We will have 1 full day in Belfast on our 2-week trip to Ireland. Plan to see the Botanic gardens and to try to locate neighborhood where my grandmother grew up.

What are your favorite places in Belfast? We will be in Belfast on a Friday near the end of July. Travelling with family including young adults and hubby.

Thanks very much! WE leave in a coupla days.

If you can make it to Belfast Castle, and it's sunny, the views of the city below are gorgeous. There is a beautiful garden - the builders loved cats and hid eight cats, stone or mosaic, etc, around the garden, so it may be fun trying to find them all. I'd definitely try and do that while you're there.

...or maybe nine cats. Ask there, I don't remember

Mab85, thanks for the tip about Belfast Castle. Hubby loves gardens and daughters and I love castles.

I heard there was a St. George's Market that is interesting. Where is that?

Melissa,

St Geoges Market is Belfast's very small equivilent of Covent Garden in London.

I go regularly but only for food stuff (in particular fish).

There are other stalls there but I have never looked at them as they look very tacky.

Having said that, if you want to see local people doing their shopping that is where you will find them.

Do go early - opens at 06.00am!

If you go to Botanic Gardens gardens and walk around the area where your grandmother lived you will fill half a day.

Other recomendations are

The City Hall & Queens University

Have a good trip

Don't fergit the Crown Pub across from the former Europa Hotel (don't know what it's name is now)and the old Opera House...it remains as one of the classic interiors of all Irish pubs, north and south.
Stu T.

tHANKS TO ALL! Leaving soon.