Belfast - Belfast

Disambiguation - For toponyms of identical name, see Belfast (disambiguation).

Belfast is the capital ofnorthern Ireland.

To know

When to go

Belfast is characterized by a humid and extremely rainy climate. Spring is the only season during which the rainfall thins out a bit. July is the wettest month ever followed by December. Temperatures are mild, given the high latitude. It practically snows for ten days between December and January. The lowest temperature was recorded in the distant January 1983 with a -13 ° but the average temperatures of the coldest winter months are attested around a couple of degrees above 0. On summer days the thermometer can mark a maximum of 27 °.

How to orient yourself

Belfast is bathed by the River Lagan which just north of the center flows into Belfast Lough, a long and deep gulf free from storm surges which is an excellent natural harbor and to which the city is indebted for its fortunes. The shipyards were located on the mouth of the river. It was from here that the ocean liner came out in 1912 Titanic, shipwrecked a few months later off the coast of Nova Scotia.

The most extremist Protestant neighborhoods are found along the Shankill Road while the uncompromising Catholic fringes meet on the Falls Road. Both arteries are west of the center. Even today the neighborhoods of the two factions are separated by barriers raised by the British army in 1969 and known as "peace walls". Popular inspiration has given rise to numerous murals that today constitute a tourist attraction in the city. Loyalists painted sidewalks and house facades with red and blue colors while Catholics resorted to the colors of the Irish flag, that is, green and white. The excursions are organized by Belfast Wellcome Center.

Center

Belfast city center hinges on Donegal square dominated by the massive city hall. Donegal Place begins from the square which, with its extension, Royal Avenue, leads to the Anglican church of Sant'Anna while one of its crossroads, the High street, moves in the direction of the river bank ending near the Albert Memorial Clock. The "Entries" are a series of narrow alleys off the High Street full of well-known and expensive pubs.

Chichester and May Street also move east from Donegal Square, ending near the "Waterfront Hall", the large circular concert hall that stands on the quay of the River Lagan.

Another important street in the center is the Great Victoria Street which, from the vicinity of Donegal Square, moves south towards Queen's University and the Botanical Gardens. It is a shopping street, like its parallel, Sandy Row. In 2008 a large shopping center was opened there, the Victoria Square characterized by a large glass dome. In this downtown area are the "Grand Opera House", the famous "Crown Liquor Saloon", the Europa hotel and the "Great Victoria Street railway station", the most important railway station, after Belfast Central, located on the opposite side, near the bank of the River Lagan.

Queen's Quarter

Queen's Quarter is the university district located south of the center and reachable via an extension of Great Victoria Street, the University Road.

The neighborhood hinges on the Lanyon Building, the imposing building that houses the famous Queen's University. Next to it is the botanical garden which was arranged in 1828. One of its best known streets is Malone Road which leads to the elegant districts of the south. In the Queen's Quarter there are B & Bs and guest houses at cheaper prices than the hotels in the center.

How to get

By plane

L'Belfast International Airport is 21km northwest of downtown. Flights ofAer Lingus from Milan is Rome (seasonal flights)

The second airport is the George Best Belfast City Airport.

Also Ryanair operates at George Best Belfast City Airport

On boat

To the Belfast port the ferries of the following companies land:

• Stena Line - From Stranraer
• Norfolkline - From Liverpool
• Isle of Man Steam Packet Company - FromIsle of Man

By bus

Belfast has two suburban bus terminals. The first is located near the Great Victoria Street railway station, the second, used mainly for domestic destinations, is on Oxford street (Laganside). Bus lines operate there Ulsterbus with frequent trips even to the most remote centers

How to get around

What see

Central areas

Town center

• Albert Memorial Clock Tower. 
• Lagan Weir. 

Queen's Quarter

• Ulster Museum (Ulster Museum), College Park, Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT9 (Botanic Gardens). Closed until spring 2009 for renovation. Among the collections stand out jewelry and objects in gold and silver recovered from the wreck of the Girona, a galleon of the Spanish fleet that was wrecked during a storm off the Giant's Causeway in October 1588 along with many other ships of the 'Armada Invencible'. 
• ^{[link previously not working]}Botanical Gardens (Botanical Gardens) (Next to Queen's University), ☎ 44 28 9027 0611. A great variety of tropical plants in huge glass and cast iron greenhouses. The most famous is the Palm House built in 1840 to a design by Richard Turner who was also responsible for the construction of the Great Palm House at Kew Gardens in London. 

Out of the center

• W5, Odyssey, 2 Queen's Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ (On Quenn's Island, on the east bank of the river), ☎ 44 28 9046 7700. The W5 is a very nice interactive science museum. One can use a lie detector, touch the sound wall and play invisible instruments or wear glasses that give optical illusions. W5 stands for 5 English words starting with the letter "W" namely who, what, when, where, why 

• Stormont (7.4 km east of the center on the A20). Stormont is an estate at the center of which stands the homonymous building inaugurated in 1932 by Edward VIII, at the time Prince of Wales. It was made in a classical style that echoes the government buildings of Washington. Following the 1998 "Good Friday" agreement between Catholics and Protestants, the building hosts the sessions of the Northern Irish parliament. Within the estate is also Stormont Castle, a stately mansion that hosts meetings of the Government of Northern Ireland. From the main entrance, walk along an avenue of 1 1/2 km before reaching the building. 
• Belfast Castle, Antrim Rd (5.6km north of the center on the A6). Located on the slopes of Cavehill, Belfast Castle is a Scottish noble mansion built between 1862 and 1870 to a design by architect Charles Lanyon for the 3rd Marquess of Donegall. Later the property was acquired by the Earls of Shaftesbury, an exponent of whom preferred to donate it to the City of Belfast in 1934. The restoration work undertaken in 1978 was long and expensive. Today the castle houses an antiques shop and a restaurant used mainly for wedding receptions. Belfast Castle is the base for walks to Cave Hill Park, a dark basalt cliff 

Events and parties

• Belfast Festival at Queen's. It normally occurs in October and includes rock and pop music concerts that usually take place in the Mandela hall and the Naughton Gallery but also in other points of the city such as the Grand Opera House, the Waterfront Hall and the Cultúrlann center. Founded in 1960 on the initiative of a student, the festival has found over the years an increasingly consistent public favor and today holds the palm of the greatest musical event in thenorthern Ireland. 

What to do

Shopping

How to have fun

Night clubs

• The John Hewitt, 51 Donegall St. (Cathedral Quarter), ☎ 44 28 9023 3768. One of Belfast's most popular live music pubs. 
• ^{[link not working]}The Front Page, 110 Donegall St. (Cathedral Quarter). 
• Kremlin, 96 Donegall St (Cathedral Quarter). The best known of Belfast's gay clubs complete with sauna for those wishing to take a relaxing break. 

Where to eat

Moderate prices

• Crown Liquor Saloon, Great Victoria Street. In operation since 1885, the Crown Liquor Saloon is one of the most famous pubs in Belfast. Its interiors are sumptuously furnished. The stained glass windows and the carved wooden counter stand out. If you want you can have breakfast with oysters. 

Average prices

• Duke Of York, 7-11 Commercial Court (On the south side of Queen's University), ☎ 44 28 90241062. Open only at lunchtime. Difficult to identify, the Duke of York is located in an old alley near the church of St. Anna. It is one of the most renowned restaurants in Belfast. Its cuisine is traditional even if there is no shortage of revised and corrected lasagna dishes. It is always crowded but even more so on weekends. It is mainly frequented by youth companies. 

High prices

• ^{[link not working]}Nick's Warehouse, 35-39 Hill Street,, ☎ 44 28 9043 9690. Nick's Warehouse opened in 1989 and is housed in an old, perfectly restored warehouse. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• Travelodge, 15 Brunswick St, ☎ 44 0870 1911687. Centrally located this hotel which is part of the national chain. It fills up with Easyjet passengers on weekends, which is why you need to book well in advance. 

Average prices

• Dukes at Queens Hotel, 65-67 University Street Belfast, BT7, United Kingdom, ☎ 44 28 9023 6666. One of the cheapest hotels in Belfast and therefore always full. 
• Europa Hastings Hotels, Great Victoria Street BT2 7AP, ☎ 44 28 9027 1066. One of the best known 4-star hotels in Belfast. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Belfast
• Commons contains images or other files on Belfast
• Wikiquote contains quotes from or about Belfast

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