Visit Belfast the capital city of Northern Ireland
When looking for a holiday rental in Northern Ireland there is no greater place to begin than the capital. As the heart of Northern Ireland, Belfast is a beautiful destination with lots to offer for tourists. Home of the Titanic, there are several fascinating museums and monuments to this tragedy that make for a really interesting day out. It is a relatively compact city which means wherever you book accommodation in Belfast, you will be in the middle of the action. Young people might choose an apartment near the Queen's University, a student-oriented area with lots of restaurants and bars, and those more interested in the historical and cultural side of things would be better booking a hotel near the port, where the Titanic exhibits are centred, and not far from the castle.
When to go?
As with most places in the UK, Belfast is not the most temperate and can have rain throughout the year. However, its location on the east of the country means it's less rainy than Northern Ireland's western cities. Its consistent climate means that Belfast is a great destination for a city break any time of the year.
How to get to Belfast:
From elsewhere in Great Britain and Ireland, it is easy to get to Belfast with several options. There are direct rail links from Dublin, and regular sea crossings from both England and Scotland. Belfast also has two airports: Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport, both close to the city centre and served by several major airlines. You can fly to Belfast from more than 20 cities in Europe and several American cities too. There are convenient bus links from the airport to the city centre, making it a piece of cake to travel into Belfast. Alternatively, if you are already staying in accommodation in Ireland, then you can reach Belfast in only a few hours from the most popular tourist destinations. Travel by rail from your holiday rental in Dublin for around 2 and a half hours, while a holiday cottage in Galway places you under five hours from this Northern Irish capital.
How to get around Belfast:
Belfast is a relatively compact city, so it's easy to get around by foot or by bike, which are both fantastic cheap options that let you explore the city at your leisure whilst saving the environment! However, for further distances there are also other options, such as taxis or the bus, which runs all over Belfast.
Where to stay in Belfast:
Cathedral Quarter
One of the best areas in Belfast to book accommodation is the Cathedral Quarter, right in the heart of the city centre. A rapidly developing area, this section of the city combines Northern Ireland's beautiful heritage sites such as St. Anne's Cathedral – which gives the Quarter its name – with new and modern restaurants, bars and shops. It also plays host to an annual performing and visual arts festival. With lots of investment going into the area at the moment, it is the perfect place to find a holiday apartment rental in Belfast.
Titanic Quarter
The Titanic Quarter is close to the city centre and Cathedral Quarter, but perhaps has more to do and is the perfect place to book a holiday rental in Belfast if you are looking for an interesting holiday full of culture. This area is also currently undergoing development, with the relatively new Titanic Belfast museum and also new apartments and hotels being built. The city's SSE Arena is located in the Titanic Quarter, making it the perfect base for anyone interested in live music.
Queen's Quarter
Near the prestigious Queen's University Belfast, this area of the city is full of students and would perfectly suit young tourists looking for cheap accommodation. Here you can find the Ulster Museum, as well as Belfast's Botanic Gardens, although the quarter is generally known for its beautiful natural setting anyway! Booking a hotel or B&B on the Golden Mile will give you great access to the best shops, restaurants and bars in Belfast along the shopping strip on Lisburn Road.
Best activities to do:
Titanic Belfast
This museum based in the Titanic Quarter tells the tragic tale of the ship's sinking in an interactive, modern way. There are rides, underwater explorations, reconstructions of the ship and hands-on displays to explore. Only having been opened in 2012, the Titanic Belfast is a refreshingly modern and exciting museum and one of the gems of the Titanic Quarter.
Belfast Castle
This historic 19th century castle is located in the grounds of Cavehill Country Park, and as well as the beautiful architecture you can enjoy a playground, visitor centre, restaurant and gift shop. The castle is 400 feet above sea level, which means it's one of the best spots to get a stunning view of the whole of Belfast.
Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens are found in the Queen's Quarter and offer a relaxing experience amongst the greenery and foliage. The greenhouses were built in the 19th century and are in themselves a notable sight, but the plants are the real focus here. The park around the Botanic Gardens is a popular spot for young people, especially in the summer months, and sometimes plays host to live music. The gardens are easy to reach, with trains running to the Botanic railway station regularly throughout the day.
Ulster Museum
The museum is conveniently located at the entrance to the Botanic Gardens, so you can tick two sights off your list at once! As one of the National Museums of Northern Ireland, and actually Northern Ireland's largest museum, Ulster Museum has a huge range of interesting exhibits exploring 9,000 years of Irish culture and history. The museum's artefacts are diverse, with art, furniture, archaeology, geology and much more, so there is something here for everyone.