The Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens & Palm House alone can fill a full family day, and both are free.
The live music scene is genuinely strong — Lavery's, The Belfast Empire Music Hall and Limelight Belfast all have free-entry nights. For young children, The Wee Playhouse is a favourite, and King Pins Belfast works well on a rainy day.
The best days out near Belfast
Ulster Museum
Botanic Gardens & Palm House
Game of Thrones Tapestry (Ulster Museum)
Grand Opera House Belfast
Belfast City Hall
Linen Hall Library
King Pins Belfast
Lavery's
The Belfast Empire Music Hall
Ormeau Brewery
Limelight Belfast
Ulster Hall
Jawbox Spirits (Echlinville-distilled, Belfast)
Spires Mall
Queen's Film Theatre (QFT)
Mandela Hall (QUB Students' Union)
Paramotoring Ireland
Public Angling Estate (NI government waters)
Shaw's Lake Fishery
The Avenue Cinema Belfast
Queen's Arcade
Voodoo Belfast
St George’s Market
Victoria Square
Madden's Bar
Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing
CastleCourt Shopping Centre
Streamline Bowling
White's Tavern
Escape Belfast
Bullitt Hotel Bar
Ozone Complex Climbing Wall
ICC Belfast (Waterfront Hall)
The Belfast Barge
The Spaniard
The Spa at The Merchant Hotel
The Duke of York
The Black Box
NI War Memorial Museum
St Anne's Cathedral (Belfast Cathedral)
Oh Yeah Music Centre
Lagan Towpath
The Telegraph Building
Ormeau Park (Belfast)
The MAC Belfast
Lyric Theatre Belfast
Shankill Leisure Centre
The Wee Playhouse
Days out in Belfast — your questions
What are the best days out in Belfast?
Top picks include the Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens & Palm House — both free and excellent for families. Belfast City Hall is worth a visit for heritage fans, and the Grand Opera House Belfast is a great choice for an evening out. For something more casual, Lavery's and The Belfast Empire Music Hall both have a brilliant atmosphere.
What free things are there to do in Belfast?
Plenty. The Ulster Museum is free and one of the city's best attractions. Botanic Gardens & Palm House is free too, with lovely outdoor space. The Game of Thrones Tapestry at the Ulster Museum costs nothing to see. Lavery's, Limelight Belfast and The Belfast Empire Music Hall all have free-entry nights as well.
Where can you go on a rainy day near Belfast?
King Pins Belfast is a reliable pick — bowling works for most ages. The Ulster Museum is free and can easily take up a couple of hours. Queen's Film Theatre and The Avenue Cinema Belfast are both good cinema options if you need to get out of the wet.
What's good for young children near Belfast?
The Wee Playhouse is the top pick for small children near Belfast. Botanic Gardens & Palm House gives toddlers and little ones space to roam for free. King Pins Belfast is great for slightly older kids. The Ulster Museum is family-friendly and free to enter.