The largest city in Northern Ireland, Belfast is home to nearly 300,000 people.
The city has gone through many changes over recent years, and it now has one of the fastest growing economies in the country.
With an emerging vibrant technology and marketing scene, Belfast is a great place to start your career; and with beautiful countryside and mountains just outside the city, it offers the perfect work-life balance.
Whether you want to work in PR, content, SEO, social media, PPC – or just as a generalist digital marketer, there are so many opportunities in Belfast; with a wide range of agencies working with some of the coolest clients in the country.
Looking to build your career and meet like-minded people? Check out these conferences and monthly meet-ups, to build your knowledge and grow your confidence.
A bustling city with a rich and varied history, surrounded by vast countryside, Belfast really is a great place to live.
One of the best things about it? It’s one of the most cost-effective UK cities – in fact, it’s in our top 5 cheapest cities to live; 12.5% cheaper than Birmingham, 16% cheaper than Edinburgh, and a huge 158% cheaper than London!
Average cost of a one bed flat (monthly rent)
£651.88 (city centre)
£450 (outside city centre)
Average monthly commuting costs
£55.50
Monthly gym membership
£24.08
Average cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant
£12
Average cost of a cappuccino
£2.60
Average cost of 0.5l beer
£4
*stats from Numbeo
9 Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GJ
Get ready to test your aim against your friends in the ultimate paintballing experience in Belfast.
Enter the battlefield equipped with your Tippmann 98 marker gun and mask, and prepare to have a whole lot of fun. At Bedlam there are many zones you can enter, from the Crypt to the Tower or even a Dr. Who theme.
Bedlam also do outdoor Laser Tag to allow you to live out your Call of Duty dreams – but without the bruises! It is a non-contact version to suit a wider range of people, so more of your friends can join.
Where? 9 Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GJ
Cost: £13.95
Website: bedlampaintball.co.uk
College Park, Botanic Avenue, BT7 1LP
Dating back to 1828, the Belfast Botanical Gardens contain a range of exotic plants and birds of paradise within the Palm House and the Tropical Ravine.
The Tropical Ravine contains some of the oldest seed plants around today, and frequently hosts events so you can learn more about the science of the plants or botanical art. The Palm House is one of the earliest examples of a curved greenhouse and contains beautiful birds of paradise.
The Botanical Gardens are also a popular place for fairs, concerts and festivals or as a meeting place for art groups.
Where? College Park, Botanic Avenue, BT7 1LP
Cost: Free entry
Website: belfastcity.gov.uk
Antrim Rd, Belfast, Newtownabbey BT36 7PN
Home to 120 different species, the Belfast Zoological Gardens is perfect for any animal lover!
Set in 55 acres of stunning gardens, there is plenty to explore and many insta-worthy spots.
You can even watch some of the animals such as penguins, meerkats and elephants being fed throughout the day – just have a look on the website to find out what time they have their lunch!
If you are a budding photographer then this is the place to be, as they host various photography workshops, and what better things to photograph than these adorable animals?
Where? Antrim Rd, Belfast, Newtownabbey BT36 7PN
Cost: Adults £13
Website: belfastzoo.co.uk
The Merchant Hotel, 16 Skipper Street, Belfast, BT1 2DZ, Northern Ireland
Enter Belfast’s only jazz bar and be transported back to the art deco era of 1930s New York.
Be welcomed by an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere whilst sipping cocktails and dining on their selection of French bistro style food.
Live music is there to serenade you seven nights a week, so there is every opportunity to enjoy a jazz night any point in the week. On weekends you can brunch with the sounds of a live pianist.
Be sure to make a reservation if you are going on a Friday or a Saturday night, otherwise you might not be able to get a table!
Where? The Merchant Hotel, 16 Skipper Street, Belfast, BT1 2DZ, Northern Ireland
Cost: Mains £15 – £20, Drinks £10.95, Reservations after 8:30pm on Fri-Sat £10
Website: themerchanthotel.com
402 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HH, Northern Ireland
Walk through this magical square dedicated to the famous author C.S. Lewis, who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia.
Located at the intersection of the Connswater and Comber Greenways, you can see the seven incredible bronze sculptures of characters from ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, including Aslan and Mr Tumnus.
The square is open 24/7 and are illuminated at night. Afterwards you can have a coffee in the JACK Coffee Bar next to it, named after the author whose nickname was ‘Jack’. Inside is a showcase of local artists for you to browse too.
Where? 402 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HH, Northern Ireland
Cost: Free entry
Website: visitbelfast.com
33 Church Lane, Belfast BT1 4QN
Groups of 2-6 players can take on the challenge of escaping from three different themed rooms in the heart of Belfast.
You have to work together to get out in an hour, so it is the ultimate test of logic and puzzles.
Whether you want to pull off a diamond heist, use a time machine in a sci-fi space adventure, or enter the cold war as a spy – there are a range of themes to suit everyone.
Each room is a different difficulty so don’t worry if you have never done one before. If there are a lot of you there are doubles of each game so you can race against each other to see which group can get the best time!
Where? 33 Church Lane, Belfast BT1 4QN
Cost: £11-£17pp
Website: escaperoomsbelfast.com
McCombs Coach Travel & Tours, 22-32 Donegall Rd, Belfast BT12 5JN, UK
This is a full day out for those who really love to explore, starting off at the Giant’s Causeway looking at the volcanic rocks that make up one of Belfast’s national treasures.
Throughout this 10 hour adventure via coach, you get to stop off at places where some of the most iconic scenes from Game of Thrones was filmed and pretend you were in the show!
Towards the end, you can test your bravery on the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, which gives some incredible scenic views. If you aren’t a fan of Game of Thrones don’t worry, there is also an option to just visit the Giant’s Causeway.
Where? McCombs Coach Travel & Tours, 22-32 Donegall Rd, Belfast BT12 5JN, UK
Cost: £38.50 (or £22 for just the Giant’s Causeway)
Website: onthegotours.com
Alexandra Dock, Queens Rd, Belfast BT3 9DT
Discover a boat load of history about HMS Caroline – the last survivor of the battle of Jutland.
As part of the Royal Navy National Museum, you can explore the harbour and go on a self-guided interactive tour to learn all about the history.
Feel like a sailor as you go inside the ship, which they have recreated it to look as it did in 1914, so you can even enter the engine room where they have the original turbines.
In the museum you can get all hands on deck in the interactive zone, where you can make your own camouflage or learn how to signal to other ships.
Where? Alexandra Dock, Queens Rd, Belfast BT3 9DT
Cost: £10.75
Website: nmm.org
411 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GP
Come and try this Nordic themed coffee shop just north of the city centre.
Here, you can try coffee that is fresh and sourced directly from Copenhagen and roasted by the master roaster Ricco Sørensen.
Why not have a bite to eat too with delicious Nordic inspired food available throughout the day? Choose from vegetarian and vegan stews and soups.
There are actually three different Kaffe O venues within Belfast as they have been growing and expanding, so you can visit them at the Ormeau, Botanics or Donegall House.
Where? 411 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GP (see website for the other two venues)
Cost: Coffee £2-£3, Food £4-£8
Website: kaffeo.coffee
Knockbracken Reservoir, 1 Mealough Rd, Carryduff, Belfast, BT8 8GB
Splash around with your friends at Belfast’s very own water park!
The main feature is the inflatable obstacle course, ranging from water slides to trampolines on 1.1 million litres of water.
For those who enjoy watersports, they offer paddleboarding, kayaking and the adrenaline pumping wakeboarding. To relax after a fun filled afternoon, why not get a campfire going and stay the night in one of their 40 glamping pods available?
Set in 50 acres of land, it’s a perfect get-away and escape from the bustling city, and don’t worry about owning a wetsuit – you can hire them there.
Where? Knockbracken Reservoir, 1 Mealough Rd, Carryduff, Belfast, BT8 8GB
Cost: £12 aqua park entry, £5 wetsuit hire
Website: letsgohydro.com
May Street, Belfast BT1 1NN, Northern Ireland
Winning the Best Indoor Market 2019 award, it has everything from speciality food to antiques.
There are always live performers to create the perfect atmosphere and you can even perform yourself!
St. George’s Market is open from Friday to Sunday; with Friday comes a variety of stalls, Saturday specialises in foods and Sunday has an emphasis on local arts and crafts.
If the hustle and bustle of a market isn’t for you then you can visit during the ‘Quiet Hour’, which happens each morning for those who prefer a calmer shopping experience.
Where? May Street, Belfast BT1 1NN, Northern Ireland
Cost: Free entry
Website: belfastcity.gov.uk
38 Ballyhanwood Road, Belfast BT5 7SN, Northern Ireland
Anybody who loves puppies and all things cute will love Streamvale Open Farm where you can cuddle newborn rabbits and hold baby chicks.
If you visit in Spring (March-June) then you can even bottle feed the lambs. All year round you can take a ride on a tractor to see some fantastic views of the Belfast countryside and feed the red deer or watch the dog agility show.
Enjoy delicious locally sourced food from the cafe, or have a picnic with the puppies. It is a day filled with adorable animals and will definitely cause cuteness overload!
Where? 38 Ballyhanwood Road, Belfast BT5 7SN, Northern Ireland
Cost: £8.20
Website: streamvale.com
62 High Street, Belfast, BT1 2BE
Situated in a beautiful Victorian listed building, the architecture of this cafe is enough reason to visit, let alone the incredible coffee, which comes served on a stone plate.
Alongside this flavoursome coffee, they also have a range of local beers, ales and cocktails. We highly recommend trying some of their breakfast or lunch options Monday to Saturday or having a lazy Sunday brunch date!
The National Grande Cafe also has some evening events, from a Jamaican themed supper to a vinyl night – look at their website for what events are coming up.
Where? 62 High Street, Belfast, BT1 2BE
Cost: Breakfast £6.50-£8.50, Lunch £7.50, Cocktails £10
Website: thenationalbelfast.com
1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road BT3 9EP
Explore the Titanic in a fresh new immersive way at Titanic Belfast.
This tour will take you through nine interactive galleries and you’ll experience life on the decks with full-size replicas, and an electronic ride to take you through the journey.
As part of this experience you can also visit the SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star Line ship in the world. Other artefacts on display include the Titanic blueprint, and the last letter ever written on the Titanic.
An eye-opening and fascinating activity, we highly recommend going – even if you haven’t seen the film!
Where? 1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road BT3 9EP
Cost: £19
Website: titanicbelfast.com
Botanic Ct, Belfast, BT9 5AB
Boasting an impressive collection from all over the world, the Ulster Museum is a must visit!
Stand next to a real dinosaur skeleton, an Ancient Egyptian mummy or even a polar bear preserved from Dublin zoo.
There are always new collections arriving so there is plenty to see – even a 77m long Game of Thrones tapestry has just been put on display.
They even host movie nights in the museum – we can’t guarantee any of the artefacts will come to life though! Keep an eye out for other evening events on their website such as music workshops and drawing clubs.
Where? Botanic Ct, Belfast, BT9 5AB
Cost: Free – donations welcome
Website: nmni.com