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Being Active in Belfast

By Lek Boonlert

| November 29th 2011 | Views:

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The largest city in the whole of Northern Ireland, Belfast attracts visitors for a wide variety of reasons. The city is steeped in rich history and culture, which can be discovered by taking a tour of the city’s interesting and informative museums. the people of Belfast are generally warm and welcoming to visitors, and tourists will find plenty of excellent amenities here, including a large number of luxurious Belfast hotels to choose from. Here are some of the most popular things to do in Belfast.

Exploring on foot

Belfast's city centre has the benefit of being quite compact, and the main streets here curl around the River Lagan’s west bank. This makes exploring the city a simple business, even for first time visitors, and most people tend to start at City Hall on Donegall Square before making their way along Donegall Street to gaze in wonder at a whole host of interesting buildings and businesses.

Smithfield Market

Located on Winetavern Street just behind the popular Castle Court shopping centre, Smithfield Market is the perfect place to browse for bargains. The atmosphere is extremely lively around lunchtime, when a large number of office workers descend to do a spot of shopping on their lunch break, while bookworms will want to check out the No Alibis shop on Botanic Avenue, which is said by many to be one of the best independent bookshops in the whole of Northern Ireland.

Belfast Pub Tours

Many of the pubs in Belfast date back several centuries and are famous throughout Britain. A great place to drink and soak up the atmosphere is the Crown Liquor Saloon, which can be found on Great Victoria Street. This large pub features impressive stained glass windows and has changed little since Victorian times.

Nightlife

Belfast’s nightlife scene is rich and varied, and is mainly focused around the Cathedral Quarter as well as along the area known as the Golden Mile. While most pubs and bars close at around 23:00, nightclubs stay open a little later and are great places to carry on drinking and partying.

Theatre and music

Culture vultures will want to make sure that they catch a show at Belfast’s Grand Opera House, which can be found in the very heart of the city. this is one of the finest Georgian theatres to be found anywhere in the UK, and plays are shown here virtually every evening of the week, with special matinee performances held on Thursdays and Saturdays for those who like to get an early start on things.

Festivals

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate in Belfast throughout the year, and most of the biggest and brightest festivals tend to be held in the summer months. Chinese New Year is a big celebration here, while the All Ireland Corporate Games take place in Belfast in September and attract sports fans from all over the UK and beyond.

Eating out

Diners will really be spoilt for choice in Belfast, and there are eateries here to suit all budgets. While those who are counting the pennies may want to grab a bite in one of the city’s cheap and cheerful cafes, those who really like to dine in style will also be able to take their pick from a wide range of up market restaurants.

Lek Boonlert - About Author:
Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Belfast Hotels content.