A city with a troubled past, Belfast is in the throes of a cultural renaissance, making it one of the UK’s most thrilling port stops

Here in Belfast, we all have a shared past but not a shared memory,” says Frank Higgins, former British army officer and founder of Belfastlad Tours. From launching the world’s most famous ship to enduring decades of political violence during ‘The Troubles’ of the late-20th century, Belfast is a city with a story to tell.

Today, it has emerged as a welcoming hub alive with infectious conviviality, where a contemporary harbourside and world-famous nightlife are evidence of the city’s resurgence.

Compact and easily navigable, many of the destination’s most popular sights are all within walking distance, making it a cruise-friendly stop-off. Guests can begin an action-packed shore day by tracing Belfast’s industrial might at the Titanic Museum, where galleries cover the booming Victorian workforce and the ship’s final hours.

Later, they can embark on a Black Taxi tour, where guides narrate their lived experiences from the city’s darker times. And if they’re in town for the evening, guests can have some ‘craic’ with the gregarious locals and enjoy traditional folk music at one of the historic pubs in the renowned Cathedral Quarter. Come rain or shine, this storied port city is ripe for exploring.

Three unmissable things to do

Titanic Museum

Looming over Belfast’s revitalised docklands, the museum’s hull-shaped façade is impossible to miss. Inside, it charts the tale of the Titanic while highlighting Belfast’s industrial prowess as a shipbuilding and manufacturing hub.

Highlights include a ride through a recreated shipyard, model cabins showing life in first, second and steerage class, and tales of heroic crew. Artefacts such as bandleader Wallace Hartley’s violin and passengers’ pocket watches frozen at the moment the ship sank are on display. Before leaving, visitors can pose like Titanic movie characters Jack and Rose on a makeshift bow.

Cathedral Quarter

The Cathedral Quarter is Belfast’s beating heart. Guests can wander its cobbled streets, passing boutique shops, art galleries and lively music venues. On Commercial Court, traditional pubs like The Duke of York and The Dirty Onion sit alongside neon‑lit cafés and bars, while the Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC) showcases an eclectic range of Irish and international artists.

A calendar of events, such as Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, celebrating traditional Irish music, and Féile an Phobail, the island’s largest community arts festival, transform the quarter’s cobblestone streets into stages and galleries.

Troubles Tour

Nearly three decades since the Good Friday Agreement ended the conflict, The Troubles continue to shape the visitor experience. Many companies offer Black Taxi tours, but with Belfastlad, stories are packed with heart and grit.

Visitors will pass houses pockmarked with bullet holes, wired fences and streets that once burned with turmoil, while murals form a powerful open-air gallery, depicting figures like Bobby Sands, global solidarity and community celebration. Beyond the Troubles, guests can opt for tailored tours to abandoned castles, vanishing lakes and eerie local sites.

Three places to eat

Budget

Visitors can fill their boots on a four‑hour foodie adventure with Taste & Tour, sampling the city’s best steak, soda bread, cocktails and local beer. For casual dining, recommend St George’s Market, one of Ireland’s oldest markets dating back to 1604, brimming with local produce.

Guests can expect Armagh apple tarts, Irish breakfast baps, Spanish paella, Mexican burritos and Sicilian cannoli.

Mid-range

Set in a historic building near grand City Hall, Home Restaurant champions local produce with hearty dishes such as slow-braised beef, caramelised root vegetables and an extensive gluten-free and vegan menu.

Mourne Seafood Bar in the Cathedral Quarter, meanwhile, serves fresh oysters, mussels and fish directly from local day-boats. Though the menu changes frequently, their seafood chowder served with Irish soda bread is a crowd favourite and one that shouldn’t be missed.

Premium

OX is one of two Michelin-starred restaurants in Belfast, serving seasonal tasting menus that celebrate local produce, from scallops in a lemongrass bisque to celeriac with black trompette mushrooms. After dinner, head to The Merchant Hotel’s award-winning bar for cocktails, where mixologists serve classic and contemporary drinks and rare whiskies beneath glittering chandeliers, rounding off an unforgettable evening.