenging to comprehend the various religious, cultural, and historical factors that have contributed to prolonged strife in Belfast.
For those who seek understanding, this two-and-a-half-hour guided tour presents an excellent opportunity.
Participants will explore multiple neighborhoods that were central to the grave events spanning a nearly four-decade conflict commonly referred to as ‘The Troubles.’
Guides are dedicated to providing impartial and historically accurate narratives in an engaging and educational manner.
8. Derry Girls Filming Locations Coach Tour from Belfast
Derry Girls is a popular British sitcom first aired in early 2018.
The series is set in Derry, Northern Ireland, during the ’90s, and has since amassed a dedicated following.
For devoted fans, this filming locations bus tour from Derry presents an essential experience.
The tour highlights several filming sites recognizable to fans, while participants can enjoy previous episodes and gain insights and trivia from their guide.
The experience also includes a lunch break and a leisurely walking tour in Derry before returning to Belfast.
9. Hillsborough Castle Gardens Entrance Ticket
While guided tours can be enriching, explorers occasionally prefer to venture out on their own terms.
The grounds of Hillsborough Castle extend over more than 100 acres, originally cultivated in the late 1700s, and boast some of Northern Ireland’s most remarkable gardens.
This garden entrance ticket allows guests access to various themed gardens, tranquil pathways, a Quaker burial site, and a historic ice house.
Along the journey, visitors will find numerous resting spots to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings, along with informative plaques detailing their discoveries.
10. Crumlin Road Gaol Historic Guided Tour
Since the Victorian era, the Crumlin Road Gaol has been one of Belfast’s most intimidating landmarks.
This facility is steeped in harrowing stories of political detainment, unresolved murders, heinous torture, and deadly hunger strikes from individuals determined to sacrifice everything for their beliefs.
Guests on this poignant 70-minute tour will commence their journey in the foreboding reception area where individuals from various backgrounds began their new lives within the prison walls.
The structure itself features remarkable architecture and serves as a testament to the violence that characterized significant portions of the 20th century.
11. Belfast Taxi Mural Tour
Traditional taxi tours in Belfast present an excellent opportunity to affordably explore numerous sights without expending excessive energy.
While many of the tour’s focus points pertain to the city’s tumultuous past, participants often find that a revitalizing spirit now prevails.
The tours commence in the city center, providing a background overview of Belfast’s history while showcasing various notable murals and historical landmarks, including the Peace Line Walls, constructed to segregate loyalist Protestants from nationalist Catholics.
Tour guides consist of local cab drivers, providing an unparalleled understanding of the city.
12. 3-Day Hop-on Hop-off City Bus Tour with Castle
For budget-conscious travelers who prefer flexibility, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour is an ideal method to explore numerous attractions at one’s own pace.
This three-day urban tour allows guests to access dozens of attractions over a three-day span, which ensures that even those who tend to move at a leisurely pace can efficiently experience most highlights.
Key focal points of the tour encompass Belfast Castle, the Titanic Quarter, and numerous remarkable political murals.
Visitors may choose to disembark and explore the sights that pique their curiosity or remain on the bus until something compelling arises.
13. HMS Caroline and 2-Day City Tour Pass
Following Titanic-related sites such as the shipyards, the HMS Caroline stands as one of Belfast’s most significant maritime attractions.
This light cruiser played a notable role in naval warfare during World War I. The two-day city pass grants participants unrestricted access to various ship areas, including batteries, galleys, engine rooms, and sailors’ quarters.
Highlights consist of first-hand accounts from sailors who served aboard, interactive displays, detailed models, and historical plaques chronicling the vessel’s journey from its inception to eventual decommissioning.
Inside, guests can explore at their leisure.
14. Game of Thrones Tour & 3-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket
For avid enthusiasts of Game of Thrones, visiting filming sites in the Belfast area often ranks as a top priority on their travel agenda.
This combined package includes a Game of Thrones tour conducted by the show’s official transportation provider, ensuring that guests won’t miss out on any lesser-known filming locations.
The tours span an entire day, stopping at Carrickfergus Castle, the Antrim Coast, and Carnlough Harbor. Costumes and props are provided at each site, allowing participants to dress in period attire and capture memorable photographs.
Each visitor also receives a complimentary three-day hop-on-hop-off city pass for further exploration later in their visit.
15. Political Conflict 3-Hour Walking Tour
While most travelers may spend years in Belfast without fully grasping its unsettling history, participants of this three-hour tour frequently leave with a significantly enhanced understanding.
This walking experience enables guests, accompanied by a local guide, to appreciate a ground-level perspective that is often missed from traditional tour buses.
Participants will visit the Peace Line Walls, which separate Catholic and Protestant enclaves, hear narratives of families affected by the conflict, and admire some of the country’s most impactful murals and street art.
Similar to other tours, guests will engage with both nationalists and unionists, listening to their firsthand accounts of ‘The Troubles.’
