Belfast

A city ramble or longer stay, Belfast guarantees the buzz and fizz of a lively capital city of Northern Ireland all the while being the door way to the delightful country sides of Northern Ireland. This largest city of Northern Ireland is bordered by many impressive hills including Cavehill, which formed the background of the famous novel of Jonathan Swift, The Gulliver's Travels. Belfast was once famous for its flourishing shipping industry thanks to its strategic location near the mouth of River Lagan. It took credit to one of the largest shipyards in the world during that time, which rolled out majestic ships like The Titanic in 1912!

Belfast is a small city that could be easily explored on foot and offers all the ingredients to make a reverie jaunt from well appointed plush hotels, boutique hotels, riverside eateries to budget stays and B &B that are scattered around the University. Packed to the brim with plentiful pubs, gourmet restaurants, chic clubs and some of the best shopping facilities in the UK, Belfast is a popular destination among party makers. You can grab a road side table to enjoy the traditional Irish music in a local pub or waltz the night away to the hottest vibes of techno, R & B, and funk, – the choice is all yours! Belfast flaunts a flamboyant night life and if you love high decibels of sound and energy then these dance clubs are just for you.

Belfast spins a magical web around her innumerable attractions and activities to entice and enthrall her visitors all year through. Belfast is famous for full bloom parks and lush green open spaces that are ideal to laze around and watch the life go by! The Botanic gardens is one of the hot spots in Belfast that include tropical jungles, ravines, rose gardens and a palm house, do not miss out the various public events from live opera broadcasts to pop concerts.

You can stroll through its pretty allay ways dotted with architectural marvels like cathedrals and castles that throw open the golden annals of its history before heading to Exploris, the only public Aquarium and seal sanctuary of Northern Ireland. The Crown bar, which is 181 years old, is a great place to experience some of its best tipples and do not forget that this stunning gin palace is one of the famous landmarks of this city. The elaborate Victorian exteriors subtly complemented by a chic gas lit interiors is ideal for a relaxing evening and it occupies the 'best place to drink' section in the coveted Observer Food Monthly magazine.

Belfast is equally sportive and is the birth place of some of the best international boxers and soccer players including the Belfast icon of George Best. The home turf of many exciting and thrilling games such as football, soccer, rugby and cricket and it has found a new love in ice hockey which swept the native populace off their feet. If you are a game for it, just plunge headlong into the Odyssey Arena to join the cheering squad of the all time favorites of the Belfast Giants!

If you find all these too demanding then beat a retreat to the Giant's Causeway, amble along the Mountains of Mourne or put to test your fishing skills at Fermanagh before heading towards the many postcard villages, which form perfect bases to explore the rest of Northern Ireland!

The night owls can savor the Belfast weekends that are famous for being headline grabbers!