Five must-do tours in Belfast

One of Belfast’s claims to fame is as the city that built the largest ocean liner of her time. The town steeped in old-world charm has many other attractions for the seeking traveler

The moment you land in Belfast, you get a whiff of the breeze lifting your mood. The old harbour town still remains steeped in the Victorian era even as its skyline today is a fusion of Edwardian and contemporary buildings and monuments.  It takes its name from the Gaelic Beal Feirste, referring to the” crossing at the mouth of the river.“

With the Lagan River and its tributary Farset flowing into Belfast lough, its claim to fame is its shipping industry.

The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast tries to remain English, but you cannot miss the Irish charm that greets you everywhere. With National Geographic Traveler listing it as one of the destinations to visit in 2012 for its “incredible atmosphere ,“   Belfast indeed has so much to offer. 
Donegall Quay, the four old quarters, an ancient castle, a hill that resembles Napoleon’s nose, a massive university,  old watering holes and the international wall of murals – these are just some of the sights in the city. However, if you are in a hurry, here is our recommendation of five tours that you must do while you soak in the spirit of the city.


1. Titanic Tour
The city that built the Titanic celebrates the centennial anniversary of the ill-fated ocean liner’s maiden voyage on April 10 and its birthplace on the River Lagan is called the Titanic Quarter. Take a Titanic Tour and listen to the stories as you walk around the shipyard where the ship was built. It is a ironic that the locals here recall the ill-fated Titanic with pride, but then they will tell you that it was perfectly fine when it set sail from here a century ago.  The most interesting part of the tour are the animated and humorous guides themselves; do not be surprised if you find a connection between them and the crew several years ago.
The Titanic was built in Belfast. PHOTO: LAKSHMI SHARATH
2.  The Quarters

Belfast lough retains its quarters or locales as they existed in the past where local communities and small-scale industries grew. Besides the Titanic Quarter, the other three Quarters include the Cathedral Quarter, which was the oldest part of the city. Taking its name from St Anne’s Cathedral, the architecture here takes you back to days bygone. However, with waterfront restaurants and pubs here, there is a distinct fusion of the old and the new.
My favourite is the leaning Albert Memorial Clock Tower built in the memory of Prince Albert. As my guide said, the locals here joke: “Old Albert not only has the time, but also the inclination.” The other two Quarters are the Queen’s Quarter around the Queen University and the Gaeltacht Quarter around Falls Road that showcases the historic and cultural side of Ireland.

3. International Wall and the Republican Murals, Falls Road
You cannot miss the colourful murals that run along the International Wall on Falls Road. From political issues around the world to the internal wars called The Troubles that ravaged Belfast – all find expression here. The story of Irish history from the Rising to the Troubles is told through these murals.  Walk around the streets and you would find distinct Catholic and Protestant zones, also called The Republican and The Loyalist zones, with murals depicting violent stories from the period of the Troubles. I stumbled upon a mural representing the Belfast City Coat of Arms which refers to King James giving Belfast the status of a town in the 17th century.

4. Linen Tour 

Belfast used to be a centre for the Irish linen industry and although it may not be one of the prominent industries today, you will still find tours and people ready to show you their linen in public. At one time, says my guide, Belfast was called Linenopolis as it was filled with mills. We met a charming old couple who showed us around their small mill and told us the linen story. We learned that flax was grown in the Lagan Valley and the finished goods were traded across to the US and other countries by ship.  Take the tour and listen to tales of how Belfast so prospered from the linen trade that it built a new town hall!


5. Belfast Castle around Cave Hill

One of the prominent landmarks of Belfast is the Belfast Castle. Built on the slopes of the Cave Hill, the original Norman castle dates back to the 12th century, but was burnt down. Another castle built in the town but away from the site of the old castle is now a popular tourist site. The Cave Hill itself is an interesting sight as it towers above Belfast city, with its nose forming an uncanny association to Napoleon Bonaparte. Legends say that this basaltic outcrop was also an inspiration for writer Jonathan Swift to pen Gulliver’s Travels.
Although I mentioned just five attractions, a tour of Belfast is never complete without a visit to one of the ageless Victorian Gin Palaces -- the Crowne Bar, which dates back to the 19th century. It is a great place to enjoy a taste of Irish hospitality and to get high on their sense of humour.