Six of the best that Belfast has to offer

WHEN you think of Belfast, there’s always a sense of grandiosity attached to it—be that in its famous sons and daughters, its buildings and even in the famed ship built there, The Titanic. However, if all you focus on is its larger than life aspects, you run the risk of missing its many wee hidden gems. So, this month, we take a look at six of the best alternative experiences you might wish to enjoy when visiting one of Ireland’s liveliest cities.

St George’s Market

For an authentic taste of Belfast life, make your way to the renovated St George’s Market. It’s in full flow on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings—with free jazz on the weekends. More than 150 traders set up stalls laden with everything from antiques to metalwork, but what people really visit this market for is the food.

Incredible seafood, fresh crusty bread, Broughgammon Farm’s goat meat: whatever your tastes, St George’s Market will provide. Tuck into some Belfast belly-buster soda bread or an Ulster fry, which will fill you for the day, or head over to Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory stall, with its delicious fudge and colourful sweets. We guarantee you won't leave empty-handed!

A Black Taxi Tour

One of the best ways to see Belfast’s famous wall art is to sign up for a Black Taxi Tour. Knowledgeable drivers supply an informative history lesson peppered with local tidbits, which reflects on both the city’s intrinsic traditions and tells the story of the conflict.

Political turmoil and past conflicts are explored by the guides, with commemoration of much older historic and religious events also recorded across the city’s walls. Travelling by taxi is also a great way to see the more recent murals livening up Belfast, which celebrate its modern sporting and cultural icons. Bring a camera, this is unmissable.

Botanic Gardens

A short stroll away from the nearby Ulster Museum are the Botanic Gardens. Designed in the 19th century by Sir Charles Lanyon—who also designed parts of Queen’s University—and built in part by Dublin’s Richard Turner, the Gardens and their ornate cast-iron Palm House are a tribute to Victorian Belfast.

Home to an assortment of plants and trees, including geranium, fuchsia, begonia and a hornbeam-leafed oak planted in the 1880s, the gardens are an exotic bubble in the city. The Tropical Ravine even houses banana, cinnamon and orchid plants. For those with more of an interest in relaxation than horticulture, a playground and bowling green are tucked away among the 150-year-old ferns.

Crumlin Road Gaol

Voted one of Belfast’s top attractions by TripAdvisor, Crumlin Road Gaol is a sight to behold. Closed for business in 1996 after 150 years, today it is host to everything from educational tours to weddings and concerts—not to mention claiming to be one of the most haunted sites in Belfast.

Visitors can opt to take part in the paranormal tour, visiting the hotspots of spooky activity, as well as the gaol’s execution chamber and flogging room. While it might not sound the best option for the faint of heart, children and families are catered to as well, with some great kid-friendly tours.

The MAC

Trust us: the Metropolitan Arts Centre Belfast (MAC) is where you want to be for music, theatre, art, dance and everything in between. Opened in 2012, a typical year’s events can range from roller disco to mind-reading shows and experimental documentaries—and that’s just the theatre.

Located in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, the self-proclaimed proprietor of all things ‘weird and wonderful’ showcases local and international art exhibitions across three separate galleries, as well as The Permanent Present installation in the main foyer. An added bonus is the Native by Yellow Door restaurant, a favourite among visitors.

Cave Hill Country Park

Named for the five caves along the main Belfast cliffs, Cave Hill Country Park (above) is a hive of outdoor activity. A sprawling expanse of walking trails and orienteering routes, it is home to its own playground and is a mere five minutes from Belfast Zoo.

The park is also the site of some of the city’s most ancient history. Along with the 19th century Belfast Castle are a stone cairn and crannóg. Perhaps the most impressive sight sits atop the basaltic outcrop of Napoleon's Nos, McArt’s Fort, an old stone fort sitting 1200 feet (368 metres) above sea level! The silhouette of Cave Hill itself is said to resemble a sleeping giant protecting Belfast and even inspired Jonathan Swift to create the character of Gulliver in Gulliver’s Travels.