A musical tour of Belfast

The spirit of Belfast has held an undeniable influence over the landscape of modern music for decades. This city is no wallflower – it sings out loud, and encourages you to join in. It should come as no surprise that it was awarded the prestigious City of Music status from UNESCO in 2021! We’ve put together a legendary music themed itinerary to explore the very best of Belfast.

1. Belfast Day One

Morning

Visit Titanic Belfast. Belfast is locally known as the Titanic Town: builder of the Ship of Dreams. In the selfguided Titanic Experience, you will uncover the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship, as well as the people and city that made her. If you plan to visit on a Sunday, finish your trip by booking Afternoon Tea beside a splendid replica of the famous Grand Staircase.
 

Afternoon

Embark upon a musical journey across the city with the Belfast Traditional Music Trail. Meeting up with your guides at The Second Fiddle in the Cathedral Quarter, where you’ll embark on a musical journey around Belfast, learning the history of Belfast’s trad scene, as well as songs and stories about the city. The tour ends in Belfast’s oldest pub – McHugh’s, and there is plenty of craic (fun) and music in store. As you wander through the streets, peer through the doors of any pub, and you’re almost certain to find a pumping trad session to get you dancing! The Belfast Traditional Music Trail is available for private bookings for tour groups – however small or large.
 

Evening

Stay at the iconic Europa Hotel for the duration of your visit to Belfast. Located just a stone's throw away from Belfast City Hall, where you can enjoy a variety of buskers who grace the area at weekends. The Europa is famous for its piano lounge, where you can listen to talented musicians and enjoy indulgent afternoon tea and a few cocktails. Directly across from the Europa is the Crown Bar, which is steeped in Belfast history, and was once regarded as one of the mightiest Victorian gin palaces. It’s perfect for a night-cap with its stunning interior.

2. Belfast Day Two

Morning

Explore Belfast’s street art on an immersive walking tour. If you spend any time in Belfast, you’ll know that its walls are covered in art. Often this art has been used to mark territory for one side or the other but recently, alongside this, something transformative has been bubbling. Street artists from across the globe have joined a new breed of Belfast-based street artists to leave their mark on the city. This art speaks of love, of laughter, of anger, of beauty, and of defiance, but most of all it speaks of Belfast and the place that it’s becoming.

Visit the Oh Yeah Centre on your walk back. If you want to get a taste of Belfast’s musical legacy firsthand, then you really must make your way to one of the most renowned music venues in the city. The Oh Yeah Music Centre celebrates the city’s past with music exhibitions and talks from lyrical legends, while encouraging new acts, such as breakthrough star SOAK, to take to the stage for the first time.

Afternoon

Make your way to Cultúrlann, a hub for the arts and Irish language in West Belfast – trad and 
contemporary music blend with poetry readings and céilís (pronounced ‘kaylees’) to create a tableau of Belfast’s rich cultural tapestry. 

Alternatively, if you are a Van Morrison fan, join The Van Morrison trail. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to visit some of the places that Morrison knew as a child growing up in East Belfast. Many of these places, and the people who lived here, were to shape the character and values of ‘Van the Man’. You will discover on your journey that some of them are referenced in his lyrics and music. 

Grab some lunch at Cyprus Avenue. Sharing their name with the famous Van Morrison song, Cyprus 
Avenue’s menu is dictated by the seasons, and portraits of the local suppliers who furnish the restaurant with their produce adorn the walls. The food is eclectic, drawing on the travels and influences of the staff, while allowing for a constantly evolving and varied menu with something to please everyone.

Evening

Enjoy a pub-crawl through Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Start in the Duke of York, a traditional Belfast 
bar crammed with original mirrors and memorabilia of Belfast City. Outside you can get a perfect snap for Instagram under the umbrellas, which light up the street along with the picturesque red benches. Afterwards, go just around the corner to The Harp Bar, which boasts live music every night of the week, and a stylish interior of plush red furnishings. Or if you fancy something a little more up-market, visit Bert’s Jazz Bar with live jazz seven nights a week, a cool art-deco vibe and an expertly crafted cocktail list. Bert’s Jazz Bar is also home to a wonderful French bistro inspired menu, which is perfect for dinner

Want to use this tour?

This is a sample itinerary to offer suggestions and ideas for planning trips. You can contact your local 
Tourism Ireland representative for further information.

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