Belfast has come a long way in the last few years and is now on many of the must-visit city lists. And with good reason – the city itself is now a mecca for food & culture in Northern Ireland and it is also a fantastic starting point for exploring Northern Ireland itself. 

With flights direct flights to Belfast City over the summer months, now could be the perfect opportunity to grab a few days in a city that perfectly combines history with modern life. We’ve got the top places that are a must-do on any trip to the city…

Belfast is known throughout the world as the birthplace of the Titanic and while we are all unfortunately aware of her demise, the conception, building and launch is less well known. Titanic Belfast has been named as one of the world’s top tourist attractions, this is less of a museum and more of an ‘experience’ as you are taken through every step of the ship’s life and death in a series of tours, exhibitions and video imagery. It is easy to spend a day here and you can even step aboard the Titanic’s original tender ship, the SS Nomadic. 

Visiting a large city from Cornwall always gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the shopping associated with city life. Belfast is no different, with Victoria Square offering four floors of stores and restaurants to choose from. 

If markets and independents are more your style, there is plenty in Belfast to catch your eye. St George’s Market is one of Belfast’s oldest attractions, dating back to 1604. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday markets are one of the city’s most popular places to visit and with musicians often playing, it is a great place to sit and soak up the atmosphere.

The popularity of Game of Thrones has seen an influx of fans into Northern Ireland, all keen to see the places and landscape made famous in the TV series. Day trips are available from Belfast city and with much of Winterfell and ‘The North’ filmed in the area, you can not only experience the filming locations but also see costumes and artefacts from the show. 

There are plenty of walking tours throughout the city but one that often fascinates visitors to the area is about the history of the political conflict. Whilst memories of the violence can put off some tourists, the troubles are firmly rooted in the history, not present of the city and the tours provide an insight of what it was like to live in Belfast at this time. Exploring the communities and hearing from people that lived on both sides of the peace line, as well seeing the famous murals, is a great way to spend a few hours in Belfast. 

When you fly into a city, it is usually because you are keen to explore the city itself and everything it has to offer. But if you are looking to explore the area surrounding Belfast, hiring a car and hitting the road means that you can be at some of the most beautiful parts of the country in just an hour or so. The Giant’s Causeway is just over an hour’s drive from the Airport, and is within daytrip distance to the likes of Dunluce Castle, Old Bushmills Distillery and Rathlin Island, giving you the chance to see some of Ireland’s history in just a few days

Flybe flies direct to Belfast on Wednesday and Saturday, May to September and indirect for the rest of the year