As the capital of Northern Ireland in the UK, Belfast is a city that is of immense strategic, historical, and cultural significance. Steeped in a tumultuous history rife with wars and religious and political conflicts, Belfast is a city that has stood the test of time. From the iconic buildings of the Cathedral Quarter to noteworthy museums and lively entertainment venues, Belfast has a large number of attractions. Add to that the ever-growing list of places to eat and drink, including centuries-old pubs and modern restaurants serving traditional Gaelic food and you have the makings of an amazing destination for staycations. Whether you are in the city to experience Irish culture, learn about its political past or just to sip on a pint of Guinness, Belfast will not disappoint you. And if you are short on time, our 36-hour guide will help you plan your itinerary for two days in Belfast, Northern Ireland. So book a vacation rental and plan your visit to this historical city. Read on to learn about what to do for 36 hours in Belfast, Northern Island.
Day 1: Afternoon
1. Experience the prison life at crumlin road gaol
If the dark side of history interests you, you’ll love this self-guided tour of a Victorian-era prison. Explore the passageways and grounds of HM Prison Belfast, popularly known as Crumlin Road Gaol. Start at the basement, where you can still see some of the original Victorian architecture. After, go through the tunnel-like passageways and visit the holding cells to get a glimpse into the lives of prisoners. Learn about the riots and executions that took place on these grounds, and end your visit by seeing the unmarked graves of those executed here.
Nowadays, Crumlin Road Gaol boasts an on-site restaurant and bar and hosts various live music events. If you time your visit right, you might even catch a famous act’s performance.
Book Tours : Belfast: Crumlin Road Gaol Experience
2. Tuck into fresh seafood at Mourne Seafood Bar
Start your Belfast journey with a delicious seafood lunch at Mourne Seafood Bar. The restaurant specialises in serving shellfish that are sourced from their own shellfish beds. In the relaxed and comfortable environs of this restaurant, guests can enjoy a variety of seafood like fresh oysters, mussels, and dishes like seafood linguine, classic fish and chips, etc. All the fish are caught and served on the same day and are absolutely fresh. An excellent wine list is also available to pair with the seafood.
Mourne Seafood Bar
Address: 34-36 Bank St, Belfast BT1 1HL, United Kingdom
Website: Mourne Seafood Bar
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 12pm - 4pm, 5pm - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 3:30pm, 5pm - 10pm; Sun: 10am - 4pm, 5pm - 9pm
3. Click a picture with The Salmon of Knowledge
Make your way to Donegall Quay to click a picture with the famous Salmon of Knowledge. Locally known as ‘The Big Fish’, The Salmon of Knowledge is a giant statue of a fish whose scales are made from blue-and-white ceramic tiles that have images depicting the history of Belfast. This piece of public art is based on an old Irish mythical tale about Fionn and the salmon of knowledge. The sculpture was put up in 1999 by the city of Belfast and has now become a popular tourist attraction.
The Salmon of Knowledge
Address: Donegall Quay, Belfast BT1 3NG, United Kingdom
4. Marvel at the Gothic architecture of Albert Memorial Clock
Head on over to Queen’s Square to look up at the towering Albert Memorial Clock. This majestic clock tower was constructed in 1869 in a classic Gothic style. The clock tower houses a 2-tonne (1.9 ton) bell along with a statue of Prince Albert and various intricately carved gargoyles, angels, lions, and other decorations popular in that era. The Albert Memorial Clock was once said to lean quite a bit due to its construction on reclaimed marshy land but an extensive restoration project has halted the leaning. The clock tower is now one of Belfast’s most iconic public landmarks.
Albert Memorial Clock
Address: 17 Queens Square, Belfast BT1 3FF, United Kingdom
Day 1: Evening
5. Take a tour of The Titanic Belfast Museum
Everyone knows of the tragic story of Rose and Jack in Titanic. But not everyone is familiar with the Titanic Belfast Museum and its incredible display of the RMS Titanic. The museum offers an interactive journey with 3D caves and model design replicas of the original ship.
It also houses a restored SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star vessel. You can explore this little sister of Titanic to get a real-time feel of what a journey on the world’s most famous ship must have been like. This tour is something you should not miss in Belfast. So, buy a ticket and embark on The Titanic Experience with SS Nomadic with your tour guide.
6. Watch the beautifully lit up Belfast City Hall
As the sun sets, check out Belfast City Hall as it lights up in beautiful colours. Built in the Baroque Revival style in 1906, Belfast City Hall is a magnificent and imposing structure in Belfast. Besides serving as the civic services building, the hall is also open for free guided public tours every day. Experienced guides take visitors on an hour-long tour of the Belfast City Hall, narrating its history and highlighting its many salient features like the beautiful stained-glass windows, the Grand Staircase, the Great Hall, etc. The grounds also hold many attractions like picnicking on the laws or visiting Titanic Memorial Gardens.
Belfast City Hall
Address: Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GS, United Kingdom
Website: Belfast City Hall
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 4pm
Price: Free
7. Watch a live performance at Ulster Hall
Located just a short walk away from Belfast City Hall, Ulster Hall should be your next destination to catch a live performance. As Belfast’s premiere live events venue, Ulster Hall is a well-known landmark of the city. It has hosted the world’s leading music, theatre, comedy, and other acts and continues to welcome thousands of visitors each year. Watch a stand-up comedy show, a music concert or a lively theatre play alongside munching on scrumptious food and downing local beverages.
Ulster Hall
Address: 34 Bedford St, Belfast BT2 7FF, United Kingdom
Website: Ulster Hall
Opening hours: As per show timings
Price: Ticket prices vary
8. Have an early dinner at Howard Street
Posted by Howard Street on Saturday, 27 January 2018
Conveniently located on Howard Street, this eponymous restaurant will be excellent for a lovely early dinner. Howard Street restaurant believes in serving finely crafted dishes made from fresh locally sourced ingredients. In the contemporary and industrial-style interiors of the restaurant, diners can enjoy delectable dishes like seafood chowder, pork belly, crispy salt, and chilli beef while sipping on handcrafted cocktails, fine wines, and other libations. The restaurant also has a vegetarian menu, pre-theatre menu, lunch express menu, and set menu to choose from.
Howard Street
Address: 56 Howard St, Belfast BT1 6PG, United Kingdom
Website: Howard Street
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 5pm - 9:30pm; Thu - Sat: 12pm - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm (closed on Sun)
Day 1: Night
9. Down a pint of Guinness at Kelly's Cellars
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For some post-dinner drinks, make your way to one of Belfast’s oldest pubs, Kelly’s Cellars. As a traditional Irish pub that is almost 200 years old, this establishment has retained much of its old-world charm in its cosy leather booths, concrete floor, and whitewashed brick walls. The pub also has live Irish music playing on some nights. As a pub, Kelly’s Cellars mostly serves beer and pints of Guinness with a bowl of Irish stew.
Kelly's Cellars
Address: 30-32 Bank St, Belfast BT1 1HL, United Kingdom
Website: Kelly’s Cellars
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 1am; Sun: 1pm - 12am
10. Catch a late-night show at The Black Box
End your first day in Belfast with a show at The Black Box. This performance arts and entertainment venue is housed in a heritage building in the historic Cathedral Quarter of Belfast. Regularly featuring theatre, visual art, film, cabaret, music, comedy, and circus acts, The Black Box is the ideal place that offers exciting things to do at night in Belfast and gets you in high spirits for the next day. You can also buy a range of beverages and small bites at The Green Room Cafe situated on the premises.
The Black Box
Address: 18-22 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LA, United Kingdom
Website: The Black Box
Opening hours: As per show timings
Price: Ticket prices vary
Day 2: Morning
11. Have a traditional breakfast fry at Bia Restaurant
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Kickstart your morning with a hearty breakfast at Bia Restaurant. This homey restaurant specialises in serving the best of Irish and European cuisine in a welcoming dining room that is resplendent with the sounds of traditional Irish music creating an authentic Gaelic atmosphere. While you admire the local art on the walls, tuck into healthy or indulgent breakfast options like The Fry, eggs Benedict, avocado toast, etc. Great coffee and tea to complement your meal are must-have, too.
Bia Restaurant
Address: 216 Falls Rd, Belfast BT12 6AH, United Kingdom
Website: Bia Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 9am - 5:30pm; Fri: 9am - 9pm; Sat: 9am - 5:30pm; Sun: 10am - 4pm
12. Go on a unique walking tour with Coiste Na Nlarchimi
Coiste Na Nlarchimi is an Irish Republican community that provides unique walking tours across Belfast which highlight the plight of political prisoners of the British/Irish conflict. These tours are delivered by ex-political prisoners, who provide in-depth details about the history of the centuries-old conflict and narrate their personal experiences too. There are several tours to choose from, like the Falls Mural Tour, Milltown Cemetery Tour, Joint Falls/Shankill Tour, etc. At the end of the tour, you can also enjoy a complimentary glass of Guinness.
Coiste Na Nlarchimi
Address: 10 Beechmount Ave, Belfast BT12 7NA, United Kingdom
Website: Coiste Na Nlarchimi
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: 13 USD onwards
13. Tour the Shankill Road Murals
Passing through an Ulster Protestant majority area of Belfast, Shankill Road is well-known for its political ideologies, conflicts, and insightful murals. Most of these murals are concentrated in the Lower Shankill area and depict the tumultuous history of Belfast, the fights between various factions and the human cost of these conflicts. Visitors can learn a lot about the troubles of Belfast by walking past these murals. Various taxi tours are available to guide and show you around the Shankill Road Murals.
Book Tours : Belfast: Political Taxi Tour
Day 2: Afternoon
14. Have a luxurious lunch at The Ivory
After a busy morning of sight-seeing, make your way to The Ivory for an affordably luxurious lunch in trendy environs. Situated on the third floor of a department store, this restaurant has amazing views of the surrounding area. The modern decor and welcoming staff of the restaurant will ensure that you have a lovely dining experience. For lunch, feast on their steak, risotto, or burger accompanied by perfect wine or cocktail pairings. Vegetarian, vegan, and kids menus are also available at The Ivory.
The Ivory
Address: House of Fraser, Victoria Square, Belfast BT1 4QG, United Kingdom
Website: The Ivory
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 12pm - 7pm; Wed: 12pm - 9pm; Thu - Sat: 12pm - 10pm; Sun: 1pm - 6pm
15. Attend a free art exhibition at The MAC
Conveniently located in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast, The MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) is a mixed-use venue that showcases visual art, music, comedy, theatre, dance, experimental art, exhibitions, and every type of performance art. The MAC also conducts workshops, family-friendly activities, holiday events, etc. that can be enjoyed by everyone. The venue has three art galleries, two theatres, workshop rooms, a restaurant and bar, a dance and rehearsal studio, etc. where a variety of events are regularly conducted. Free art exhibitions held at this venue are very popular with visitors and offer a fun yet cheap thing to do in Belfast for those travelling on a budget.
The MAC
Address: 10 Exchange St, West, Belfast BT1 2NJ, United Kingdom
Website: The MAC
Opening hours: 8:30am - 6pm (daily)
Price: Prices vary as per event
16. Learn about Ireland's role in WWII at Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum
Here at @NIWarMemorialMuseum we love seeing your pictures and reading reviews and comments from your visits. Just look...
Posted by Northern Ireland War Memorial on Saturday, 18 May 2019
For your last stop for the afternoon, go to the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum to learn about Ireland’s role in World War II. Located in the historic Cathedral Quarter, this museum showcases various themes like the presence of US Forces, the Belfast Blitz 1941 story, the Ulster Home Guard, and the role played by women in the war. Various wartime artefacts like photographs, artworks, documents, audio recordings of survivors, etc. are displayed in the museum. Two copper friezes, a beautiful stained-glass window, and a memorial screen are some other interesting things to see here.
Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum
Address: 21 Talbot St, Belfast BT1 2LD, United Kingdom
Website: Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: Free
Day 2: Evening
17. Take a cruise on the River Lagan
Start your evening with a cruise on the River Lagan. As the main river of Northern Ireland, River Lagan enjoys a lot of prominence throughout the region, especially in Belfast. The river flows past many historical structures, harbours, and other important maritime landmarks, all of which can be seen from a cruise on the river. Many tour operators ply on the river and offer an unhindered view of the city’s landmarks like the Titanic Belfast, several historic naval ships, etc. The river also offers rowing opportunities, walking and cycling paths, bridges, parks, and plenty of scenic views.
18. Have a steak dinner at Hadskis
End an exhilarating evening in Belfast with a tasty meal at Hadskis in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. This award-winning restaurant has a constantly changing menu and sleek, contemporary settings where diners get to tuck into delicious grub. They are renowned for their steak, lamb and pasta dishes along with delectable desserts, classic cocktails, and a great wine list. Highly recommended items at Hadskis are their Tomahawk for 2, ribeye, truffle chips and parmesan, etc. Several vegan and vegetarian options are available, too.
Hadskis
Address: Commercial Ct, Belfast BT1 2NB, United Kingdom
Website: Hadskis
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 9:30pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 10pm
Day 2: Night
19. Listen to live music at Katy's Bar
Posted by Katy's Bar on Monday, 8 February 2016
For your final night in the city, make your way to Katy’s Bar, one of Belfast’s leading music venues. The renovated bar has the charm of an old-fashioned pub with vintage light fixtures, wood-panelled walls, and leather booths. It is a popular live music venue that hosts many musical acts loved by the regulars. Open mic nights are also popular here. A full bar offers classic drinks, beers, spirits, and other libations to keep the party going till late at night.
Katy's Bar
Address: 17 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HD, United Kingdom
Website: Katy’s Bar
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 1am; Sat: 12pm - 12am; Sun: 5pm - 1am
20. Dance the night away at Limelight
For the perfect end to your perfect Belfast trip, head over to Limelight and dance the night away! As a live music venue and nightclub complex, Limelight has four spaces consisting of Limelight 1 and 2, Katy’s Bar and The Rock Garden. At Limelight 1 and 2, you can enjoy live concerts and dance to the beats of the best bands in town. Live music acts across genres, from rock to indie, have performed at Limelight and its various venues continue to attract more and more visitors each day.
Limelight
Address: 17 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HD, United Kingdom
Website: Limelight
Opening hours: As per show timings
Price: 6.5 USD onwards
21. Go on a spooky tour of Clifton Street Graveyard
As the dark of the night closes in, go on a spine-tingling tour of the Clifton Street Graveyard. Opened in 1796, Clifton Street Graveyard (or Clifton Street Cemetery) is the final resting place of some of Belfast’s most noteworthy citizens along with the mass graves of several thousand of the city’s poor. Through various tours, explore the graves in the cemetery and learn about the darker side of Belfast’s history through stories of famines, murders, wars, and the tough life during the Victorian times, etc.
22. Buzzing Belfast
From museums through historical landmarks to modern restaurants and traditional pubs, Belfast has something for everyone. And if you are in the city for a short time, do remember to check out our suggestions for what to do for 36 hours in Belfast, the UK.
Frequently asked questions about what to do for 36 hours in Belfast, Northern Island
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