Its been a while since I have visited Northern Ireland, but it still would be worth sharing as it is one of the must see European cities, plus with the influx of Game of Thrones fans in Durovnik, it might aswell get some attention since most of the filming took place in several spots in this wonderful part of the UK. Better late than never, they say. So here are my top picks for whenever you plan to visit Belfast, GOT fan or not.

Titanic Museum

Voted as 2018’s top European destination, the Titanic Museum never fails to give its visitors the feel of the maiden vovage. Despite its tragic story that inspired books, songs and movies that amassed billions in box office, Titanic is truly designed and built with sophistication that you will come to appreciate as you go along this interactive museum. Belfast being the site of the massive shipyard industry where the Titanic is built, it is only fair to know that behind the tragic end, the resilience of the people that worked tirelessly to make these ships set sail is the true climax. You can also board the last surviving vessel of the white star line, the Nomadic to complete your experience.

Giant’s Causeway

Imagine a pile of hexagon-shaped stones naturally and perfectly fitted to form a staircase-like structure at the coast. The Giant’s Causeway is not only in your imagination, in Belfast, it is real. To how it came to be, I really have no idea. And to give a geological explanation to this wonder is like trying to rationalize how the Grand Canyon formed itself. There is an Irish myth that this is built by the giant named Finn, as the name suggests. Even the UNESCO have decided that this is too unusual that they have listed this place as a heritage site. Whatever how this happened, you got to see this, as much as you have to try Irish Coffee at the nook afterwards to complete your Irish getaway.

Causeway Coastal Route

Even in an overcast day, which is not unusual for the Irish climate, the coastal drive is such a wonder that I made it a goal to take a car on that very road on a summer someday and stop by Ballintoy Harbour to sip a pint of Guinness. One of the world’s most beautiful driving spots, and most probably the actual road where one of the Range Rover ads were shot. It is such a dream to be able to get your top down, blast your favourite road trip song, and go up to where this road will take you and not care about getting lost, simple joys.

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

If you are an adrenaline junkie, this must be on your bucket list. Apart from the stunning view, what would take your heart rate up immediately is the thrill of crossing this bridge to and from the island off cliff with the harsh winds that makes it sway while you walk the suspension. Not for the faint of heart, really. But the prize of bravery is the stunning view of the Irish coast that would be etched in your mind. Just be very careful, and make sure you won’t drop anything because it would surely be taken by the blue waves underneath your feet.

Game of Thrones Tours

If you have no idea what Game of Thrones is about, you better start watching. And if you are a GOT fan, this tour is definitely for you. GOT is filmed mostly in Belfast than in any other place and you are lucky enough that a tour takes you to the actual filming locations in a very cheap price, with the exception of the Castle Ward (Winterfell) which you can visit on a separate day just 2 hours away from Belfast city centre.

The tour will take you to the familiar locations such as the Cashendun Caves where Lady Mellissandre gave birth to the assassin, the Braavos Canal where Arya braved the waters in her journey back home, the Iron Islands, home of the Greyjoys, and of course the Dark Hedges, the road to King’s landing. We are lucky enough to be on tour with one of the actual House Stark soldiers who gave us a glimpse of The Wall and The Ice Lake where one of Daenarys’ dragons sank to the hands of White Walkers. If you are not a fan of the series, and have no idea about what I was talking about, you can either watch it or forget it and just tag along. I’m sure you will enjoy Northern Ireland just the same.

Tips:

The Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom and if you have a valid UK visa, you are good to go. But if you would also like to go south and visit Dublin, you will need a separate Schengen visa for that, as the rest of the Republic of Ireland requires. You can fly to Belfast from almost any UK city so if you are planning to see London, it is a good side trip that would give you a very different perspective, far from the busy metropolitan vibe.

According to our tour guide, the Gaelic language spoken in Ireland many years ago is nearly an extinct dialect and very few traditional families still know it. However, although they most commonly use English in Belfast, you can easily spot their heavy accent. The names of the places still make use of Gaelic words, like Carnlough having the suffix lough meaning bay and Glenariff with the prefix glen meaning valley.

The Irish take pride in their brew, may it be whisky, or stout. Make sure you try out having an Irish pub experience while having one or too many of Guinness or Bushmills aged hard liqueur. You can also take this home as a souvenir together with their Baileys chocolate covered truffles, toffee and a lucky leprechaun.

Like any other city in the UK, Belfast is commuter friendly and you could easily take a bus from an accommodation either in the suburbs or a city hotel. But if you would like to see the places mentioned above with the exception of the Titanic Museum which is just near the city, you have an option between taking a tour bus or renting a car and make use of GPS as the areas are too far off from each other. Me and my friends took the tour bus because first, it is cheaper and second, we cannot drive. But if you want to see these with the liberty of time, and would like to stop by the beautiful coast, I reckon it is worth it to take the car.

Northern Ireland is a picture of endless green hills and valleys dotted with herds of sheep roaming free. It is green because the weather makes it as it is. Be prepared to get a drizzle most of the time, it happens even in the summer months so it is just pure luck if you have a perfect sunny day. And even the coastline is as endless as the hills, you definitely cannot take a dip in the almost frozen waters without the gear. So don’t forget to bring a warm waterproof coat on your visit.

Like I always have mentioned, don’t hesitate to drop a question below for more tips.