Tourist Tips
Port location
Most ships dock at Stormont Dock or Pollock Dock, located less
than 3 miles north or a ten minute drive from Belfast city
centre.
Tourist Information
Belfast Welcome Centre
47 Donegall Place
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9024 6609
Opening hours
Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm and Sunday 11am-4pm (June-September)
Monday-Saturday 9am-5.30pm and Sunday 11am-4pm
(October-May)
Free tourist information, ticket sales, bureau de change, left
luggage, internet access point, gift shop.
Language
English, Irish and Ulster Scots.
International Dialling Code: Same as UK
00 44 + area code (without 0) + local number.
Climate
The weather in Northern Ireland is traditionally changeable but
mild. Although the summer months sometimes see periods of sunshine,
at any time of year it is advisable to be prepared for rain.
Population
- 267,374 people live in the city
- 645,536 live in the wider metropolitan area
- Belfast is a young city. Over 60% of Belfast's total population
are of working age, with 19.9% of the population under 16 years
old
Post Office
Main post office located at 26-32 High Street, at corner of
Bridge Street.
Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5.30pm. Books of stamps are available from
Belfast Welcome Centre and other stores.
Currency and Banking
British pound sterling (£). Larger stores accept Euro (€) notes
and usually give change back in sterling.
Banks open generally Monday– Friday 9.30am-4.30pm with some opening
Saturday mornings. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) dispense cash
at hundreds of locations and credit cards are widely accepted.
Shopping
Larger city centre stores open Monday and Tuesday 9am-7pm,
Wednesday-Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-6pm and Sunday
1pm-6pm.
Selected stores participate in the VAT refund scheme for non-EU
citizens. Ask for the form at time of purchase.
Smoking
A smoking ban has been implemented in all Northern Ireland's
workplaces and enclosed public spaces, including pubs, cafés,
clubs, restaurants, buses and trains as of April 2007.
Tipping
It is now a generally accepted practice in restaurants to leave
a gratuity of 10-15 percent for good service. Some restaurants may
add on an obligatory 10 or 12.5 percent service charge on large
group bookings.
Pub and Bar Hours
Generally Monday–Saturday 11.30am–11pm, Sunday 12.30pm–10pm.
Many bars in Belfast have later opening hours
Thursday–Saturday.
Children are not permitted on licensed premises. By law no alcohol
may be served to children less than 18 years of age.
Transport
Buses and trains – operated by Translink throughout Belfast and
Northern Ireland. For timetable information, please call +44 (0) 28
9066 6630 or visit http://www.translink.co.uk/
Taxis –Valuecabs +44 (0) 28 9080 9080.
Recommended average fare from the docks to the city centre
£6-8.
Public toilets
24 hour automatic coin operated toilets (cost 20p) are located
on Dublin Road, Great Victoria Street, Custom House Square and
Lombard Street.
Other facilities are available Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm on Ann
Street, Arthur Street and North Street.
Disability Access
Belfast’s buildings are more accessible to wheelchair users than
ever. The following websites and contact numbers provide more
details:
Disability Action: Tel. +44 (0) 28 9049 1011 http://www.disabilityaction.org/
http://www.disabledgo.info/
Shopmobility Belfast provides free wheelchairs and scooters to hire
from CastleCourt and Queen Street. For more details contact: +44
(0) 28 9080 8090 or visit http://www.shopmobilitybelfast.co.uk/