24 Hours in Belfast Northern Ireland

Titanic museum exterior with sign in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast is another day trip option from Dublin as it is just a two hour drive. Though, I suggest that you stay at least one night in Belfast to get the true experience, here is a full-day itinerary that you will still enjoy.

Morning:

Belfast is another day trip option from Dublin as it is just a two hour drive. Though, I suggest that you stay at least one night in Belfast to get the true experience, if you are driving in for the day, this is what I suggest.

When traveling in a new city, a guided walking tour is one of the best ways to familiarize yourself without wandering around completely lost. My friend and I  booked the following tour. On this tour, we learned about the history of Northern Ireland and Belfast especially during The Troubles. I find it important to try to learn a little bit about the history of a place you are visiting.

 Then once the tour was over, and we felt more comfortable with the city, we continued to explore on our own. We ended our tour stopping at The Chippie, this hole-in-the-wall fish and chips restaurant where Rihanna famously featured in her “We Found Love” music video in 2011.

Exterior of Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Midday:

One of the most famous things about Belfast is that it was the building place of the Titanic. The Titanic was famously built in Belfast in the Harland & Woolf shipyard making the Titanic Belfast museum an impressive and educational stop. We spent nearly three hours there walking around the impressive museum and learning about the history of the Titanic. Not only does it showcase the building and what life may have been like for those travelling on the ship, but it also shows its demise and wreckage in a somber but powerful exhibition.

Alley in Belfast, Northern Ireland at night.

Evening:

We grabbed dinner at a The Dirty Onion and Yardbird and enjoyed another night in the pub scene. This place is huge with a backyard patio scene along with a rustic interior. It felt like we were in an old farmhouse fitted with bourbon and rotisserie chicken. After indulging in some of the best wings I have had in a while, we were ready for bed.  This is the point of the itinerary where you may either head back to Dublin or stumble to another bar or retire to your Belfast accommodation.

Basalt columns in Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland

Bonus Option: visit Giant’s Causeway

If you do have a second day in Belfast or Northern Ireland, I suggest that you take the drive up to the Giant’s Causeway. This UNESCO world heritage site on the northern coast of the island contains great hiking opportunities and notable giant hexagonal basalt columns. Admire nature’s beauty in something that seems out of this world.