The Odyssey Arena
This enormous multi-purpose entertainments venue offers concerts from some of the biggest names in the world, ice hockey meetings featuring the famous Belfast Giants as well as a multi-screen cinema, nightclubs, bars and eateries.
www.odysseyarena.com, 2 Queens Quay, tel: 028 9076 6000
Black Taxi Tours of Belfast’s Political Murals
No visit to Belfast can be without taking in and understanding the history of the Troubles which so-blighted Northern Ireland for decades during the Republican/Loyalist conflicts. The Belfast Mural Tour demonstrates the strong tradition of large mural paintings in each community, which document each side’s political plight. The best way to see these impressive and emotive works is by the Black Taxi Tour, which takes you round some of the most fervent areas associated with the Troubles such as The Shankhill and The Falls Road and can cost as little as £8 each (depending on group size).
www.belfasttours.com, tel: 0800 052 3914
Belfast Zoo
Easily reachable via bus from the city centre or car, Belfast Zoo makes for a great day out, offering a variety of animals from across the planet including the first lions ever to be bred in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
www.belfastzoo.co.uk, Antrim Road, tel: 028 9077 6277
Open daily from 10am – 5.30pm. Admission: £6.70.
Belfast Prices
Although Northern Ireland isn’t in mainland UK, the local currency is Sterling as opposed to Euros as used in the Irish Republic. Expect to pay around £3.50 for a pint or bottle of beer in most clubs/pubs and £4.50 for a large glass of wine. Taxis in Northern Ireland are remarkably cheaper than many large cities in the UK, with any destination within the city centre likely to cost less than £5. From the UK, flights to/from Belfast are also priced very low, with carriers such as Easyjet, Ryanair and Flybe offering fairs from as little as 1p (plus taxes) each way. Hotels vary of course depending on your taste and requirements. One night’s stay in the five-star Merchant Hotel will cost from £140 a night to as much as £390 per room, whereas hostels such as Belfast International Youth Hostel cost as little as £10 per person, per night. Belfast is also typical of many UK cities and plays host to numerous chain hotels such as Travelodge with rooms costing around £60 per night.
Saint Anne’s Cathedral 