Best Tours In Belfast
Belfast is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe, with so much history to discover. The best way to get to grips with the city is to embark on a tour that can introduce you to Belfast’s rich culture.
But which tour to choose? This is where our article can help!
We will provide you with a comprehensive list of all the best tours from Belfast so you know exactly what you should pack into your Belfast travel itinerary.
Highlighted below are some brilliant walking tours around the city centre, the best tours for discovering Game of Thrones locations around Belfast and some suggestions of tours to help you discover other notable highlights of Northern Ireland on a day trip from Belfast.
So, let’s dive into: Best Tours in Belfast
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Best Tours in Belfast Quick Overview
Best walking tour in Belfast: History of Terror Walking Tour
Best day-trip from Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Day Trip
Best Game of Thrones tour from Belfast: Game of Thrones Location Tour
Best tours in Belfast
As we have already mentioned, there is a vast variety of tours that you can go on in Belfast - ranging from a short 1-hour taxi tour all the way to multi-day excursions around the whole of Northern Ireland.
Most Belfast travel tips will encourage you to go on a day trip from Northern Ireland’s capital at some point; such is the wealth of tour options from Belfast.
We have tried to give you as many options as possible, so you will definitely be able to find the best tour in Belfast that suits your budget, travel style and itinerary.
Belfast Political Taxi Tour
One of the best tours in Belfast, and probably one of the most immersive, is the Belfast Political Taxi Tour.
The premise is relatively simple - you are driven around in a black taxi and taken to several pertinent locations in Belfast that played a significant role during the ‘Troubles’ (the name given to the civil war of the 1960s-1990s).
The Black taxi tour of Belfast is a unique way to learn about the Troubles and often, the driver themselves will have lived and worked throughout the Troubles and will be able to provide a firsthand account of what it was like to be in Belfast during its darkest times.
History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour
No matter where the destination is, the best way to learn about a place is undoubtedly through an introductory walking tour.
The ‘History of Terror’ is an ominously named walking tour that introduces you to the recent history and political struggles of Belfast and Northern Ireland.
During the walking tour, you will not only hear fascinating recounts of events during the troubles, but you will also be introduced to a number of the nicest areas in Belfast, including the lively Cathedral Quarter - one of our favourite areas in Belfast city centre.
Titanic Experience with SS Nomadic Visit
It is impossible to talk about the history of Belfast without mentioning arguably its most famous export - the Titanic!
While this is technically a self-guided tour, visiting the Titanic Museum is an absolute must when you find yourself in Belfast. The museum goes into great depth on the production and construction of the famous ship and lays out how Belfast was the epicentre for luxury shipbuilding at the beginning of the 20th century.
Titanic Quarter - one of the places you visit on the Belfast Cycling Tour
Belfast Cycling Tour
Need a quick and efficient tour around Belfast where you can see all the major highlights in a relatively short time? Then the Belfast Cycling Tour is exactly what you need!
The tour, which includes cycle and helmet rental, takes you around the Titanic Quarter and the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast and can cover much more ground than a traditional walking tour.
There is even the chance to write a message on the famous Peace Wall along the loyalist/Republican divide.
Giant’s Causeway Fully Guided Day Trip
Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage is a great place to visit on a day tour from Belfast.
The Giant’s Causeway is an incredibly unique series of rock formations shrouded in mystery and intrigue for centuries. According to local tradition, the rocks were once a bridge created by a giant called Finn McCool, who needed to connect Ireland and Scotland.
Today, however, the Giant’s Causeway is a fascinating place to visit and is ideally located for a day trip from Belfast. The tour will also introduce you to Northern Ireland’s top attractions, including Carrickfergus Castle and the Dark Hedges.
The Giant’s Causeway fully guided day trip is easily one of the best tours in Belfast, and it would be a real shame to miss out when you find yourself in Northern Ireland’s dynamic capital city.
Giant’s Causeway - one of the best tours from Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol (Jail)
One of the more poignant places to visit in Belfast is the Crumlin Road Gaol (Jail) - a site where loyalists, republicans, suffragettes and murderers were imprisoned.
Wander around the complex at your leisure, and check out the eerie execution chamber as you learn about the prison’s 150-year history.
Visiting the Crumlin Road Gaol means visiting the only Victorian-era prison remaining in Northern Ireland. It is a self-guided experience, so while it isn’t technically a tour, it still represents one of Belfast's best things to do.
Political Conflict Walking Tour
There are walking tours, and then there are walking tours, which is undoubtedly the latter. What sets this Belfast walking tour apart from the rest is that both Republican and Loyalist ex-political prisoners guide it.
During the tour, you get to explore both of their neighbourhoods and hear the perspective from both sides of the political conflicts - giving a unique and fresh insight into the Troubles of Northern Ireland.
You get to explore both sides of the peace wall and hear what life was like on either side. It is one of the choices for the best tours in Belfast, thanks largely in part to its balanced and unique perspective on the Troubles.
Peace Mural Belfast
Belfast Walking Food Tour
Belfast is gaining a reputation for its up-and-coming food scene, and there is no better way to discover this than by joining a walking food tour of the city.
Organised by Secret Food Tours, the tour highlights the significant sites of Belfast with a strong emphasis on the local food and drink scene. You will visit cosy, historic Belfast pubs and enjoy traditional home-cooked Northern Ireland delicacies.
While the exact food you will be served differs from tour to tour, it is likely that you’ll get to try Northern Irish Soda Bread with bacon and sausage, delicious cured meats and local cheeses, and even a hearty smoked oyster Irish stew.
Game of Thrones Location Tour
If you’re a fan of the hit show Game of Thrones, then coming to Belfast couldn’t have been a better decision for you - the Belfast area is littered with incredible Games of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland, and you can experience them all on the Game of Thrones Location tour.
One of the first stops is the Caves Of Cushendun, where Melisandre of Asshai gave birth to her ‘shadow’ baby before visiting Larrybane, where Brienne of Tarth beat Ser Loras.
The tour even takes you to the Giant’s Causeway before you arrive at the most famous filming location - the Dark Hedges, where Ayra Stark made her iconic escape from King's Landing.
Did you know? You can now visit the official Game of Thrones Studio in Banbridge. Thankfully, it is straightforward to get from Belfast to the Game of Thrones Belfast Studio Tour, so you have no excuses not to visit.
Dark Hedges - famous spot on the Game of Thrones Location Tour
Political Murals and Street Art Walking Tour
Another walking tour on our list, but this one focuses on the street art scene throughout Belfast.
The political murals are perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the tour, with the guide intricately explaining the messages and meanings behind the artwork.
Alongside the murals, you are also introduced to the ‘Re-imagining murals’ project, designed to highlight street art that doesn’t have to signify a message about the political conflict in the city.
The political murals and street art walking tour is an excellent introduction to the interwoven history of art and politics in Northern Ireland’s capital city.
Belfast City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
If you prefer a flexible itinerary, where you can venture around a city in your time and at your own pace, then buying a ticket for the Belfast city sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tour will suit you.
You can purchase a 1-day- or 2-day unlimited bus pass that gives you easy access to attractions across Belfast.
On the sightseeing bus tour, you can explore St George’s Market, Belfast City Hall, the Ulster Museum and the Grand Opera House. On top of this, you even have the opportunity to be dropped off at many of the locations we have already mentioned in this article, such as the Titanic Museum, the Peace Wall and the Crumlin Road Gaol.
Belfast City Hall - one of the stops on the Belfast Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour
Street Art, Music and Pubs Walking Tour
The ‘Craic’ will undoubtedly be had on this walking tour highlighting Belfast’s best live music venues and historic pubs.
On the tour, you will hear how music and Belfast’s historic conflicts are intrinsically linked and how the Troubles influenced Northern Ireland’s recent music scene.
You will also be shown some of Belfast’s most famous pubs, including The Crown Liquor Saloon, Robinsons, and The Duke of York - each having its own story about the people of Belfast.
Northern Ireland Highlights Tour
Struggling to decide which tour to choose and wondering how to fit in so many things in such a short time? Then worry not; the Northern Ireland Highlights Tour is our choice of the best tour in Belfast that allows you to see most of the country's major highlights in one day.
The Highlights Tour allows you to visit the Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones filming locations, explore a forest that inspired C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series and visit 4 of Northern Ireland’s best castles. Incidentally, visiting Belfast Castle is one of those underrated activities we always recommend for people coming to Belfast for a long weekend.
Driving along the dramatic Causeway Coastal Route, the signature driving route in Northern Ireland, adds additional appeal to an extensive and in-depth tour from Belfast.
There we have it, folks, our conclusive round-up of the best tours in Belfast. The city has a wealth of culture and history to discover, and we hope that the tours on this list help you to explore as much of Belfast as possible during your trip to Northern Ireland.
