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Territory capital · United Kingdom

BelfastBéal Feirste

Give Belfast 2 nights: one full day for Titanic Quarter and the centre, one for the murals and a Black Taxi tour. Add a third only for a Causeway Coast day.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jan–Feb (wet, dark by 16:30)
Airports
BHD · BFS · DUB
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and the best-equipped base on the island for a short city break: compact, walkable, and cheaper than Dublin or London. Two nights covers Titanic Belfast, City Hall and the west Belfast murals; three lets you add the Giant's Causeway. It rains in every month, so plan one indoor anchor per day.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Belfast, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • Street or quick mealUlster fry breakfast£7–12 (≈ US$10–16)
  • BeerPint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmBlack Taxi tour, per person£15–20 (≈ US$20–30)
  • Metro or bus rideMetro single in the centre£1.80 (≈ US$3)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person£22 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room£250 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £55 (≈ US$75) · Mid £110 (≈ US$150) · High £200 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Titanic Belfast and the Titanic QuarterWest Belfast murals and the Peace WallsThe Crown Liquor SaloonUlster Fry and the Cathedral Quarter
Airports
BHD George Best Belfast City (2 miles east of the centre; bus 600 to the centre in under 15 min) · BFS Belfast International (Aldergrove) (20 miles west; Ulsterbus 300 to Grand Central in about 50 min) · DUB Dublin Airport (About 100 miles (160 km) south; hourly coach to Belfast in about 2 h)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Belfast: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

19 rd

Feb

9°C

2°C

16 rd

Mar

11°C

3°C

17 rd

Apr

13°C

5°C

15 rd

May

16°C

7°C

15 rd

Jun

17°C

10°C

15 rd

Jul

20°C

12°C

16 rd

Aug

19°C

12°C

17 rd

Sep

17°C

10°C

16 rd

Oct

14°C

7°C

19 rd

Nov

11°C

4°C

20 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

20 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable end to end in about 25 min. Metro buses (pink) and Glider (purple, buy at the stop machine before boarding) run roughly 06:00–23:00; a city-centre single is £1.80 in 2026. Trains and Ulsterbuses leave from Grand Central. Black Taxis are shared fixed-route cabs and also run the west Belfast tours.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Giant's Causeway and Bushmills

go

Door to door: 2–2.5 h each way by public transport

Organised coach tour, or train to Coleraine then bus 402

A full day; a coach tour is the only realistic way to see it and be back for dinner.

Portrush and the north coast

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Train from Grand Central via Coleraine, about 1 h 30 min

Beaches and a small town; pairs with Bushmills on the same line.

Ballycastle

overnight

Door to door: 2.5–3 h

Train to Coleraine then bus 402, or a coach tour

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night on the coast.

Larne

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Train from Grand Central, about 1 h

A ferry port with little for a visitor; use it only as a crossing point.

Lisburn

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Train from Grand Central, about 20 min

A commuter town; go only for the museum or as a rail connection.

Antrim town

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Train from Grand Central, about 30 min

Useful for Belfast International Airport connections, not as a sight.

Ballymena

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Train from Grand Central, about 45 min

A market town on the Derry line; no reason to stop unless changing.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

City centre (Donegall Square / Cathedral Quarter)

Walk to City Hall, the Crown and most restaurants; best for a 2-night first trip.

Queen's Quarter / Botanic

University area, cheaper beds, good cafés; 20–25 min walk or a short bus to the centre.

Titanic Quarter

Hotels beside Titanic Belfast; quiet at night, 20 min walk from the centre.

West Belfast (Falls and Shankill)

For mural and Black Taxi tours; limited visitor beds, check before booking.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£55–85 (≈ US$75–120) excl. bed
Mid
£90–150 (≈ US$120–200) excl. bed
High
£160 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × £120£240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £110£440
Bus 600, City Airport to centre, both ways2 × £5£9
Ulsterbus 300, International Airport to Grand Central, both ways2 × £18£36
Metro day ticket2 × £5£10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£76
Trip total≈ £208 per person per day, bed included£831≈ US$1,200

2026 estimate in pounds; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Ulster fry breakfast£7–12 (≈ US$10–16)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Pint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
Metro single in the centre£1.80 (≈ US$3)
Taxi, centre to City Airportabout £15 (≈ US$20)
Titanic Belfast adult ticketabout £25 (≈ US$35)
Black Taxi tour, per person£15–20 (≈ US$20–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Belfast is safe for visitors by day and in the centre at night; the real issues are weather, quiet streets after 20:00 and late-night drink crowds in the Cathedral Quarter. Take a licensed taxi after midnight.
  • City centre goes quiet after about 20:00; eat before then or head to the Cathedral Quarter.
  • Check whether a taxi quote includes the £2.50 (≈ US$4) airport supplement before you get in.
  • Peace Walls and some interface gates still close at night: check times before walking back through them.
  • Rain falls in every month; a waterproof beats an umbrella in the wind.
  • Book Black Taxi tours and Titanic Belfast dated slots ahead in July and August.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Police non-urgent
101
NHS non-urgent
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BelfastBéal Feirste

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Embassy

The US has a consulate general in Belfast (check the address); most other countries are represented in Dublin or London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus 600, City Airport → centre: £2.30 (≈ US$4), under 15 min
  • Ulsterbus 300, International → Grand Central: £9 (≈ US$12), about 50 min
  • Taxi, centre → City Airport: about £15 (≈ US$20), plus £2.50 (≈ US$4) airport supplement
  • Train, Belfast → Dublin Connolly: about 2 h 15 min, book ahead for the cheapest fare

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • How much is that? — How much is it?
  • Do you take card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

English is spoken everywhere; a few Irish words (sláinte, craic) are used socially.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Belfast. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (wet, dark by 16:30) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for BHD and BFS: last bus times, taxi supplement rules, overnight fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rain anchors: City Hall and Cathedral Quarter, Titanic Quarter, Queen's Quarter, west Belfast.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Titanic Belfast, City Hall tours, Ulster Museum, St George's Market) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Black Taxi tour and Causeway coach fixtures so the day-trip gates can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources