Explore Belfast

There is an old adage in travel lore: get to know, before you go. This section of our website is intended to give you some background to our city and its people before you travel; it’s the people who are the city.

Initially just a hamlet with a crossing on a river mouth, with a fertile hinterland it didn’t take marauders and pirates long to realise that here was a deep lough and safe haven from the north Atlantic storms where repairs could be made. From these small beginnings the industrious locals developed a boat building trade and the rest is our history.

Take that step with us, the first step that leads to a thousand journeys; welcome to our Belfast!

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Highlights

 
St Georges Market

Delve into a rich and fascinating past.



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Couple in Botanic Gardens

In Belfast the remnants of certain quarters still exist today.

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Stormont Buildings

To know our city is to seek out its enclaves.



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Maxine Mawhinney

Meet the great and good of a city punching above its weight.


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Crown Liquor Saloon Exterior

City Breaks

Arrange a short trip to Belfast 'a city on the rise'.

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City Breaks are the travel choice of the ‘noughties’ and Belfast is rated as one of the top city break destinations in Europe. Click here and find out why everyone is saying Belfast is buzzing.

 

Did you know?

Mary McAleese President of Ireland is not the only state president to have been born in Belfast – Chaim Herzog, 6th President of Israel from 1983 to 1993 was born at Clifton Park Avenue the son of a Belfast Rabbi.