History, natural beauty, sublime seafood, Hollywood status – Northern Ireland’s list of impressive credentials could go on and on. Here’s 5 reasons why you should put a visit to the North, to the very top of your bucket list…
1 – It’s home to the incredible Titanic Belfast
Being voted the “World’s Leading Tourist Attraction” is no mean feat, but that’s the exact accolade that Titanic Belfast scooped in the 2016 World Travel Awards. A true ‘wow’ moment if ever there was one, Titanic Belfast stands majestically at the head of the slipway where the Titanic was built, the scale of the building exact to the scale of the ill-fated ship.
Inside, the multimedia displays chart the history, creation and downfall of the Titanic, while outside it’s the immaculate attention to detail that really blows you away, such as the Titanic Memorial Garden. Located on the Olympic slipway, the garden is formed of four grass lawns alternated with timber decking, with proportions illustrating the number of Titanic victims and survivors from each passenger class and crew.
Get Inspired – Ireland’s Legendary North
2 – The Causeway Coast is even more impressive in real life
Crashing waves, landscapes formed from volcanic activity and seals bobbing in the surf… no, not an episode of ‘Blue Planet’, but just another day on the stunning Causeway Coast. Dubbed one of the ‘world’s best road trips’, the Causeway Coast weaves around the North-East coast of Ireland, starting in Belfast and winding through the nine glens of Antrim, before eventually ending in the Walled City of Derry.
The crowning glory of the Causeway Coast is of course the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Legend has it that this vast expanse of over 40,000 interlocking hexagonal stone columns was the work of local giant Finn McCool. The reality (cooling lava some 60 million years ago) is somewhat different, but the fact remains that the Giant’s Causeway is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest trump cards, and for good reason.
3 – Belfast will surprise you
Belfast has come a long way since the signing of the Good Friday agreement in 1998. Nearly 25 years on from The Troubles and following healthy investment pumped into the city, Belfast has emerged as a cosmopolitan, warm and welcoming city with so much to offer. From the buzz of St George’s Market to the ultra-modern Titanic quarter, to trendy Commercial Court or historical City Hall, the city hums with a mix of history and regeneration while never shying away from its past.
Also read – 11 of the best experiences you can enjoy on Trafalgar’s ‘Ireland’s Legendary North’ tour
4 – The food is sensational
With over 75% of the Northern Irish countryside used for some form of agriculture, it’s no surprise that the food in this corner of the world follows a true ‘farm to fork’ philosophy. After all, restaurateurs don’t have to look far for fresh ingredients! Belfast is undeniably the hub for good food, with 3 restaurants in the city retaining their Michelin star rating for 2021 (Ox Belfast, Deanes Eipic and The Muddlers Club), but elsewhere in the North, good food is not hard to find. Over in Derry, The Sooty Olive and Quaywest are both highlights, each serving up dishes that specialise in local, homegrown ingredients.
And of course, you can’t champion food in the North of Ireland without putting the spotlight on seafood. St. George’s Market in Belfast is the place to go for the freshest catch, but you can tuck in to plates of shell fish and fresh all along the coast.
5 – The locals will welcome you like family
Ireland is known for its céad míle fáilte, ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’, and the North is no exception. Warm, welcoming and always with a story to share, the locals of Northern Ireland are natural hosts and have an immediate ability to make you feel as if you belong. Family values and a sense of community are the backbone of life in the North, and it’s this generosity and kindness that you’ll remember long after you return home.
When you travel to Northern Ireland with Trafalgar, you’ll have ample opportunity to embrace the Giant Spirit of this place and meet just some of the wonderful local people who call this part of the world home. These are just some of the local folk, who can’t wait to welcome you…
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your visit to the Emerald Isle today. Head to trafalgar.com to discover more…
Created in proud partnership with Discover Northern Ireland
