Belfast suggestions

[Gathursty]

I've never been to Northern Ireland so am planning on flying into and out of Belfast International in a few weeks.

1) Recommendations for a hotel that does a decent breakfast.
2) There's not many railway lines but what's an unmissable bit to do? - Can all network be ridden in a day?
3) Apart from Giants Causeway, Titanic Museum and Stormont, anywhere to recommend for a bit of a culture vulture/outdoorsy person?

Thanks.

 

[Elwyn]

It is possible to do the whole network in one day but it’ll be a long day. (Belfast to Derry is 2.5 hours each way). If going to Derry sit on the right hand side of the train. The bit from Coleraine to Derry has great views.


Other tourist things:

A drive through the Mountains of Mourne in Co Down

Visit Downpatrick Cathedral to see where St Patrick is buried (allegedly)

Mount Stewart stately home near Newtownards (home of the Marquess of Londonderry) or Castle Ward at Strangford. (Both in Co Down). National Trust (free admission for those with reciprocal arrangements). http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart/

Open top Bus tour of Belfast

Crown Bar in Belfast (200 years old, gas lit. Very popular with visitors). Has featured in many films eg Odd Man Out. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/crown-bar/

Traditional Irish singing and fiddly-dee music in Fibber Magee’s bar (next to the Crown Bar). Most nights from 9pm onwards. Free admission.

Guided walks available. Contact the visitor centre in Donegall Square.

http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/amazing-places/northern-ireland?gclid=CIOjr8CKisICFc3HtAod-iIA0Q

If you like good seafood, go to the Mourne Seafood Bar in Belfast. (Booking pretty well essential in the evenings but less so at lunchtime).

http://mourneseafood.com/belfast/

Tour of Crumlin Rd Jail in Belfast, which closed in the late 1990s. (Includes the execution cell, with working gallows, and an opportunity to lie in the empty coffin, if you are so minded).

http://www.crumlinroadgaol.com/public-tour.html

Bushmills Whiskey distillery tour (2 miles from the Giant’s Causeway). Interesting tour and an opportunity to meet lots of American visitors.

Londonderry/Derry is well worth a days visit. Contact the visitor centre for details of guided walks. Walk round the city walls (the only completely intact set of walls in any city in Europe). See the guns used at the siege of Derry. I recommend Martin McCrossan’s tours.. derrycitytours@aol.com See St Columb’s Cathedral. Visit the Bogside and see the murals. Learn about the more recent conflict in the area between Protestants and Catholics. Buy some corny souvenirs in the many tourist shops. The city is very compact and easily covered on foot. Walk over the peace bridge from one side of the river to the other.

Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge Co Antrim (a few miles from the Giants Causeway). Wobbly rope bridge over a 200 foot drop, leading to a small island. Originally built for salmon fisherman. Now a major tourist attraction. (Most visitors do Bushmills distillery, the Giant’s Causeway and the Rope Bridge as part of the same excursion). Check the National Trust website as you sometimes need to book due to excessive numbers.

http://www.bushmills.com/BMTheOldBushmillsFindUs.html

Carrickfergus Castle. Carrickfergus was the original capital of Ulster before Belfast. The castle is 800 years old. It was a military base until very recently and is intact.

http://www.carrickfergus.org/tourism/attractions/carrickfergus-castle/

Ulster – American Folkpark in Co Tyrone. http://www.nmni.com/uafp/What-s-on

 

[greyman42]

3) Apart from Giants Causeway, Titanic Museum and Stormont, anywhere to recommend for a bit of a culture vulture/outdoorsy person?

There are various tours covering the political conflicts which sound interesting but not cheap.

 

[bib]

2) The north coast bit is definitely worth it - https://discovernorthernireland.com...-one-of-the-worlds-great-railway-journeys-b91 I'd say it's probably doable in one day, it's only 200miles or so, but you might want to take some time to visit places along the way.
3) Depends what you're into, but again there's plenty of outdoors stuff to see/do on the north coast, although some of it is difficult to access without a car, Mournes are good for hiking, the Gobbins cliff path looks cool but it doesn't open till March, the Belfast peace walls black taxi tours are meant to be interesting, Ulster Museum/Botanic gardens/Lanyon building are free I think and a nice enough area to walk around, Cave hill/Belfast castle also gives good views on a nice day, Fermanagh lakelands are good but maybe not so much at this time of year, the scenery in Donegal is fantastic but again you need a car

 

[Amos]

If you do go down the falls road I would recommend calling into the culturlann McAdam o’ Fiaich.It is a sort of community centre which often has events on,and a lot of the users speak in Irish.There is a fantastic restaurant there with reasonably priced traditional food.It is a catholic centre,so may seem a bit daunting,but I have always received a warm welcome there.

 

[Gathursty]

Some great suggestions! I forgot to add I'll be relying on public transport. Don't fancy hiring a car unless there's something essential that just can't be done by public transport.

 

[telstarbox]

Stayed at the Belfast International Youth Hostel last year. Good value and had a decent cafe at ground level for breakfast.

 

[busestrains]

I would recommend the Premier Inn for a good hotel to stay at. They have lots of branches in Belfast and other locations in Northern Ireland too. I always stay at the Premier Inn and have never been disappointed. I have stayed at their hotels hundreds of times and never had a bad experience. They do an excellent eat as much as you like Full English Breakfast too. I think it costs £9.99 currently which is more than it used to be but is still pretty good value considering it is eat as much as you like.

As others have said you can certainly do the full network in a day. But you will be spending the entire day from early morning to late evening on the train and will not have time to alight and see much. I would recommend splitting it over several days and taking your time so you have a chance to alight at different stations and explore the area. One week is ideal to explore the network at a relaxed pace and stop off at different places. But you can certainly do it in one day if you are short on time.

 

[DarloRich]

The Crown Bar is well worth a visit. Wonderful interior.
I also really enjoyed a taxi tour of the "troubles" area - very informative but I know that wont be for everyone but the taxi driver was local and could add context to information

 

[davetheguard]

Get a train to Larne to pick up a bus on the very scenic North Antrim coast road towards Ballycastle. Translink bus routes 162/162a.

Another vote for the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast - literally just across the road from Gt. Victoria Street railway station. Six real ales and been in the Good Beer Guide for years.

 

[telstarbox]

And another interesting but different pub is the Sunflower just north of the city centre.

 

[blue87]

If you're after a bit of touristy stuff, a tour of Crumlin Road Gaol is worthwhile, they also do walking tours of the murals along the Shankill Road, Falls Road and peace walls giving you a real insight into the troubles. If you don't fancy walking that bit there are black cab tours that take you around those areas which are very popular but not cheap.
Crown Bar is a must and it's directly opposite Great Victoria Street station.
Pay a visit to St George's Market too.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

The Ulster Transport Museum is superb - one of the best of its kind in these islands - and very close to Cultra station on the Bangor line.

 

[DelW]

On the line out to Larne, it's well worth allowing for an hour or two to stop off at the RPSI's railway museum at Whitehead.

 

[busestrains]

The Ulster Transport Museum is superb - one of the best of its kind in these islands - and very close to Cultra station on the Bangor line.

On the line out to Larne, it's well worth allowing for an hour or two to stop off at the RPSI's railway museum at Whitehead.

Yes i definitely recommend a visit to both of these museums. I went to both not that long ago and really enjoyed looking around both museums. Although it is worth noting that the they have limited hours. So check that it is open before visiting.

The RSPI Railway Museum at Whitehead is only open on Thursday Friday Saturday from 10:00 to 14:30 so quite limited hours. On all Monday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday it is closed.

The Ulster Transport Museum at Cultra is only open on Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00 so a bit less limited hours. On both Monday Tuesday it is closed.

 

[Gathursty]

What is the effect of Easter on opening times in Northern Ireland particularly Good Friday and the following Saturday?