If you’re looking for a fun weekend away, Belfast is a great place to visit. With plenty of activities to keep visitors of all ages entertained, it’s fast becoming a top choice for city breaks. From museums and art galleries to delicious food and a vibrant nightlife, there are myriad fun things to do in Belfast.
No matter what your definition of fun is, you’re sure to find something that will appeal to you. So, to help you plan your visit, we’ve created a useful list of things to do and places to see.
Pro-tip: We’ve created a similar list, specifically for kid’s activities in Belfast.
St George’s Market
Housed in a charming Victorian building, St George’s Market is one of Belfast’s oldest attractions. The market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a different market each day selling everything from antiques and artisan items to fresh produce. It’s a great place to sit with a coffee and enjoy the live music while soaking up the vibrant atmosphere.
Belfast City Hall
Finished in 1906, City Hall is one of Belfast’s most iconic buildings. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour of the ground floor exhibition, which showcases the city’s history in six themed zones, and admire the impressive collection of stained-glass windows. Afterwards, you can stroll through the grounds and view various memorials. Visit after dark, and the exterior of Belfast City Hall is illuminated with white lights, although the colours are changed for special occasions, such as green for St Patrick’s Day.
Forbidden Quest Escape Rooms
If you’re a fan of escape rooms, this is a must! Suitable for groups of 2-30 people, Forbidden Quest Escape Rooms will transport you to another world where you must complete your mission or escape within a limited time frame. You’ll need to solve a series of physical and mental challenges and puzzles to unlock the door or reveal the mystery. Current challenges include Sector 17: Zombie Outbreak, a top-secret Belfast military research facility with a ticking bomb, and Dream House 2.0, a sinister family home containing a demonic doll. Recommended age is 14 plus.
Belfast City Bike Tour
Explore Belfast on two wheels! Visit the city’s historic cathedral, Titanic, University, Gaeltacht Quarter (an area where the Irish language is spoken) and enjoy a coffee break at St George’s Market or the Titanic Dock. The tour also visits other historic sites and offers further opportunities for refreshment breaks. It’s the perfect way to discover the heart of Belfast, and you’ll get to see some places that are only accessible by bike! Interested? According to tour operator Belfast City Bike Tours, their tours require only a ‘normal level of personal fitness’, so you won’t need to be a fitness fanatic to join one. Details of this and other tours can be found on the Belfast City Bike Tours website.
Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours
If cycling’s not your cup of tea, City Sightseeing Bus Tours offers a more relaxed way to take in the sights. The bus stops near all the major sites including Great Victoria Street, Belfast City Hall, the Grand Opera House and Belfast Castle. And there’s a bonus: your Hop-On-Hop-Off ticket comes with a book of discount coupons offering cheaper access to many of Belfast’s prominent landmarks.
Dundonald International Ice Bowl
Located just a few miles outside Belfast city centre, Dundonald International Ice Bowl has an Olympic size public ice rink, open 7 days a week, Xtreme Ten Pin Bowling and a children’s soft play area.
Titanic Belfast
No trip to Belfast would be complete without a visit to the birthplace of RMS Titanic. Located in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, just 100 metres from where Titanic’s hull was constructed, Titanic Belfast tells the story of the doomed vessel through nine interactive galleries where visitors can experience the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship. The exhibitions cover everything from Titanic’s construction through to its catastrophic sinking and the aftermath.
Shopping
If a spot of shopping is on your agenda, Belfast city centre is sure to impress. Take a stroll along Donegall Place and Royal Avenue to discover everything from high street names to designer boutiques. Alternatively, visit Victoria Square which boasts a cinema, over 50 retail outlets, 50 restaurants and an iconic dome with 360-degree panoramic views across the city.
Botanic Gardens
Situated on College Avenue in Belfast city centre, Belfast’s Botanic Gardens provide an oasis of calm amid the hubbub of city life. Take a stroll around to see tropical plants, mature trees, a rose garden, alpine garden and herbaceous borders.
The gardens also house two impressive Victorian buildings: The Palm House, a massive glass and iron structure filled with tropical plants, and the recently restored Tropical Ravine House with viewing platforms overlooking the ravine. Visitors to the Tropical Ravine can learn about the conservation work and plant collections via interactive and digital exhibits.
Game of Thrones Studio Tour
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll love this attraction. Located in Banbridge, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour is a 45-minute journey from Belfast. Go behind the scenes of the Seven Kingdoms, see authentic sets, props and costumes, experience stunning visual effects and walk through iconic sets from Winterfell to King’s Landing.
Nightlife
If you’re hoping for a great night out, you’ve come to the right place – Belfast has it all – from pubs and beer gardens to nightclubs with live music, there’s something for everyone.
Bert’s Jazz Bar
Based in the Merchant Hotel, Bert’s Jazz Bar recreates the chic, intimate jazz bars of 1930s New York. Listen to live jazz music 7 nights a week from 9pm, or from 12pm to 2pm at the weekend. The venue offers a French bistro style menu and an extensive drinks selection, including handpicked cocktails.
Belfast Pub Crawl
Running every Friday and Saturday night from 8pm, or 7pm if you require dinner, the Belfast Pub Crawl meets at the historic Albert Clock and visits McHugh’s, Bittles Bar, White Tavern and Kelly’s Cellars. You’ll need to book in advance online.
The Perch Rooftop Bar
Aptly named, The Perch Rooftop Bar towers 5 storeys above Belfast’s historic Linen Quarter and is the highest bar in the city. Sited in a converted Victorian warehouse, the bar offers a selection of cocktails, craft beers and whiskeys, and serves delicious pizza. And if you fancy partying well into the night, the venue has a nightclub downstairs.
The Belfast Empire Music Hall
The Belfast Empire Music Hall is a renowned music venue and bar spread over three floors. It hosts a variety of live music including rock, jazz and blues, plus comedy and theatre performances throughout the year. There is also an outdoor beer garden, a pub-grub menu and a cinema-style screen for major sporting events.
That’s a wrap
We hope this blog post has helped you decide on some fun things to do in Belfast. However, while this is a good starting point, Belfast has so much more discover that we didn’t have room for it all! So, if you are planning a visit, it’s definitely worth researching further.
At PartyWizz we help busy party organisers easily book the best entertainment and service providers for their events. We cater to kids’ parties, weddings, corporate events and private parties. You can hire an entertainer in Belfast online in seconds through the platform.
