Belfast Hotels

Push the shamrock aside and meet the new Belfast - hip, historical, happening.

This compact city boasts a massive arts festival, waterfront artworks and the new Odyssey Complex. Of course, there are still plenty of reminders of the Troubles - feelings run deep. But despite occasional setbacks, there is an atmosphere of determined optimism.

Belfast's compact city centre curls around the undulating west bank of the River Lagan. Most points of interest are within easy walking distance of each other, and City Hall on Donegall Square is a good central landmark to use if you lose your bearings. From City Hall, walk north along Donegall Place and Royal Ave if you want to hit the shops; go northeast to reach the recently redeveloped Cathedral Quarter and pedestrianised alleyways of the pub-filled Entries; keep heading northeast a little for the Albert Memorial Clocktower, dramatically backdropped by Samson and Goliath, the Harland & Wolff cranes on the east bank of the Lagan; go south down Dublin Rd for the Golden Mile entertainment area, Queen's University, Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens; and to the east, follow Chichester St for the Waterfront Hall and Hilton Hotel. The Westlink Motorway cuts off the centre from West Belfast, home to (Catholic) Falls Rd and (Protestant) Shankill Rd. Head to the Entries for character-filled pubs, the Golden Mile for restaurants and bars, and further south to the university area for accommodation.

Belfast's open to visitors any time of year, but April-June and September are best: the weather's hopefully on form, the crowds are down, the days are longer and attractions are open. Belfast's average temperature year-round is a relatively mild 10°C (50°F). Winter rarely sees ice and snow, but the January and February skies are interminably grey, and temperatures are a motley 4-8°C (40-45°F). July and August average 15°C (60°F), but at least the summer days are long, with true darkness not falling until 11pm. Perhaps the most defining aspect of Belfast's climate, other than its changeability, is its rainfall: February-June averages 60mm (2.3in), and things get wetter still from October to January with 95mm (4in). Don't even think about visiting without a raincoat, umbrella and warm clothes.