A transformed Belfast has much to offer

As a young child my family would cross the Border from Monaghan into Northern Ireland on rare occasions and even though only over an hour away Belfast seemed like another world.

The city has made an incredible transformation in the last few years and is now a cosmopolitan, vibrant travel destination with a huge amount to offer any visitor, business or otherwise.

Several exclusive hotels have sprung up around the city and you can’t turn a corner without stumbling into a hip new restaurant or cocktail bar. But the city has its past and if you’re interested to know about that, there’s plenty of interesting folks willing to tell you. Nordies can spin a good yarn, no doubt about that and it’s one thing you’ll love about Belfast, everyone’s willingness to chat and elicit the craic.

The first port of call should be the Titanic quarter; the shipyards where the ill-fated cruise liner was built have been transformed into a multimedia museum and is now the city’s number one tourist attraction.

Dominating the Belfast skyline are Samson and Goliath, the twin shipbuilding gantry cranes situated at Queen’s Island. The museum itself is interactive and around the site are the former drawing offices of the Harland & Wolff shipping company.

Also look out for the free-standing, stained glass windows featuring scenes from Game of Thrones dotted around the site and no self-respecting millennial would leave without a selfie with one as a backdrop.

The neighbourhoods of east and west Belfast provide a real flavour of the city. Take a black cab tour past the former homes of CS Lewis, George Best and Van Morrison before heading west to the Gaeltacht Quarter where trade unionist and Irish revolutionary James Connolly once lived. See the murals and peace walls that are still in place and if you look closely you’ll see where many famous hands have left their signature on those walls.

The calibre and array of food on offer in the city has really soared in recent years and it’s worthwhile taking a Taste and Tour excursion with guide Caroline Wilson while there. The team likes to keep each destination a mystery, but I can say cocktails, artisan beers, chocolate and other local produce, including some incredible cheeses are among the offerings.

In the Cathedral Quarter, street art livens up the neighbourhood, while at St George’s market, which is one of the last surviving Victorian-covered markets in Belfast, there is plenty of delicious fresh fish, cheeses and meats to sample, and you might be lucky enough to catch some live jazz at the weekend.

Nightlife in the city is very buzzy. For something completely different, go see the Belfast Giants at the SSE Arena. If you didn’t know the city had a thriving ice hockey team, you’re not alone but you’re sure to get in the mood and will almost certainly be using a foam finger to hail your cab home.

Eat at Michelin star restaurant Ox, if you can get a table or at the popular James St South. Try the Crispy Squid, Squid Ink and Jalapeno Mayo or the County Tyrone 270g fillet steak.

Stay at the Europa Hotel, which has its own chequered history. Having gained a reputation as one of the most bombed hotels in Europe during the 1970′s and 1980′s, it was also a base for foreign correspondents, reporting on the Troubles at that time. While bombed 33 times, it only closed its doors twice during that period. The newly refurbished hotel is plush, comfortable, and extremely central, with friendly staff and down-to-earth service. www.europahotelbelfast.com

If small and lovingly restored with touches of glamour is your thing, then stay at Harrison’s Chambers of Distinction on the Malone Road. Each of the 16 bedrooms has its own unique personality and distinct story to tell and it has a very relaxed home-from-home vibe. www.chambersofdistinction.com

If high-end luxury with a touch of exclusivity is what you’re after then check out the Regency Belfast, nestled in the heart of Queen’s quarter. With luxe interiors, these self-catering apartments offer anonymity without compromising on all the premium amenities a five-star hotel would provide. www.theregencybelfast.com

For more on Belfast see www.visitbelfast.com