Coming to a new city can be daunting and intimidating. Not knowing much about a place or only knowing what the internet and word of mouth tells you, does not allow for a new student to form their own fresh opinions. This is why I think it is super important to partake in tours to get to know the new city you’re about to live in. It is important to have knowledge about the place you move to so you can take full advantage of everything that place has to offer while appreciating every detail.

Belfast is a history rich city with deeply integrated traditions and stories from every local, street, and building. Many interesting facts can be discovered from the extensive list of tours Belfast has to offer.

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours

As a student, the first tour I suggest would be the hop-on hop-off bus tours around town. They offer many options to integrate the Titanic Museum or the Giant's Causeway as part of your city tour. This tour is both entertaining and fact-filled with 19 potential stops to explore, allowing you to dive into the city's history from past to present. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour when I first did it, the friend I went with had no idea of the extent of the background and history this city held and came out of it with a different perspective and new information.

On a lovely day (when it’s not raining), you can enjoy the scenery of Belfast from the open top double-decker red bus! It’s an experience I recommend to everyone who visits! Tickets are advertised as starting at £15 online for adults providing a valid ticket for up to 48 hours. For the spontaneous tour takers, in-person tickets are easily accessible at the Donegall Square central bus stops next to Belfast city hall. Receive a strong and entertaining history lesson, go around once, then go around again to hop-off at stops! I could not suggest this tour enough.

Troubles Walking Tours

Another tour I have been on that really gave me a grasp of the city's history was a Troubles Walking Tour. You can look these up on Get Your Guide and choose the best one for you as there are many options to choose from. I recommend the £26 ‘Belfast: Political Conflict 3-Hour Walking Tour'. This tour explores both Republican and Loyalist perspectives. You can get the lived experiences from two ex-political prisoners perspectives; listening to their stories was thoroughly engaging as they take you up both the Shankill and Falls Road and in their respective neighbourhoods, speaking with passion.  

Take the opportunity to ask questions and immerse yourself in the historical political context of Belfast. I think this tour allows those who experience it a deeper understanding of what was and what is. Another highly recommended tour from myself.

Self-Guided Exploration Tours

Sick of the city and want a country escape for the day? Catch a Giants Causeway & Antrim Coast tour. One of the most breathtaking routes through hills and along the sea and hidden in the North is the Antrim Coast. This is a day trip outside of Belfast into the nature that Northern Ireland has to offer.

Access to this can be with a tour group; or for the independent explorers, the NI Railways train towards Derry/Londonderry will take you to where you need to be! If you’re hopping on the train, visiting the Giant's Causeway can be a free self-taken tour with transit and treats (if so inclined) being your only expense. Take the train to Coleraine and then take the 402 Ulster bus toward Ballycastle for about 35 minutes. The stop for Giant's Causeway is right after Whitepark Road stop. Then head over to the visitor’s centre for extra information if needed. There, they offer a bus down for about £1 or walk down to the UNESCO site.

Along the bus ride, there or back, take in the beautiful sites of the coast and look out for Dunluce Castle, stop at Portrush for a coffee or snack break and head on back to Belfast. Want to explore more? Get back on the 402 Ulsterbus to Ballycastle and check out the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. 

Staying more local? Belfast Castle is a must! This is a two in one as you can walk through and read the history along with interesting facts about the castle and Cave Hill. Then carry on and hike to the top of Cave Hill, both offer a beautiful view of Belfast.

Queen’s also offers accommodation trips for students staying in Queen’s accommodation. These trips are organised with the university and bring students on hikes and around different cities or towns for a well-rounded student experience. 

The final self-guided tour I think is necessary for new students is within Belfast city hall. Visitors have the opportunity to walk through the halls with a paid guided tour or walk through on their own and read about the history. Not only is the building gorgeous but the information available is extensive, I won’t spoil it. 

Northern Ireland has a lot to offer with so many tours, it can be overwhelming to pick. These are only a few of the ones I have experienced as a student and as someone who has visited Belfast prior to studying here. If history is your thing these cannot be beaten, and if it’s not, these tours give a great introduction to the new city you will be living in. My next tour will be checking out Ulster Museum, I can’t believe I haven’t already!

Find out more

Things to do in Belfast

Take a Virtual Tour of Queen's

Blogs about Belfast/NI

Mary McNeil-White LLM Law and Technology | Postgraduate Student | Ontario, Canada I finished my undergrad in Canada attaining a BA in Psychology. My transition to a Law degree was completely new territory. I figured with the direction that the world is going in with fast evolving technological innovations, it would be very important to obtain the knowledge provided through this programme. It is hard work but also rewarding as someone without a law background. In my free time I enjoy travelling and have been all over Europe. I enjoy seeing what the world has to offer. I always stay up to date with the student blogs Queen's offers. Anytime I am looking for an activity or don't know where to go, being new to the city, I head to the blogs for ideas on where to start. It's great to read other students' experiences.