Hostelworld Guide for belfast

The Essentials

Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland, is a city quickly emerging as a popular European city break
destination. After 30 years of political strife, a sense of optimism is pervading the streets and more and
more people backpacking through Ireland are pencilling in a visit to the city. Once you're done exploring
the city for the day, you can round the night off with a drink in one of the many pubs on offer, or dancing
the night away in one of city's numerous clubs.

In this Guide...
Useful Information
After Dark
Places to Eat
Top Attractions
Budget Tips
Where to Shop

Getting There
By plane: Belfast has 2 airports; Belfast
International and George Best City Airport. The
international airport is the main gateway and it is
situated 18 miles from the centre. A 24-hour bus
service (No. 300) operates every 10 minutes from
the airport to the centre.
By train: There are 2 train stations in the centre Great Victoria Street Station and Central Station.
Ironically, it is Great Victoria Street station which is
more central to the city.
By bus: In keeping with the couplet theme, Belfast
also has 2 bus stations - Laganside and Europa
stations. Europa is where most of the buses to the
city end up.

Getting Around
On foot: Belfast city centre is quite small and is
easily traversable on foot.
By bus: The Metro bus service runs throughout the
city and the surrounding areas. A day ticket costs
2.70 (9.30am-3pm Mon-Sat and all day on
Sundays) or 3.50 (before 9.30am and after 3pm)
and entitles you to free travel for the day.
By Taxi: There is an efficient taxi service in
operation, but as the city centre is quite compact
you might not have to use them.

Belfast facts

Climate
Belfast boasts mild winters as well as mild
summers. During the winter the average
temperature is 6C while in summer that figure
climbs to 18C. As Belfast is a coastal city, it means
conditions are rarely conducive for snowfall. The
best time to visit is in the spring, when temperatures
are mild and rainfall is rarer.

Good to know...
Language: English
Currency: British Pound
Electricity: 230/240 Volts AC/50Hz, 3-pin plug
Area Code: +44 (Northern Ireland), 02890
(Belfast)
Emergency Codes: Ambulance 999, Fire 999,
Police 999
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time
Central Post Office: Bedford House, Bedford
Street
Main Tourist Office: 47 Donegall Place

Consulates / High Commissions

US: +44 (0)28 9038 6100
Canada: +44 (0)20 7258 6600*
Australia: +44 (0)20 7379 4334*
South Africa: +44 (0)20 7451 7299*
Germany: +44 (0)28 9024 4113
Spain: +44 (0)20 7589 8989*
Italy: +44 (0)28 9070 9415
New Zealand: +44 (0)28 9264 8098
France: +44 (0)20 7073 1250*
*Number is for embassy in London

Name: Belfast's name comes from the Irish

'Bal Feirste' which literally translates as 'mouth
of the sandbars'.
Location: Belfast is located in the east of
Northern Ireland.
Population: Around 270,000 people call the city
of Belfast home.
Area: The city covers an area of approximately
115 kilometres squared.
Hostelworld Guide for belfast

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Cheap Eats
Speranza, 16-19 Shaftesbury Square Specialising
in Italian cuisine, this busy restaurant can seat up to
300 diners over 2 floors. There is a varied menu
offering a tasty range of pizzas, pastas, salads and
desserts, and the bar on the second floor offers
agreeable surroundings to enjoy a pre-dinner drink.
Open Mon-Sat 12pm-late, Sun 3pm-10pm

It's all in the timing...

Benedicts, 7-21 Bradbury Place While hotel
food can be a bit hit and miss, this isn't the case
in this hotel restaurant. It's best known for its
"beat the clock" promotion where, between
5.30pm and 7pm, the time you order is the price
you pay. Get in when they open the doors and
enjoy their fab main courses for just 5.50!
Open Mon-Sat 12pm-late, Sun 3pm-10pm
Auntie Annie's, 44 Dublin Road Not many pubs
can claim to be as popular during the day as they
are at night, but here it is always buzzing. Great
pub grub is served at lunch times, and particularly
appealing for both the taste buds and the wallet is
the Irish stew. Made fresh that day, it is served with
fresh crusty bread. Open Mon-Sat 12pm-late, Sun
1pm-11pm
Suwanna Restaurant, 117 Great Victoria Street
The food here is stunning and affordable, two words
that go well together these days. Most of the food is
made from fresh local produce and they've lots of
vegetarian options too. Open Mon-Thu
6pm-10.30pm, Fri & Sat 6pm-11pm; closed Sun.
Doorsteps, 455-457 Lisburn Road This gourmet
sandwich caf has queues out the door come
lunchtime, which is testament to the quality of its
fare. They do the best sandwiches, wraps and rolls
in the city and they're so deep-filled each one
comes with a knife and fork! Open Mon-Sat
7.30am-3pm, Sun 11am-3pm

After Dark
Whites Tavern, 2-4 Winecellar Entry A bar with
something for everyone, Whites claims to be the
oldest pub in Belfast. The downstairs bar has a
traditional ambience and on any night of the week
you're likely to find a troupe of Irish musicians in the
corner who will strike up an impromptu tune on a
moment's notice. Upstairs there is a nightclub,
always buzzing on a Saturday night. Open daily
from 12pm-11pm, and until 2am on weekends.
Potthouse Bar & Grill, 1 Hill Street Located in the
heart of the Cathedral Quarter, this 3-story complex
consists of a bar, nightclub and private function
rooms. The dance floors on all 3 levels are
completely see-through, providing first time visitors
with an amusing (albeit brief) distraction! Open
Mon, Tues, Fri and Sat 10pm until late.

Gay / Lesbian Belfast

Belfast has a thriving gay scene, with a number
of pubs and clubs around the city operating gay
only/friendly nights. The aforementioned
Potthouse is exclusively gay on Monday nights,
while the most famous venue is The Kremlin
(96 Donegall Street), open 7 nights a week with
Saturday proving a big draw. Other popular
spots include the Union Street Bar (8-14 Union
Street) and Mynt (2-16 Dunbar Street.)
Crown Liquor Saloon, 46 Great Victoria Street
Having a pint of Guinness and a bowl of stew at the
Crown Bar, one of the city's oldest pubs, is
essential. The interior is decked out with
ornamental woodwork and opulent tiling - ideal
surroundings to soak up the atmosphere at this
Belfast drinking institution. Open Mon-Sat
11.30am-11pm, Sun 12.30pm-10pm.
The Roost Bar, 46 Church Lane A favourite
among Belfast's hip young crowd is this trendy
bar/club in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. The
Roost hosts club nights every Friday and Saturday
when the place is always packed to the rafters, and
Thursday is Karaoke night - always entertaining!
Open daily from 1pm-late.
M Club, 23-31 Bradbury Place Open 4 nights a
week, the M Club is very popular with students,
particularly on both Tuesdays and Thursdays when
there are different promotions running. On Saturday
nights the price goes up a tad, but the club still
draws a large crowd due to the quality of the music
on offer. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and
Saturday 9pm-2am.

Hostelworld Guide for belfast

Don't Miss
Carrickfergus Castle, Antrim Street,
Carrickfergus A short trip by bus or train from the
city sits the picturesque Carrickfergus Castle.
Dating back to the 12th century, daily tours bring its
fascinating and frequently violent past to life. Open
Mon-Sat 10am 4pm, Sun 2pm 4pm; admission 3.
Belfast Wheel, City Hall There is no better way to
unwind after a busy day than a ride on the Belfast
Wheel. It is situated right beside the City Hall and
rises to 200 feet, affording splendid panoramic
views over the city. Open Sun-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri
and Sat 10am-10pm; admission 6.50.
The Odyssey, 2 Queens Quay The Odyssey is a
large entertainment and sports complex situated in
the Titanic Quarter. There is a stadium which is
home to the Belfast Giants ice hockey team, as well
as numerous restaurants, bars and a bowling alley
among other attractions. Open daily from 12pm-late

Go for a ride...
Black Taxi Tours Belfast's infamous black taxi
tours are rapidly becoming a 'must do' on all
tourist check lists. They can be tailored to your
requirements and a charismatic
driver-come-tour guide will regale you with
lesser-known tales of Belfast that will amuse
and astonish in equal measure. For more
information on black taxi tours call into the
tourist office on Royal Avenue.
River Lagan Boat Trip A boat trip on the River
Lagan is a novel way to experience the city. Beside
the 'Big Fish' statue by the river you can hop on
board the 'M.V. Joyce Too'. The friendly guide
details the city's extensive maritime history, such as
the construction of the ill fated passenger liner
Titanic. The boat is heated and weather proof so
don't worry about the cold or the rain. Sailing times
12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm; tickets 10 per person.

Mark Your Calendar

January - Out to Lunch Festival This mini-festival
features lunchtime music, comedy and theatre
performances in pubs and other venues around
Cathedral Quarter.
March - St. Patrick's Day Bigger and better every
year, the multi-cultural Patrick's Day parade
features samba dancers and Chinese dragons, and
culminates in a free concert at Custom House
Square in the city centre.
April/May - Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival This
annual festival centres around the Cathedral
Quarter, and features live music, comedy, literature
readings, art displays and theatre performances.
May - Continental Market Market traders from all
over Europe come to trade food and other goods
from their homeland, such as sausages from
Germany, paella from Spain and cheese from
France.
June - Belfast City Carnival To celebrate the
Mayor's term in office, a colourful carnival takes to
the city streets. Musicians and dancers from all
around Ireland take part, attracting huge crowds.
July-August - File an Phobail File an Phobail,
also known as the West Belfast Festival, is the
largest community festival in Europe. The Falls
Road is the focal point for this celebration of Irish
culture, and it features a parade, live music and
poetry readings.
August - Tennents Vital Festival Ormeau Park is
the new location of this popular music festival which
was previously held in the Botanic Gardens.
Attracting well-known music acts, it's attended by
large numbers of revellers.
October - Halloween Belfast celebrates Halloween
like no other city, with a week-long celebration
finishing with a fireworks display over the River
Lagan at the Odyssey complex.
October/November - Belfast Festival at Queen's
Attracting over 100,000 visitors each year, the
festival encompasses all art forms, from theatre,
poetry and visual arts to classical, jazz and folk
music.
December - Christmas Market at St. George's
Something festive for everyone is available here,
ranging from handmade jewellery to authentic knit
wear to beauty products utilising local produce such
as good old Irish seaweed!
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Neighbourhood Watch
Cathedral Quarter So called because it is
dominated by the impressive St. Anne's Cathedral
at its core, the Cathedral Quarter is at the centre of
Belfast's cultural revival. The festivities of the Arts
festival are mostly played out here and the cobbled
streets have a wealth of trendy bars to visit also.
Lisburn Road The Lisburn Road has emerged as
one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the city, and
its "BT9" postcode is synonymous with prestige and
status. The road and its side streets have numerous
upmarket boutique stores, wine bars and coffee
shops with outdoor seating, giving the area a
distinctly Parisian feel.

Irish heritage
Gaeltacht Quarter The area to the west of the
city centre encompassing the Fall's Road is
known as the Gaeltacht Quarter. It is the
culmination of an initiative undertaken to
spearhead the revival of Irish culture and
language among the local people. Highlights
include Conway Mill which displays local arts
and crafts exhibitions, and An Chultrlann, the
"HQ" of the Quarter which has a restaurant, an
art gallery and a theatre.
The Golden Mile Starting behind the City Hall, the
Golden Mile encompasses Shaftesbury Square and
Bradbury Place and finishes at Queen's University.
It has the highest concentration of bars and
nightclubs in the city, as well as several restaurants
to suit all budgets.
Queen's Quarter This area in the south of the city
centre is named after Queen's University, where the
grandiose main building is located. The area is
popular with students, ensuring the atmosphere is
convivial and lively. The Queen's Quarter contains
the Ulster Museum and the Botanic Gardens, 28
acres of scenic inner city parkland.

Hostelworld Guide for belfast

Budget Tips
Relax in the sun at City Hall Belfast is great for a
lot of things, but along with the rest of Ireland,
weather is not usually one of them. So when
summery conditions do arrive, the good folk of
Belfast seize every opportunity. The City Hall
grounds offer perfect surroundings to lay back and
enjoy the carnival atmosphere that permeates the
city when the sun has his hat on.

Explore Belfast Castle

Hop on any Antrim road bus from the City Hall
to visit Belfast Castle. The castle is set in
spectacular grounds, 400 metres above sea
level, with great views overlooking Belfast
Lough. The visitor centre on the 2nd floor is free
to all and it details the history of the castle and
the surrounding area. Open Monday to
Saturday 9am-10pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm.
Visit the murals for free A short walk from the city
centre, you can visit the political murals of the
Nationalist Fall's Road and the Loyalist Shankill
Road. The murals hark back to an era when Belfast
was more known for its violence and political
upheaval than anything else. Some of the more
hard line murals have been repainted to
commemorate the shared history of the island such
as the Great Irish Famine.
Go for a bike ride Belfast is a great city to explore
on a bike, with more cycle lanes being introduced
and numerous parks to explore, such as Sir
Thomas and Lady Dixon Park just off the Lagan
towpath. Hiring a bike for a full day isn't too
expensive, with a number of rental outfits found
throughout the city.
Enjoy a Tuesday night movie Known locally as
'Crazy Tuesdays', all tickets are slashed by half the
price to 2.50. A number of movie theatres across
the city are involved, and these show a great
selection of films including the top new releases.

Retail Therapy
Royal Avenue As Belfast's central thoroughfare,
Royal Avenue offers Castlecourt shopping centre
as well as popular clothing chains such as Topshop
and Zara. It is approximately half a mile long and
the street ends at the entrance to the City Hall.
Victoria Square, 1 Victoria Square Victoria
Square is a leisure complex opened in March 2008
to much fanfare. The centre has a unique, open air
feel and is a pleasure to walk around. The top floor
has a spectacular viewing dome which affords
splendid views over the city. Open Mon & Tues
9am-7pm, Wed- Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun
1pm-6pm.
Castlecourt, Royal Avenue The opening of
Victoria Square has somewhat stolen some of
Castlecourt's thunder, but has not diminished the
quality of this Belfast shopping stalwart. It is a
4-floor complex which has over 90 stores and a
large food court with several restaurants to suit all
tastes. Open Mon & Tues 9am-7pm, Wed - Fri
9am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm and Sun 1pm-6pm.
Junction One International Outlet Shopping,
Antrim Approximately 40 minutes from the city
centre lies Antrim which is home to Junction One, a
70 store shopping emporium. It has upmarket
boutique stores such as Clockwork Orange as well
as the usual high street brands. Open Mon - Wed
10am-6pm, Thurs & Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm
and Sun 1pm-6pm.

Something for everyone...

St. George's Market This is the oldest covered
market in Ireland. Since undergoing a 4.5
million redevelopment in 1997, it has gone from
strength to strength. The market on Fridays
sells everything from antiques to clothes, whilst
the Saturday food market purveys a plethora of
local foods and specialities. Open Friday
6am-2pm and Saturday 9am-3pm.

A day in Belfast...
Grab a morning pick-me-up in one of the nearby
coffee shops, find a bench in the grounds of the
City Hall and watch the world go by.
Make sure you're first in line at 10am for a ride on
the Big Wheel next to the City Hall to enjoy a
bird's-eye view of the city.
Hop off the wheel and then walk down Royal
Avenue to explore the surrounding shopping areas.
Buy a packed lunch; you'll need the energy this
afternoon.
Buy a Metro day ticket and hop on a bus (numbers
1A-F) to Belfast Castle. It's a 20 minute walk uphill
after alighting at the bus stop but it's well worth the
exertion.
After your lunch, walk up to the summit of Cave Hill,
locally known as the Napoleon's nose. The best
view in Belfast is your reward.
Safely navigate your way back to civilisation and
get a bus back into the city centre. Get off at the
City Hall and make your way down Chichester
Street to Victoria Square (below.)

Victoria Square offers great late night shopping

opportunities and has a huge range of eateries for
when you re all shopped out.
Make your way to the Rotterdam bar for an early
evening eye opener. Even if you don't drink, there's
always a great atmosphere and a bit of live music
on.
If you still have the energy, back towards the City
Hall where you'll find the Golden Mile, a succession
of nightclubs and bars with something for everyone.

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