The city centre of Belfast offers an excellent selection of places to visit during your cruise.
Voted Europe’s Leading Visitor Attraction 2016, Titanic Belfast is a must-see museum telling the tragic story of this historic ship, built in the city between 1909 and 1912. There are nine interactive galleries to explore, with full-scale reconstructions bringing this twentieth-century disaster to life. Exhibits on display are Titanic artefacts like the original Harland & Wolff launch notebook, and a letter from the ship’s surgeon Dr John Simpson to his mother, delivered during the vessel’s last stop. You can also walk the decks of the SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star vessel.
Belfast is simply bursting with gorgeous architecture, and many would say that the Stormont Estate contains some of its finest. Home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the estate comprises a number of impressive edifices including Stormont Castle and the Parliament Buildings. The grounds are worth a visit in themselves, with two recognised woodland walks - look out for the estate’s sculptures, which include a Battle of the Somme memorial and a piece dedicated to notable Irish politician Lord Edward Carson. Complete with wetlands, the Stormont Estate is also a haven for wildlife such as red squirrels, badgers and buzzards.
The Romanesque St Anne’s Cathedral - dating back to the early 1900s - features a recently-erected steel Spire of Hope which is beautifully illuminated at night. You might choose to take in a show at the Grand Opera House, browse the stalls at St George’s Market or enjoy panoramic views at The Dome at Victoria Square. The Albert Clock and City Hall are also worthy of a visit as you tour this vibrant city.
Which cruise lines sail to Belfast?
