48 hours in Belfast

Russell Shortt

Belfast is the pounding heart of Ulster, rejuvenated and confident, she's sparkling once again. Start your day with a hearty breakfast in one of half a dozen cafés along Botanic Avenue before grabbing the excellent brochure ‘A Walk in the Park', it details numerous rewarding walks that you can take through the city, ensure that you include the free guided tour of the magnificent City Hall. Take a black taxi tour of West Belfast, visit the spectacular murals and the infamous Peace Line. Spend the afternoon on the Titanic Tour which departs from Donegall Quay calling in at the dry docks of Harland & Wolff where the mighty Titanic and Olympic were built. Walk across the Lagan Weir and visit the state of the art Odyssey Complex which includes the excellent W5 interactive science centre, brilliant for children of all ages. Spend the evening wandering around the great Victorian saloons of the city such as the Duke of York, Kelly's Cellars and the Crown Liquor Saloon. On your second day wander around the scholarly grounds of historic Queen's University and then on to the magical Botanic Gardens and it's wonderful centrepiece, Charles Lanyon's Palm House. Hopefully you'll still have enough energy to scramble up Cave Hill to enjoy the amazing panoramic views from the top, on a clear day you can see as far as Scotland. Finish it all off with a fine meal at Paul Rankin's Roscoff.

Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net

Article submitted Friday, October 10, 2008
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