Weekend in Belfast

[ledz]

Off to Belfast (1st time ) for a 2 days break in may
Any tips / advice ? Noticed they have 2 airports
We need to fly from Birmingham
Any good city centre hotels

[Googie]

City airport otherwise known as George Best will be better option as closer to City centre - the other airport is know as Belfast International and a lot further out. I am probably bit out of touch hotel wise- Europa which is very central might be worth a look- it was the most bombed hotel in the world back in the day- some very good Victorian bars directly opposite- Robinsons and Laverys from memory- also the one below which is pretty central although there are Premier Inns and Travelodges-in relative terms Belfast is small and generally walkable

Have a look at Wellington Park hotel


https://www.leonardohotels.co.uk/belfast/leonardo-...

[nvubu]

Just back from a trip to Belfast last weekend as my son is interested in Queens University.

We flew via Belfast International. 2nd time there, 1st time in December hired a car (£14/day), very cheap and made it easy to get around. Fuel is about 5-10p a litre cheaper than in GB. Having a car also allows you to range further afield - and we visited Giants' Causeway and a round trip through Porta Ferry.

This weekend we got a taxi into the city - very expensive, but returned with a bus from Grand Central - about an hour & £9 one way. There's a discount on a return ticket I think. For the City Airport there is a train. I'd hire a car for a visit next time.

Your choice really as to which to fly to - for us both times was £15 each way to BFS from London, and was 50 mins.

In December we stayed in the Holiday Inn Express near the university (used points for this) and last weekend were stayed at the Youth hostel. Both were fine for us - but we weren't visiting for pleasure. We walked past the Europa on our trip from one uni location to another, and everywhere in the city seems walkable. Had a great dinner in Darcy's Belfast and the cafe at the Youth Hostel serves a great breakfast. There's a cluster of hotels around Grand central station.

[ledz]

Thanks all. How long does it take from the international airport in a taxi to the city centre and the approx cost ?

[surveyor]

From memory about £50.

My hotel highlight has been AC Hotel Belfast.

[FlyVintage]

ledz said:

Any tips / advice ?

Black Cab tour - do some research first; the guy driving/guiding ours seemed to delight in creating as uncomfortable a position as possible. Maybe we were unlucky, but other people we spoke to would seem to indicate otherwise.

[nvubu]

ledz said:

Thanks all. How long does it take from the international airport in a taxi to the city centre and the approx cost ?

Last Friday was about an hour and £44.80.

[RizzoTheRat]

Bus from the centre to the International airport cost me £9 the other week. Uber are reasonably big there too.

Titanic quarter is well worth a visit, it took us a whole day to visit the Titanic museum, Nomadic (a white star tender), HMS Caroline (last survivor of the battle of Jutland), the Titanic distillery, and a look around the Titanic hotel (former offices of Harland and Wolfe).
City Hall and the Crumlin Gaol are well worth a look too.

[Nico Adie]

Last time I was there I stayed in the Titanic hotel, it was very nice. Great restaurant and bar in it too.

[flow99]

The Merchant Hotel is fabulous and stayed there a couple of times. Was originally recommended by several Belfast residents. Great hotel and perfect location.
Also just round the corner from the Muddlers Club which is a brilliant restaurant.

[Venisonpie]

Unless there's a good reason you want to fly to the international airport don't, use city as its miles more convenient.

I always stay in the Europa and walk to wherever- its not a big city. Hiring a car gives scope to travel up the Antrim coast or out towards Stangford Lough. Great place to explore - not been for a few years but loved it when I travelled there regularly.

[loskie]

If pubs are your thing and recent "history". This guy's videos may be worth a watch.


https://www.youtube.com/@northernirelandtraveller

[AndyAudi]

Googie said:

Europa which is very central might be worth a look- it was the most bombed hotel in the world back in the day…

Been a few years, but they used to have sign in the lift that boasted that claim to fame!

The open top bus tours are interesting, driving round peace walls, murals etc to get a bit of history.

Loads of places to eat & were all reasonably priced - I’ve certainly enjoyed my share of “Ulster frys”. Nice interesting bars too.

City airport is much handier but international isn’t too bad if the timings/costs are better, I have been in & out of different ones

[Bezerk]

OX restaurant also very nice food.

Milltown Cemetery has the Republican plot.
I went there as I still remember the tv footage in 1988 of the funeral attack.

[Earthdweller]

The Titanic hotel is quite nice and a little different being in the old white star line hq building in the titanic qtr slightly out of the cc but easily walkable or a quick cab ride

Great city centre with lots of bars and restaurants shopping and a great atmosphere

Lots of history there too, not just of the troubles

Great friendly people and a really nice place to explore

[ledz]

Thanks. Looking at hotels. They seem expensive
Our mates are staying in the cathedral quarter

[Speed 3]

We’ve just planned a week trip over there looping around the north coast, down to Mayo and back to Strangford Lough before a final night in Belfast, never been there before. There’s a Fred Srilex doc on ITVx at the moment where he cycles around Ulster, worth watching the Belfast one. We found hotels in the city centre expensive depending on the day of the week, from £120-£300+ for something like the Leonardo plus parking. In the end we plumped for Tara Lodge which is walking distance to most of the centre action. We’re flying LCY-BHD using avios but when I checked the pay fares you could get BA from LHR or EZY from LGW to BHD for about £120 including checked bag. LCY was about double that.

[RizzoTheRat]

We stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in the university area, walking distance to the town centre and botanic gardens.

[nvubu]

RizzoTheRat said:

We stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in the university area, walking distance to the town centre and botanic gardens.

Same, and there is an Ibis just up the road.

Our flight costs both times we have been have been £14.99 each way pp - small bag only though. LTN & STN / BFS

[Tony_T]

We stayed in the premier inn on Alfred Street and it was fine for a couple of nights, comfy bed and decent location.

Would recommend

Giants Causeway tour - Also visits a few game of thrones locations, carrick-a-rede rope bridge and the Bushmills distillery.

Titanic museum

Black cab tour

Really enjoyed it, great city.