A Weekend In Belfast Posted by Suzy Guese on 07th, September 2012

A Weekend In Belfast

The days of Belfast being a less than appealing place to travel are gone. However the biggest city in Northern Ireland is almost still a secret to the casual traveler. On a weekend visit with Belfast, I was able to find a much softer side to the city than the one I read about in high school history class and across television screens growing up. From political statements across outdoor art alleys to the delight of Victorian pubs, Belfast will fill up a weekend easily, so much so that you might want to stay on for more.

The Ulster Museum

If you only have time to visit one museum while in Belfast, the Ulster Museum should be your stop. Free to enter, the museum details the history of Ireland and Northern Ireland through a multitude of exhibits. From dinosaur bones to costume displays, the floors of the Ulster Museum each cover a variety of topics throughout time. One of the most intriguing is easily the exhibit on the 1588 shipwreck of the Spanish ship Girona just off of the Antrim Coast.

Things To Do In Belfast | Weekend In Belfast

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The Belfast Murals

West Belfast was not always the place to be in Northern Ireland’s capital. However today it is a big draw for tourists looking to see the murals that tell its complicated story. Once a war zone, today the murals track that period of civil unrest and terrorism in the country and across the city. You can join a popular Black Taxi Tour to take you through the murals or just walk along Shankill Road and Falls Road.

The Crown Liquor Saloon

If all of that walking through West Belfast has you a bit thirsty, head on over to the Crown Liquor Saloon for a beverage. This is not your average pub in Belfast. The Crown Liquor Saloon dates back to 1826. Many contend it is the finest example of Victorian Gothic décor in all of Northern Ireland. Today the National Trust who helped restore it to its Victorian glory owns it. You might have trouble keeping a conversation here however. The Crown Liquor Saloon

leaves so much to look at and observe, from stained glass windows to its elaborate mosaic flooring to its tin ceiling. This pub is all about color and design.

Things To Do In Belfast | Belfast Attractions

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Queen’s University

Heading back to school might be far from the traveler’s mind while exploring Belfast, but Queen’s University makes you forget the dread and drudgery attached to getting an education. Easily Northern Ireland’s most prestigious university, the main building of the institution is worth a gander of its Tudor Revival style. The area surrounding Queen’s university makes for a pleasant place to get lost in the quiet of the city and the energy of college students. Queen’s University also set up right near the Belfast Botanic Gardens.

The City Hall

One of Belfast’s best free attractions is the City Hall. The public is free to roam the building on tours Monday through Saturday. Belfast’s City Hall building comprises of granite, marble and stained glass. You won’t have trouble locating the building. The grand classical Renaissance style building is easy to spot for its 53-meter high dome. Also a somewhat disgruntled looking Queen Victoria statue stand watch in front of Belfast’s City Hall.