TOP 15 tourist attractions in Belfast

Ulster Museum is always among the top places to visit in Belfast, and it is hard to imagine a better place to get such a great overview of the history and culture of Northern Ireland. This large and diverse museum has something for everyone, from art lovers to curious children fascinated by dinosaurs. You can explore the massive collections of Irish birds and mammals, historical dresses and textiles, modern paintings, and significant archeological findings.

As a bonus, the museum is surrounded by Botanic Gardens. You can look into Victorian glasshouses and stroll around landscaped gardens with impressive tree and plant collections.

Since Belfast is renowned as the birthplace of the world's most famous ship, Titanic Belfast is an experience not to be missed. The landmark shimmering ship-like building, opened for the 100th anniversary of the Titanic, contains nine galleries spread across six floors covering every step from the ship's construction to its sinking, subsequent investigations, and the movies it has inspired.

Get there to fully immerse yourself into the Titanic's story, from dream to tragedy, with the help of interactive exhibits, historical artifacts, special effects, dark rides, and full-scale reconstructions.

It may seem counterintuitive, but the former jail is one of the most famous places and best attractions in Belfast. HMP Belfast, also known as Crumlin Road Gaol, served as a prison for over 150 years and still keeps many dark secrets behind its beautiful Victorian facade.

Today, this well-refurbished notorious jail is a great place to dive deeper into Northern Ireland's history, learn more about Victorian-time judgment, and see what life was like as a prisoner. You can also catch one of the special themed events with a show and dinner or take part in the Paranormal tour to explore the hotspots of spooky activity.

The magnificent City Hall, proudly standing right in the center of Belfast at Donegall Square, is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. It is worth visiting if only to admire from the outside, but this Neo-Renaissance building also houses an excellent Belfast history exhibition. You will learn how the city became a famous shipbuilding center, how it was bombed during World War II, and how it continues to grow.

Be sure to walk through the opulent interiors, look into the Council Chamber, and marvel at the stunning collection of stained-glass windows in the Great Hall.

St George's Market is one of the top Belfast attractions, as well as one of the best markets in the UK, so do not forget to add it to your itinerary, even if you stay in Belfast just for a weekend. This charming Victorian market is open only three days a week, Friday through Sunday, but offers a really great array of stalls to browse with a backdrop of live music.

On Friday, you will find a vibrant mix of goods, from antiques to fresh fish. On Saturday, the market is mostly devoted to food, including specialties from around the world. The Sunday market offers everything at once, with a special emphasis on local arts and crafts.

The luxurious, fairytale-like Belfast Castle, overlooking the city from the height of 400 feet, is worth a 20-minute drive from the city center. It is believed that the first castle was built there almost a thousand years ago, in the 12th century, but the current building is way more modern and looks more like a mansion than a fortress.

This turreted Scottish-style building, surrounded by gardens, is probably one of the most impressive castles in Northern Ireland. Get there to walk through the castle grounds, enjoy stunning views of the city and Belfast Lough, and dine at Castle Tavern or the excellent Cellar Restaurant.

The Peace Wall, also known as the Peace Line, is an important part of Belfast's urban landscape, illustrating the history of the Troubles, a Northern Ireland ethnic and political conflict. The series of barriers and fences were built to separate Irish nationalist and republican Catholic communities from their British loyalist and unionist Protestant neighbors.

Parts of the wall, now covered in graffiti and murals, remain standing to pay homage to the past and remind us that peace is possible. You can easily stumble across some great artwork just wandering through the city, but the best ones can be found on Falls Road and Shankill Road.

The Stormont Estate, situated on the eastern side of Belfast, offers an amazing mix of history, architecture, and nature. It is home to a lush woodland park with a variety of walking trails, the 19th-century Stormont Castle, and the glorious Parliament Building, built in the 1930s to serve as the 'seat of power.' Now it houses the Northern Ireland Assembly and can be visited with a guided tour.

This place has played a key role in Northern Ireland's political history, but if you are not into this sort of thing, it is just a great place to escape the bustling city, enjoy the scenery, and have a picnic on a large grassy lane.

Cave Hill Country Park is a fantastic place for fans of outdoor activities as well as those looking for magnificent panoramic views of Belfast. The park offers a sprawling expanse of walking trails and a number of different vantage points, with the best one at the top of the rocky hill.

Besides many natural features, you can find an old stone fort sitting atop the basaltic outcrop of 'Napoleon's Nose,' a tall cliff resembling the famous emperor's profile. The park is also perfect for families because it houses an adventurous children's playground and is situated a mere five minutes from Belfast Zoo.

Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, with its unique blend of history, culture, and entertainment, is one of the city's most vibrant and enchanting districts, and you are unlikely to miss it on your trip. The focal point and the reason the area got its name is the stunning St Anne's Cathedral, which is well worth a visit.

The church, built in the early 20th century in the Romanesque style, features stunning interior details, such as a mosaic dome comprising 150,000 pieces of glass and representing Creation. You can also admire elaborately carved stonework, beautiful stained-glass windows, and many more.

Belfast's Grand Opera House is an eye-catching piece of architecture that looks even better from the inside. This striking, highly ornate brick building, dating from 1895, boasts a magnificent Victorian auditorium, considered the best surviving example of the oriental style in the UK's theaters.

As Northern Ireland's premier theater, the Grand Opera House presents a wide range of high-class shows, from drama to dance and musical comedy, including those suitable for young adults, teenagers, and younger children. If you are not a theater enthusiast, book a guided tour of the building to admire its rich interiors.

Belfast Zoo, opened in 1934, is one of the older visitor attractions in Northern Ireland and one of the best destinations for a family outing in the city. Set on a hillside overlooking Belfast Lough, the zoo is home to over 110 species of animals, including the Barbary lion, Asian elephant, and Malayan sun bear.

Plan your visit for a sunny day to have a pleasant stroll through the 55 acres of zoological garden, and be sure to check out the schedule of animal feeding times on the zoo's website to catch the moment of feeding penguins, chimpanzees, or sea lions.

Divis and Black Mountain are two peaks dominating Belfast to the west, and joining the trail to the top of one or both of them is perhaps the best walk in the city. Divis Mountain, rising to a height of 1,562 feet, is the tallest peak in the Belfast Hills and a spectacular viewpoint for hikers seeking fantastic panoramic views over Belfast and far out to the sea. Black Mountain is slightly lower but also provides amazing vistas.

This area is great for breathing the fresh air, exploring archeological remains, and observing a variety of wildlife, from birds of prey and hares to the occasional deer.

The large Victorian cemetery, established in 1869, is a popular destination for history buffs and those who want to explore the city's rich cultural heritage. Belfast City Cemetery houses a variety of beautiful sculptures and impressive architectural features, such as a grand entrance gate and a Gothic-style mortuary chapel. It offers a glimpse into the lives of Belfast's past residents.

Take our in-app audio tour to explore the cemetery's most exciting and important monuments and learn the tragic and inspiring stories of women who played essential roles in Belfast's history.

An iconic 'Black Cab Tour' offering a great mix of history, culture, and sightseeing is an unusual way to see Belfast and one of the best things to do in the city. One of the extremely knowledgeable taxi drivers will take you to some of the most important Belfast attractions related to its turbulent past and the Troubles, a 30-year-long violent Northern Ireland conflict. You will see powerful political murals and delve into the city's dense history.

Alternatively, you can join a Black Cab Tour that takes you away from the city — for instance, in search of Game of Thrones filming locations.