St George's Market

Let's begin with food. For an authentic taste of Belfast life, make your way to the renovated St George’s Market. It’s in full flow on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings (with free jazz on the weekends). More than 150 traders set up stalls laden with everything from antiques to metalwork – but what people really visit this market for is the food.

There's always incredible seafood, fresh crusty bread, Broughgammon Farm’s goat meat - whatever your tastes, it's here. Tuck into some Belfast belly-buster soda bread or an Ulster fry, which will fill you for the day, or head over to Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory stall, with its delicious fudge and colourful sweets. You won't leave empty-handed or with an empty stomach!

Three other foodie favourites:


Belfast Bred Food and Drink Walking Tour


Belfast Taste NI Food Festival


Belfast Food Tours

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Ulster Museum

Gleaming from a multi-million pound redevelopment, there are marvels wherever you turn in the Ulster Museum, so give yourself the time to enjoy it all. Alongside exhibitions that track the rise and fall of Belfast’s craft trades are tens of thousands of fossils, as well as the only dinosaur bones ever found on the island of Ireland.

You'll find Asian, African, European and Pacific art along with the famed Egyptian mummy, Takabuti. Archaeological displays capture Ireland’s evolution from the Stone Age right through to Late Medieval times. It's all here - fine art exhibitions offering glimpses of international and local history and culture through costume and fashion, pottery, furniture and even jewellery.

Three other museums to put on your visiting list:


Ulster Folk and Transport Museum


Discover Ulster Scots Centre


Ulster American Folk Park

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Crumlin Road Gaol

Voted one of Belfast’s top attractions by TripAdvisor, Crumlin Road Gaol is a sight to behold. Closed for business in 1996 after 150 years, today it is host to everything from educational tours to weddings and concerts – not to mention claiming to be one of the most haunted sites in Belfast. 

Visitors can opt to take part in the Paranormal tour, visiting the hotspots of spooky activity, as well as the gaol’s execution chamber and flogging room. While it might not sound the best option for the faint of heart, children and families are catered to as well, with some great kid-friendly tours.

Three of the best Belfast buildings:


Belfast Castle


Grand Opera House 

W5 Interactive Discovery Centre

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Cave Hill Country Park

Named for the five caves along the main Belfast cliffs, Cave Hill Country Park is a hive of outdoor activity: a sprawling expanse of walking trails and orienteering routes, it is home to its own playground and is a mere five minutes from Belfast Zoo. 

The park is also the site of some of the city’s most ancient history: along with the 19th century Belfast Castle are a stone cairn and crannóg. Perhaps the most impressive sight sits atop the basaltic outcrop of Napoleon's Nose: McArt’s Fort, an old stone fort sitting 1,200 feet (368 metres) above sea level! The silhouette of Cave Hill itself is said to resemble a sleeping giant protecting Belfast and even inspired Jonathan Swift to create the character of Gulliver in Gulliver’s Travels.

Three other outdoor activity hubs:


Waterworks Multi Sports Facility


We Are Vertigo


Mobile Team Adventure 

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Botanic Gardens

A short stroll away from the Ulster Museum are the Botanic Gardens. Designed in the 19th century by Sir Charles Lanyon – who also designed parts of Queen’s University – and built in part by Dublin’s Richard Turner, the Gardens and their ornate cast-iron Palm House are a tribute to Victorian Belfast.

Home to an assortment of plants and trees, including geranium, fuchsia, begonia and a hornbeam-leafed oak planted in the 1880s, the gardens are an exotic bubble in the city. The Tropical Ravine even houses banana, cinnamon and orchid plants. For those with more of an interest in relaxation than horticulture, a playground and bowling green are tucked away among the 150-year-old ferns.

Three exquisite outdoor spaces


Victoria Park


Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park


Barnett Demesne

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Titanic Belfast

Built on the slipways where the ship itself was constructed over 100 years ago, Titanic Belfast isn’t just a museum – it’s an experience. Inside the shimmering exterior, you’ll find nine galleries spread across six floors mirroring the height of Titanic, as well as interactive exhibitions, an underwater cinema and gantry rides. 

This is the whole story, from dream to tragedy. Allow at least three hours to take in a mix of moving images, special effects and reconstructions – and do book tickets in advance. Later, give a nod to Samson & Goliath (Harland and Wolff’s yellow cranes) and head to Hamilton Dock to see Titanic’s little sister, the SS Nomadic, now fully restored and offering a unique onboard time-travel experience.

Two more Titanic treats:


Crown Liquor Saloon


Titanic Pump & Dock House

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But wait, there's more! See HERE for more details of what to see and do in Belfast.