Belfast in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Belfast is the largest city in Northern Ireland and the capital of the country, which is part of the United Kingdom. With its hectic political life, it is also one of the most interesting destinations in the region and offers a large number of museums, cultural displays and murals that showcase the idiosyncrasies of this place.

Some of the best things to do in Belfast in 3 days include visiting St George's Market, seeing the Titanic Museum, taking in a show at the city's Grand Opera House, hiking the Giant's Causeway, discovering the pubs of Cathedral Quarter, seeing Belfast Castle, touring the Ulster Museum and relaxing in the Botanic Gardens.

Belfast is one of the most traditional cities in the UK, so for the first day I suggest a tour of its most popular circuit, including the city centre murals, the Titanic Museum, which is one of the most popular in Europe, and a visit to the picturesque St George's Market. You can also round off the first day with a show at the Belfast Grand Opera House.

Take a tour of the city's murals

Exploring Belfast's murals has become one of the most traditional and enriching experiences Belfast has to offer. These murals, which began to be developed in the 1960s, are artistic and social testimonies to the history and complexity of conflict in Northern Ireland, offering not only a visual journey but also a glimpse into the culture and identity of the Northern Irish capital.

On the tour, which you can do on your own or as part of some of the best tours of Belfast, you'll discover everything from symbolic representations of resistance to artistic expressions that reflect the reconciliation between Unionists and Republicans. In addition, the Old Town Mural Tour will also take you to the Peace Wall, a dividing wall that was built to defuse the fighting between the two factions.

The mural route also offers the opportunity to explore historic neighbourhoods such as the Falls Road and the Shankill Road, home to some of Northern Ireland' s most iconic street art.

Peace Wall, the epicentre of Belfast's murals, can be reached by buses 10a, 10b, 10h, 11a, 11b, 11c and G1, although if you opt for the guided tour, private transport is usually available.

Visit St George's Market

After the morning tour of Belfast's mural circuit, I suggest a visit to St George's Market, which is located in the heart of the city and is a culinary gem offering a unique lunchtime experience. Founded in 1896, this market is one of the oldest in Ireland and has maintained its historic charm despite the changes in the Northern Irish capital.

Here you'll find stalls offering fresh produce and gourmet preparations, including cheeses, breads as well as seafood and organic produce, which are typical of the local cuisine. There are also live performances by local street artists and musicians, as well as craft stalls.

St George's Market is also a popular place for food tours of Belfast and becomes a themed market during Christmas in the Northern Irish capital.

From Peace Wall you can reach St. George's Market on the 1a, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 3b, 3c, 3e, 3f and 3h buses for a journey time of approximately 20 minutes.

See the Titanic Museum and visit the SS Nomadic

Visiting the Titanic Museum in Belfast is one of the city's must-do activities, so on the afternoon of your first day I suggest a tour of this site, which reflects the connection between local maritime history and one of the most iconic ships of all time. Located on the site where the famous ocean liner was built, this museum tells the story of the ship from its planning to its tragic sinking in 1912.

During your visit you can explore interactive exhibits, see original artefacts that were salvaged from the seabed and get a detailed insight into life on board the liner. In addition, you can also tour the SS Nomadic, the only surviving ship of the White Star Line fleet, which included the Titanic.

The SS Nomadic, which served as a tender for the transfer of passengers from the harbour to the Titanic, offers a unique insight into the golden age of international shipping. The museum's modern architecture, which evokes the shape of an iceberg, is also closely linked to the history of the shipwreck.

From St George's Market you can reach the Titanic Museum on the 5a, G2, 12, 12, 94, 511 and 512 buses in approximately 10 minutes.

See a show at the Belfast Grand Opera House

Belfast is a destination noted for its artistic contribution and one of the city's cultural reservoirs is the Grand Opera House, an iconic theatre that offers a unique platform to enjoy world-class performances. Whether it's a thrilling opera, a captivating play or a vibrant concert, the Grand Opera House is the perfect setting to explore the diversity and excellence of the local performing arts.

If you plan to visit Belfast between March and November, you can enjoy an opera performance there, an experience that fuses music, drama and performance into an artistic masterpiece. With productions ranging from timeless classics to innovative contemporary interpretations, the Grand Opera House offers a range of options.

The Belfast Grand Opera House also offers a year-round line-up of plays for young and old, as well as concerts by local and international artists. You can get here from the Titanic Museum on the G2 and 94 buses.

After seeing the main circuit of Belfast, for the second day I suggest a full day trip around the city to see one of Northern Ireland's most iconic sites, the Giant's Causeway. You can also round off your second day with a pub crawl in the Cathedral Quarter.

Join a Giant's Causeway tour from Belfast and discover Game of Thrones locations

One of the best full day trips you can take from Belfast is to tour the Giant's Causeway, a natural phenomenon located on the coast of Northern Ireland that features hexagonal basalt columns stretching out to sea, creating a surreal and unique landscape. Furthermore, this site is part of the folklore legends that suggest it was built by the giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill, as a pathway to Scotland.

In addition, these tours also include a tour of Game of Thrones locations, as several locations near the Giant's Causeway were used as sets for the series, transforming them into famous sites such as the Iron Coast and the King's Road. During the tours, which last approximately 10 hours, Game of Thrones fans can walk the same trails as their favourite characters.

On these experiences, in addition to the folklore myths, you can discover the real history and amazing geology of the Giant's Causeway, which originates from the rapid cooling of lava from a volcanic caldera.

Wrap up your second day in the city with a pub crawl in the Cathedral Quarter

Belfast's casual nightlife scene is another of the city's highlights, so ending your second day by discovering the bars of Cathedral Quarter is one of the best things to do in Belfast. Known for its cobbled streets and bohemian atmosphere, this neighbourhood is home to some of the most traditional pubs, such as the Duke of York, an iconic pub with its mural-adorned façade and memorabilia-filled interior.

In the area you can also explore The Spaniard, a place that combines the authenticity of an Irish pub with a contemporary twist and is popular for its extensive range of spirits and cocktails. The same goes for The Harp Bar, another popular spot that adds live music concerts and a selection of craft beers, which you can sample on your own or as part of a beer-stop bike tour.

If you want to keep the night going until the early hours of the morning, you can visit Dark Horse, a pub that fuses art, music and a varied gastronomic offer. This bar, located in a historic building in the city centre, is open until the early hours of the morning.

The Cathedral Quarter district can be reached on the 94 and G2 buses or on Belfast's hop on-hop off sightseeing bus.

The third and last day of your tour of Belfast will allow you to discover the surroundings of the historic city centre, from Belfast Castle to the Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum and St Anne's Cathedral, which at night offers one of the most beautiful images of the city with its illuminated façade.

Tour Belfast Castle

The star of the best guided tours in the Northern Irish capital, Belfast Castle will take you on a journey through a history that spans more than 150 years of the city's turbulent political situation. Built in the 1860s on the highest point of the city, the castle initially served as a defensive measure in response to the growing threat of attack in the context of international tensions.

While it was never used for military purposes, its meticulous construction and strategic position offer a glimpse into Victorian England and the military architecture of the period, as well as one of the best panoramic views of Belfast. Within its sturdy walls, you can explore exhibitions and galleries that tell the story of the city's history and the evolution of this building.

The castle is also home to the Belfast Military Museum collection, which features a variety of artefacts relating to military service and Belfast's involvement in international conflicts.

Belfast Castle can be reached from the city centre by buses 1a, 1c, 1d, 1e and 1f.

Visit the Ulster Museum

The Ulster Museum is, after the Titanic Museum, the city's most visited exhibition and a cultural gem that captivates visitors with its display of Northern Ireland's history, art and diversity. Founded in 1929, the site has evolved into a dynamic space that houses a collection ranging from archaeological artefacts to contemporary works of art.

Within the walls of the Ulster Museum the multiplicity of the region's identities and experiences are represented and visitors can browse displays ranging from Irish prehistory to contemporary events. In addition, the museum houses the largest collection of modern Irish art in the country, providing a unique window into local creative expression over time.

From Belfast Castle the Ulster Museum can be reached by buses 1a, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 7a, 7b, 7d, 8a, 8b and 8d for a journey time of approximately 30 minutes and by the city's hop on-hop off tour buses which include a stop at the site.

Walk through the Belfast Botanic Gardens

Located next to the Ulster Museum, the Belfast Botanic Gardens offer a serene green haven in the middle of the city, providing an ideal place to relax before continuing your tour for the final day. Within the grounds you will find themed gardens, winding paths and rest areas.

Botanical enthusiasts will also find a number of greenhouses housing exotic plants and flowers from around the world. The meandering paths provide a perfect circuit for a walk or bike ride, and if you plan to visit the city during Christmas, you can find Christmas Eve decorations here.

Belfast Botanic Gardens is also home to the Tropical School Museum, a Victorian-style building that displays a collection of plant and animal specimens from around the world. There you can explore the exhibits and learn about the interconnectedness of plant life in different regions of the planet.

Discover the illuminated façade of St Anne's Cathedral

One of the most iconic night-time images of Belfast is the illuminated façade of St Anne's Cathedral, which is located at kilometre zero of the city and is characterised by its mid-19th century neo-Gothic style, so you can't leave the city without seeing it.

This architectural gem, as well as marking the city's skyline, is deeply linked to Belfast's religious tradition. As the seat of the Church of Ireland, this Anglican cathedral has been a place of worship for over a century and over the years has been a symbol of religious and cultural heritage, as well as a tangible testimony to the religious diversity that characterises the region.

From the Belfast Botanic Gardens, St Anne's Cathedral can be reached by buses 1a, 1d, 1e and 1f for a journey time of approximately 15 minutes.

This intensive itinerary takes you through Belfast in three different circuits, one that includes the typical layout of the city and its main attractions on the first day, another that takes you to one of Northern Ireland's natural wonders on the second day, and finally a visit to the Botanic Gardens and three of the city's most iconic buildings to discover the full splendour of the Northern Irish capital.