Over half term we had a couple of days away with the teens in Belfast. Here are our 7 ideas to make the most of a weekend trip to Belfast:

7 ideas to make the most of a trip to Belfast with teens

The teens love to do a mix of activities on a city break. They both enjoy learning about new areas so we knew they would love a London black cab taxi ride to explore the Peace Wall and find out more about Belfast during the Troubles. We saw a lot of street art and murals, and our driver made frequent stops to see important sites to Belfasts recent history. Having lived in Belfast his whole life, it was a living history lesson and we all learned so much from our guide. Our tour took 1 hour and 45 minutes, taking in Shankhill Road, Falls Road and the Peace Wall.

We dedicated one day to visiting the Giant’s Causeway. This is clearly not in Belfast city so we hired a car from the airport and drove from Belfast along the Causeway Coastal Route up towards Derry-Londonderry where the route culminates. We pre-booked our tickets to the Giant’s Causeway, where there’s a National Trust car park and visitor centre, although the causeway is free to visit.

We were surprised how much street art there is in Belfast. Our taxi driver told us it was permitted in certain areas, especially around the Cathedral Quarter where our hotel was. It was great to walk around and spot street art on every corner.

The weather was very wet on one day so we decided to head for some shopping at the Victoria Centre, a new shopping centre in the city centre. We also visited Belfast City Hall where there is a small museum all about the growth of Belfast.

We have National Trust membership so were delighted to see they owned The Crown Pub Belfast. Refurbished in 1885 and with carved-mahogany booths, etched-glass and old gas lamps, the pub is famed for its decor and well worth a visit.

You can’t visit Belfast without a trip to the Titanic Belfast in the Titanic Quarter. A self-guided experience through themed interactive galleries that explore the authentic Titanic story. Ticket includes admission on board SS Nomadic, a tender to the Titanic.

On our walk to the Titanic Quarter we passed Big Fish. This 10m salmon was commissioned in 1999 to celebrate the regeneration of the River Lagan and the historic importance of the site, near the Lagan Lookout and Custom House. The printed ceramic mosaic sculpture by John Kindness is definitely eye catching.

What do you think of our 7 ideas to make the most of a trip to Belfast with teens? Have you visited before? Let me know if you have any recommendations for exploring Belfast with teens.