The Top Things to Do in the Titanic Quarter Belfast: Discover Belfast's Newest and Exciting District for History and Culture Lovers
Belfast’s Titanic Quarter is an historic and exciting area to explore for any Belfast visitor. This dynamic quarter opens up a window back in time while being home to one of the largest waterfront regeneration projects in Northern Ireland. Whether you’re staying in this quarter on a trip to Belfast or just visiting for an afternoon, it’s an area well worth exploring.
Belfast is an exciting city to visit on the Emerald Isle, and as the capital of Northern Ireland it has a lot to show for itself. It’s one of our favourite cities to visit in both Northern Ireland and Ireland because of its history, beautiful surroundings, historic bar scene and lively downtown core.
The city of Belfast even made it on our list of the best cities in Ireland and Northern Ireland to visit. Whether you’re planning a larger trip across Northern Ireland, or dividing your time to visit both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and heading down for a couple days in Dublin, Belfast is a city well worth spending some time on your trip.
There are so many exciting things to do in this city for any Belfast visitor, but today I want to specifically highlight a visit to the Titanic Quarter in Belfast. It’s located about a 25 minute walk from Belfast city centre and Donegall Square North, and about a 10 minute walk from the SSE Arena Belfast. Its scenic location on Belfast’s waterfront makes this quickly growing area an ideal place to visit on any trip to Belfast.
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The History of The Titanic Quarter
The Harland & Wolff ship cranes are a standout site in the Titanic Quarter.
The Titanic Quarter’s history speaks for itself: as its name suggests, this area is precisely where the infamous RMS Titanic was built, along with many other ships in its heyday. The area is in a convenient location, just north of Belfast Harbour, and with easy access to the open water for large ships.
The Titanic was one of the three ships built by Harland & Wolff and the British shipping company White Star Line here in Belfast. At the turn of the 20th century it was one of the largest industries in Belfast. Next to over 30,000 people working in the textile industry in the early 1900’s, approximately 15,000 people from Belfast were employed to build the Titanic. This blue collar history of Belfast remains a huge source of pride in its residents today.
Despite the infamous and ill-fated journey that met the Titanic when it first crossed the Atlantic, it was still a marvel of industry in its day and remains an important piece of Belfast’s history today. Now known officially as The Titanic Quarter, Belfast is breathing new life into this district in the form of luxury accommodations, exciting attractions and experiences and scenic waterfront walking paths.
As modern and bright as the future looks for the Titanic Quarter, it’s doing an excellent job keeping the history, architecture and hard work done on the backs of Belfast’s citizens well within its sights for success.
The Belfast Titanic Quarter: A District Worth Staying In
While this quarter may feel like a nice place to come for a half-day or full-day visit, staying in the Titanic Quarter offers a unique experience that other parts of Belfast don’t. Staying here means you’re met with stunning sunrise and sunset views from the waters in and around Belfast Harbour, and depending on how clear the day is and where you walk and situate yourself, you can even see beautiful views of the Causeway Coastal Route and Belfast Castle in the distance.
The best place to stay in the Titanic Quarter is an attraction in itself. The Titanic Hotel Belfast is located on the site of the Harland & Wolff Headquarters building. In its heyday, it was the centre of all the action for the largest shipyard in the world. Today its awe-inspiring architecture makes it a worthwhile place to visit for a meal or high tea, but an even more exciting property to stay at.
Chris and I stayed in one of their Executive Rooms on our recent trip to Northern Ireland. It was situated on the top floor and had beautiful views of the Titanic Belfast building, the harbour, across the shipyards and out to the ocean. The room was spacious and really felt like a home away from home, with an incredibly comfortable bed and cozy slippers and robes. It was an excellent hotel to stay at, and really helped us to further embrace this history and architecture of the Titanic Quarter.
If you’re keen to stay in the Titanic Quarter on your next trip to Belfast, then I’d definitely recommend booking a room at the Titanic Hotel Belfast. You can click here to book your stay.
The Top Things to Do in the Titanic Quarter
For such a concentrated district in Belfast, the Titanic Quarter certainly packs a punch in terms of all there is to see and do. It’s part of the largest urban waterfront regeneration project in Northern Ireland, and its design brings a lot of exciting activities along with it.
In no particular order, here’s a list of the top things to do in the Titanic Quarter on your next trip to Belfast. No matter the type of visitor attraction you’re looking for, from history lessons to sipping on spirits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the Titanic Quarter.
Visit the Titanic Belfast
The world-class Titanic Belfast museum is the largest Titanic visitor experience in the world, and is a one-of-a-kind adventure. It takes you chronologically through the story of the Titanic and the ship building industry in Belfast. You’re taken through several interactive exhibits showcasing the luxury and pomp of the RMS Titanic, and just how special it was for the time. It’s an experiential museum, which makes it awe-inspiring for visitors of all ages.
This museum does an excellent job of immersively taking you “onto” the Titanic. You experience everything from the wonder and excitement that surrounded the ship to the period of time when it came to its tragic end in the Atlantic. The Titanic was the symbol of triumph and hope for so many, and you’ll find yourself feeling very connected to the stories of its passengers and crew members who were on board during its fateful journey.
The Titanic Belfast does a brilliant job of rounding things up at the end to shed light on the devastation and loss that came with the sinking of the Titanic. The sections of the museum where they deal with its sinking are appropriately jarring, and you’ll find yourself feeling humbled and appreciative by the end of your visit.
As much as the loss of the Titanic was a shock and devastation to all who were impacted by its sinking, it taught the world valuable lessons about nautical safety and laws and helped to improve so much about travel by sea today.
If you’d like to book your visit to this iconic museum, coupled with an entry ticket to the SS Nomadic Ship in Belfast Harbour, you can purchase your tickets in advance here.
If you’re visiting the Titanic Belfast on a larger road trip through Northern Ireland, or you’re simply travelling by car, then it’s important to know that there’s an extensive underground car parking lot below the museum, which is perfect for visiting the museum or staying at the neighbouring Titanic Hotel.
Take the Titanic Walkway Along THE Maritime Mile
One of many “The Glass of Thrones” installations along the waterfront walkway in the Titanic Quarter.
“Maritime Mile” is the name given to this area in general, since it stretches along the coast and harbour of Belfast. The Titanic Walkway is a peaceful boardwalk and waterside pathway that’s perfect for biking, running or walking. If you’re a morning runner or walker and you’re staying in the Titanic Quarter, then this is definitely a great feature of this area.
The Titanic Walkway has several points of interest along the way, connecting you from the Titanic Belfast to many other attractions in the quarter. The Glass of Thrones exhibit is a series of captivating stained glass windows situated along the waterfront as an homage to the important role Belfast and the Titanic Quarter played, quite literally, in the filming of the hit HBO Series Game of Thrones. Many scenes and significant parts of the show were filmed in the areas surrounding Belfast, and at Titanic Studios, located in the Titanic Quarter.
Another attraction along the walkway is The Great Light, which sits about halfway between the Titanic Belfast and Thompson Dock. This 7 metre tall, 10 tonne light was used in two lighthouses over nearly 130 years, and created the one of the brightest lights in the world during its years of operation. It now sits as a feature along this coastal walk, and is an excellent place to snap a photo and see the views of the harbour.
Visit The ShipBuilding Dry Dock
After learning about the history of shipbuilding in Belfast at the Titanic Belfast, it’s definitely worthwhile to visit the dry dock where the RMS Titanic and other famous ships like the HMS Caroline and the Olympic were built by Harland & Wolff.
The dry dock is located close to the Belfast Docks, which is about a 10 minute walk northeast from the Titanic Belfast along the urban waterfront regeneration trail. You can see the dry dock from any of its perimeters. There are roads and commercial businesses surrounding it, but it’s fairly easy to find. If you’d like a great view with a cocktail in your hand, then the patio at Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock has an excellent view of the dock.
It is absolutely awe-inspiring to see this dock and understand just how massive the footprint of the Titanic was for its time. It’s an impressive size for any era, but to think of it taking over two years to build in the early 1900’s with the industry available to them at the time, and to think that some men even died during its construction is truly overwhelming to consider.
For a history buff, or anyone who still has Rose and Jack’s love story living rent free in their head, then seeing the site where the Titanic was built is definitely a moving place to visit.
Take an Irish Whiskey Tour
Newly opened in the Titanic District, Titanic Distillers is a premier distillery to visit in Belfast, whose history is just as captivating as its spirits. It’s located in an historic whiskey distillery on the docks where the Titanic was built, which hasn’t been operational in years.
On a visit to Titanic Distillers, you can choose from a variety of different types of tours to learn more about the history of the property and the types of spirits you can try here. I’d highly recommend taking a tour to learn more about the history of the Titanic, shipbuilding, and the whiskey industry in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Tens of thousands of people were employed in the whiskey distilling industry for many years in Ireland, but the industry saw a decline with the rise of prohibition in North America in the early 1900’s. Titanic Distillers is one of the new whiskey distilleries to open in Northern Ireland and bring back modern whiskey distilling to the country.
Not only is the history of this distillery exciting, but the sight of the restored copper whiskey distilling barrels in this incredible building is a sight to behold, too. Their whiskey is triple distilled at Titanic Distillers, and sampling some of their spirits at the end of the tour is the perfect way to end this experience.
If you’d like to book a whiskey tour at Titanic Distillers for yourself, you can click here to book your ticket in advance.
Check Out one of the Historic Ships At the Docks
The SS Nomadic is a former tender for the Titanic, and can be visited in the Titanic Quarter.
There are two noteworthy ships that you can visit in the Titanic Quarter and hop aboard: the HMS Caroline and the SS Nomadic. Depending on the time of year, there are different tours and events taking place surrounding both ships.
The HMS Caroline was a navy ship that has an important part in Belfast’s history for the past 100 years. The HMS Caroline was an operating vessel for The Royal Navy during the first World War, and visiting allows you to feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. You can visit by guided tour at specified times during the day, and it’s recommended to purchase your ticket in advance of your visit.
The SS Nomadic is a former tender of the White Star Line. It was launched on 25 April 1911 in Belfast and is now on display in Belfast's Titanic Quarter. It was built to transfer passengers and mail to and from RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic. It’s the only surviving vessel designed by Thomas Andrews, who also helped design those two ocean liners, and the last White Star Line vessel in existence today.
If you’re keen to check out the SS Nomadic coupled with a visit to the Titanic Belfast, then you can buy your tickets here.
Enjoy a Meal at the Titanic Hotel belfast
Bright natural light abounds in the Drawing Office Two bar at the Titanic Hotel Belfast.
There are two places that you can go for lunch, brunch, afternoon tea or dinner at the Titanic Hotel Belfast. The Wolff Grill is an excellent place for a casual meal. Drawing Office Two is another excellent place to go, with a breathtaking interior and a showstopper of a bar. Both restaurants maintain the history and character of the building, making them excellent places to pop in for a bite to eat.
Both restaurants have a wonderful selection of menu items, with everything from monkfish to pan-fried halibut on the menu, and they have an impressive selection of wines, beers, spirits and cocktails to choose from too. It’s an excellent place to stop for a bite or refreshment after a day spent exploring the Titanic Quarter.
Places Worth Visiting After Checking Out the Titanic Quarter
Day or night, Belfast City Hall is a beautiful site to see on any trip to Belfast.
Once your time in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast comes to an end, there are so many other excellent places to check out while you’re in town. Definitely make sure you head to the city centre of Belfast to see Belfast City Hall and the many shops and restaurants around it.
Whether or not you’re an alcohol drinker, it’s also worth getting a taste for Belfast’s famous pub and restaurant scene in the evening on any of the days you’re in town. Any local pub is worth visiting, but some favourites of mine are Kelly’s Cellars, The Crown Liquor Saloon, and The Garrick. Some standout restaurants to check out during your time in town are James St., or my personal favourite, Mourne Seafood Bar.
One experience that you definitely have to book when you’re in Belfast is one of the Black Cab Tours. They take you all around the city, and provide a meaningful history and politics lesson, the context of which is an essential thing to understand about Belfast and Northern Ireland while you’re here.
This post was written in collaboration with Tourism Ireland. All opinions expressed are completely my own.