historic highway
Craigantlet Hillclimb
A hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
9 km · about 15 min drive
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom · Europe
Belfast works well as a base: 5 minutes from Castlereagh, 42km from Tollymore Forest Park.
Belfast is a city located in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. With a population of 348,005, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Belfast sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Belfast to your route.
Belfast ( BEL-fast, , -fahst; from Irish: Béal Feirste [bʲeːlˠ ˈfʲɛɾˠ(ə)ʃtʲə]) is the capital city and main port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel. It is the largest city in Northern Ireland and the second-largestRead more
city in Ireland (after Dublin) with a recorded population in 2021 of 345,418 and of 704,406 for the greater metropolitan area.
While chartered as an English settlement in 1613, the town's early growth was driven by an influx of Scottish Presbyterians. Their descendants' disaffection with Ireland's Anglican establishment contributed to the rebellion of 1798 and to the 1801 union with Great Britain that followed. Access to British capital and markets was transformative. When granted city status in 1888, Belfast was the world's largest centre of linen manufacture, and by the 1900s its shipyards were building up to a quarter of all United Kingdom tonnage.
New industry, which drew large numbers of Catholics from rural districts, was accompanied by growing sectarian tensions in what had been a largely Protestant town. Heightened by division over Ireland's future in the United Kingdom, these twice erupted in periods of sustained violence involving paramilitaries and security forces: in 1920–22, as Belfast became the capital of the six northeastern counties retaining the British connection, and in the so-called Troubles, the three decades from the late 1960s during which the British Army was continually deployed on the streets. A legacy of conflict is the barrier-reinforced separation of Protestant and Catholic working-class districts. Since the Good Friday Agreement, the electoral balance in the once Unionist-controlled city has shifted, albeit with no overall majority, in favour of Irish nationalists. New immigrants are adding to the growing number of residents unwilling to identify with either of the two communal traditions.
Belfast has seen significant services sector growth, with important contributions from financial technology (fintech), tourism and, with facilities in the redeveloped Harbour Estate, film. It retains a port with commercial and industrial docks, including a reduced Harland & Wolff shipyard and aerospace and defence contractors. Under the Windsor Framework, Belfast and Northern Ireland effectively remain, post Brexit, within both the British domestic, and European Single Market, trading areas for goods.
The city is served by two airports: Belfast City Airport, located on the Lough shore, and Belfast International Airport (also known as Aldergrove), located 15 miles (24 kilometres) west of the city. Belfast supports two universities: Ulster University in the city centre, and in the Botanic area in the south of the city, Queen's University Belfast. Since 2021, Belfast has been a UNESCO designated City of Music.
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Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Belfast.
Belfast offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Belfast is located in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 54.5968 latitude, -5.9254 longitude.
Belfast has a population of approximately 348,005 people, making it a city in United Kingdom.
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Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United Kingdom8 notable places within an hour's drive.
historic highway
A hillclimb on public roads in the hills above Belfast, running since 1946 and closed to traffic only on event days. The narrow climb gives long views over Belfast Lough.
9 km · about 15 min drive
museum
Major transport museum at Cultra near Belfast, home to a gull-winged DeLorean DMC-12 built just miles away, Irish-built cars, locomotives and a renowned Titanic exhibition.
10 km · about 20 min drive
historic highway
A 11.9km loop of Northern Irish country lanes still used for the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races, with jumps, stone walls and hedges inches from the racing line. Open public roads the rest of the year.
10 km · about 20 min drive
castle
One of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland, guarding Belfast Lough for over 800 years from its commanding waterfront position.
15 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
A dramatic Edwardian cliff-path of bridges and tunnels clinging to the basalt cliffs of Islandmagee.
24 km · about 30 min drive
national park
Northern Ireland's first state forest park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, with Gothic arches, ancient trees and Game of Thrones filming locations.
42 km · about 50 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Granite mountain range that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia, with the Mourne Wall traversing 15 peaks and sweeping views to the Irish Sea.
50 km · about 55 min drive
coastal drive
A breathtaking coastal drive hugging cliffs and beaches from Larne past the Glens of Antrim toward the Causeway.
53 km · about 60 min drive
April to October
Other places to explore near Belfast.
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