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Belfast City Guide, Including Belfast Hotels
Nestled in a valley and bordered to the east by the Irish Sea, the
capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, is a vibrant and lively Celtic
city that lives up to its nickname of “The Hibernian Rio.” Situated on
the River Lagan, the pedestrian-friendly city enjoys a focal point in
Donegal Square where the architecturally stunning City Hall dominates
the skyline, and elsewhere Victorian and Edwardian architecture can be
enjoyed by visitors on foot.
Places of interest:
Belfast’s glorious seafaring history and place at the forefront of the
industrial revolution is evident in the greatest shipyard in Great
Britain, where the Titanic was built. The city’s name is derived from
the Irish “beal feirste” which means “at the mouth of the sandpit” and
nightlife, arts, festivals, dining and shopping are all in abundance in
the city. The sea front in particular is now pedestrianised and
visitors can enjoy the best of Irish culture in street musicians and
theatre against the backdrop of the Irish Sea.
Standing 120 metres above sea level, Belfast Castle offers
breathtaking and panoramic views of the city, bay and surrounding
areas. Belfast Castle was the ancestral home of the Chichester, later
Donegall, family who were descendants of Arthur Chichester who planted
the land that was to become the city in the 1600s. The history of the
castle, and city, are celebrated in the Cave Hill Visitor Centre in the
castle grounds.
Ulster Museum, set over 8000 square metres of grounds, is likely to
take up a full day, so extensive and fascinating are its archaeology,
ethnography, art, history and natural sciences exhibits. The
collections portray and celebrate the history, culture, artistic,
scientific and industrial achievements: in short, the story of the
Irish people from their ancient roots up until modern day. The museum
houses both permanent and temporary collections, and regular,
creatively planned tours are offered to distil some of the wonders of
the museum into palatable chunks.
For stunning hiberno-romanesque architecture, the Belfast Cathedral
is worth a visit, and the exciting, interactive and interpretive St.
Patrick Centre tells the story of Ireland’s patron saint, in his own
words.
The Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and City of Belfast
International Rose Garden, in the southern outskirts of Belfast
features an International Rose Exhibition, as well as gardens, walks, a
children’s playground and live music concerts.
The Linen Hall Library was established in 1788 and boasts a
collection of over 20,000 volumes of Irish literature and an enviable
Robert Burns collection.
Things to do:
Belfast will never leave tourists wondering how to entertain
themselves! Plenty of things to do and see exist in Belfast.
The world class Belfast Zoo features plenty of don’t-miss
attractions, including the monkey park, reptile house and children’s
playground.
Walking Tours of Belfast include The Old Town, Titanic Trail and
the City Centre Walk.
The oldest covered market in Ireland, St George’s Market offers a
range of fish and speciality foods that are unrivalled in Europe.
The world’s largest dry dock, Haarland and Wolfe, is where the
Titanic was built and its famous cranes, Samson and Goliath, can be
seen from all over the city.
At the The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum a fascinating insight
into the history and the daily lives of Ulster people can be found.
The Home Front Heritage Centre features collections that portray
the Belfast experience of the Second World War, and is also home to the
museum of the Royal Ulster Rifles.
W5 is a world renowned innovative and interactive centre of science
and technology exploration, with activities, exhibits and
demonstrations to expand and intrigue minds of all ages.
Food & Drink:
If it is excellent food the tourist seeks, they won’t have to look far
in Belfast.
Traditional pub fare
in a historical atmosphere is to be found at
Belfast’s most famous pub, the Crown Liquor Saloon in the heart of the
historical district.
Altos was rated number one by Yahoo travel for stylish and
contemporary cuisine, serving cutting-edge Mediterranean food and
featuring an extensive wine list and speciality coffee choices.
The Gypsy Queen Vegetarian Restaurant is on of Europe’s premier
vegetarian dining destinations. All dishes are GMO approved, and
organic wherever possible.
For the cuisine enthusiast, Deane’s Restaurant is a high end,
luxurious dining experience, featuring dishes created by one of
Ireland’s top chefs.
Live music pubs are a staple of Belfast nightlife, including the
Duke of York, Morrisons and at the docks, Pat’s Bar Princes.
Belfast Hotels & Accommodation:
As befitting a major European destination, a full range of
accommodation options are available in Belfast. Visitors can chose from
cosy, family run bed and breakfast establishments, a variety of self
catering options and luxury five star hotels to suit every taste, set
of requirements and budget.
Ravenhill Guest House
The Crescent Townhouse
Europa Hotel
The Malone Lodge Hotel
Tara Lodge
The Park Avenue Hotel
The Stormont Hotel
The Chimney Corner Hotel
Culloden Hotel
Days Hotel
Jurys Inn Belfast
Ramada Belfast
Parkview Lodge
Ten Square
Entertainment
Nightlife is one of Belfast’s main attractions, with revellers enjoying
everything from world class dance clubs to traditional pubs. The
Potthouse, opened in November 2004 was built on the site of Belfast’s
first pottery factory and comprises The Potthouse Bar & Grill,
Sugar Nighclub, which plays Top 40, House and classic Disco, and the
Soap Bar guestroom. The Fly and The Grill Room and Bar are also notable
Belfast nightspots. The Movie House Cinema on the Golden Mile offers
the latest cinema releases, as well as arthouse and independent films,
and Ireland’s only 3D and 2D large format cinema, the SheridanIMAX is
located on Queen’s Quay. Fantastic shopping is available in the city
centre Donegall Place and the Waterfront Concert Hall hosts concerts
and music tours from all over the world.
Belfast enjoys an enviable position at the forefront of Hibernian
culture, scenery and history. With an ideal and unique combination of
Celtic culture and British industrial influence, Belfast is an ideal
seaside destination for family friendly events, educational and
historical attractions and a nightlife that is second to none
throughout Europe. In common with much of the British Isles, Belfast
experiences a temperate and often wet climate, but is protected by the
surrounding mountains of Divis Mountain, Black Mountain and Cave Hill.
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