I was just chatting with a friend who was in Edinburgh from Belfast, and we were discussing how many tourists completely miss Belfast and other gems of Northern Ireland on the rush between the more popular sites like London and Dublin. It’s a city with a dark history and has a character quite unique from both Ireland as well as the cities of Great Britain. Here are a few highlights – why not stop by during your next travel excursion?

• The Murals. Checking out any of these fantastically detailed murals is almost like reading an open book on the history of Belfast. The colours are vidid, the topics poignant. Many of the murals can be found in the Falls Road area, as well as the Harland and Wolff shipyards.
• The ‘famous’ Black Taxi Tour. It seems everyone has taken the Black Taxi Tour – and few seem disappointed. Many of the drivers witnessed much of the recent strife so provide excellent dialogue on the tours.
• Donegall Square. Every capital has a focus area, and this is Belfast’s. The beautiful city hall is here, as well as a number of shops and the stunning St Anne’s cathedral.
• Belfast Exposed. My vote for favourite museum is the city’s only photography museum, Belfast Exposed. It is free and there is always something intriguing on display.

What’s your favourite stop in Belfast?

Image Courtesy jimmyharris