Belfast

Where ships dock

Taxi or shuttle; the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre is a 10–15 minute drive.

• Pollock Dock (Herdman Channel)

Best time to go

Belfast Harbour welcomes around 150 calls a year. Ships usually stay a full day and some stay overnight. Check the harbour's cruise schedule for your date.

Check the live forecast on this page before you go and dress for changeable weather if you plan to head out to the coast.

How far from the pier

One way. Short call OK means 20 minutes or less.

• Visit Belfast Welcome Centre (from Stormont Wharf or Pollock Dock)Taxi10 min
• Visit Belfast Welcome Centre (from D1)Taxi15 min

Ship tour or go independent?

Belfast is easy to do on your own. Visit Belfast runs a dedicated cruise welcome facility staffed by travel advisors, and the city is compact. Booking your own tour gives you more choice, smaller groups and your own pace. Visit Belfast lists one Causeway tour that takes up to seven people. The ship's own excursions suit anyone who would rather leave the timing to the cruise line, especially for a Causeway day. Browse the tours below and use the time-ashore filter to find one that fits your call.

• Check which berth your ship uses. Drive times to the Welcome Centre are 10 minutes from Stormont Wharf and Pollock Dock and 15 minutes from D1.
• A Causeway day needs a full call. Pick a tour whose length plus about 90 minutes fits your time ashore. One tour listed by Visit Belfast runs 7 hours from City Hall.
• The National Trust says booking the Giant's Causeway online ahead gets the best rates and that Carrick-a-Rede pre-booking is essential. Both sites can close in high winds, and the Trust posts date-specific closures, so check your date and pick a tour with an alternative stop.
• Titanic Belfast and Crumlin Road Gaol hours vary by day, so check your date before you plan around them.

Getting around

Rideshare limited

• WalkVisit Belfast calls the city centre compact and walkable. No source publishes a walking time from the berths, so plan to ride to the centre and walk from there.
• ShuttleThe cruise terminal has dedicated shuttle bus space, and the dockside welcome desk holds shuttle bus timetable information. Shuttles can also be arranged on request. No route, fare or frequency is published.
• TaxiThe cruise terminal has a taxi rank. Visit Belfast says taxis can be pre-booked with a local company, some of which have apps, and that some companies offer wheelchair-friendly and seven-seater cars. No official taxi fare is published.
• BusTranslink runs Metro buses and Glider services in the city. At a Glider halt, buy your ticket before boarding at the machine, which takes cash or card. The one-day dayLink is valid on all Metro and Glider services. You need a Translink dayLink card first; Translink lists where to get one.

  dayLink, 1 day, adult

  £4.00

  dayLink, 1 day, child

  £2.00

• TrainBelfast's main train stations are Grand Central and Lanyon. No fare is quoted here.

No official source lists ride-hailing apps for Belfast. Visit Belfast suggests booking a taxi in advance by phone or app.

Money, tipping & phones

Money

The pound sterling (£). Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Northern Ireland; American Express works in some places. Some shops and attractions may take euros, but this is not guaranteed.

Tipping

Many restaurants add a discretionary service charge for groups of six or more; if it is on your bill you don't need to tip. If none is added, 10–15% is customary.

Must-sees

• Titanic BelfastRide neededThe world's largest Titanic visitor experience, on the spot where the ship was designed and built. The Titanic Experience is a self-guided walk through themed galleries, and your ticket includes SS Nomadic, the Titanic's tender. On Oct 23, 2026, an adult ticket was £24.95 and a child (5–15) £11; hours are seasonal and prices can change.
• Crumlin Road GaolRide neededA 19th-century listed jail you visit on a guided tour of around 90 minutes at 53–55 Crumlin Road. On Oct 23, 2026, adult tickets were £17.50 online and £18.50 at the door. The gaol lists 10:30–15:30 on weekdays and 10:00–16:00 on weekends, so check your date.
• Black taxi tourRide neededVisit Belfast describes political tours that explain the city's murals and political history. It lists Taxi Trax, which calls itself the original Belfast black taxi tour and says its guides include locals who lived through the conflict years. Taxi Trax takes up to seven passengers per cab and can collect from a cruise ship if booked in advance, for an extra charge. Tour prices and lengths are not published on the listing.
• Giant's CausewayRide neededA UNESCO World Heritage Site of about 40,000 basalt columns, listed in 1986. The National Trust runs the visitor experience (adult £16, child £8 on Oct 23, 2026) and says booking online ahead gets the best rates. It posts date-specific closures for high winds, so check your date. A 7-hour tour with a group of up to seven leaves from Belfast City Hall, so it suits a full-day call.
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope BridgeRide neededA rope bridge nearly 100 feet above the Atlantic, reached by a 1 km walk from the car park. Pre-booking is essential (adult £16, child £8 at peak time). The bridge closes in high winds, and the Trust posts date-specific closures, so check your date.
• Belfast City Hall and St George's MarketRide neededCity Hall on Donegall Square opened in 1906. St George's Market on East Bridge Street is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Free & cheap near the pier

• Dockside Welcome deskNo fee listedVisit Belfast travel advisors run a dedicated cruise welcome facility with tourist information, free Wi-Fi, maps and brochures.
• dayLink bus pass£4.00 adult, 1 dayOne day of travel on all Metro and Glider services for adults, or £2.00 for children.
• St George's MarketNo fee listedOne of the city's oldest attractions, on East Bridge Street. It is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. No entry fee is listed on the council page.
• Left luggage£4 per bag, half dayThe Visit Belfast Welcome Centre across from City Hall stores bags, handy if you want to roam hands-free.

Eat like a local

• BoxtyA traditional local dish that Visit Belfast points visitors to in its local cuisine picks.
• Pub food and GuinnessVisit Belfast describes a thriving traditional pub scene, with cosy pubs and live music.
• Brunch and Ulster fryVisit Belfast's brunch picks range from a hearty Ulster fry to avocado on sourdough.
• Irish coffeeVisit Belfast suggests an Irish coffee after a traditional meal.
• Market stallsSt George's Market, open Friday to Sunday, is a place to graze if your call falls on those days.

Rainy-day backups

• Titanic BelfastThe world's largest Titanic visitor experience, with the self-guided Titanic Experience and SS Nomadic included in admission.
• Crumlin Road GaolA 19th-century listed jail with a guided tour of about 90 minutes.
• Ulster MuseumIn the Botanic Gardens, with dinosaur, meteorite and Spanish sailor displays. Opening hours are not published in the source used here.

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 2 — Exercise increased caution due to terrorism (issued September 9, 2026)

• The advisory notes isolated violence from dissident groups in Northern Ireland, mainly aimed at police and military. Tensions may be higher during the marching season from April to August and on July 12.
• The advisory says petty crime is common in popular tourist spots and warns of pickpocketing and snatch-and-grab theft of phones, watches and jewelry. Keep valuables close.
• Dial 999 for emergencies. For non-urgent crime, call the police on 101.
• The U.S. Consulate General Belfast is at Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Road; from the UK the main line is 028 9038 6100.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier

Ships dock alongside, so there is no tender. The cruise terminal has a visitor information centre, a taxi rank, washrooms with a disabled-access WC and seating.

• Some Belfast taxi companies offer wheelchair-friendly cars, and Taxi Trax lists wheelchair-friendly vehicles.
• The Giant's Causeway visitor centre is fully accessible, with wheelchairs and mobility scooters to borrow and a shuttle minibus to the stones. The Green Trail is the accessible walking route.
• At Carrick-a-Rede, the first 0.5 km of the coastal path is accessible. The rope bridge is reached by steps and uneven ground.