Top Belfast Tours & Vacations 2024/2025 [reviews & photos]

Belfast Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

98 Belfast trips. Compare tour itineraries from 37 tour companies. 202 reviews. 4.9/5 avg rating.

Small Group Belfast Tours

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Top Belfast Attractions & Experiences

Top Belfast Experiences

  • Going on a street art tour and seeing the passion and feeling in the propaganda murals of Belfast that were painted during the Troubles.
  • Going inside the Titanic Museum and learning about the famous ship and Belfast’s industrial history.
  • Having a beer and some delicious Irish comfort food in one of Belfast’s hundreds of traditional Irish pubs.
  • Learning about the Troubles, how they turned Belfast upside down, and how the impacts of this recent political turmoil and violence affects Belfast today.
  • Going for a hike up the Black Mountain Walk to get a panoramic view of Belfast, while breathing in the fresh air and taking in the spectacular views of the Irish landscape.

Belfast Tours & Travel Guide

Belfast Attractions & Landmarks Guide

Things to do In Belfast

  • The Titanic Museum. Did you know the Titanic was thought of, built, and launched from Belfast? If you didn’t, now you do, and you’ll be able to learn much more about this famous trip and its ill-fated virgin voyage at the Titanic Museum. You can take a walking tour from the museum to learn about the symbolism integrated into the ship’s physical structure, and then step back inside to learn about the people who boarded and built, and what is fact and what is legend.
  • Enjoy a pint of beer in a pub. Whether its lager, ale, or stout, or even cider, be sure that the Northern Irish have their own brand and they’re proud of it. Northern Ireland falls somewhere in the gray area between the rest of Great Britain and Ireland, and this means its experiences the best of both worlds when it comes to pubs and their atmospheres. We recommend Kelly’s Cellars, the oldest traditional pub in Belfast.
  • See the Peace Walls. During the Troubles, massive walls were erected between neighborhoods to prevent violence. These walls are pretty unsightly, except for the colorful graffiti that is in some places. Despite this, the walls are landmarks on any historic sightseeing tour of Belfast. For those who love street art, you will have fun hunting down these hidden artworks, but as the walls are going to be demolished in the next 20 years, any visitor to Belfast should go see them!
  • Belfast Botanic Gardens. On your escorted tour of Belfast, you will likely be given some free time to explore the city’s Botanic Gardens. Take a break from Belfast’s busy, industrial streets to experience the small green paradise, and walk amongst the exotic plants held in the beautiful Victorian glasshouse at its center.
  • Tour the Belfast City Hall. Belfast is not known for its stunning architecture, but the City Hall (along with Stormont, the city’s parliament building) is an exception. Not only is the outside lovely, but you can also tour the inside and have a seat at the building’s cafe. The City Hall is a typical stop on any multi-day tour of Belfast, and be sure your tour guide will teach you a bit more about the city’s history in this location!

The Troubles and History Tours

“The Troubles” of Northern Ireland took place from the end of the 1960’s until the end of the 20th century. The rather vague name (the Troubles are sometimes also called the Northern Ireland conflict) refers to an ethno-nationalist conflict that escalated into a low level war.

The conflict centered around whether Northern Ireland should remain apart of the United Kingdom. Although the conflict was not about religion, the government was mainly Protestant and Unionist, and the nationalists were generally Catholic.

The Troubles began when the Nationalist group launched a campaign for the government to end discrimination against them, and the government attempted to stifle this campaign.

Both sides escalated the situation, with the Nationalists accusing the government of police brutality, and the union supporters accusing the campaign of being a republican front. The situation continued to devolve as time passed, and many conflicts originate between the youth and the police, and multiple paramilitary groups forming.

Understanding the Troubles is a key part of an Belfast history tour. Learning about this conflict not only helps one understand the significance of religion and religious history in Ireland, but for anyone interested in politics, it is a fascinating case study. Prior to the attacks prompted by Islamic extremism, the Troubles in Northern Ireland introduced the word terrorism in the way that we use it today.

Outdoor Activities in Belfast

Belfast is known as an industrial and rather gritty city, however, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful outdoors of Northern Ireland just outside the city. One such way is to do the Divis and Black Mountain Walk, which climbs the hills just outside Belfast and provides an excellent view of the entire city. The Cave Hill in Cavehill Country Park, reminiscent of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, is another beautiful walk with city views.

If you’re looking for more of a taste of the outdoors, there are other great places to go hiking and fishing near Belfast. Some other popular trails can be found in the following parks: Belfast Rail Trail, the Head of Tide Preserve, and Moose Point State Park.

Of course, if you want to experience Northern Ireland primarily by its natural heritage, consider going on a trek beginning or ending in Belfast.

Belfast Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
202  Reviews
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Excellent
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Great
4
Average
1
Disappointing
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J

James Armstrong

Sep 2023

Written on

Britain and Ireland Grandeur

Way over priced, a very poor value for the experience.

T

Trusted Customer

Sep 2023

Written on

Britain and Ireland Grandeur

See remarks at top of this page.

W

William Fitzgerald

Aug 2023

Written on

Britain and Ireland Grandeur

For anyone who has the time for a three week tour and wants to visit Great Britain and Ireland they will be hard pressed to fine a better and more thorough tour than...

D

Dianne Dixon-Brown

Jul 2023

Written on

Britain and Ireland Grandeur

Too many passengers crammed onto the bus.

D

Dina Nicklason

Jul 2023

Written on

Britain and Ireland Grandeur

The itinerary was intense, but we saw So much. Enjoyed our hotels. We would have brought fewer clothes if we had known that laundry was available often enough. In Lo...

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