Interested in a vacation getaway in Northern Ireland? Here’s our mini-guide to where to stay in Belfast!
Do you board the plane humming Irish songs – Renaud’s Northern Irish Ballad, for example – excited to explore the land of the Celts? Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, was home to a population of 33,871 in 2015 and 641,638 in the urban area. The city of Belfast played a major role in the industrialization and economic growth of the United Kingdom, with the linen, tobacco and shipping trades (the Titanic was built in Belfast). Bloodied throughout history by conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, nationalists and republicans, unionists and separatists, Belfast today is a great place to live.
Crossed by the River Lagan, Belfast is located in the north-east of Northern Ireland, in the province of Ulster. Since the early 2000s, Belfast has experienced a major cultural boom. Its historical, cultural and architectural heritage is abysmal, and its neighborhoods feature numerous parks, gardens and forests. Here’s where to stay in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.
Belfast city center
Central Belfast is a bustling area that never sleeps. The district is centered on the western banks of the River Lagan and features numerous boutiques, shopping centers and, of course, Irish pubs. For shoppping, head for Royal Avenue, a lively area both day and night. In the evening, the pubs fill up faster than the pints of Guinness or Kilkenny. Living in the city center will be quite expensive and noisy: avoid it if you want to stay in Belfast cheaply and quietly. On the other hand, it’s quite pleasant if you like entertainment and shopping: there’s a wide range of accommodation on offer.
Botanic Quarter
The Botanic Garden district is home to a wide range of accommodation options, from youth hostels to comfortable hotels, from €10 to over €100 a night. Botanic, or Queen quarter, is located between the River Lagan and Queen’s University – ranked as one of the finest in the world – and the city’s botanical gardens. The area is bustling with social activity and is one of the liveliest places to stay in Belfast: a paradise of pubs – for beer-lovers – restaurants and a lungful of greenery for strolling in fine weather. The district is therefore logically popular with young hipsters and students, and is lively both day and night.
Titanic Quarter
As its name suggests, this is the docklands district, where the famous ocean liner with the tragic fate of the Titanic was built. Once a working-class district, Titanic Quarter is now a dynamic, modern area, popular with all kinds of visitors. Located north of the city center on the waterfront, it is home to the Titanic Museum and the Game of Thrones film studios. The nightlife, however, is rather quiet. To sleep in Titanic Quarter, accommodation will be expensive: from €80 for the first price to over €250 for the most luxurious apartments and hotels.
Main Photo Credit: Flickr – Titanic Belfast
Map of hotels and accommodation – Belfast,gb