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Belfast- Crumlin Road Gaol and Ttiantic Museum-- Can I do both in 1 day?

Hello-
This will be my 3rd trip to Ireland, but I've never been to Belfast. I am thinking about 2 full days- 1 for the Giant's Causeway, and 1 for the Gaol and Titanic. Is it possible to see both of these in one day without rushing? Also, any recommendations on a good hotel/BB that is very centrally located? I may be on this trip alone, so considering splurging on the Black Cab tour for Giant's Causeway so that I can tailor the day for me and not 50 other tourists!

any thoughts or tips on Belfast and NI would be greatly appreciated!

Posted by
449 posts

gmyatovich:

I will be in Belfast at the end of this month and plan to visit the gaol and the Titanic museum all on the same day plus do a black cab tour of the political murals. This is based on people's comments that the Titanic museum is worthy of only maybe two hours of a person's time.

Centrally located good hotel? How about the Europa Hotel that has been bombed 30+ times by the IRA?

Posted by
317 posts

Greetings from the North of Ireland!
As Geor says, certainly possible to do both in one day.
The private taxi to the Causeway is a great idea, if you can afford it go for it! Choose your back-taxi driver wisely though, they vary wildly in quality.
The Europa Hotel is a good spot, location perfect, but very soulless. Oh and it hasn't been bombed since 1993 I think so you'll be grand!
Ironically, and tragically in light of recent events in Brussels, Northern Ireland is now one of the safest places in Europe for travellers, who wouldve thought that 30 years ago!
Theres so much to do in and around Belfast. Its easily in my top 5 favourite locations to bring guests to in all of Ireland.
Slainte/Good health
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland tour-Guide
Derry & Dingle

Posted by
40 posts

Thank you!!! Is there any particular black taxi company anyone would recommend? I certainly would rather hire my own then attempt to do a group tour so I can customize this I want to see the Giants Causeway, any Game of Thrones location sites and of course the the peace walls. And why do you say that the hotel is "soulless"? Just curious! I love to stay in B&Bs, however as my time is limited in Belfast I want to be a centrally located as possible !! typically in the big cities I will pay a little bit extra for the location

Posted by
565 posts

GM-
I used Norman Reilly for my black cab tour and thought he was great. He still lives in West Belfast so he knew some of the people memorialized in the murals and even saw one of his friends on the street while we were driving.

I also recommend the Clayton Hotel. Not only is it only a 5 minute walk to Belfast City Hall, it's another short 5-8 minutes to the Queens University area, which is the 'Restaurant Row' of the city. Enjoy! I really liked Belfast. Allow at least 2 hours for the Titanic Museum, and don't forget about the Ulster Museum near the University, if time allows.

Posted by
317 posts

I normally use Ken Harper, but as the other traveller just said, there are many great black taxi drivers. Just find one that you see getting good reviews online or on this forum and you'll be grand!
The reason I said the hotel is a bit soulless, is that its a big modern hotel, I think it has 290 rooms. I prefer B&Bs and smaller hotels. But I also said its location is perfect. And like you I often prefer location over soul! :)
So the Europa would be a good choice if you want to be central to everything.
Enjoy
Stephen McPhilemy

Posted by
154 posts

Hi Stephen...
Thank you for your input. I really enjoy watching you on the many RS videos (I have the whole collection) as well as Rick's interviews with you on his podcasts/RS Audio Europe. I feel privileged to be able to participate in the same message thread.

We will be in Belfast in early July ( 2,3 &4) in a flat a few blocks south of Europa. Belfast is the start to our 15 night trip trip to the Emerald Isle. We will be there 3 nights, but the first is our arrival day from the US. so we really only have 2.5 days. The 4 of us will hire one of the Black Cabs. Does anyone know whether these tours visit the Milltown Cemetery? Also my GF's grandfather was born in Belfast c. 1917 and his last known address was 9 Springfield Street. She would like to stop for a brief visit/photo. Do you think the Black Cab driver would stop there for us?

Also, at the end of the Black Cab tour, would it be be acceptable to ask the driver to drop us off at the Titanic Exhibition or Gaol.

We are prepared to walk to gaol from flat (1.5 mi.)or even from Titanic to flat (2.0 mi). I wanted to cover all this in one day. We will probably spend 4 hrs at Titanic since I think we are purchasing the White Star Pass. We are known to walk up to 10 miles in a day while touring. We could walk to and from Titanic (or take bus one way), but I was concerned about how pedestrian friendly the route is. I am really looking forward to visiting Belfast.

Posted by
565 posts

Your driver will definitely take you to one of the museums after your tour. In fact, they will probably suggest it. I'm not sure about the address of your relative but you should certainly bring it up when you book.

My driver did not stop by Milltown Cemetery but yours might. I did, however, see the murals and the peace wall in detail and enjoyed it quite a bit.

Posted by
9220 posts

You could do Black Cab Tour of The Troubles, the gaol and Titanic Museum in one day. I did last Fall. Did the Gaol first, then called a black cab and asked if he'd take us to Shankill Road and the peace wall as well as other locations pertaining to The Troubles, negotiated a price (very reasonable) and off we went. He was great. Then dropped us off at The Titanic Museum. Made for a stellar day as did the best seafood chowder I've ever had for dinner at Mourne's Seafood on Bank Street. Meant to mention try one of the Premiere Inns. Not souls but not a B and B but convenient. My friends apartment is adjacent to the one located in the Titanic Quarter. Seemed like a nice facility, easy walk to the Titanic Museum as well close enough to cross the walking bridge into downtown Belfast which I did daily to visit St George's Market, The Spaniard pub, Mourne's Seafood, City Hall, as well as The Lyric and MAC theaters for evening performances. Have a wonderful visit.

Posted by
154 posts

In response regarding including a stop at Milltown Cemetery...

I've booked the a Ken Harper tour of Belfast and have opted to add the additional 45 min for a cemetery visit. I believe it is an extra 20 pounds.

Posted by
449 posts

Hi:

I was in Belfast on March 30 & 31 and took a day trip to (London)Derry on April 1. On March 31 I had Ken Harper pick me up at my hotel, the 30x bombed Europa Hotel, at 9:00 am to do his standard 1-1/2 hour tour of the Falls Road and Shankill Road murals and the Peace Wall. He dropped me off at the Crumlin Road Gaol where I caught the 10:30 tour (though I was booked for 11:00). After the tour I had a leisurely lunch in the gaol cafe, and then headed off to the Titanic museum on foot. Along the way I walked through the cathedral district and saw some wonderful churches. I also stumbled across a Ulster regimental museum and spoke with the curator about the interesting military display. I finally made to the museum and spent about 2-1/2 hours there before leaving. So the answer to your question is: yes, it is possible to do all three in one day if you are in ok condition (I'm in my late 60s). I could not bear to walk back to the hotel so I paid 1 pound 70 pence for the bus ride back. My poor feet thanked me for this.

Let me add: Ken does an excellent tour of both sides of Belfast. You can cover a lot of territory when you have a vehicle. On the 31st I took a walking tour of just Falls Road that was sponsored by Coiste(sp?). This tour was advertised as taking 3 hours but it actually lasted 4-1/2 hours which included a stop at the cematery. We did not see as many murals but saw other things such as an IRA museum and an organization that supports former prisoners. The latter place had, for example, a recreation of a prison cell for women IRA prisoners. The guide himself spent 12 years in prison. Every black cab driver and just about everyone over 50 years old walking on Falls Road knew our guide.

One more comment: on the black cab tour I took many photographs of the murals. On the walking tour the next day one of them had been defaced in the past 24 hours with white paint. The hostility has not ended. The Coiste guide stated that more Peace Wall has been built during the past ten years than all the years since the start of the Troubles.

Posted by
154 posts

Thank you. I was thinking about doing the same as you...take a bus back from Titanic as I's sure my feet would be in bad shape by then.