Top tips

H. Hach from Pixabay

First time in Belfast? We recommend staying in the Cathedral Quarter, the Titanic Quarter, or Belfast Central.

Planning to see the sights of Belfast? Stay in the Cathedral Quarter, the Titanic Quarter, Queen's Quarter or Belfast Central.

In Belfast for the craic? Consider staying in Belfast Central, Queen's Quarter, or the Cathedral Quarter.

Bringing your whole family to Belfast? You might enjoy staying in the Titanic Quarter or Belfast Central

Fascinated by Belfast's history? We recommend you stay in the Cathedral Quarter, the Titanic Quarter, Belfast Central, 

Want to hang with the cool kids of Belfast? Stay in Queen's Quarter or the Cathedral Quarter.

Hunting for great value accommodation? Consider the charms of Queen's Quarter.

Once considered dangerous and post-industrial, today's Belfast is much more hip and historic! This city still has plenty of output, but it’s more along the lines of niche breweries and independent coffee roasters. Belfast is a great place to go out, with a vibrant, largely student-led nightlife and a thriving music scene. The conversion and creation of its Titanic Quarter really celebrates this city’s old industrial power. It’s centred around the old docks, where, in addition to the actual Titanic Museum, you can see the glorious old cranes, Samson and Goliath, and be entertained in a myriad of other ways. ‘The Troubles’ haven’t been forgotten, and there are important relics you can see for yourself, including Stormont, the Ulster Museum and the Crumlin Road Gaol.  

A Guide to the Neighbourhoods of Belfast

Belfast has a hip and happening hotel scene too, starting with the converted Harland & Wolff shipping company building in the Titanic Quarter, and including a couple of floating hotels, converted banks, warehouses, and even a church.  The Titanic Quarter is a great neighbourhood for families and/or history buffs. If you’re visiting Belfast for the craic, Belfast Centre, the Cathedral Quarter and Ormeau are the best neighbourhoods. Belfast Central is also a good option if you’re here to shop and sightsee. The Cathedral Quarter has some of the most impressive architecture, and is where you'll find the theatres and art exhibitions; it's also a good pick for foodies. The Queen’s Quarter is a cultural hub radiating out from Queen’s University.  If you want to live like a Belfast local, consider staying in the neighbourhood of East Belfast. 

Cathedral Quarter

Stuart at English Wikipedia

Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter takes its name from St. Anne’s Cathedral, which is at its heart. It’s positioned just beyond Belfast Central, so it’s a good neighbourhood to stay in if you want to be both close to the centre of town and within a thriving cultural quarter. Perfect if you appreciate literary pubs, Romanesque Revival architecture and artists’ spaces. It's also crammed with great eateries — expect Michelin stars in the rough! The area is also known for the annual Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, which showcases a plethora of acts in genres across the spectrum.

Titanic Quarter

Image by Josef Kotarba from Pixabay

The Titanic Quarter has been one of the drivers for Belfast’s recent renaissance as a tourist destination. It’s not just the Titanic Museum, which is built in the same space where the Titanic was built, it’s also the new hotels, bars and restaurants around it. All of this has rejuvenated Belfast’s old docklands, and now the “Maritime Mile” is a famed scenic walking path through the docks. In addition to the impressive Titanic Museum, the Quarter hosts the vast, historic cranes, Samson and Goliath, that helped to build the ships of the fabled White Star Line; the SS Nomadic; and the Odyssey Complex, a marine science and discovery centre.  

Belfast Central

David Stanley via Flickr

Belfast Central has the icon of Baroque architecture, the Belfast City Hall, at its heart, surrounded by peaceful lawns (except at Christmas when it’s converted into a Christmas Market!). But it isn’t the only impressive building in the centre of Belfast; everywhere you turn, there are examples of Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian architecture. This gives the area a feeling of grandeur, which the high-end brands have noticed. Consequently, this is a great hub for luxury shopping, or market shopping in St. George’s Market, which is where you’ll find your locally produced treasures and food. You'll also find the Grand Opera House here. It offers more than just opera and ballet, it also stages musicals and plays. For history, The Linen Hall Library will inform and inspire, with its huge political collection, an impressive first printing of the Declaration of Independence outside of the US and some first editions of James Joyce.

Queen's Quarter

By William Murphy via Flickr

Queen’s Quarter is named for the university at its heart: Queen’s University, Northern Ireland's largest. The area is south of Belfast Central, and merges with the neighbourhood of South Belfast, both laying claim to the Ulster Museum and the Botanic Gardens.  Memorable architecture can be seen all around. Don't miss the Victorian Palm House! The Lanyon Building and the Stranmillis College are worth a look too. The gardens are surrounded by more green space, so the Queen’s Quarter is one of the greenest places in Belfast. Because this is a university district, there are plenty of music venues, pubs and bars;  and there are plenty of cafes, and places to eat too. The Queen’s Quarter has a fab little art house cinema too, called the Queen’s Film Theatre, which is known for its annual festival and programme of indie, cult and international films.