Belfast city breaks resonate with a lively mix of Irish culture, from stately limestone cathedrals to a bustling seaport and friendly dark-panelled pubs.
Climbing aboard the Belfast Wheel provides a bird's eye view of Northern Ireland's capital. If you look north, you'll see the towering limestone spires of the Cathedral Quarter. To the south, an eclectic mix of cafés and bars share the University Quarter, home to Belfast's liveliest nightlife. In between, the Golden Mile is packed with Irish linen shops and fresh seafood restaurants. In the middle of the city, a stern-faced Queen Victoria statue marks the entrance to Belfast's copper-domed City Hall.
Best of city breaks to Belfast for...
- Shopping: Shop till you drop at the Victorian shopping arcades on Donegall Place. Pick up silver Celtic crosses and finely woven Irish table linens. And why not grab a bottle of Bushmills whiskey while you're at it?
- Nightlife: You can't go on short breaks to Belfast without visiting an old-school Irish pub. It's hard to beat the ornate Crown Liquor Saloon, a local institution full of gorgeous woodwork, mosaic tiles and stained glass, where the locals are chatty and the Guinness flows freely.
- Families: Head to Belfast Harbour for a glimpse of maritime Belfast. The bustling port is awash with the sights and sounds of sea transport, and you can visit the spot where the Titanic began her famous voyage.
- Active types: Shimmy into a wetsuit and battle the breezes by windsurfing in the Irish Sea at Ballyholme Beach. Not your thing? The mile-long stretch also draws kayakers and swimmers.
- Romance: Lose yourselves in the narrow, cobbled streets of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter before ducking into a cosy restaurant for a dinner of freshly caught seafood.
Getting into Belfast from Belfast International and City Airports
- The Translink Airbus takes 30 minutes from Belfast International Airport to central Belfast.
- Taxis whiz travellers from Belfast City Airport into the city centre in 10 minutes.
Getting around on weekend breaks in Belfast
- By bus Called the Metro, the city's bus network covers nearly every corner of Belfast.
- On foot Most of the city's attractions lie within an easy walk of one another - and travelling by foot allows an impulse stop at a cosy-looking pub.
