You’ve heard about the Titanic Museum, and the Black Cab Tours, and the Odyssey Arena.
And so on and so forth.
So let’s leave the obvious candidates to one side and – from the more off-the-beaten track suggestions, to the best places to eat and drink – check out this selection of 17 damn good reasons to head North.
1. Five Guys
This American favourite popped up in Victoria Square Shopping Centre last winter and has since been named one of the best burgers in Belfast.
They also serve hotdogs, sandwhiches and fries but it’s their milkshakes that has people queueing out the door.
For £4.75 you can choose anything from the usual vanilla or chocolate to peanut butter, salted caramel, coffee or cherry flavour. All milkshake add ons are free, including bacon!
Oreo and bacon milkshake? Yes please.
2. Belfast Castle
This is a great spot on a nice day. You can stroll the grounds or follow the Cave Hill trail and take some breathtakingly Instagram-worthy pics of Belfast.
3. The Perch Rooftop Bar
You will find it difficult to find anywhere as nice as to perch yourself on a sunny evening in the city! Located in the Linen Quarter you can enjoy pizza, tapas and every cocktail under the sun.
Their new summer menu offers 3 tapas plates for £12 so that you don’t have to make the tough decision between meatballs, scallops or prawns. You’re on your hols, sure – have them all!
And what’s a holiday without sangria? Good thing you have three options: rosé, red or white sangria mixed with everything from gin, prosecco and limoncello to peaches, basil and blood oranges.
4. Chinawhite Nightclub
If you’ve had your fill of sangria and tapas in The Perch, and are ready to bust a few questionable moves, head on into the nightclub downstairs.
This Asian-inspired club is where you want to forget your Friday and Saturday nights in Belfast.
With firebreathers and £20 bottles of prosecco, why not? If you really feel like a messy one treat yourself to some bottle service from their Harajuku hostesses.
5. Brunch in 5a
Getting down to business, our pick for brunch is 5a Lockview Road for the most beautiful brunch you will ever set your eyes on. Pancakes with butterscotch sauce. Pulled pork eggs Benedict.
Corn fritters, relish, avocado and bacon topped with a fried quail’s egg. To name but a few of their best brunch dishes. All garnished with pansy flowers to melt the cockles of your heart. This place alone is worth the trip to Belfast.
6. General Merchants
If 5a is full and you can’t bear the wait, fear not, the same people are behind General Merchants and the food is just as tasty.
Again you’ll see the pansy petals. Go for the Elvis breakfast: sourdough, back bacon, bananas and almond butter. Heaven on a plate worthy of the king himself.
7. Botanical Gardens
Now that brunch is out of the way and your head is a bit clearer take a trip to Belfast’s beautiful Botanical Gardens. It pains me to admit that they are probably nicer than our own in Dublin.
If you need a new profile pic, take it here.
8. St George’s Market
Because if you visit Belfast without hitting a market did you really visit Belfast at all? We’re talking Belfast bap burgers, banofee cupcakes, candles, coclime juices, flowers, macaroons and jewellery.
This market will satisfy your every need.
9. Established Coffee
Thank God its time for coffee. This place does great coffee and food for your midday fix. Most importantly, they serve 3fe coffee. Need I say more?
In fact, it’s so good, we’ve even reviewed it ourselves…
10. Spoon Street
Its been a long day of sightseeing and eating and your sweet tooth is kicking in. Four words: Spoon Street Fro Yo. Even if its raining.
11. Game of Thrones Tours
With the way the latest season has been going on, this is definitely a must.
Choose from bus, bike and boat tours of the scenic sets made famous by the show your inner nerd can’t resist – and if you wanna got the whole hog you can book in to go “glamping”, horse riding and even give archery a go in Winterfell!
12. The Belfast Beer Bike
A great way to see the city is on a bike with Wee Toast Tours, where you can enjoy a “wee toast” while cycling in a group!
A bike with a bar, it doesn’t get much better than that. You can choose between a city centre tour or a tour of the Cathedral Quarter, lasting up to two hours.
13. Coppi
After a visit to St Anne’s Cathedral, Coppi is the perfect place to get in some Italian grub.
Named after the famous cyclist, their speciality is cichetti, small plates of traditional Italian food, paired with a great atmosphere and modern interior.
14. Indoor trampolining and skiing
We Are Vertigo has something for the whole family. The trampolines and skiing slopes are unreal. The adventure centre is perfect for little ones, and there’s even a spa!
15. The Lagan Towpath
Walk along canals through wetlands, meadows and woodlands from Belfast to Lisburn #scenes
16. Cheap cocktails and ping pong at Cuckoo
Does this even need a reasoning? Cuckoo is open 7 days a week offering drink, ping pong, pub quizzes and open mic nights to the masses. What a perfect combination.
17. And finally… that Northern Irish sense of Humour
Is something you won’t get anywhere else in the world. Spotted outside of The Sunflower Pub.
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