Irish city’s troubled history is a key part of its story
Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital city, is perhaps best known for the sectarian strife that took place here during the era of the Troubles, and as the birthplace of the Titanic . While these two claims to fame aren’t too uplifting, Belfast’s story is hardly a downer. This unsinkable city, just two hours away from Dublin by train, makes for a fascinating day trip.
While you can easily and safely walk through these districts on your own, and some tours offer balanced accounts of the challenging times of the Troubles, I find the area’s best enjoyed with a private taxi tour. The cabbies who offer tours of these neighbourhoods grew up here and know their city well, offering honest viewpoints on the Troubles, political murals, and local culture. My time with them is always the most interesting 90 minutes of any visit to Belfast.
Across the River Lagan, east of the centre, the historic Titanic Quarter — the former shipbuilding district now filled with museums, entertainment, and a hockey arena — symbolizes the rise of Belfast. Next to the original slipways where the Titanic was built, the massive Titanic Belfast museum commemorates Belfast’s shipbuilding industry. Six stories tall, the striking museum is clad with more than 3,000 sun-reflecting aluminum panels.
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