Belfast City Hall

Perhaps the most iconic building in Belfast, City Hall was built in 1906 and divides the commercial and business areas of the city. Look out for the illuminations as they light up the building in a variety of colours and combinations at night, showing off the building's beautiful baroque revival architectural features. Free public tours are offered daily inside the building and there’s also a coffee shop and gift shop. In the grounds of City Hall you can visit the Titanic Memorial Gardens or picnic on the lawns.

The Albert Clock

Belfast’s answer to the leaning tower of Pisa, this is one of the City’s best-known landmarks. The sandstone clock was constructed between 1865 and 1869 and stands 113 feet tall in a mix of French and Italian Gothic styles. The base of the tower features flying buttresses with heraldic lions. As a result of being built on wooden piles on marshy, reclaimed land around the River Farset, the top of the tower leans four feet off centre, which can make you feel a bit giddy when looking at it.

Belfast Opera House

Dating back to 1895, this majestic building was designed by renowned architect Frank Matcham and is home to two theatres and three bars. A favoured venue by both international companies and local groups, the Grand Opera House has been part of Belfast’s vibrant theatre scene for over 100 years - the Christmas Pantomime is the hot ticket with local families year on year (ask your tour guide who May McFettridge is if you don’t know already!).

Blackstaff Square

This neat little square sits in-between the City Hall and the Europa Hotel (infamous for being ‘Europe’s most bombed hotel’ during the Troubles) and is a stone’s throw from some of the most famous bars in Belfast including the Crown Liquor Saloon, Robinsons Bar and Brennan's Bar . If you’re looking for a party then this is one of the main areas to come to at night-time whether it’s for food, drink or a even a wee dance.

Photo credit: Charlie Dave

Corn Market

‘Where the gallows once stood and souls met their demise.’ This was how poet Stephen Clarke described this part of the City, which is now a favourite spot for street performers and home to one of Belfast’s most impressive modern sculpture’s called ‘The Spirit Of Belfast’. There are five pedestrianised streets that converge at Corn market - it’s a trendy hang out and popular meeting point.

Photo credit: William Murphy

Monico Bars

Offering traditional food and drink, this lively bar can be found down the historic Winecellar Entry off Lombard Street. It offers live music at weekends and is popular with sports fans boasting large plasma screens showing the latest action. This is one of the top Belfast haunts if you’re looking for a ‘class’ pint of stout and some local atmosphere.

Kelly’s Cellars

This is the oldest licensed premises in the City and is famous for it’s local music; unrivalled pints of Guinness and world class Irish stew. The original two-storey pub was built in 1720 by Belfast merchant Hugh Kelly who kept it as a bonded warehouse in which rum, gin and whiskey were his mainstays. It was a meeting place for Henry Joy McCracken and the United Irishmen when they were planning the 1798 Rising. The story goes that McCracken hid behind the bar when British soldiers came for him.

Robinsons / Fibbers

Robinsons is a great choice for a night out with five venues under one roof. Perhaps most famous is the Saloon on the ground floor where you’ll find original memorabilia from Titanic. Steeped in Irish tradition and also packed to the rafters with little bits of history, Fibber Magee's is a traditional Irish music bar so pull up a stool by the open fire and enjoy tunes from traditional musicians, every night of the week. If you are after something a bit different, then Robinson’s also offers a karaoke bar, a sports bar and a bistro.

Bittles Bar

One of Belfast's best kept secrets and certainly one of the city's most interesting drinking spots, we love this narrow, atmospheric bar for it's history and provenance. Founded in 1868 and famous for it's extensive whiskey collection as well as it's eclectic artwork displays, this wedge-shaped corner building is well worth a stop.

Photo credit: William Murphy