FREE THINGS TO DO IN Belfast

The marvellous complex that is the Belfast Castle Estate is the perfect place to bring the whole family on a day out in Belfast.

The Castle is set upon beautiful acres of pristine gardens and offers endless hours of family fun.

Of course, the castle is free to visit so you don’t have to worry about extortionate entry fees for the whole family, and you can take your time wandering around and admiring the complexities of both the interior and exterior of the castle.

If you have time, make sure you also head up to the top of Cave Hill for spectacular views of the city below. It’s a decently steep and strenuous walk to the top, but it’s well worth it for the most beautiful views of Belfast.

Address: Antrim Rd, Belfast BT15 5GR, United Kingdom

No visit to Belfast would be complete without seeing the Belfast City Hall; a truly stunning iconic and beautiful building in the capital city.

Take a leisurely stroll around the grounds of the hall and make sure you pay a visit to the Titanic Memorial Garden where you can pay your respects to all the people who suffered in the terrible tragedy of the 1912 ship sinking.

You can also take a free tour inside Belfast City Hall where you’ll be able to marvel at the grand decorum and learn more about its enigmatic history and the important roles its played in Belfast’s past.

The City Hall welcomes visitors of all ages so it’s a great place to venture to with the kids in tow while in Belfast.

Address: Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GS, United Kingdom

If you’re looking for a great free attraction in Belfast that will allow you to get out of the busy city streets for a few hours, then you definitely need to add Divis and Black Mountain to your list of things to do.

Take a walk along the 4.2-mile Ridge Trail which offers spectacular views over the city. As it’s a fairly easy and pleasant walk, you can complete it with the whole family in tow.

There are numerous nature walks and mountainous routes you can enjoy in Belfast but the Divis and Black Mountain paths are undoubtedly the very best.

Pack plenty of water, your hiking boots and maybe even a picnic and enjoy a lovely day out in the Northern Ireland countryside.

Address: Divis Rd, Belfast BT17 0NG, United Kingdom

The MAC, or the Metropolitan Arts Centre to use its official name, is a contemporary arts and culture centre situated in the city centre of Belfast.

It’s renowned for being one of the best venues in the city for live music, dance and comedy performances and is well worth a visit if you get the chance while you’re in Belfast.

There are plenty of art galleries to explore and enjoy in Belfast, but the MAC is often said to be the best one, simply due to the fact that it offers such as vast range of entertainment.

It’s a great place to spend an afternoon or evening in Belfast if you’re looking to join the locals and soak up a bit of culture.

Address: 10 Exchange St, West, Belfast BT1 2NJ, United Kingdom

If you want to learn more about Northern Ireland’s eclectic political history, as well as more recent happenings within the government, then a visit to the Stormont Parliament Buildings needs to be on your travel itinerary while in Belfast.

You can take a free tour of the buildings which will provide you with a brief insight into the history of the parliament and the buildings that house them.

You can also enjoy a brief wander around the buildings’ gardens which provide a lovely backdrop for some photos.

While it’s not an activity that most children will enjoy, it is a great place to visit if you’re wanting to experience a free and interesting afternoon of learning more about Northern Ireland and Belfast’s political history.

Address: Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3ST, UK

Located within the Botanic Gardens (see below for more information!), the Ulster Museum offers approximately 8,000 square metres of collections of art, sculptures and archaeological discoveries.

Inside the Ulster Museum, you will find an abundance of fascinating collections from everything from the Ancient Egyptians, to dinosaurs, to modern day works of art.

It’s certainly the place to be if you want to immerse yourself in a fun-filled day of learning and culture while in Belfast!

The museum is also a great place to take kids as there’s exhibitions and interactive activities that everyone is sure to love and want to join in with!

Experience what it’s like to be a scientist, discover the bones of dinosaurs and admire as much art as you possibly can with a visit to the Ulster Museum in Belfast!

Address: Botanic Ct, Belfast BT9 5AB, United Kingdom

Speaking of the Botanic Gardens, this incredible 28-acres of pubic open space in the heart of the city is another great free attraction in Belfast.

They’re a popular place within the city for local workers, students and tourists and they’re a place where everyone can enjoy some quality alone time, or spending time with others.

The Gardens are home to astonishing species of plants and flowers and the original intention of the Botanic Gardens was to provide an open public space where people could learn about horticulture and agriculture; and it’s certainly achieved just that!

Bring the whole family along for a day in the Botanic Gardens and enjoy a meander through the parks before hitting a lush space of grass to tuck into a picnic!

Address: College Park, Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1LP, United Kingdom

The Colin Glen Forest Park is one of the best free places in Belfast for the whole family.

You’ll find a whole wealth of interactive and immersive activities that will involve everyone inside the Forest Park, including numerous woodland walks and even a Gruffalo Trail that young children in particular are sure to love!

The Colin Glen Forest Park is also one of the best places in the city to take part in several adventurous outdoor activities such as a ropes course and a trail where you follow statues.

The fact that this incredible area of space is free to visit is unbelievable and it’s a place that you shouldn’t miss when visiting Belfast with the whole family!

Address: 163 Stewartstown Rd, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0HW, United Kingdom

Voted as “The UK’s Best Large Indoor Market of 2014”, St George’s Market has simply got to be a place that you visit while in Belfast!

It’s the perfect place in Belfast to try out different foods from cities and countries all over the world so if you have a particular penchant for trying out new cuisines but don’t have the time or budget to fly everywhere, then this is a great solution for you!

St George’s Market also houses dozens of art, antique, books and souvenir stalls, so if food isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy picking up a trinket from your time in Belfast.

Failing that, you don’t actually have to spend any money at the market, and instead you can just enjoy a lovely walk around.

Address: St George's Market, East Bridge St, Belfast BT1 3NQ, United Kingdom

Linen Hall Library is the oldest library in Belfast and is also the last library in Northern Ireland that offers subscriptions.

It dates back more than 225 years so it’s absolutely teeming with history and it also houses one of the biggest Robert Burns’ collections in the world.

The Linen Hall Library might not look that much from the outside, but on the inside, it treats visitors to a wealth of incredible books and documents.

Numerous occasions and events are also hosted at Linen Hall Library so make sure you check out the website before you visit so you can see if you can attend one while you’re there!

The Library is also just a two-minute walk from Belfast City Hall so it’s the perfect place to add to your itinerary in Belfast.

Address: 17 Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GB, United Kingdom