words Al Woods
If you are planning a holiday this year, forget those long-haul flights to faraway lands packed with tourists. There are plenty of beautiful holiday destinations right on our doorstep. If you don’t want to travel too far, Northern Ireland is a perfect choice.
It’s packed full of beautiful scenery made up of both mountains and seascapes. It has a rich history and culture, which is what makes it the country it is today. If you really want to see a traditional Irish city, head to Belfast. Here is just some of what you can do while you are there.
Visit Titanic Belfast
A trip to Belfast would not be complete without a visit to Titanic Belfast, a world-leading visitor attraction. You can book a tour at TitanicTourBelfast.com, where you will find out all about how the ship was constructed and launched. As well as this, you will learn more than you thought you knew about the sinking, the aftermath, and the final resting place of the Titanic. There is plenty of public transport available for you to get here from the city centre.
Take a Trip to Giant’s Causeway
Although not in Belfast itself, Giant’s Causeway is a must if you are there for an extended period. It’s a 90-minute drive away, but it is well worth it once you are there. You can book a coach tour for around £30, and this price includes a tour guide. You will stop at many other beautiful places along the way too, such as Cushendun Caves and Carnlough Harbour. If you have never heard of Giant’s Causeway, it is a 33-mile stretch of unique coastline made up of hexagonal-shaped steppingstones, dating back nearly 60 million years.
Visit Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall is one of Belfast’s most iconic buildings. You can take a guided tour that lasts around one hour, where you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day running of a busy public building. Each room is filled with historic paintings and regalia, and you will even get to see the thrones used by King George V and Queen Mary during the state opening of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. The Titanic Memorial Garden is situated within the grounds of Belfast City Hall, so you can easily make a day of it.
Take a Black Taxi Tour
If you are keen to learn more about the ‘Troubles’, also known as the Northern Ireland Conflict, then a black taxi tour is one of the best ways to do so. You can book a tour from ex-combatants, both Protestant and Catholic, who were personally involved in the Troubles. They will tell you stories from both sides of the conflict and take you to various memorials and murals where you will be able to stop and take photos. These tours are extremely eye-opening, and you will discover so much more than you thought you knew.
Belfast has so many more interesting places and things to do, you just might have to book again next year!
