Belfast Open-Top Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour 48 Hours

Belfast City Hall and the city centre

The tour begins beside Belfast City Hall on Donegall Square, a domed Edwardian building of Portland stone that opened in 1906. The square is the natural starting point for a Belfast hop-on hop-off bus tour, because the centre's shops, cafes and Victorian buildings are all within walking distance.

From here the bus loops through the city, and you can hop off to see the waterfront and the sculpture known as the Big Fish beside the River Lagan. If you are asking whether a hop-on hop-off bus is worth it in Belfast, the answer is yes for a first visit, because the sights are spread across the city and the commentary explains what you see.

Titanic Quarter and the shipbuilding story

The route reaches the Titanic Quarter, where the Harland and Wolff shipyard built the Titanic in the early twentieth century. The area now holds Titanic Belfast, the dry dock and the restored tender ship SS Nomadic, and the bus lets you visit without a long walk from the centre.

Hop off here if you want to spend time in the museum or simply photograph the giant cranes and slipways along the waterfront. Entry to attractions is not included in the bus ticket. Allow two to three hours if you plan to visit Titanic Belfast, and use your 48 hours to spread the day out.

St George's Market, Queen's University and the Botanic Gardens

St George's Market is a Victorian covered market that opened in 1896, and it is busiest on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Queen's University stands in the south of the city in a Tudor Gothic building from the 1840s, and beside it are the Botanic Gardens, with their curved glasshouse Palm House, and the Ulster Museum.

The museum holds art, local history and natural history, and it is a good stop on a rainy day. This part of Belfast is a pleasant place to walk, and you can hop off, spend an hour or two, then hop back on. The 48-hour ticket gives you time to do it without rushing.

Murals, peace walls and Crumlin Road Gaol

The route passes areas of west Belfast known for their political murals, which show the city's recent history from different communities. The peace walls, built to separate neighbourhoods, are also visible from the road, and the commentary explains what they mean and how the city has changed.

Crumlin Road Gaol, which opened in 1846 and closed in 1996, is now a visitor attraction where you can walk through the cells and tunnels. Belfast's history is complex and sensitive, so listen to the commentary and treat the murals with respect. Choose stops that interest you, and enjoy a relaxed day of sightseeing.