Belfast and the Titanic Experience

Belfast & the Titanic Experience

Experience the story of the world's most famous liner and explore one of Europe's fastest-changing, most fascination-packed cities. Enjoy an included visit to what has become one of Britain's must-see attractions – the glittering, futuristic, £97-million Titanic Belfast Experience. It's the highlight of this hugely popular three-night break that also includes a guided tour of a city bursting with history and renewed civic pride. Explore Belfast's trendy shops, bars and restaurants, and perhaps discover some of the British Isles' most scenic coastal countryside.

Highlights

Visit the spectacular Titanic Belfast exhibition
Enjoy a fascinating guided tour of Belfast's major landmarks
The chance to join an optional tour of the Antrim Coast and visit the extraordinary Giant's Causeway
Embrace some time to explore Belfast at your own pace

Inclusions

Three nights' bed and buffet breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel
Return flights to Belfast
A guided city tour of Belfast
Entrance to the Titanic Belfast exhibition
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Fly to Belfast - Following your flight to Belfast, meet your tour manager and board the coach for the short transfer into the city and to your hotel. You'll then have the rest of the day free to get your bearings and begin to soak up the atmosphere of what a city fast shaking off its past reputation and embracing the bright new future reflected in its youthful outlook and vibrant redevelopments. Your tour manager will be on hand to point you in the right direction throughout your stay.

Day 2

Included Titanic Belfast visit and guided city tour - After breakfast, join your tour manager for a guided tour of the city of Belfast, with its turbulent past, thriving present and hopes for the future, all brought to life. Highlights will include the major landmarks such as City Hall, Queen’s and Stormont Castle, the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and a stunning sight gradually revealed from the rising approach road. During the tour, you’ll also see West Belfast’s celebrated Peace Wall, the political murals of the Shankhill and Falls roads, and the ultramodern developments of the regenerated docks area, crowned by the glittering, breathtaking Titanic Quarter. After a fascinating morning and the opportunity for lunch (payable locally), you’ll visit the Titanic Belfast, a wonderful visitor centre set on the site where RMS Titanic was constructed a century ago. Developed as much as a tribute to the days of shipbuilding in the city as well as in commemoration of the ill-fated liner that met her untimely end on her maiden voyage in 1912, the Titanic Belfast is a dramatic, innovative and exciting presentation of the real story of the famous ship. It’s housed in nine fascinating galleries in one of the most eye-catching buildings to have been built in the UK for years. Through the use of audiovisual presentation, life-size reconstructions, interactive features and even a ‘Shipyard Ride’, the ship’s conception, construction, tragic sinking and its aftermath, as well as its rediscovery in 1985, are brought vividly to life, and you’ll leave the exhibition with a real sense of the enormity as well as the human cost of one of the 20th century’s most fateful episodes. Enjoy the remainder of the day and evening at leisure, perhaps spent soaking up the atmosphere in one of the many traditional pubs in the city centre.

Day 3

Optional Giant's Causeway tour - Today you're free to enjoy the delights of Belfast under your own steam, although many will take the opportunity to join our optional excursion to the breathtakingly scenic Antrim Coast, where the Nine Glens lead to the sea and to the world-famous Giant's Causeway. This astonishing collection of closely-packed basalt columns, and acting as stepping-stones into the Atlantic from beneath the wild, windswept cliffs, is a remarkable sight. In fact formed 60-million years ago by a volcanic explosion, the stories of the Causeway's origin - it's said to have been built by the Irish hero and giant Finn MacCool so that he could cross to Scotland and do battle with a rival Scottish giant – are much more interesting to non-geologists. Although there is typically a minibus to take visitors to the Causeway from the visitor centre (payable locally), the energetic can walk the mile or so along the cliff path to be rewarded with some breathtaking views. Your journey back to the hotel takes you along the Causeway Coastal Road, past more spectacular views. Highlights of the wonderfully scenic drive will include bustling Ballycastle at the entrance to the two northernmost glens - Glentaisie and Glenshesk, Carnlough with its picturesque harbour and a drive through the colour-washed village of Glenarm and stunning Glenariff – the Queen of the Glens. This evening you're once again free to enjoy Belfast's lively nightlife and wide range of restaurants.

Day 4

Fly back to your local airport - Depending on the time of your flight, you'll have time to spend a final few hours in the city before returning to the airport at the end of a wonderful few days.

Ibis City Centre, Belfast

The Ibis Belfast City Centre offers good value for money and is located close to the heart of the city and its shops, bars and restaurants and City Hall.

Ramada By Wyndham, Belfast

Conveniently located in the cathedral quarter of the city, this comfortable hotel is just a few minutes by foot from many of Belfast's cultural attractions and welcoming bars.

Titanic Hotel, Belfast

Set in in the heart of the Titanic Quarter and opposite the Titanic Belfast Experience, this beautiful four-star hotel occupies what was once the headquarters of legendary shipbuilders Harland and Wolff. From the three-storey, barrel-vaulted ceiling of the stunning Drawing Bar to the Golden Age maritime memorabilia and design details you'll find throughout - everything about this hotel is unique and unforgettable.

Europa Hotel, Belfast

Superbly located in Belfast, the world-famous Europa is often referred to as the heartbeat of the city. Standing tall in the city centre for over 50 years, the Europa has attracted many famous faces from all over the world.

Holiday Inn, Belfast

A simple, modern hotel situated in the city centre and just a two-minute walk from Great Victoria Street train station.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time to your hotel is approximately 45 minutes from Belfast International airport, or approximately 20 minutes from Belfast City airport.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Giant's Causeway Excursion

Your optional excursion will include entry to the visitor centre for the Giant's Causeway. You will also be given a free audio guide to take to the stones. The minibus to the stones is payable locally (approx. £2 return), or you can walk the mile or so along the cliff path.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.