Photo: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Belfast
Wondering what to do in Belfast? This guide lists the area's attractions — zoos, museums, theme parks and more — with distances, so you can plan every day of your trip. Highlights include Royal Ulster Rifles Museum, Northern Ireland War Memorial and Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum.
Showing museums, aquariums and attractions with indoor areas — the ones that work whatever the forecast.
Aquariums
21.4 mi from Belfast
Exploris Aquarium
Exploris Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary is an aquarium in Portaferry, County Down, where you can see seals, sharks, otters, turtles, penguins, rays, reptiles and a crocodile, plus tou...
Museums & Galleries
0.2 mi from Belfast
Northern Ireland War Memorial
The Northern Ireland War Memorial is an accredited museum in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter telling the story of how Northern Ireland was affected by and contributed to the Second Wor...
0.6 mi from Belfast
W5
W5 is an interactive discovery centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with over 250 hands-on exhibits spread across eight themed zones. You can explore the human body in MED-Lab, pow...
0.9 mi from Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol
Crumlin Road Gaol is a visitor attraction in Belfast, Northern Ireland, offering a Gaol Experience alongside a Solitary Screening. Beyond the historic visit, the venue doubles as a...
1.2 mi from Belfast
Ulster Museum
The Ulster Museum forms part of National Museums NI, which looks after four museums and a collection of 1.4 million objects spanning art, history and natural sciences. Here you can...
2 mi from Belfast
George Best's Family Home
George Best House is the Belfast childhood home of football legend George Best, offering guided tours led by expert EastSide guides. Over around 45 minutes, you'll discover unique...
2.4 mi from Belfast
Museum of Orange Heritage
The Museum of Orange Heritage consists of two Interpretive Centres in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at Schomberg House and Sloan's House in Loughgall. Schomberg House features a numbe...
6.3 mi from Belfast
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Both the Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster Transport Museum are situated in Cultra, Northern Ireland, about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of the city of Belfast. Now operating as two sep... — Wikipedia
6.3 mi from Belfast
Ulster Transport Museum
Ulster Transport Museum is one of four distinct museums looked after by National Museums NI, which serves as custodian to 1.4 million objects in a collection spanning art, history...
6.3 mi from Belfast
Sentry Hill Historic House
Local authority museum in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
6.6 mi from Belfast
Museum At The Mill
Museum at the Mill tells the story of Mossley Mill, once a flax spinning powerhouse central to Northern Ireland's industrial past. Woven into the fabric of the building itself, exh...
8.9 mi from Belfast
War Years Remembered
War Years Remembered is a volunteer-run war museum in Newtownards, Co. Down, dedicated to preserving First and Second World War heritage. You'll find military vehicles, medals, uni...
9.3 mi from Belfast
Ards Arts Centre
Ards Arts Centre is housed in Newtownards' beautifully restored Georgian Town Hall, a building reflecting over 250yrs of history. Run by Ards and North Down Borough Council, it del...
9.4 mi from Belfast
Carrickfergus Museum
Museum in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
More around Belfast
Belfast works well as a base for days out because so much of what's worth seeing sits either in the city itself or just beyond it, in County Down, County Antrim and up towards the coast. That means you can build a trip around one big indoor attraction in the morning and something quieter in the afternoon, without spending the whole day in the car. Below is a practical way to sort the options by what kind of day you're after.
Best bets with children
If you've got a day to fill and small people to entertain, start with W5 in Belfast. It's the sort of hands-on museum that absorbs a morning easily, and it pairs well with a slower afternoon elsewhere in the city. PJ Land is the other obvious choice for younger children, and Rainforest House gives you an indoor wildlife fix that works whatever the sky is doing.
For a day that ends with everyone tired out, the water parks are hard to beat:
- Tropicana in Newcastle
- The Lake Kilrea WaterPark at Portrush
- Lagan Valley LeisurePlex in County Down
Swimming sessions are often timed, so ring ahead or check online before you set out — turning up on spec with wet swimming kit and no slot is a miserable way to start an afternoon.
Rainy-day options that don't feel like a fallback
Belfast rains. Plan for it and you'll have a better time. The Ulster Transport Museum in County Down is the kind of place where two hours disappear, and it suits mixed-age groups better than most. Store House, Kiln House and Miller's House, also in County Down, are worth looking at together when you're planning — smaller museums like these are good for topping up a half-day rather than carrying it on their own.
The Linen Centre and Museum is another solid wet-weather choice, and Seamus Heaney HomePlace over in County Antrim rewards a proper unhurried visit if you've any interest in his writing.
Heritage and the stories behind the place
Northern Ireland's history is well served here. The Somme Heritage Centre and War Years Remembered, both in County Down, cover different ground and both reward a bit of reading beforehand so the exhibits land properly. The White House in County Down and Newry and Mourne Museum in Newcastle are the quieter end of the scale.
In the city itself, George Best's Family Home is a small, specific visit rather than a half-day — numbers are usually limited at places like this, so booking matters more than it would elsewhere.
Getting outdoors
There isn't a huge amount of formal outdoor attraction listed around Belfast, which actually makes planning simpler: use the coast and the countryside as the free half of your day. A morning at an indoor attraction followed by an afternoon walk near Newcastle or along the coast at Portrush gives you variety without extra cost. Pack boots and a waterproof regardless of the forecast.
How to group it into a sensible day
- City day with children: W5 in the morning, lunch in the city, then Rainforest House or PJ Land after.
- County Down heritage day: Ulster Transport Museum first, then Somme Heritage Centre or the Linen Centre and Museum, depending on how everyone's holding up.
- Coast and pool day: drive to Newcastle, walk first, then Tropicana in the afternoon — or do the same at Portrush with The Lake Kilrea WaterPark.
- Quiet, grown-up day: Seamus Heaney HomePlace in County Antrim, with nothing else booked.
Two paid attractions a day is plenty. Three is how you end up rushing the last one.
Where to eat
We don't have specific places to recommend in Belfast at the moment, so the honest advice is this: most of the larger attractions, including W5 and the Ulster Transport Museum, will have somewhere to get a drink and something hot, but it's sensible to check rather than assume. For evening meals, look up the food hygiene rating before you book — ratings for Northern Ireland are published online and take about thirty seconds to check. Smaller museums may have no catering at all, so carry something.
Turning it into a short break
Three days covers it comfortably: one city day, one County Down day, one coast day. There are currently no BritStays properties listed in Belfast, so you'll need to look elsewhere for a base — if you do, pick somewhere with parking, because most of these days out involve driving out of the city and back.
Book the timed attractions first and build the rest around them. Keep one afternoon completely free; weather here changes fast enough that a spare slot is worth more than a full itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best attraction in Belfast for children on a wet day?
W5 in Belfast is the strongest indoor option for children, and it easily fills a morning. Rainforest House and PJ Land, both also in Belfast, are good follow-ons for the afternoon if the rain doesn't stop.
Are there water parks near Belfast?
Yes. Tropicana is in Newcastle, The Lake Kilrea WaterPark is at Portrush, and Lagan Valley LeisurePlex is in County Down. Sessions are often timed, so check availability before travelling.
Which attractions cover Northern Ireland's wartime history?
The Somme Heritage Centre and War Years Remembered, both in County Down, are the two main options. They cover different ground, so they can be visited separately rather than on the same day.
Is there anything in Belfast connected to George Best?
Yes — George Best's Family Home is in Belfast. It's a short, focused visit rather than a half-day, and places are usually limited, so book ahead.
Where can I go for a literary day out from Belfast?
Seamus Heaney HomePlace in County Antrim is the one to aim for. It suits an unhurried visit, so it's best treated as the only fixed item on that day's plan.
Are there BritStays places to stay in Belfast?
Not at the moment — there are currently no BritStays properties listed in Belfast. If you're booking elsewhere, choose somewhere with parking, as most of the days out involve driving into County Down, County Antrim or towards the coast.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Belfast.