Northern Ireland rewards the curious: a land where basalt columns step into the sea, industrial grit gave birth to Titanic, and neighborhoods tell their stories in vivid mural art. Across six days, you’ll trace its modern heartbeat in Belfast, stand at the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway, and slow down by the water in Bangor—once a monastic hub, now a breezy seaside city.

Expect contrasts. You’ll ride in a black taxi to peace walls that shaped recent history, then sip a pint beneath glimmering gaslights at a Victorian gin palace. You’ll wander shipyard steel and glass in the Titanic Quarter, then trade it for cliff paths, castle ruins, and waves gnawing at the Antrim Coast.

Practicalities are easy: frequent trains connect coastal towns, coaches run Causeway tours daily, and flights arrive into Belfast from hubs across the UK and Europe. Come hungry for soda farls, fish and chips, and inventive tasting menus—plus live music that spills into cobbled lanes.

Belfast

Once a shipbuilding powerhouse, Belfast reshaped itself into one of the UK’s most compelling city-breaks. The Titanic Quarter anchors maritime heritage; the Cathedral Quarter buzzes with pubs, indie galleries, and live trad sessions; and the Botanic area pairs the Ulster Museum with leafy Victorian gardens. Don’t miss the city’s murals and peace walls—living archives of the Troubles, best understood with locals who drove these streets when history was unfolding.

• Top sights: Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic, Belfast City Hall, St George’s Market (Fri–Sun), Crumlin Road Gaol, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Cathedral Quarter.
• Why visit now: A maturing food scene (from Michelin-starred OX to Asian-fusion Yugo), stellar street art, and easy day trips to the Giant’s Causeway and Antrim Coast.
• Local flavor: Order a buttery fifteens traybake with your coffee, try a Tayto crisp sandwich, and toast your trip in The Crown Liquor Saloon’s snug.

Stay in Belfast: Browse city-center hotels and apartments on Hotels.com Belfast or VRBO Belfast. Aim for Cathedral Quarter (nightlife), the Linen Quarter (walkable), or Titanic Quarter (waterfront views).

Getting to Belfast: From London, fly to Belfast City (BHD) or Belfast International (BFS) in ~1h15; typical fares start ~£30–£90 each way. Compare options on Omio (flights to/from Europe). If arriving from outside Europe, check Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com (flights) for global deals. From Dublin, the Enterprise train to Belfast Lanyon Place takes ~2h15 (often €14–€30); search schedules on Omio (trains in Europe).

Featured activities (Viator):

• Titanic Belfast Entrance Ticket: Titanic Visitor Experience Including SS Nomadic

  

• Award Winning Exclusive 2 Hr Private Belfast Black Taxi Cab Tour

  

• Giant’s Causeway Day Trip from Belfast

  

• Game of Thrones Studio Tour Admission and Transfer from Belfast

  

Eat and drink (Belfast): For specialty coffee, try Established Coffee (bright, Nordic roasts) or Root & Branch (micro-roastery with pour-overs). Brunch on fry-ups and pancakes at Maggie Mays or General Merchants. For dinner, book OX (Michelin-starred seasonal tasting) or James St (steak and local produce, lively room). Coppi does Venetian-style cicchetti and handmade pasta. Pub-hop The Duke of York, The Harp Bar, and The Dirty Onion, then end with a classic at The Crown Liquor Saloon’s carved snugs.

Day 1: Arrive in Belfast, Cathedral Quarter stroll, and a hearty welcome

Morning: Travel to Belfast. If flying within Europe, compare routes on Omio (flights). From outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Touch down at BHD (10–15 minutes by taxi or bus to center) or BFS (~35–45 minutes).

Afternoon: Check in near the Cathedral or Linen Quarter via Hotels.com Belfast or VRBO Belfast. Stretch your legs around Belfast City Hall and the Linen Quarter. If it’s Fri–Sun, graze your way through St George’s Market: try soda bread grilled cheese, local charcuterie, and Armagh apple bakes.

Evening: Dinner at James St (aged steaks, local shellfish, crackling open kitchen). Wander the lantern-lit alleyways of the Cathedral Quarter, peeking into The Duke of York’s mirror-lined walls and Irish music sessions. Nightcap in a snug at The Crown Liquor Saloon, a Victorian jewel of etched glass and polished mahogany.

Day 2: Giant’s Causeway and the Antrim Coast (full-day tour)

Let a driver handle the hairpins while you soak up legends and sea cliffs on the Giant’s Causeway Day Trip from Belfast. Expect rugged stops such as Carrickfergus Castle views, the Dark Hedges, and the Causeway’s hexagonal stones forged by ancient lava flows. Pack layers and grippy shoes; coastal weather changes fast. Return early evening to Belfast for a casual supper at Fish City (award-winning fish & chips) or Coppi (share cicchetti and a bowl of squid-ink tagliatelle).

Day 3: Titanic Quarter—shipyard stories, design, and waterfront rambling

Morning: Coffee at Established, then take the G2 Glider to Titanic Quarter (or 20–25 minutes on foot). Dive into the city’s maritime past with Titanic Belfast Entrance Ticket, a multi-sensory museum beside the slipways where RMS Titanic was built. Step aboard SS Nomadic, Titanic’s tender, to feel the grain of White Star Line travel.

Afternoon: Stroll to the Great Light and Titanic Slipways for harbor views. Lunch at The Dock Café (pay-what-you-wish bakes and soups) or Titanic Hotel’s Drawing Office Two for seafood chowder under soaring arches.

Evening: Tasting-menu night at OX (book ahead), where local vegetables and Lough Neagh eels shine. Craft cocktails follow at The Merchant Hotel’s bar, or a pint at The John Hewitt—profits support local charities, and the tap list is solid.

Day 4: Murals, peace walls, Botanic culture—and optional Thrones

Morning: See Belfast through lived experience on the 2-hour Private Belfast Black Taxi Cab Tour. Drivers weave through the Falls and Shankill with stories behind murals, memorials, and the still-standing gates.

Afternoon: Wander the palm house and rose gardens at Botanic Gardens, then browse the Ulster Museum’s Irish art and Troubles exhibits. Lunch at Café Conor (artsy bistro in a former gallery) or Yugo (bao and creative sashimi).

Evening: Optional fan-favorite: the Game of Thrones Studio Tour with coach transfer departs Belfast for Banbridge, revealing sets, costumes, and VFX. Back in town, grab dinner at Edo (small plates cooked over fire) and finish with live music at The Empire or fibber-friendly tunes at Kelly’s Cellars.

Bangor

Just 30 minutes by rail from Belfast, Bangor (awarded city status in 2022) is a sea-breezy exhale: a marina glittering with yachts, a Victorian promenade, and coves linked by pine-scented trails in Crawfordsburn Country Park. It’s ideal for slow mornings, cliff-path wanders, and leisurely pub suppers with a Lough view.

• Top sights: Bangor Marina and Eisenhower Pier, Bangor Castle Walled Garden, Bangor Abbey, the North Down Coastal Path to Ballyholme and Helen’s Bay, Crawfordsburn Country Park, and nearby Ulster Folk Museum (Cultra).
• Local gems: Paddle along Ballyholme Bay, watch seals from the coastal path, and linger over an ice cream on the pier.

Stay in Bangor: Browse options on Hotels.com Bangor or VRBO Bangor. Three strong picks via Hotels.com: The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn (firesides, woodland walks), Marine Court Hotel (right on the marina), and Clandeboye Lodge Hotel (design-forward comfort near forest trails).

Getting to Bangor: From Belfast Lanyon Place or Great Victoria Street, NI Railways trains run every ~15 minutes; the ride is ~25–30 minutes and ~£3–£6 one-way. Check times and comparative options on Omio (trains in Europe) or Omio (buses in Europe).

Optional activity from Bangor (easy via Belfast): Hop a morning train to Belfast and join the Game of Thrones Studio Tour with return coach, then be back seaside for dinner the same evening.

Eat and drink (Bangor & nearby): Start at The Guillemot Kitchen Café & Deli (eggs on potato farls, great pastries) or The Red Berry (espresso and light brunch). For dinner, book The Salty Dog (modern Irish with marina views) or The Wheathill (local seafood, craft beer). Nearby Holywood’s Dirty Duck Alehouse is a classic for mussels and a pint overlooking Belfast Lough. The Old Inn’s restaurant serves elevated comfort food beside roaring fireplaces—perfect after a coastal walk.

Day 5: Belfast to Bangor, coastal path and country park

Morning: Depart Belfast for Bangor by train (~25–30 minutes; ~£3–£6; frequent departures). Compare times on Omio (trains). Drop bags at Marine Court Hotel for marina views or retreat to woodland-chic at The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn.

Afternoon: Walk the North Down Coastal Path from Bangor to Crawfordsburn Country Park: sandy strands, rocky inlets, and forested glens. Picnic on the beach or refuel at the park café. If you prefer culture, ride two stops back toward Belfast to Cultra and wander the Ulster Folk Museum’s thatched cottages and costumed demonstrations.

Evening: Sunset over the marina, then dinner at The Salty Dog (try the day-boat fish with brown-butter capers). Pints and live tunes at Jenny Watts (Bangor’s oldest public house) or a quieter digestif at The Wheathill.

Day 6: Walled gardens, pier vibes, and departure

Morning: Leisurely breakfast at The Guillemot, then meander through Bangor Castle Walled Garden—manicured beds framed by old brick walls—and stroll the pier to spot cormorants drying their wings. Quick dip at Ballyholme if you’re brave, or simply breathe in the salty air.

Afternoon: Check out and train back to Belfast Lanyon Place (~30 minutes) for your flight or onward train. For Europe-bound flights, compare on Omio (flights); for long-haul options, browse Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If time permits, grab a last bowl of chowder at Drawing Office Two by the Titanic Slipways before you go.

Summary: In six days you’ll taste Belfast’s energy—murals, markets, Titanic lore—feel the Atlantic wind at the Giant’s Causeway, and unwind by the lough in Bangor. Northern Ireland’s scale makes it easy; its stories and scenery make it unforgettable.