Destination:
Northern Ireland

Cathedral Quarter

Once the city's centre for trade and its warehouse district, the heart of Belfast's cultural and tourist hub is Cathedral Quarter, so named because of the presence of St Anne's Cathedral. There are some lovely examples of Victorian and Art Deco architecture, several galleries, dedicated performing arts venues, good restaurants and bars, and the area plays host to the Belfast Film Festival and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival annually. Given some time, the Quarter could rival Dublin's Temple Bar district for a good time in Ireland.

Belfast Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum

The Belfast Botanic Gardens date back to 1828, but were only opened to the public in 1895. The Gardens boast the Palm House, a cast iron and glass house built in 1852, rose gardens, green walkways and the Tropical Ravine greenhouse, which was built in 1889. The Gardens are popular with office workers, students, locals and tourists alike, and at the main entrance to the Gardens is the fascinating Ulster Museum. Founded in 1821, the Ulster Museum is a treasure trove of fascinating exhibits on a range of subjects (including Irish and local history), as well as being home to an excellent art collection.

Belfast Zoo

The Belfast Zoo is packed with animals from all over the world - from sea lions to giraffes - housed in a range of habitats, and offers a fun-filled day out for the whole family to enjoy. The zoo also hosts a number of exciting events throughout the year, such as reptile displays, birds of prey exhibitions and more, and has active breeding and conservation projects. There is also cafe and gift shop to be found on site.

St George's Market

Built between 1890 and 1896, St George's Market is one of the city's oldest attractions, and the last remaining Victorian covered market in the region. After painstaking (and expensive) restoration, the market has reopened. On Fridays, the Variety Market, as the name suggests, offers a range of different items from antiques to clothes; while the City Food and Garden Market is on Saturdays, and offers the freshest local, international and speciality foods.

Giant's Ring

The fascinating and mysterious Giant's Ring, near Shaw's Bridge, is made up of a circular enclosure nearly 656 feet (200m) in diameter with five entrances, and an older Neolithic passage tomb dating back to roughly 3,000 BC. Although the exact purpose of the henge is not known, some say that it served as a meeting point and ritual area, and several packages and urns full of bones have been excavated in the surroundings. There are beautiful views across the Lagan Valley, and the Ring is a favourite spot for locals and tourists alike to relax, picnic, cycle or walk.

Ulster American Folk Park

The Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum that focuses on the large-scale emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries, and is the biggest of its kind in Europe. Displays illustrate the everyday life of the emigrants through reconstructed original and replica buildings, a full-size replica of a sailing ship and daily demonstrations of printing, cooking, spinning and blacksmithing practices. There is also a fascinating indoor museum and a dockside gallery. The park also hosts a number of events, including popular music festivals such as the Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival.

St Anne's Cathedral

The focal-point of Belfast's trendy Cathedral Quarter district, St Anne's Cathedral is a gorgeous monument, and a proud symbol of all the best that the beleaguered nation of Northern Ireland has to offer. With its foundation stone laid at the turn of the 20th century, the Cathedral was constructed around an old parish church - of which, only the Good Samaritan window still remains, viewable in the sanctuary of St Anne's. In 1924, the west front of St Anne's Cathedral was built in memoriam of the Ulster men and women who lost their lives in World War I, and in 1932, mosaics of St Patrick were inlaid to celebrate the 1,500-year anniversary of the Saint's arrival in Ireland. However, the most intriguing sight for present-day visitors to Belfast is the 130-foot (40m) stainless steel spire that was added to the Cathedral in 2007. Known as the 'Spire of Hope', the structure is illuminated at night, and stands as a symbol for the rejuvenation of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, and for the new hope and optimism that is beginning to flourish in Northern Ireland's historically troubled capital.

Giant's Causeway

The pride of Northern Ireland's tourist attractions, the Giant's Causeway is a must-see sight for visitors to the northern half of the Emerald Isle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant's Causeway is a series of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, a wondrous geological feature caused by ancient volcanic eruptions along the Antrim coastline. The hexagonal columns, the tallest of which are about 39 feet (12m) high, were formed over 60 million years ago, and today, present visitors with a terrain that truly does look like it must've been the handiwork of superhuman beings. As you walk along the one mile (1.6km) causeway, you'll notice a few famous formations among the columns, that have been given names such as The Chimney Stacks, The Harp, The Organ and The Camel's Hump. An on-site Visitors' Centre is open every day of the year, and provides some interesting information about the origins and myths surrounding the incredible columns that make up the Giant's Causeway.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Situated in an area of significant natural beauty - with views of Rathlin Island and Scotland stretching out in the distance - the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is one of Northern Ireland's newest and most popular tourist attractions. The rope bridge, which connects tiny Carrick Island with the mainland on the Antrim Coast, is the latest in a 350-year series of bridges between the two points, and offers a thrilling walk along the 66-foot (20m) divide, with visitors suspended 100 feet (30m) above the rocks below. Carrick-a-Rede has only been a tourist attraction for about five years, but already boasts about a quarter of a million annual visitors. Despite being quite scary, especially in high winds, Carrick-a-Rede has an impeccable safety record, and the extreme beauty of the rugged coastline on which it is built makes for a highly worthwhile day trip for visitors to Northern Ireland.

Crown Liquor Saloon

One of the best-known bars in Northern Ireland, the Crown Liquor Saloon stands proudly in Belfast's trendy Cathedral Quarter district, delighting all comers with its 'olde world' charms and inimitable atmosphere. A classic example of a Victorian 'gin palace', the Crown has undergone several restorations and refurbishments in its 130-year history, and today stands as beautifully finished as ever before. Used as a setting in many films, the Crown Liquor Saloon is an aesthetically pleasing place to load up on some liquid refreshments or traditional pub fare, its interior featuring mosaic tiles, gas lamps, a granite-topped bar, carved ceilings and stained-glass windows. A must for visitors to Belfast, the Crown Liquor Saloon is a great place to unwind after a heavy day's sightseeing in the Cathedral Quarter.