Belfast is about 1 hour 15 from Portrush and easily worth a day, whether you’re chasing Titanic history, Game of Thrones locations, or just a change of pace from the coast.
Titanic Belfast
The city’s biggest draw — a six-floor museum on the site of the old shipyard, built where the Titanic herself was designed and launched. Ten interactive galleries cover the ship’s construction, launch, and sinking, and the building itself (clad in over 3,000 aluminium panels) is worth a look from outside alone. Book online in advance rather than turning up — it’s noticeably cheaper than a walk-up ticket. The wider Titanic Quarter includes the SS Nomadic (the last surviving White Star Line ship) and the original Harland & Wolff drawing offices.
City centre and the Cathedral Quarter
Belfast City Hall (completed 1906) anchors the city centre — free tours run most weekdays. The Cathedral Quarter, just north of the centre, is the cultural hub: cobbled streets, live music pubs, street art, and the MAC arts centre, busiest during the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival each spring.
Green space
Botanic Gardens has the Victorian Palm House and Tropical Ravine House (free entry), plus the Ulster Museum right next door — also free, with everything from an Egyptian mummy to dinosaur bones. For something more active, Cave Hill Country Park has trail options for most fitness levels and views over the whole city and Belfast Lough from the top; Belfast Castle sits partway up the hill with its own visitor centre.
Food
Belfast has two Michelin-starred restaurants — OX and The Muddlers Club — both worth booking ahead for. For something more casual, St George’s Market (Fri–Sun) is the place for local food stalls, crafts, and live music, and a good spot to try an Ulster Fry — potato bread, soda bread, black pudding, bacon, sausage, egg, and beans.
Game of Thrones
Belfast was the production base for the whole series. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios (a short drive outside the city) puts you among genuine sets, costumes, and props. In the city itself, the Glass of Thrones trail is a self-guided walk past ten stained glass windows depicting scenes from the show, ending near the old Titanic Studios. For locations closer to Portrush, see our Game of Thrones filming locations guide.
Understanding the city’s more recent history
Black taxi tours are a genuine, well-established way to see the political murals and peace walls in West Belfast with proper context from a local driver — a better approach than wandering in without one. See our Is Northern Ireland safe? page for more on this.
Getting there and getting around
About 64 miles / 1 hour 15 by car via the A26 and M2. The city centre is compact and walkable; Translink’s Visitor Pass covers unlimited bus and Glider travel if you’d rather not drive once you’re there.
