Belfast Travel Guide, Belfast Vacation Tourism, Belfast Travel Information

Belfast City Guide: Belfast Travel Guide, Belfast Vacation Tourism, Belfast Travel Information

Nestled beside the River Lagan and Belfast Lough and ringed by gentle hills, Belfast occupies an idyllic setting. With a determination to move ever forward in a direction of peace and harmony, this modern, bustling city greets visitors warmly.

For two decades, news of Belfast was news about "the Troubles" until the 1994 cease-fire. Since then, this capital city with a population of 300,000 has turned around completely. It has benefited from major hotel and business investment, harborfront gentrification, the opening of a world renowned performing arts center, and a rediscovery of the many beautiful parks and quiet river walks that make Belfast a perfect place to visit.

Belfast is easy to explore on foot. It takes about an hour to walk from one end of town to the other.

The heart of downtown Belfast sits beside the west bank of the River Lagan, centered upon Donegall Square, which holds the magnificent city hall. All roads radiate out from there. Donegall Place, which extends north from the square, leads to Royal Avenue, a prime shopping district. Bedford Street, extends south from the square, and becomes Dublin Road, which, in turn, leads to the quietly dignified Queen's University. Near the University are the Botanic Gardens, fine 19th-century buildings, and many excellent pubs and restaurants.

North of this area, between Shaftesbury Square and Howard Street, is the Golden Mile, with hotels, major civic and office buildings, and some restaurants, cafés, and stores. City Hall marks the northern boundary of the Golden Mile and the southern end of the pedestrian-only central district, which extends from Donegall Square north almost to St. Anne's Cathedral. This is the center of old Belfast, and still a bustling place where both locals and visitors shop, chat in cafés, and go pubbing. Behind St. Anne's is the Cathedral Quarter, a maze of cobbled streets that resembles a combination of Temple Bar in Dublin and the Left Bank in Paris.

The city's architecture is rich in Victorian and Edwardian buildings with elaborate sculptures over the doors and windows. Some of Belfast's grandest buildings are on the banks of Waring Street. The Ulster Bank, dating from 1860, has an interior like a Venetian palace, and the Northern Bank, dating from 1769, was originally a market house.

With its large port, Belfast gained its reputation originally as an industrial city,. Major industries once flourishing there ranged from linen production to rope making and shipbuilding. The Titanic was built in Belfast port, and today the world's largest dry dock is there.

Belfast's main theatre spaces include the magnificent late-Victorian Grand Opera House, which is complemented by the new 2,000-seat Waterfront Hall. The Hall, which opened in 1997, has shown itself capable of hosting a variety of international shows from theatre to large-scale opera. Belfast is home also to the only repertory company in the region

The newest creative industry in Northern Ireland over the last ten years has been film. In partnership with the Northern Ireland Film Commission and with the co-operation of the BBC and Ulster Television, the Arts Council's Lottery Fund has been able to inject vital new financial backing into a burgeoning sector of the arts.

Nightlife is lively with the accompaniment of traditional Irish music as well as folk music, jazz and blues. Sports fans can enjoy rugby , hurling, tennis and football matches. In winter there is ice skating at the Ice bowl on Old Dundonald Road, and in summer, swimming and watersports at Water Wonderland.

Tours from Belfast take the visitor into the richness of the past. One day tours include the 87 mile drive around Strangford Lough through fishing villages and ancient towns, past wildlife preserves, monasteries, castles, and exquisite gardens.

With its friendly people, fine entertainment, outstanding museums, and stunning natural beauty, Belfast provides the traveller with warmth, humor, and charm that, once experienced ,can never be forgotten.

Belfast Attractions: Belfast Travel Guide, Belfast Vacations Tourism, Belfast Travel Information

Albert Memorial Clock Tower:
Tilting a little to one side, the clock tower was named for Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. The square on which it stands has just undergone a face-lift. Unfortunately, the tower stands on fine, silt soil left by the melting of a glacier at the end of the Ice Age. Other Victorian buildings in Belfast have been affected by this instability also. The tower itself is not open to the public.

Belfast Botanic Gardens & Palm House:
Signposted from M1/M2 (Balmoral exit), Stranmillis Rd., County Antrim
028/9032-4902
Palm House and Tropical Ravine Apr-Sept Mon-Fri 10am-noon, daily 1-5pm; Oct-Mar Mon-Fri 10am-noon, daily 1-4pm.
Gardens daily 8am-sunset
Bus: 61, 71, 84, or 85
Free admission
Dating from 1827, the gardens were established by the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society. In 1839, Palm House, a stunning glass and iron conservatory, was designed by noted Belfast architect Charles Lanyon. This unique building is one of the earliest examples of curvilinear cast-iron glass-house construction. It contains many rare plants, including such tropical plants as sugar cane, coffee, cinnamon, banana, aloe, ivory nut, rubber, bamboo, guava, and a bird of paradise flower. The Tropical Ravine, also known as the fernery, provides a setting for plants to grow in a sunken glen that can be viewed from the observation balcony. The surrounding outdoor gardens feature colorful rose beds and herbaceous borders.

Belfast Castle:
Signposted off the Antrim Rd., 2 1/2 miles (4km) north of the city center, County Antrim
028/9077-6925
Daily 9am-6pm
Free admission and parking
Northwest of downtown and 400 feet above sea level, on Cave Hill, stands Belfast Castle, The castle, which affords panoramic views of Belfast Lough and the city, was built in the late 1800's as a family residence. It was a gift to the city in 1934 by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The Scottish baronial architecture features a six story square tower. Its cellars have been transformed into a Victorian arcade, including an antiques and craft shop, a bar, and a bistro restaurant. The 200 acre grounds include a public park, which is ideal for walking, jogging, picnicking, or just enjoying the view.

Belfast Zoo:
5 miles (8km) north of the city on A6, Antrim Rd., County Antrim
028/9077-6277
Apr-Sept daily 10am-5pm; Oct-Mar daily 10am-3:30pm (to 2:30pm on Fri)
Bus: 9, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, or 51
Admission charged; free for seniors and children under 4
In a picturesque mountain park on the slopes of Cave Hill overlooking the city, this zoo was founded in 1920 as Bellevue Gardens. A completely new, modern zoo was designed in recent years. It emphasizes conservation, education, and breeding rare species.

Cavehill Country Park:
Off the Antrim Rd., 4 miles (6.5km) north of city center, County Antrim
028-9077-6925
Daily dawn-dusk
Free Admission
Parking at Belfast Castle or Belfast Zoo
This lovely park is on the slopes of a 1,200-foot basalt cliff. It offers panoramic views, walking trails, and a number of interesting archaeological and historical sights. The five Neolithic caves that gave the hill its name provided shelter from prehistoric times. There is also MacArt's Fort, an ancient means of protection against the Viking invaders. There is also an adventure playground for children.

City Hall:
Donegall Sq., Belfast, County Antrim
028/9027-0456
Guided tours June-Sept Mon-Fri 10:30am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, Sat 2:30pm; Oct-May Mon-Sat 2:30pm. Otherwise by arrangement.
Free admission. Reservations required
Completed in 1906, this magnificent public building is the core of Belfast..It was built of Portland stone, capped with a copper dome, and set around a central courtyard. Inside it is decorated with Greek and Italian marble, stained glass, and rich mosaic. Queen Victoria granted Belfast the status of a city in 1888, and a bust of the beloved queen stands at the front of City Hall.

Birthplace of the Titanic:
The Harland & Wolff shipyard, whose two huge cranes be seen just across the river from the Prince Albert Memorial Clock Tower, claims the SS Titanic as its most famous creation.

Ormeau Baths Gallery:
18A Ormeau Ave Belfast, County Antrim
028/9032-1402
Tues-Sat 10am-6pm
Free admission
Occupying the site of, and partly incorporating, the old Victorian swimming baths designed by Robert Watt, Ormeau Baths Gallery opened in 1995 as the city's principal exhibition space for contemporary visual art. This striking and versatile facility can program multiple simultaneous exhibitions in a variety of media, and has become the premier showcase for the best of Northern Irish contemporary art.

Ulster Folk And Transport Museum:
Cultra, near Holywood,
028/9042-8428
Apr.-June and Sept., weekdays 9:30-5, Sat. 10:30-6, Sun. noon-6;
July-Aug., Mon.-Sat. 10:30-6, Sun. noon-6;
Oct.-Mar., weekdays 9:30-4, weekends 12:30-4:30
Devoted to the province's social history, the unique Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is set on 176 acres of parkland 10 miles northeast of Belfast. It brings the North's past to life with a fascinating collection of buildings, all furnished in 1900's style. These structures represent different facets of Northern life: a traditional weaver's cottage, terraces of Victorian town houses, an 18th-century country church, a village flax mill, a farmhouse, printer's workshop, a rural school and many other buildings. Across the main road (by footbridge) is the beautifully designed Transport Museum, where exhibits include locally built airplanes, locomotive, and motorcycles; the car produced by John De Lorean in his Belfast factory in 1982; and a moving section on the Titanic, the Belfast-built luxury liner that sank on her first voyage, in 1912. Check for the special events held throughout the year.

Ulster Museum:
Stranmillis Rd.
028/9038-3000
Free Admission
Weekdays 10-5, Sat. 1-5, Sun. 2-5.
In the southwest corner of the Botanic Gardens, this museum has three floors devoted to the life and history of Northern Ireland, together with a considerable collection of 19th- and 20th-century fine art. Also featured are armada treasures recovered from the 1588 shipwrecked Girona and two sister galleons lost off the Antrim coast in 1588. Other exhibits include one tracing the rise of Belfast's crafts, trade, and industry; another tells the story of the Nationalist movement and explains the separation of the North from the rest of the country.

Linen Hall Library:
028-9031-5444
Mon-Wed & Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Thurs till 8.30pm, Sat till 4pm
Tours must be arranged in advance.
The oldest library in the city. Contains books on heraldry, collection of Robert Burns, and a complete Political Collection of over 80,000 publications dealing with every aspect of Northern Irish political life since 1966.

Golden Mile:
The Europa Hotel and the Crown mark the northern end of this arrowhead-shape area, which extends from Howard Street in the north to Shaftesbury Square at the southern tip, bordered on the west by Great Victoria Street and on the east by Bedford Street and Dublin Road. Golden Mile and its immediate environs harbor some of Belfast's most noteworthy historic buildings. In addition, the area is filled with hotels, major civic and office buildings, as well as some restaurants, cafés, and stores.

Crown Liquor Saloon:
46 Great Victoria St.
028/9027-9901
Daily 11:30 AM-midnight
Opposite the Europa Hotel on Great Victoria Street and now owned by the National Trust (the U.K.'s official conservation organization), the Crown is one of Belfast's fine old gathering places. Built in 1894, the bar has richly carved woodwork around cozy snugs (cubicles), leather seats, colored tile work, and abundant mirrors. It is still lit by gas, and is the perfect setting for a pint of Guinness and a plate of oysters.

Europa Hotel:
Great Victoria St. at Glengall St.
028/9032-7000
A landmark in Belfast, the Europa is a monument to the resilience of the city in the face of the Troubles. The most bombed hotel in western Europe, it was targeted 11 times by the IRA from the early 1970s and refurbished every time.

Grand Opera House:
Great Victoria St.
028/9024-1919
www.goh.co.uk/menu.htm
Designed in 1894 by the famous theater architect Frank Matcham, this building reveals the Victorian age's fascination with the East. Beautifully restored in the 1970s, the Grand Opera House is worth a visit, even if you don't go to a show, for a chance to admire the opulence of the gilt moldings, ornamental plasterwork, and exquisite ceiling fresco by contemporary Irish artist Cherith McKinstry. The best way to see and enjoy the Grand Opera House is to attend a show; musical, operas, or conventional theater production.

Queen's University:
University Rd.
028/9033-5252
May-Sept., Mon.-Sat. 10-4; Oct.-Apr., weekdays 10-4.
The main university buildings, modeled on Oxford's Magdalen College and designed by Charles Lanyon, were constructed in 1849 in a Tudor Revival style. The long redbrick-and-sandstone facade of the main building has large leaded windows, with three square towers and crenellations. University Square, really a terrace, is another treasure from the same era. There is a Seamus Heaney library, named after the Ulster-born 1997 Nobel Prize-winning poet.

St. Anne's Cathedral:
Donegall St.
028/9032-8332
Free Admission
Weekdays 9:15-4:45, Sat. 9:15-4.
Deep, rounded arches in the Irish neo-Romanesque style accent this large edifice, which is basilican in plan and was built at the turn of the 20th century. Lord Carson (1854-1935), who was largely responsible for keeping the six counties inside the United Kingdom, is buried there.

St. Malachy's Church:
028-9032-1713
Alfred Street
Notable are its turrets overlooking the upper Market area. St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church opened in 1844.

First Presbyterian Church:
Rosemary Street
Located in the main shopping area, this church, built in 1783, is noteworthy for its elliptical interior and enclosed pews, each entered by a door. It was designed by John Wesley. Free noontime concerts are sometimes offered.

Stormont:
A mile long avenue leads up to this impressive gleaming white building that opened in 1932 and is the seat of Northern Ireland self-governing parliaments. The building is not open to the public, but the beautifully maintained grounds are open to all.

Lagan Valley Regional Park:
028-9049-1922
Nine miles of paths along the banks of the River Lagan pass old locks and lock houses from the early 1700's when the towpaths were used by horses pulling coal barges. The path begins near Belfast Boat Club in Stranmillis and goes to Lisburn.

Lagan Lookout Center:
028-9031-5444
Hands-on exhibits and videos explain the river's influence on the city. Outside, river activity can be viewed from the lookout platform.

Stranmillis:
Once its own village, now the off-campus quarter, Stranmillis is one of Belfast's most appealing neighborhoods, filled with tree-lined residential streets on which you'll find a wide choice of ethnic restaurants. Reached via Stranmillis Road (near the Ulster Museum), the neighborhood is home to "Little Paris," a stretch of shops and cafés. The community reaches down to the riverside towpath along the Lagan. Malone Road joins the river farther south, close to the out-of-town Giant's Ring (off Ballyleeson Road), a large, Neolithic earthwork .

The Performing Arts:
Up-to-date listings of shows and concerts, there are several sources. That's Entertainment is free and widely available at tourist offices and pubs, as is The Big List. Artslink, published monthly, is also free and useful. The Buzz is neither free nor particularly useful: it comes out only every 2 months. And there's always the Belfast Daily Telegraph and The Irish News.

Film:
Belfast has several city-center movie theaters that show the major new British and American box-office favorites.

Curzon Cinema
Ormeau Rd.,
028/9064-1373

Queen's Film Theatre
University Sq. Mews, off Botanic Ave.,
028/9024-4857
Belfast's main art cinema, shows domestic and foreign movies on its two screens.

Virgin Cinemas
Dublin Rd.,
028/9024-3200 for information;
028/9055-5176 for credit-card booking (both 24 hrs)
Has 10 screens.

Music:

King's Hall
484 Lisburn Rd.,
028/9066-5225
This is the major venue for pop and rock concerts.

Ulster Hall
Bedford St.
028/9032-3900
Home to the Ulster Orchestra, the hall has excellent acoustics and a splendid Victorian organ.

Opera and Theater:

Belfast Civic Arts Theatre
41 Botanic Ave
028/9031-6900
Near the university area, this venue specializes in comedies and similar productions.

Crescent Arts Centre
2-4 University Rd.
028/9024-2338
"The Crescent" to its habitués, this huge, rambling black stone building off the campus end of Bradbury Place is a focus for experimental theater and dance, provocative art in its Fenderesky Gallery, and experimental jazz.

Lyric Theatre
Ridgeway St.
028/9038-1081
Call for prices and schedule.
In the south of Belfast, at King's Bridge on the banks of the Lagan, the Lyric stages thoughtful drama inspired by traditional and contemporary Irish culture.

Old Museum Arts Centre (Omac)
7 College Sq. N
028/9023-3332
A powerhouse of challenging, avant-garde theater and modern dance, OMAC also has a risk-taking art gallery.

Opera Northern Ireland
028/9032-2338
Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi were scheduled in past years; performances are at the Grand Opera House.

Theaters and Arts Centers:

Grand Opera House
Great Victoria St.
028/9024-1919
U.K.£6-U.K.£30
This beautifully restored Victorian playhouse has no company of its own but books shows from all over the British Isles and sometimes farther afield. It puts on a constant stream of West End musicals and plays of widely differing kinds, plus occasional operas and ballets. It's worth going to a show if only to enjoy the atmosphere of the opera house itself.

Waterfront Hall
Lanyon Pl.,
028/9033-4400
Everyone in Belfast is still singing the praises of this civic structure, which opened in January 1997. The hall is an odd marriage of Close Encounters modern and Castel Sant'Angelo antique. It houses both a major 2,235-seat concert hall (used for ballet, symphony, rock, and Irish music) and a 500-seat studio space (for modern dance, jazz, and experimental theater). If you don't mind the airport-lounge feel, the river-view Terrace Café restaurant and two bars make the hall a convenient place to eat or have a pint before or after your culture fix.

Stand-up comedy
The Belfast epicenter is in the basement of the Empire Music Hall, 42 Botanic (028/9032-8110). It's home every Tuesday at 9pm to The Empire Laughs Back. If you'd rather sit down than stand up, get there at least an hour early.

Sports:

Fishing:

The 5 1/2-mile (8.9km) stretch of the Lagan River from Stranmillis weir to Shaw's Bridge offers fishing, popular especially on summer evenings. From May to July, Lough Neagh has good shore and boat fishing.

Kinnego Marina
Oxford Island, Craigavon
028/3832-7573

Village Tackle Shop
55a Newtownbreda Rd., Belfast
028/9049-1916

Shankill Fishing Tackle
366 Shankill Rd., Belfast
028/9033-0949

Golf:

The Belfast area offers four parkland 18-hole courses within 4 miles (6.5km) of the city center. Weekdays are usually better for visitors, and each club has preferred weekdays. Phone ahead. Club pros offer lessons, usually for about £25 ($41.25) per hour; book at least 2 days ahead.

Balmoral Golf Club
518 Lisburn Rd., Belfast
028/9038-1514
With greens fees of £20 ($33) weekdays (except Wed), £30 ($49.50) weekends and Wednesday; Three miles (4.8km) southwest of the city.

Belvoir Park Golf Club
73 Church Rd.
Newtownbreda, Belfast
028/9049-1693
£33 ($54.45) weekdays, £38 ($62.70) weekends; 3 miles (4.8km) south of the city center.

Fortwilliam Golf Club
Downview Avenue, Belfast
028/9037-0770
£22 ($36.30) weekdays, £29 ($47.85) weekends. 3 miles (4.8km) north.

Horseback Riding:

Drumgooland House Equestrian Centre
29 Dunnanew Rd., Seaforde, Downpatrick, County Down
028/4481-1956
It offers 1- to 4-hour treks, beach rides, and lessons. Full equestrian holidays are available.

Shopping:

Art Galleries:

Eakin Gallery:
Lisburn Road

Bell Gallery
13 Adelaide Park, Malone Rd.
028/9066-2998
Weekdays 9-5 and by appointment), in his Victorian home in the leafy university suburbs, is a mecca for many of Ireland's more traditional painters.

Fenderesky Gallery
Crescent Arts Centre, 2 University Rd.
028/9023-5245
Tues.-Sat. 11:30-5:30
Owned by Iranian philosopher Jamshid Mirfenderesky, has extensive showings of the works of modern Irish artists known throughout Europe.

Old Museum Arts Center
College Square North
Exhibits of local artists in a converted Georgian house with a drama space upstairs

Ormeau Baths Gallery
18A Ormeau Ave
028/9032-1402
Tues.-Sat. 9:30-5:30
In a former municipal bathhouse, now display the work of major contemporary international and Irish artists.

Crafts
Craftworks
Bedford House, 16-22 Bedford St.
028/9024-4465
Stocks inexpensive crafts by local designers.

Mall

Castle Court
10 Royal Ave.
028/9023-4591
The city's largest, most varied upscale shopping mall.

Shopping Neighborhoods:

Donegall Pass, runs from Shaftesbury Square at the point of the Golden Mile east to Ormeau Road. It is a unique mix of biker shops and antiques arcades, and a good place to stroll.

Nightlife:
Belfast has dozens of pubs packed with relics of the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Although pubs typically close around 11:30 PM, many city-center/Golden Mile nightclubs often stay open until 1 AM.

City Center/Docks:

Bittles Bar
70 Upper Church La
028/9031-1088, on Victoria Square
Has informal music sessions on weekends.

Kelly's Cellars
30-32 Bank St.,
028/9032-4835
Open since 1720, offers blues on Saturday nights.

The Kitchen Bar
16 Victoria Sq.
028/9032-4901
Is a real ale bar with traditional music on Friday nights.

Madden's Bar
74 Smithfield St.
028/9024-4114
Is a popular pub with traditional tunes.

Mchugh's
29-30 Queen's Sq.
028/9024-7830
In Belfast's oldest building, dating from 1711, is three floors of bars, restaurants, and live music on weekends.

Pat's Bar
19-22 Prince's Dock St.
028/9074-4524
Has regular first-rate sessions of traditional music.

The Rotterdam
54 Pilot St
028/9074-6021
Features folk, jazz, and blues performers.

Golden Mile Area

Crown Liquor Saloon 46 Great Victoria St.,
028/9027-9901
Is far from being the only impressive old pub in the Golden Mile area: most of Belfast's evening life takes place in bars and restaurants here. There are a number of replicated Victorian bars with more locals and fewer visitors.

The Beaten Docket
48 Great Victoria St.
028/9024-2986
Named after a losing betting slip, is a noisy, modern pub that attracts a young crowd; it features up-to-the-minute music.

Benedict's
7-21 Bradbury Pl.
028/9059-1999
Is a bar, music venue, disco, 150-seat restaurant, and hotel.

Limelight
17 Ormeau Ave
028/9032-5968
Is a disco-nightclub with cabaret on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday and music on other nights.

The Manhattan
23 Bradbury Pl.
028/9023-3131
The M-Club, is Belfast's hottest place for dedicated clubbers, with TV soap-opera celebrities flown in weekly to mix with the local nighthawks.

Morrisons
21 Bedford St.
028/9024-8458
Is a haunt of media types. It has a music lounge upstairs, where there's a mix of jazz, rock, and discussions for film buffs arranged by local directors in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Film Council; Saturday, it's rock; Sunday, Irish music.

Robinson's
38 Great Victoria St.
028/9024-7447
Two doors from the Crown, is a popular pub that appeals to a young crowd with folk music in its Fibber Magee's bar on Saturday and rock in its Rock Bottom basement on Wednesday.

University Area

Bar Twelve
Crescent Town House
13 Lower Crescent
028/9032-3349
Is an excellent venue for some fashionable wine sipping.

The Botanic Inn
23-27 Malone Rd.
028/9066-0460
Known as "the Bot" to its student clientele, is a big, popular disco-pub.

Cutter's Wharf
4 Lockview St.
028/9066-2501
Down by the river south of the university, is at its best on summer evenings and at the Sunday jazz brunch.

The Eglantine Inn
32-40 Malone Rd.
028/9038-1994
Known as "the Egg," faces "the Bot" across Malone Road.

The Empire Music Hall
42 Botanic Ave.
028/9032-8110
A deconsecrated church, is the city's leading music venue. Stand-up comedy nights are usually on Tuesday.

Lavery's Gin Palace
12 Bradbury Pl.
028/9032-7159
Mixes old-fashioned beer drinking downstairs with dancing upstairs.

Fly Bar
56 Lower Crescent
028/9023-5666
With its over-the-top but impressive interior, playing on the fly theme, is a lively spot for a cocktail in the evenings.

Belfast Events: Belfast Travel Guide, Belfast Vacations Tourism, Belfast Travel Information

May:

Belfast City Summer Festival:
Late May-June: includes events from local parades to major concerts, including the Lord Mayor's Show.

June:

Belfast Carnival Parades:
Procession of entertainers in carnival costumes.

Promenade Concerts:
Themed classical music concerts taking place in June. Information can be obtained from the Ulster Orchestra ticket office (028/9066-8798).

The Belfast Folk Festival:
Has broad-ranging traditional and contemporary music and dance events on weekends during the summer months

July:

Orange Marches:
A popular summer vacation time for restaurants and nightspots. The City takes a break for two weeks during this marching season.

August:

Ardoyne Festival:
Three days of open-air concerts and community events in north Belfast.

Féile an Phoball:
During the first 2 weeks of August: includes street parties, concerts, Irish language events, and a carnival parade.

November:

Belfast Festival At Queen's University:
Lasts three weeks each November, is the city's major arts festival. For information, contact the Festival Office 25 College Gardens, BT9, 028/9066-6321

Belfast Facts: Belfast Travel Guide, Belfast Vacations Tourism, Belfast Travel Information

Population:
300,000

Area:
44 sq miles

Country:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Language:
English

Location:
104 miles north of Dublin

Time Zone:
Greenwich Mean Time: 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York.(6 hours ahead of central time in Chicago, etc.)

National Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year's Day
Mar. 17 St. Patrick's Day
Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary each year - (Mar. or April)
1st Mon. of May May Day holiday
Whit Monday (late May or early June)
1st Mon. of August August Bank holiday
Last Mon. of Oct. Autumn Bank holiday
Dec. 25 Christmas day
Dec. 26 St. Stephen's day

When to Go:
The best time to visit the area is from May to September, when the weather is a little warmer. Book in advance, however, as this time of year tends to be quite busy.

Area Code:
The new area code for all of Northern Ireland is 028. Drop the "0" when dialing from within Northern Ireland.

Business Hours:
Banks are generally open Monday to Friday 10am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 3 or 4pm; they're closed on bank holidays. In Belfast and Derry City, banks tend not to close for lunch. Most shops are open Monday to Saturday 9 or 9:30am to 5 or 5:30pm, with one early-closing day a week, usually Wednesday or Thursday. Shops in tourist areas are likely to be open Sunday and to have extended hours, especially in the summer months.

Banks & Offices:
Bank hours are weekdays 9:30-4:30. Post offices are open weekdays 9-5:30, Saturday 9-1. Some close for an hour at lunch.

Shops:
Shops are open 9-5:30, Monday-Friday, with a late closing on Thursday, usually at 9. Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, shops close for the afternoon once a week, usually Wednesday or Thursday; check locally. In addition, most smaller shops close for an hour or so at lunch

Currency:
Since Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, it uses the pound sterling. Britain's decimal monetary system is based on the pound (£), which is made up of 100 pence (written as "p"). Pounds are also known as quid. There are £1 and £2 coins, as well as coins of 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, and 1p. Banknotes come in denominations of £5, £10, £20, and £50.

Irish punts, or pounds, are not accepted. Rates change rapidly, but the British pound is worth slightly more than the Irish. Bank notes, drawn on Ulster banks, that are valid only in Northern Ireland; should be exchanged there before leaving, as they will be difficult to change at banks elsewhere.

Electricity:
The electrical current (220vAC) and outlets (requiring three-pin flat, fused plugs) are the same in the North as in the Republic. Note that they are not the two-pin round plugs standard throughout Europe. If your US-purchased appliances are dual-voltage, you'll need only an adapter plug. (Most laptops operate equally well on 110 and 220 volts and so require only an adapter. Don't use 110-volt outlets marked "For Shavers Only" for high-wattage appliances such as blow dryers.)

Passport Offices:
The best time to apply for a passport or to renew is during the fall and winter. Before any trip, check your passport's expiration date, and, if necessary, renew it as soon as possible.

Embassies & Consulates:
The U.S. Consulate General is at Queen's House, 14 Queen's St., Belfast BT1 6EQ 028/9032-8239).

Emergencies:
Dial tel. 999 for fire, police, and ambulance.

Mail:
United Kingdom postal rates apply, and mailboxes are painted red. Most post offices are open weekdays 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Newspapers & Magazines:
The morning national newspapers are the News Letter and the Irish News; the Belfast Telegraph is the only evening paper

Parking:
Because of long-standing security concerns, parking regulations are more restrictive and more strictly enforced in the North than in the Republic.

Petrol (Gas):
The approximate price of 1 liter of unleaded gas is 71p . There are 4 liters to the U.S. gallon, which makes the price of a gallon of unleaded gas £2.64 ($4.35)!

Police:
The Northern Ireland police are known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). In an emergency, dial tel. 999 for fire, police, and ambulance

Taxes:
You pay a VAT (value-added tax) of 17.5% on almost everything, The percentages vary with the category of the services and purchases. It is usually already included in the prices you're quoted by hotels and the prices you see marked on merchandise tags. Many shops offer tax-free shopping, and are pleased to explain the details. Vouchers from the North can be presented for refunds at the Dublin or Shannon airports before departure from Ireland. For further information, contact HM Customs and Excise, Belfast International Airport 028/9441-3439 or 028/9442-3439).

The U.S. consulate general:
Is at Queen's House, 14 Queen's St., Belfast BT1 028/9032-8239

Internet Access:
You can log on at the Revelations Café, 27 Shaftesbury Sq. 028/9032-0337; www.revelations.co.uk It is on Bradbury Place just south of Donegall Road.

Post Office:
The Belfast GPO (General Post Office) is at Castle Place, at the intersection of Royal Avenue and Donegall Place. It's open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm.

Arriving & Departing:

By Air:

Belfast International Airport at Aldergove (BFS)
19 mi from Belfast (028/9442-2888)
Belfast's principal air arrival point.

Belfast City Airport (BHD)
4 mi from Belfast
028/9045-7745
Receives flights from U.K. provincial airports, from London Gatwick and Heathrow, and from Stanstead and Luton (both near London). Flights take about 1 1/4 hours from London.

Transfers Between the Airports and Town:

By Bus:

Ulsterbus
028/9033-3000
Operates a shuttle bus every half hour between the International Airport and Belfast city center.

By Train:

Belfast has two airports: Belfast International and Belfast City: it also gets considerable sea traffic at Belfast Harbour and at Larne (30 min. from Belfast by train, bus, or car)north of the city. From Belfast City Airport, you can travel into Belfast by train from Sydenham Halt to Central Station (E. Bridge St.) or catch a taxi from the airport to your hotel.

Airbus limousine is a popular choice from either airport into the city center. It operates daily, leaves approximately twice an hour, and costs about £5 ($8.25) per person from BFS, less from BHD. A taxi costs considerably more

By Bus:

Ulsterbus
Northern Ireland's main bus company, runs direct service between Dublin and Belfast. Queries about Ulsterbus service, or any other bus service in Northern Ireland, can be dealt with by the central call-center of Translink ( 028/9033-3000).

The Republic's Bus Éireann
01/836-6111
Also runs direct services to and from Dublin. Buses arrive at and depart from Belfast's Europa Buscentre (Glengall St., 028/9033-3000) and the ride takes three hours.

Buses to Belfast also run from London and from Birmingham, making the Stranraer ferry (01/776/7022) crossing.

By Car:

Many roads from the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland were once closed for security reasons, but all are now reinstated, leaving drivers with a choice of legitimate crossing points. Army checkpoints at all approved frontier posts are rare, and few customs formalities are observed. The fast N1/A1 road connects Belfast to Dublin in 100 miles with an average driving time of just over two hours.

By Ferry:

Norse Irish Ferries
Victoria Terminal 2, West Bank Rd.
028/9077-9090
Has 11-hour daytime or overnight car ferries that connect Belfast with the English west-coast port of Liverpool every other day.

P&O European Ferries
0870/598-0980
Has a one-hour sailing to Larne from Cairnryan, Scotland; infrequent trains take passengers on to Belfast.

SeaCat
028/9031-2301 and

StenaLine's HSS
0870/598-0980
Both fast catamarans that carry cars and passengers from Stranraer directly into Belfast in just 11/2 hours.

The Argyll and Antrim Steam Packet Company
0870/552-3523
A three-hour car-ferry service on the MV Claymore linking Campbeltown in Scotland with Ballycastle in County Antrim; it runs July-October.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
0870/552-3523
Runs summer services between the Isle of Man and Belfast.

By Train:

The Dublin-Belfast Express train
Operated by both Northern Ireland Railways (028/9089-9411) and Iarnród Éireann (01/855-4477) Travels between the two cities in about two hours. Six trains run daily in both directions (three on Sunday) to and from Belfast's Central Station (E. Bridge St., 028/9089-9411). Also, a free shuttle bus service will drop you off at City Hall or Ulsterbus's city-center Europa Buscentre ( 028/9033-3000), or you can change trains for Great Victoria Street Station (Great Victoria St., 028/9043-4424), which is adjacent both to the Europa Buscentre and the Europa Hotel.

By Bus:

There are frequent and inexpensive Ulsterbus links between all Northern Ireland towns. The main bus stations in Belfast are the Europa Buscentre (Glengall St., 028/9033-3000), which is easiest to find using its Great Victoria Street entrance to the left of the Europa Hotel, and the Laganside Buscentre (Donegall Quay, 028/9033-3000), around the corner from the Albert Clock and about 1 km (1/2 mi) from Central Station.

Within Belfast:
Visitors have access to good city-bus service. All routes start from Donegall Square; you'll find a kiosk there where you can pick up a timetable. Citybus, Donegall Square West, Belfast (028/9024-6485), provides local bus service within the city. Departures are from Donegall Square East, West, and North, plus Upper Queen Street, Wellington Place, Chichester Street, and Castle Street. There is an information kiosk on Donegall Square West.

If you've brought a car into Belfast, it's best to leave it parked at your hotel and take public transportation or walk around the city. Taxis are available at all main rail stations, ports, and airports, and in front of City Hall. Most metered taxis are London-type black cabs with a yellow disc on the window. Other taxis may not have meters, so you should ask the fare to your destination in advance.

Belfast Kids Activities: Belfast Travel Guide, Belfast Vacations Tourism, Belfast Travel Information

Belfast Castle:
Signposted off the Antrim Rd., 2 1/2 miles (4km) north of the city center, County Antrim
028/9077-6925
Daily 9am-6pm
Free admission and parking
Northwest of downtown and 400 feet above sea level, on Cave Hill, stands Belfast Castle, The castle, which affords panoramic views of Belfast Lough and the city, was built in the late 1800's as a family residence. It was a gift to the city in 1934 by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The Scottish baronial architecture features a six story square tower. Its cellars have been transformed into a Victorian arcade, including an antiques and craft shop, a bar, and a bistro restaurant. The 200 acre grounds include a public park, which is ideal for walking, jogging, picnicking, or just enjoying the view..

Belfast Zoo:
5 miles (8km) north of the city on A6, Antrim Rd., County Antrim
028/9077-6277
Apr-Sept daily 10am-5pm; Oct-Mar daily 10am-3:30pm (to 2:30pm on Fri)
Bus: 9, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, or 51
Admission charged; free for seniors and children under 4
In a picturesque mountain park on the slopes of Cave Hill overlooking the city, this zoo was founded in 1920 as Bellevue Gardens. A completely new, modern zoo was designed in recent years. It emphasizes conservation, education, and breeding rare species.

Cavehill Country Park:
Off the Antrim Rd., 4 miles (6.5km) north of city center, County Antrim
028-9077-6925
Parking at Belfast Castle or Belfast Zoo
Daily dawn-dusk
Free Admission
This lovely park is on the slopes of a 1,200-foot basalt cliff. It offers panoramic views, walking trails, and a number of interesting archaeological and historical sights. The five Neolithic caves that gave the hill its name provided shelter from prehistoric times. There is also MacArt's Fort, an ancient means of protection against the Viking invaders. There is also an adventure playground for children.

Ulster Folk And Transport Museum:
Cultra, near Holywood,
028/9042-8428
Apr.-June and Sept., weekdays 9:30-5, Sat. 10:30-6, Sun. noon-6;
July-Aug., Mon.-Sat. 10:30-6, Sun. noon-6;
Oct.-Mar., weekdays 9:30-4, weekends 12:30-4:30.
Devoted to the province's social history, the unique Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is set on 176 acres of parkland 10 miles northeast of Belfast. It brings the North's past to life with a fascinating collection of buildings, all furnished in 1900's style. These structures represent different facets of Northern life : a traditional weaver's cottage, terraces of Victorian town houses, an 18th-century country church, a village flax mill, a farmhouse, printer's workshop, a rural school and many other buildings.

Across the main road (by footbridge) is the beautifully designed Transport Museum, where exhibits include locally built airplanes, locomotive, and motorcycles; the car produced by John De Lorean in his Belfast factory in 1982; and a moving section on the Titanic, the Belfast-built luxury liner that sank on her first voyage, in 1912. Check for the special events held throughout the year.

Ulster Museum:
Stranmillis Rd.
028/9038-3000
Free Admission
Weekdays 10-5, Sat. 1-5, Sun. 2-5.
In the southwest corner of the Botanic Gardens, this museum has three floors devoted to the life and history of Northern Ireland, together with a considerable collection of 19th- and 20th-century fine art. Also featured are armada treasures recovered from the 1588 shipwrecked Girona and two sister galleons lost off the Antrim coast in 1588. Other exhibits include one tracing the rise of Belfast's crafts, trade, and industry; another tells the story of the Nationalist movement and explains the separation of the North from the rest of the country.

Lagan Valley Regional Park:
028-9049-1922
Nine miles of paths along the banks of the River Lagan pass old locks and lock houses from the early 1700's when the towpaths were used by horses pulling coal barges. The path begins near Belfast Boat Club in Stranmillis and goes to Lisburn.

Lagan Lookout Center:
028-9031-5444
Hands-on exhibits and videos explain the river's influence on the city. Outside, river activity can be viewed from the lookout platform.

Ormeau Park:
Ormeau Road
One of Belfast's largest park's, this is a family favorite. there are two playgrounds as well as facilities fro active sports for older children. there are wooded areas and parklands for the whole family to enjoy.

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