Luring in the tourists with its enchanting castles and absorbing museums it can be said that Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland is a perfect place for a tourist to visit. Even if Northern Ireland might not be one of the most famous places throughout the world, it has its animal magnetism and stunning looks. When BET investors come to Belfast they will expected to feel that they are in fairy tale of a fantasy novel. Here in this guide to Belfast, we are aiming to describe what you can visit in the city and have a nice time if you stay there for 3 days.
Welcome to Belfast where we can explore Old Town that was the shooting location of many famous movies, natural attractions. Up for discovering the best kept secrets of the Northern Ireland’s capital?
Northern Ireland: It is one destination that anyone who is interested in the history of travel should not miss.
Northern Ireland proves itself to be a country of quite a few behaves. Different types of nature, close to castles and historic houses draw attention to the fact that it is medieval kingdom that feels like travelling back in time. The country is truly culturally diverse and there is evidence of influence from Celts, Vikings, Christian monks and the rest. It is impossible to travel through its towns and cities without seeing remains of achievements that they left behind.
Belfast: Amid the extremes of modernity and traditional African culture, Jo’burg is a city of contrasts.
Yes, indeed Belfast has its fair share of political instability, despite this it is among the best places to visit. The city tried to have equilibrium between the history and the contemporary architecture since some of the iconic monuments are located in the city though some other buildings were developed within the contemporary setting. Looks at the nearby natural areas as well as at the North Atlantic coast and is definitely a perfect travel destination. Here’s how to make the most of your three-day visit to Belfast:Here’s how to make the most of your three-day visit to Belfast:
Day 1: Visiting the actual destination is much more exciting than the conventional way of exploring it, and the Historic City Center is no exception.
Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall is a fine Victorian building and it is the starting point for your guided tour of the town. The building has sky blue domes and greenery in its surrounding with tourists idling around and taking photos. In side the City Hall there is Titanic Memorial Garden that is dedicated in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic event of the Titanic. Self and guided walking tours which are free give details on the history of Belfast and the architectural design of the structure.
Probably the most popular location to begin a visit is the Belfast City Hall, the surrounding territory is very calm, it has nice flower gardens, sculptures and memorials. The venue is used for seasonal fairs, for instance Christmas markets as well as open-air concerts in the course of summer thereby making the environment lively. The visitor exhibition has interesting information on the history of the city and the building where SAP is at.
Albert Memorial Clock
Next it is recommended to go to Queen’s Square and visit the Albert Memorial Clock. This clock tower is said to be a twin copy of London’s Big Ben constructed from the Italian and French Gothic styles of architecture and stands 34 meters tall. Apart from that it is a renowned landmark in Belfast and it has a vantage view of the city.
The clock tower is tilted slightly because it is built on the reclaimed area bringing a sweet note of oddity to the Elizabethan gravitas. Getting around the tower, there is a constantly moving crowd, coffee shops, street sales, and various performers, which allows you to take a break and enjoy the view of local life.
St. Anne’s Cathedral
One of the most important churches of Belfast is the St. Anne’s Cathedral built from stone with mosaics and religious monuments inside. The cathedral is also home to one of the largest pipe organs found in Northern Ireland with over four thousand pipes. The spectators can either participate in the services or just watch the architectural design of the cathedral.
The Site is Belfast Cathedral and it is a current place of worship with clearly a historical past. Construction started in 1899 and continued until the early part of the twentieth century; hence the building Exhibit a fusion of architectural genres. The Michigan Street entrance features the Spire of Hope added in 2007 it is a 40-meter stainless steel structure which is on the roof representing the renewal of the city.
It has different chapels that one can visit: Chapel of the Holy Spirit and War Memorial Chapel for the people who died in the World Wars. The intricate designs on the floor and the beautiful stained glass windows shed light to the biblical and historical scenes and saints thus enhancing the spiritual calmness of the structure.
Day 2: Help to discover Museums of Belfast
Murals in Falls Road as well as in Shankill Road
Two sights that can show the recent past of Belfast are the murals at the Falls Road and Shankill Road. These murals depict the political divide of the city and look at celebrating certain issues ranging from the Palestine issue to the issue of Catalonia. A guided tour is convenient because it comes with necessary information concerning background of sites, necessary to give a complete picture of Belfast history.
The murals are very much still a feature of Belfast today and new ones are painted to replace old ones due to the continuing political and social changes. On Falls Road, which is nationalists’, and Shankill Road, which is unionist, there is a Peace Wall symbolically painted with visitors’ messages of hope and peace. The guided walk allows understanding the stroy behind each mural and explore them with the help of the local guides.
Titanic Belfast
Titanic Belfast as is situated in the former ship-building yard of Harland & Wolff is a world-class museum exclusively built to illustrate the story of RMS Titanic. Some of the activities that are available in the museum include; physical models, virtual models and the actual account from the passagers. Therefore there are possibilities to see particular ship construction, Launching and its ill fate. A choice has been added to the wonderful museums list: recently, the museum has been renovated, and coming here is interesting for lovers of historical topics.
Titanic Experience took me through nine rooms each of which showed a part of the Titanic including HOW THE TITANIC WAS BUILT, TOUR THE TITANIC, THE MATCHLESS TITANIC, TITANIC SETS SAIL , TITANIC SINKS & MORE. Some popular areas are the Shipyard Ride, which educates people about how ships are made and the Ocean Exploration Centre, which allows tourists to learn about current ways of shipbuilding.
Located near the museum, one can go aboard the SS Nomadic which is the only White Star Line ship surviving; it used to be tender to the Titanic. This gives the visitor a plus point of understanding the history of the place.
HMS Caroline
Alexandra Dock also has HMS Caroline, another significantly historical ship which was used in the WWII as a part of the UK’s Royal Naval Reserve fleet and is now a museum. People can walk through intact ship zones, from the deck and cabins and get to know more about the life of sailors during the war. The history of naval warfare and the relation of the ship to these events creates and excellent experience and education for the visitor of the museum.
Current exhibitions of the ship are informative, dedicated to representing different parts of the ship, and including exhibits about participation of the HMS Caroline in the Battle of Jutland which took place in May 1916. Lifelike reenactments and visual displays are presented in the ship through touch screen, Graphic information in form of movies and other ship models and exhibits in the compound, fully furnished cabins, engine, and mess areas are arranged to depict life on board the ship in the beginning of the twentieth century.
It likewise has a number of programs and activities including theater performances and educational exhibits making it a progressive component of Belfast’s tourist destination.
Day 3: Explore the Destinations that Most People Don’t Get to See
Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway – a beautiful formation of polygonal basalt columns on the North coast – an hour’s drive from Belfast was the hope of meeting giants and was declared as a World Heritage Site. The formations by these activities are columns which give the area a stepped appearance as if descending into the sea. The site is fully accessible and has good trails that will allow the users to get good views of the coast.
It is claimed that what is seen as the columns is the parts of the causeway constructed by the giant Finn McCool, which makes it attractive to places with links to myth and folklore. The Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre has information about the geological and the historical background of the location and there are guided tours that give out more information.
There are many things to do nearby starting up with the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Dunluce Castle that is why this particular geological marvel of the Giant’s Causeway is ideal for visitors who plan a one day excursion across Northern Ireland’s amazing coastline.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is used to cross the sea and join the mainland territory to the island called Carrick-a-Rede. There is suspension bridge initially designed to be used by salmon fishermen but now is a great tourist destination. Walking across the bridge provides a thrill of looking at cliffs surrounding the sea and more. The area is also famous for avifauna and scenic beaches.
The actual bridge is 20 meters long and is built 30 meters above stimulating and rough sea below. The walk to the bridge is also beautiful with a coastal path on the way to the bridge with views of Rathlin island and Scotland on a clear day. After you get to the island, you have the opportunity to see the ruins of an old fisherman’s house and relax in quietude.
Dunluce Castle
Another castle, Dunluce Castle located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland is a beautiful castle now in ruins which has accommodated a number of medieval re-enactments and is the Castle of the Chronicles of Narnia and game of Throne fame. Great for touring, the castle is in a dramatic position and has a superb period history. Tours are offered so that visitors can learn about the design of the site, tactical value, and residents’ histories.
The castle was constructed in the 13 th century and there are records of several conflicts that took place near the castle. It also contains appearing part of the castle e.g the castle keep, the gate house and other domestic structures. The legends of the castle are also depicted on information panels and audio guides that shed light on the successive stages of the building’s construction and its transformation from a medieval fortification into a noble palace.
There are proper views from the Dunluce Castle; the North Atlantic is in front of the castle and cliffs setting the scene. While you will find more information about the castle within the Visitor Centre located in Dunluce Castle, the details will help set up your visit here.
Final Thoughts:
Whenever one steps in Belfast, he or she feels like he or she is in a world where the real, history and imagination co-exist. There appears to be an interesting story to tell or to write about anywhere one goes in the city. Be it tracing urban history in some of the buildings, going through the history of Belfast or following natural beauty this city gives a distinct feeling. But these locations reflect the areas of Belfast with history and culture, nature’s beauty, and other important aspects of this city, which deserves many more guides. You should start this journey in order to enjoy the verses and the enchanting atmosphere of Northern Ireland’s capital.
Additional Recommendations
If you have spare time on your hand, you can go and vist some of the other colorful districts of Belfast like Cathedral Quarter which is famous for artiness, numerous gastronomic places and pubs. The neighbouring attraction is the Botanic Gardens with other, the Ulster Museum situated in the Queen’s Quarter. The gardens are beautiful and quiet with greenery and the museum boast of art, history, and natural science displays.
To learn more about the maritime history of Belfast, you can take a harbor or go to the Belfast Harbour Marina where one can see modern ships and historic ones anchored together. The dining and entertainment facilities are also available in this area hence providing tourists with a good location to relax after a long day.
Belfast has got it all for everybody out there ranging from the nice old historic buildings, our cultural personnel to the natural scenery that is enticing. And that, my friends is why, you need to grab a suitcase, get ready for an adventure and fall in love with Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital city.