Is Belfast worth it?

[Seabedsurfer]

Has anyone travelling the world been to Belfast or their other city L'derry? Are they worth a visit or just another zit on the urban landscape? Personal Opinions would be great rather than flowery tourist talk one reads in brochures. Thanks. God bless

[luckystrike]

Belfast, and Londonderry, are both fantastic cities.

Belfast is also very easily accessible from many places in the UK and Europe - try to fly into the City Airport rather than the International, as it's only 5 minutes from the city centre (about �5 in a taxi).

Londonderry is less than two hours away.

Belfast has transformed itself over the last six or so years and offers everything that any other large British city has, in terms of shopping, nightlife, restaurants, entertainment, and tourist / historic attractions.

Accommodation in the city centre is good value and easy to find.

It is also an extremely safe city, despite what the national news teams have depicted, and you will receive a very warm welcome!  Every friend who has come over to stay with my wife and I has loved it, and all have returned.

I would encourage you to visit, if only for a weekend!

[KebabMeister]

I agree.  I went to Belfast back in 1996 shortly after the ceasefire was signed.  I enjoyed every moment of my stay there.  It is actually a very pretty town and would recommend anyone to visit there.

[flaming]

Haven't been to Belfast, but to Derry.  (It is more polite to call Londonderry 'Derry'  and you would certainly get a warmer welcome there and in surrounding areas.)  Ryanair does a daily flight to Derry.  The landing there is a bit of a thrill!  It is nice, but be warned about the weather  - it does seem to rain a lot.  Derry is handy for the lovely scenery of Co. Donegal so if you hired a car you could see lovely countryside and coast. As it's near the border you find that Euros and �s are interchangeable, if you tour into Ireland. Derry itself seemed a bit small by my standards, like going to Truro  or Lincoln perhaps.

[flaming]

P.S.   Sorry, I missed out that the daily Ryanair flights  to Derry are from Stansted Airport but I know it's a popular run so you have to book well ahead to get reasonable fares - and forget the major holiday breaks otherwise you find yourself paying a lot. An alternative some friends do is get a ferry to Belfast and hire a car there, then you could drive to Derry and area from therer.  Depends how long you've got.

[mash]

Both are nice, go for it. The people make them even better. Get a car if you can and see the Antrim Coast, lovely. Befast has the edge for me

It's not called Derry to be polite, its based on politic, not an issue anyway for the tourist.