Belfast covers 115 km2, has a population of around 270,000, is situated at the mouth of the River Lagan and has been making a good recovery since the Troubles came to an end with the Good Friday...
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Belfast covers 115 km2, has a population of around 270,000, is situated at the mouth of the River Lagan and has been making a good recovery since the Troubles came to an end with the Good Friday agreement in 1998. Urban renewal, peace and investment are creating a modern, attractive European city worth visiting with attractions such as Victoria Square, Queen’s Island and the new Odyssey complex. Famous for ship building in the past (The Titanic was built here) and infamous for the violence and unrest during the 30 years of sectarian misery, this UK city is full of warm, friendly people and an increasingly interesting GLBT community. As with most cities with a strong culture of religion and self-righteousness, it has a fair number of sinners to make it fun.
The main GLBT Scene in Belfast is located just north of the City Centre in the Cathedral Quarter. Here you will find the most popular bars and night clubs. Like most scenes, there are many special club nights and music nights and all tastes are catered for. The names change quite a bit but local web sites can keep you updated as to what is on where and when.
The countryside around Belfast is amazing and the coast is truly beautiful so renting a car and exploring the landscape during the day is well worth the effort. The city center has its fair share of temples for retail worship and cafés for people watching. Stick to the center as the suburbs tend to still be pretty boring and divided along traditional religious lines, although visitors are made to feel really welcome. The locals want Belfast to become more popular as a tourist destination and take a lot of effort to make visitors feel safe, warm and valued.
The weather can be really unpredictable so be prepared for anything from heat exhaustion to deluge and flooding.
Facts:
Inhabitants:270000
Area:115 square kilometres
