A hub for great food and drink, cultural attractions and experiences delivered by ordinary people doing extraordinary things: it’s not hard to see why record numbers of people from the Republic are visiting Northern Ireland.
Belfast has grown to become a key city-break destination with hotels providing luxurious accommodation, chefs raising the “steaks” to celebrate fabulous local producers and world class visitor attractions delivering unique experiences.
A Unesco City of Music, you’re always sure of a great night out, especially in Belfast’s famed Cathedral Quarter where you will find cobblestoned streets leading you to trendy bars and restaurants.
Step outside the city and Northern Ireland’s rugged coastlines, unspoiled countryside, dramatic mountain ranges and forests, which are kaleidoscope of colour at this time of the year, provide the perfect backdrop to embrace nature. With many attractions less than two hours from Dublin, a trip to Northern Ireland won’t break the bank and no matter when you visit, the welcome is always a warm one.
Northern Ireland’s iconic landmarks and attractions such as Titanic Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge are now bolstered by must-visit destinations such as the Game of Thrones Studio Tour.
Known worldwide as Game of Thrones territory, and the setting for several box office movies, Northern Ireland’s screen tourism is attracting fans in huge numbers. The studio tour is ideally located just outside Banbridge, Co Down on the main Belfast to Dublin corridor. Weekend bus packages are available from Busáras in Dublin to the studio or onward to Belfast.
From foodie experiences and walking tours through to wellness retreats and cultural events, there is something to suit all tastes. St George’s Market is one of Belfast’s oldest traditions where shoppers have been discovering incredible fresh produce since 1604. This weekend market is one of the best in the UK and Ireland and well worth a visit with live music every Sunday.
If you’re after high-street fashion, and panoramic views over Belfast, then pay a visit to Victoria Square, a leading shopping destination with over 70 shops and food spots for you to check out.
The first port of call for most visitors is the Titanic Belfast visitor experience, now with four new galleries which include a 7.6m scale model and original artefacts like a deckchair, lifejacket and a musician’s violin. Staying on the Maritime Mile, the SS Nomadic was one of the tenders for Titanic and now visitors can go onboard and learn about the vessel’s turbulent and exciting history.
At Alexandra Dock you will find another unique piece of Belfast’s maritime history. Now a floating museum, the HMS Caroline is the last surviving ship from the 1916 battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the First World War.
If you’re a history buff or art lover, Belfast’s Ulster Museum is sure to spark your curiosity. Free to visit, the rich collections will take you on a journey across the globe, through time and to the far reaches of space.
Belfast’s thriving food scene is a melting pot of talented chefs, honouring Northern Ireland’s world class produce in both new and authentic ways. This summer Lonely Planet named the food scene as one of the best in Europe.
Restaurants such as A Peculiar Tea, Blank, Muddler’s Club, Ox and Deane’s are all putting their own stamp on cuisine which celebrates local recipes and international dishes.
If it’s creative refreshment you’re after, then make for the Belfast International Arts Festival (running until November 5th) for a gathering and celebration of local and international theatre, literature, performance art, visual art, dance and music.
Whether you base yourself in the city or countryside, the best of Northern Ireland is just a short commute away including the awe-inspiring Causeway Coast Way, 53km of dramatic sea cliffs and views from Portstewart, Co Derry, to Ballycastle, Co Antrim. Along the way you’ll go through several areas of special scientific interest, the Unesco World Heritage Site at the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the spectacular ruins of Dunluce Castle. As the summer crowds subside, this is possibly the best time of year to walk or drive this memorable route. The Bushmills Inn Hotel and Salthouse Hotel are the perfect locations to take in all the splendour of Co Antrim before retiring for great food and comfort.
Stretching from the Antrim Plateau down to the coast between Larne and Ballycastle, the mythical Nine Glens of Antrim offer some of the best hiking trails in Ireland.
You can explore all nine, but if you have to choose just one, make it Glenariff, the Queen of the Glens with its beautiful waterfall and trails. Make sure to stop in the seaside village of Cushendun. Look out for caves featured in Game of Thrones and stop for a drink in what was once one of the smallest bars in Ireland, Mary McBride’s Bar.
If you visit Portstewart and Portrush between November 16th and 19th, the Atlantic Sessions will host more than 40 artists across 20 venues, playing everything from traditional to contemporary.
The new Mourne Gullion Strangford Unesco Geopark has 400 million years of geological history, breathtaking backdrops and unique natural space to explore. Start at the Montalto Estate, famously the site of the battle of Ballynahinch during the Irish rebellion in 1798. The visitor experience includes access to 400 acres of beautiful gardens and features, historic walks and an amazing kids play park. The natural play area and tree house will keep the children entertained for hours.
Brendan Carty travelled the globe mining for the secrets of distilling premium whiskey. Today he runs the Killowen Distillery in the heart of the Mourne Mountains. The distillers at Killowen are a passionate bunch and they explain their unique whiskey making process with gusto.
It’s all there for you at the stunning Killeavy Castle Estate at the base of Slieve Gullion, Co Armagh. It offers a grade A listed historical hotel and the modern comfort of a converted mill and coach house with an incredible tasting menu and relaxing Spa with a range of Elemis treatments.
From the mighty upper and lower Lough Erne, to the Shannon-Erne Canal and the River Erne itself, almost a third of Co Fermanagh is covered by lakes and waterways, making it a paradise for boating, kayaking, canoeing and wildlife. The island town of Enniskillen offers the Taste Experience to explore the very best of local food and drink while delving into the stories behind the local producers and their mouthwatering treats. Fancy a round of golf, afternoon tea or a spa day? Check into the five-star Lough Erne Hotel.
Halfway between Derry and Belfast is Seamus Heaney HomePlace. Make sure to drop into the beloved Nobel Prize laureate’s hometown of Bellaghy, right where the people, places and landscapes inspired him. Venture out to Open Ground, a series of five locations which held great significance for the great man of words.
Book your next short break now at discovernorthernireland.com
