A city steeped in complex history has become one of Europe’s hot spots, according to a popular travel magazine. Belfast has the best of what Ireland has to offer.
While it was once associated with shipbuilding and sectarian conflict, the city of Belfast is now booming with artists, chefs, and tech specialists that would rival any other city in mainland Europe. With plenty to offer, Conde Nast Traveller named Belfast ‘one of the coolest spots in Europe.’
Tourist traffic in Belfast has certainly been on the rise in recent years, both from international visitors and people crossing the border from the Republic of Ireland. That’s because Belfast has earned itself a reputation as a bustling and contemporary city with plenty to offer. Traveller credits the “abundance of music, the sumptuousness and originality of the hotels, the cross-community meetings of minds.”
The city, which they write is “reclaiming itself from dereliction,” has old-school charm with contemporary attractions, like some of the best up and coming restaurants and cocktail bars in Ireland. Entrepreneurship is blooming amongst the younger generation in Northern Ireland, who are feeding energy back into the community.
The scars of the complex and sometimes painful history can still be felt all over the city, which elevates the experience of sightseeing. Each landmark has a story, from the Titanic museum, to the murals in the Shankill and Falls roads. The reclamation of the Irish language in some areas of the city also adds a level of authenticity to the tourist experience.
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Since the Covid pandemic, tourism has become one of the most important economic sectors within Northern Ireland. Exposure provided by Conde Nast Traveller and other high-profile publications helps to highlight what makes the city special and worth a visit.
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