Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, is a fun, energetic, and quirky city bursting with things to see and do. The older generations might know of Belfast as a dangerous city, with conflict and violence lasting from the 1960s to the Good Friday agreement in 1998. But today, Belfast is leaving its past behind as it builds a stronger, more inclusive place for locals to thrive.
I visited Belfast for the first time in 2025 and was surprised at how much I loved the city. From the history tours, museums, great restaurants, fun bars, and street art; here is my 2-day Belfast itinerary recommendation packed with travel tips and the best attractions in the city.
If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, don’t miss…
- Renting a Car in Ireland: Everything You Need to Know
- Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Ireland
- The Ultimate Ireland Packing List
- 10 Things You Can’t Miss in Ireland: The Ultimate Bucket List
Best Time to Visit Belfast
The best time to visit Belfast is during the late spring and summer months (May to August), when the weather is at its warmest and daylight lasts well into the evening – perfect for exploring the city’s history, museums, pubs, and restaurants. This is also peak tourist season, so popular sites like the Titanic Belfast museum can be busy. For fewer crowds and decent weather, consider the shoulder seasons of April or September. Winter (November to February) is colder and wetter, but the city takes on a cozy feel with festive lights and fewer tourists.
I visited Belfast in March and had surprisingly great weather. I experienced blue skies, warm weather, and no rain. While this isn’t the norm, it just goes to show that the weather in Northern Ireland can still be good outside of the busy spring and summer months.
How to Get to Belfast
There are two main ways to get to Belfast. You can fly into the Belfast airport (Belfast International Airport), or you can fly into Dublin and take a bus up to Belfast. Chances are, if you’re flying to Belfast from elsewhere in Europe, your best bet will be to fly straight to Belfast. However, there are few direct flights from the US to Belfast so it might be best to fly to Dublin and take the bus to Belfast.
If you’re flying into Belfast International Airport, the drive into the city is about 30-minutes. You can easily get a taxi from outside of the airport.
If you’re flying into Dublin and transferring to Belfast, the bus is easy and affordable and only takes about 1.5 hours. The bus is called “Dublin Express” and it leaves from both terminal 1 and terminal 2 between 0550 am-0100 am; dropping you off at Belfast Upper Queen Street. You can purchase bus tickets here.
If you don’t want to take the bus, you can also rent a car from the Dublin Airport to get to Belfast. (You won’t need a car in Belfast but if you plan to explore more of Northern Ireland, I’d highly recommend one). The good news is, is that there is not a land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland so you won’t have to wait in any pesky lines to cross the border.
Do You Need a Rental Car in Belfast?
You don’t need a rental car to explore Belfast, however, if you plan to explore more of Northern Ireland or follow my itinerary – I would suggest a rental car at least for a day or two.
When figuring out a rental, I prefer to use Discover Cars so you’re able to search multiple agencies in one place and filter through pricing, etc so that you can choose the best choice for you.
Where to Stay in Belfast
When choosing where to stay in Belfast, I would definitely choose a hotel that’s in the city centre – with one exception. The exception to not staying in the city centre would be if you choose to stay at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick 20-minutes northwest of Belfast. (I absolutely recommend staying here and even spending an entire day on the property to experience the spa, which I discuss more below).
If you want to stay in central Belfast, I’d recommend the following hotels…
1-Day Belfast Itinerary
While there are plenty of ways to fill your time in Belfast, on your first day, I highly recommend heading to The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat and check yourself in for a luxurious spa stay. Located 20-minutes northwest of Belfast in Templepatrick, here you can stay for a day getting spa treatments, hang out in one of the many outdoor jacuzzis, get cocktails from the outdoor bar, and then have a delicious dinner inside the hotel. The best part is that there are outdoor heaters so the spa is open year-round!
If you want to head off property for a bit of exploring, I suggest the Game of Thrones Studio Tour (I did this without seeing the show and still thought it was incredibly impressive), Belfast Castle, Giants Causeway, or the Dark Hedges. If you plan to do any of these, I would suggest having a rental car or hiring a driver for the day.
2-Day Belfast Itinerary
Check out of your hotel early morning to head to Belfast and check into a more central hotel. Start your day early at the Titanic Museum – a self-guided museum that offers nine different interactive displays that re-tell the iconic story of the building and eventual drowning of the Titanic.
After you finish at the museum, I suggest heading next door to the Titanic Hotel – the headquarters and drawing offices of Harland and Wolff who made the Titanic come to fruition. Here you can take a guided historical tour of the hotel (I did the art and heritage trail and would highly recommend it). Whether or not you tour the hotel, make sure to stop in the restaurant – Drawing Office Two – for lunch or afternoon tea (afternoon tea needs to be booked 24 hours in advance).
Once you’re done at lunch, make sure to sign up for the Belfast Black Taxi Tour – a one of a kind experience where you’ll get to learn about the history of Belfast from a local. This was one of the coolest things that I did in Belfast and I wouldn’t miss it if I were you!
After your taxi tour, head for a pre-dinner drink experience at the Spirit Circle where you can participate in an immersive sensory cocktail experience. Not only was this a standout experience – I’ve never experienced anything remotely similar – but you also get an incredible amount of drinks for the price. Again, this is an experience that I would highly, highly recommend!
And for dinner, I suggest heading to the Waterman Restaurant; a delicious, modern restaurant serving European cuisine.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME IN BELFAST, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GIANTS CAUSEWAY TOUR
Top Attractions, Tours, & Experiences in Belfast/Northern Ireland
If you have extra time to spend exploring more of Belfast and Northern Ireland, here are some recommended tours and activities…
- Belfast Black Taxi Tour – A must do tour if you’re interested in the history of Belfast
- Best of Belfast Walking Tour
- Titanic Distillers Signature Tour & Whiskey Tasting
- From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Full-Day Guided Trip
- Sensory Cocktail Experience with 4 Cocktails (I did this experience and would HIGHLY recommend it)
- An Alternative History of Belfast through Drinks
- Guided Gin Tour with 7 Gin Tastings
- Guided Craft Beer & Street Food Tour
Practical Tips for Visiting Belfast
If you’re planning to visit Belfast, here are some practical tips that will make your trip easier and more seamless…
- Make sure to plan ahead for popular attractions – make sure to purchase tickets in advance
- Set up an eSIM before arriving – I recommend AloSIM (use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount)
- Prepare for four seasons in one day
- Know that Northern Ireland uses the GBP (check to make sure that your credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees)
- If you plan to use public transportation, download the “Translink NI” app
- Because Northern Ireland is part of the UK, you will need to register for a UK ETA (electronic travel authorization); you can download the “UK ETA” app and register for a visa there. The fee is £16 and the visa is valid for two years or until the passport that was used expires
Northern Ireland Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Northern Ireland
TRAVELING THROUGH NORTHERN IRELAND
- The easiest way to book bus tickets in Northern Ireland is through Bookaway
- To book a flight to Northern Ireland, I recommend a large booking platform or Skyscanner to compare options (if you’re from the US, sign up for Going for free, cheap flight alerts)
- For car rentals in Northern Ireland, I recommend Discover Cars
- If you want a private driver waiting to pick you up at the airport, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Ireland – I use and recommend SafetyWing (read why here and here)
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount
- You will need a visa to visit Northern Ireland which you can get through the app, “UK ETA”
ACCOMODATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND
- To easiest way to book hotels in Northern Ireland is through a large booking platform
TOURS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
- For tours and activities in Northern Ireland, I recommend using Get Your Guide or Viator
- For tickets to museums and attractions, I recommend Tiqets
WHAT TO BRING TO NORTHERN IRELAND
- Don’t forget a Northern Ireland guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a travel plug adapter (Northern Ireland uses type G)
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
- Northern Ireland can often be rainy – be prepared with an umbrella, rain poncho, and rain shoes
Belfast is a truly wonderful city that deserves a place on every traveler’s bucket list. I hope that this 2-day Belfast itinerary not only inspires your trip but also aides in your travel planning. If you have any questions about visiting Belfast, let me know in a comment below!
If you’re planning a trip to the Island of Ireland, don’t miss…
For a more visual look at Belfast, and more ideas on what to see and do, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel and search “ppinnorthernireland” or look for my “Ireland” highlight; alternatively head to my TikTok and search under the highlight “Ireland”
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
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