24 Hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland: The Best Experience Ever

Updated On: April 19, 2024 by   Ciaran Connolly

Belfast, Northern Ireland, is entirely different from the one told in the history books. The Troubles which played a dominant role in the city for many decades are long gone. Belfast has now been transformed into a progressive, vibrant, and friendly city. It has become a popular holiday destination with tourists, who are choosing to visit here over Dublin and other popular Irish cities.

Whether you’re coming to Belfast, Northern Ireland, for a lovely weekend away or a day trip, the city has so much to offer, including its history, culture, a growing food scene, and award-winning attractions, including the Titanic Museum and Ulster Museum. Here, we will provide you with the best things to see and do when you only have 24 hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Even with only 24 hours around Belfast’s attractions, this still gives you much time to see some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

24 Hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Morning in Belfast City

When you first arrive in Belfast, Northern Ireland, grab a delicious breakfast at House Belfast, a lovely boutique-style hotel offering a relaxing atmosphere and an amazing menu. The boutique hotel is beautifully decorated, which makes for some great photo opportunities—perfect for your Instagram. Make sure to check out the stunning pink floral decor above the main bar.

The breakfast menu is hearty and filling, setting you up well for exploring the city. After all, you only have 24 hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland, so it’s best to get something nice to eat first, as this could be the only time you’ll relax.

House Belfast is also a nice place to stay in the city if you feel that 24 hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland, isn’t enough. It has 31 stylish and comfortable rooms available. And it’s pretty central, located on Botanic Avenue, so you can quickly get to all the top attractions.

If you want to try a traditional Ulster Fry, the famous northern Irish breakfast, you can find it at places like Maggie Mays or Harlem Cafe.

Botanic Gardens

Once you have enjoyed an excellent breakfast, begin your day with a stroll through the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Located near the renowned Queen’s University, the Botanic Gardens offers a glimpse into one of the most important parts of the Victorian Heritage found in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The public park is a lovely spot to chill out and enjoy the beautiful flower gardens on display. While in the Botanic Gardens, visit the Ulster Museum, one of the best Museums in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Museum explores Northern Irish people’s exciting and unique stories from ancient times to the modern day. The museum offers an incredible variety of things to suit different people, from art lovers to history fans to children and more.

Explore the Dark Tourism of Belfast

You could easily spend a day by yourself, exploring all the museum’s exhibitions, displays and events, but best to pay, at most, an hour or two so you can still get the most out of your visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland.

To help keep your visit quick, we recommend checking out the Egyptian Mummy, the Bronze Age gold Jewellery collection and the impressive dinosaur skeleton on display.

Black Taxi Tour – Get to see the History of the City

Next, during our 24 hours in Belfast, the guide will take you on a black taxi tour. This way, you can explore Belfast’s fascinating history. Many of the black taxi tours last around one and a half hours and pick you up anywhere in the city centre.

We highly recommend going with Belfast Black Cab Tours, who, for over 28 years, have been providing visitors with Belfast mural tours. The local taxi drivers will take you to the famous peaceful walls and other historic sites while diving into the past of Belfast. Provide you with an attractive, unbiased and friendly tour around the city.

This would be ideal for visitors who want to learn more about the city and see how far it has evolved since its troubled past.

Looking forward to studying in Belfast, Northern Ireland; your Guide is ready!

Afternoon in Belfast City

Once you’ve finished the back taxi tour, we suggest heading back to the city centre for lunch. There are many great restaurants and cafes in Belfast, but for lunch, we recommend checking out Havana Bank Square.

This is one of the best-hidden gems in the Belfast food scene, quietly tucked away behind Bank Square. At Havana Bank Square, lunch runs from 12 to 3 p.m. daily, and you can enjoy the best of locally sourced food and an even nicer cocktail list.

It is a very intimate restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere, where you won’t be short of finding something delicious to enjoy.

“Food is always very tasty, service is great and staff are always good craic creating a good atmosphere. “

– TripAdvisor Customer

Titanic Quarter

After you finish lunch, we suggest heading towards Titanic Quarter; you can easily walk there from the city centre. If you choose to walk, you’ll see some attractions on the way, such as the famous Big Fish (a giant ceramic sculpture of a fish). You can’t come to Belfast and not get a photo of you standing in front of the Big Fish; after all, it’s a staple part of the city.

Once you get to the Titanic Quarter, there are lots of things to check out, but the main attraction is the award-winning Titanic Belfast Museum. From its spectacular architecture that dominates the whole area to the amazing exhibitions to uncover inside, Titanic Belfast is a must-see experience.

Inside the museum, you’ll learn about the tragic story of the famous Titanic ship, built in the Belfast shipyards. The story of the Titanic is told through nine interactive galleries known as the Titanic Experience. This is one of the best attractions in Belfast, one you can’t pass by, even when you only have 24 hours in the city.

If you have time, we suggest checking out Titanic Dock and Pump House and SS Nomadic, both located in the Titanic Quarter.

Evening in Belfast City

As the evening approaches, there’s only one place you should finish up’ 24 hours in Belfast’, and that is the Cathedral Quarter. This is one of the most popular areas in Belfast City centre; at night, it comes alive with people and an electric atmosphere.

It’s a tourist hotspot, a cultural hub filled with excellent restaurants and bars and you’re sure to see lots of street art around the place. For your evening meal in Belfast, we suggest visiting Coppi to try contemporary Italian food made with the best local produce.

After your tasty Italian meal, it’s time to wash it down with a nice drink in one of the many great bars around the Cathedral Quarter. You can choose from the gastropub that is the John Hewitt Bar, where you can enjoy live traditional music, or stop by the Dirty Onion, one of the oldest bars in the city, and enjoy a drink or two.

This is the perfect way to end your trip to Belfast and plan your next adventure in the city!

What would you recommend seeing if you had 24 hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland? Let us know in the comments below 🙂

Are you thinking about the tourist attractions that you could visit in Belfast, Northern Ireland? We have made a tour in 24 hours around the most critical places in the city and even went to the famous restaurants and bars, and this should help to suggest some places for you.

Of course, we don’t want you to tour the city in just one day, but we have taken you around it in one day to show you that all the things are close to one another and you could manage to go to a couple of places all during the same day – just build a good plan out there.

Conclusion

With its rich history, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality, Belfast offers a truly unforgettable experience for visitors. Whether you’re exploring its iconic landmarks, savoring its culinary delights, or immersing yourself in its lively entertainment scene, Belfast never fails to enchant and inspire. So why wait? Plan your own 24-hour adventure in Belfast and discover why it’s hailed as one of the best destinations in Northern Ireland.

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