Visitor Information

Banks

Bank hours tend to vary per bank so it is wise to check with your hotel concierge, tour guide or guest house owner. Hours are generally Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm with some opening Saturday mornings.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) dispense cash at various locations – banks, garages, and shopping centres. Using a credit card in an ATM is an easy way of obtaining sterling if you are travelling from the Republic of Ireland or from abroad. Bank of Ireland, a corporate partner of BVCB, has 47 branches across the province.

Bureaux de Change are in larger bank and post office branches, travel agencies, the Belfast Welcome Centre, some other Tourist Information Centres, large hotels and a few visitor attractions.

Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland:

Link to Northern Ireland Bank Holidays -
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/government-citizens-and-rights/living-in-northern-ireland/bank-holidays.htm 

Cars

Cars - Breakdown
For the Automobile Association Emergency telephone: -

  0800 88 77 66 (Freephone UK)

Cars - 24 hour petrol
A number of petrol stations with extended hours are on major roads to Belfast, usually with mini-markets attached.

Car Parking
Multi-storey and off-street car parks have hourly tariffs dependent on location. On-street pay and display zones are clearly marked. Pay heed to restriction notices drawing attention to morning and evening rush hour clearways and bus lanes when in operation.

Library Services

Central Library
Can be located on Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1EA.

  +44 (0) 28 9024 3233

Open Monday to Saturday to visiting browsers, with a spacious and well-stocked reference section. Opening times are Monday to Thursday 09.00 to 20.00, Friday 09.00 to 5.30 and Saturday 09.00 to 16.30.

Disability Access

The following websites and contact numbers provide detailed information:

www.disabledgo.info  
(this site contains a wealth of detailed information which is specific to many buildings, businesses and properties in and around the City of Belfast)

www.disabilityaction.org

 +44 (0) 28 9029 7880

www.shopmobilitybelfast.co.uk
Shopmobility Belfast operates out of Westgate House, Castle Court and Forestside Shopping Centres. Shopmobility Belfast offers a Mobile unit service, which can be hired to bring Shopmobility facilities to other areas such as exhibitions and centres without mobility schemes. For more details contact:

  +44 (0) 28 9080 8090

Electrical Current

The standard electricity supply in Belfast and Northern Ireland is 240 volts. Visitors from some countries may require a transformer and a plug adaptor. A transformer will step up or step down electrical voltage. A plug adaptor is necessary for visitors to convert 2-pin plugs to the standard 3-pin plugs and can be bought at most electrical suppliers.

Euro Friendly

Many businesses (hotels, guesthouses, large stores etc) will accept Euro currency, however please enquire first to confirm if there will be a charge attached to this service and to confirm exact rate. Visitors may receive a better rate at a bank or bureau de change.

Emergencies

For the police, ambulance, fire service, or coastguard dial 999 (this is a free public service). To contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for non emergencies dial: -

  +44 (0) 845 600 8000.

Public Holidays

Climate

Often renowned for allowing you to experience four seasons in one day, Belfast weather is charmingly capricious. However, sunshine features nearly as often as showers and the climate is temperate and mild throughout the year.

Freephone UK

Telephone numbers that begin with the 0800 prefix are free to callers within the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England).

Internet Cafes

• Internet Cafe at the Belfast Welcome Centre, 47 Donegall Place, Belfast BT1 5AD.
    +44 (0) 28 9024 6609
• Revelations, the Internet Cafe, 27 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DB.
    +44 (0) 28 9032 0337
• Megabite Business Centre, 77, Dublin Road, Belfast BT2 7HF.
    +44 (0) 28 9032 2272
• Nogeeks, Kiosk 1, Castle Court, Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1DD.
    +44 (0) 28 9031 5450

Lost Valuables

For Police Lost Property:

  +44 (0) 845 600 8000 which will put you in contact with the nearest police station.

Medical & Dental Services

Advice on medical and dental emergencies phone the Health Information Service on

  0800 665544 (Freephone UK).

Mobile Phone Chargers

Over 60 Quickie Media mobile phone fast charging units are located at points across the city including Belfast Welcome Centre, Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, Central Railway Station, Laganside and Europa Bus stations, The King’s Hall Exhibition Centre, Belfast International Airport and Belfast George Best City Airport as well as in many bars, hotels and public spaces. The powerful charge means a mobile typically receives enough charge to last up to 8 hours for just £1 and can accommodate most handsets.

Newspapers

Belfast is unusual in having three dailies, Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and Newsletter, as well as the Sunday Life. All have daily entertainment listings. The free monthly tourism newspaper "Northern Ireland Travel News", obtainable in Ports, Tourist Information Centres and travel agencies etc., has pages on current attractions and events. The monthly events guide 'Whatabout?' provides a detailed definitive guide to the city, and is available in all airports, ferry terminals, bus and train stations, hotels and from the Belfast Welcome Centre.

Passport and Visa Requirements

For UK nationals a passport is not strictly necessary but photographic identification is required. Check with your airline/ferry company as requirements vary. Other nationals - a valid passport or national identity card is required. (Passports are not required for travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic). Citizens from Europe and most other western countries - visas not usually required. Further information is available from the British Embassy in your country of origin, call: -

  +44 (0) 870 606 7766 or visit www.ukpa.gov.uk

24 Hour Information

Outside office hours a touch screen information point is in operation. Other information points are situated at Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport.

Places of Worship

Main Sunday services of major Christian denominations are advertised in the Saturday edition of the Belfast Telegraph. Places of worship for most faith communities are listed in Yellow Pages.

The two cathedrals in central Belfast are St. Anne's Cathedral (Anglican/Church of Ireland) on Donegall Street, BT1 2HB and St. Peter's Cathedral (Roman Catholic) on Derby Street, BT12 4BU. This site has a listing for a number of places of worship under the heading 'Visitor Information'.

Postal Services

Post Offices and red post boxes are all over the city. The main Post Office is at 26 – 32 High  Street, at the corner of Bridge Street. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm. Late mailings are accepted at Royal Mail, Tomb Street Sorting Office, BT1 3AS. Small books of UK stamps are available in most convenience stores, petrol stations and from the Belfast Welcome Centre.

Pub and Bar Hours

Generally Monday to Saturday, 11.30 am to 11 pm, Sundays, 12.30 pm to 10 pm. Many bars in Belfast have later opening hours on Thursday to Saturday nights. Children are not permitted on licensed premises. By law no alcohol may be served to children less than 18 years of age.

Public Toilets

24 hour automatic coin operated toilets (cost 20p) are located on Dublin Road, Great Victoria Street, Custom House Square and Lombard Street. Other facilities are available Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm on Ann Street, Arthur Street and North Street. Click here to get further information on public toilet facilities provided by Belfast City Council.

Shopping Hours

Larger city Centre Shops are generally open:

• Monday and Tuesday: 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
• Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.00 am to 9.00 pm
• Saturday: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm
• Sunday: 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm.
• Neighbourhood stores and garage forecourt convenience shops often open much longer, 24 hours in many cases.

Smoking

A smoking ban has been implemented in all Northern Ireland's workplaces and enclosed public spaces, including pubs, cafes, clubs and restaurants, busses and trains as of April 2007.

Taxis

'Value Cabs' will collect at airports and will also collect and drop to order, operating 24 hours

  +44 (0) 28 9080 9080 (Why not try them and arrive in style?)

Fonacab
  +44 (0) 28 9033 3333

Citi Cabs NI

  +44 (0) 28 9066 5566

Bus

Translink is the provider of all bus services in Belfast and further a field. For timetable information and news about Ulsterbus services visit www.translink.co.uk.

Telephone codes

• To call Northern Ireland from outside the UK, dial 00 44 + area code (without 0) + local number.
• To call Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland, dial 048 + area code (without 0) + local number.
• To call Northern Ireland from elsewhere in UK or to make a national call, dial area code (with 0) + local number.
• To call the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland, dial 00 353 + the area code (without 0) + local number.

Tours/Tour Guides

See 'Tours' section of 'Transport & Tours'/'Sightseeing Tours'.

Travel Agencies

Most UK/Irish Travel Agencies and Tour Operators are represented in Belfast. Some locations may close at 1.00 pm on Saturday.

Tipping

It is now a generally accepted practice in restaurants to leave a gratuity of 10 to 15 per cent for good service. Some restaurants may add an obligatory 10 or 12.5 per cent service charge on large group bookings.