Local Area

St. George’s Market is the last surviving Victorian market in the city. Before the turn of the 20th century, it was actually an open meat market! Now, it’s host to over 300 traders, creatives, and food vendors! For the shopaholics in your family, they will surely love the variety of trinkets and other goodies sold here.

The kids will surely enjoy Belfast Zoological Gardens, home to more than 140 species of animal. The zoo is also one of the oldest visitor attractions in Northern Ireland because it has been home to many animals since 1934. Currently, it is a leading and award-winning visitor attraction with more than 200,000 visitors each year.

Are your kids animal lovers? Then you shouldn’t miss Ark Open Farm where they can get up close and hand feed over 200 tame and friendly animals. Ark Open Farm is set in 40 acres of beautiful countryside, with indoor and outdoor play areas, such as Kangaroo Jumper, bumble quad ride, tractor and carriage rides, pony rides, zipline and a huge purpose built ark.

Looking for wide open spaces bursting with wetland nature? You and your kids will surely enjoy Castle Espie Wetland Centre where you can explore an extraordinary wetland paradise, whatever the weather! Here, you can also meet Northern Ireland’s largest collection of native and exotic ducks and geese from around the world.

Pickie is one of the top ten visitor attractions in Northern Ireland and it’s no surprise at all! Families especially like rides such as the Pickie Puffer steam train and the giant Pickie pedal swans! There’s also a splash pad, children’s electric cars and an 18-hole nautical themed mini golf course. When you get hungry, retreat to the park’s café with stylish interiors and views over Bangor Marina and Belfast Lough.

If you and your kids are feeling a bit adventurous, We Are Vertigo is your bet. It is Northern Ireland’s only indoor skydiving centre! With gusts of wind over 120mph, you will feel the sensation of skydiving! You an also try the Ninja Master Course, a 110 foot obstacle course of walls, hoops and challenges, suitable for all ages. For the young ones, there’s also the Inflata Park with 30,000 square feet of inflatable playground with inflatable floors, doors, and more!

Exploris is Northern Ireland’s only aquarium and seal sanctuary which is situated in Portaferry. The facility is located on the shores of the Marine Nature reserve of Strangford Lough (1 hour from our hotel), which is an important winter migration destination for many wading and sea birds.

Climb a wall, go on a giant swing, or build a den at Todd’s Leap. You and your daredevil of a gang will surely enjoy the custom zipover that will take you along dirt tracks to the highest point before you soar through the skies over the forest below. It’s just one of the many action-packed activities at Todd’s Leap!

Walk through CS Lewis Square, which commemorates Belfast-born CS Lewis, and rediscover The Chronicles of Narnia! Dropping by the square is a definite photo op moment with the fam! Pose with the bronze sculptures from ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, including Aslan, The White Witch, Mr Tumnus, The Beavers, The Robin and The Stone Table!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giants Causeway comprises around 40,000 thousands of hexagonal basalt columns descending gently into the sea. It’s one of the most visited sites in Northern Ireland. There are also guided and educational tours, where you can learn that the stones were formed either by an underwater volcano’s or by a giant named Finn McCool.

One of the popular attractions in Northern Ireland, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in County Antrim connects the mainland to a beautiful tiny island. It spans 20 metres and 30 metres above the rocks below.

When partying in Belfast, you can’t go wrong visiting Cathedral Quarter, a collection of lovely and traditional bars with a mixture of live music, beers cocktails, and good craic! This is undoubtedly the nightlife zone around Saint Anne’s Cathedral. There are hip and happening bistros, craft coffee shops, and stylish modern pubs in this narrow, cobbled quarter.

The North Coast of Ireland is surrounded by natural beauty. What better way to see them with your friends than from the sea with experienced local skippers? Take Sea Safari Boat Trips which depart from Portstewart, Portrush and Ballycastle. Experience the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland, Rathlin Ireland, Donegal, or the Scottish Islands of Islay and Jura with Aquaholics.

The Ulster Museum in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, has around 8,000 square has collections of fine art and applied art, archaeology, ethnography, treasures from the Spanish Armada, local history, and more! The whole family is sure to learn a thing or two at the largest museum in Northern Ireland!

Discover the Titanic story in a unique, insightful, and interactive way at Titanic Belfast is the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience!

There are nine interactive galleries to explore and you can also walk the decks of the last remaining White Star vessel. And you can do it all in Titanic Belfast, in the city where it all began.

A prison museum? Does such a thing exist? Yes, it does! Explore 150 years of incarceration at the Crumlin Road Gaol where 17 men have been executed. Explore its darkest secrets and have a spooktacular time with the lads.

Go with the flow and have a relaxing, romantic time rowing at Go Open Canoeing in Northern Ireland! They have a canoe hire service located at their Lakeside Centre, with self-guided packages to get you and your significant other started. It’s one of those activities you can do when you feel like having a quiet time with your partner.

Soak Seaweed Baths is a multi-award-winning Alternative Seaweed Bath House and Spa in Northern Ireland. Take a quick trip away from the city. Just fifty minutes from Maldron Hotel Belfast City, this is a place where you can rest, relax, and be spoiled in a silky hot seaweed bath. You and your partner can enjoy a spa treatment in bespoke treatment rooms and you can also refuel with a hot drink and snack in the tea room.

Saddle up and have a unique date experience at Shean’s Horse Farm. Just forty minutes away from Maldron Hotel Belfast International Airport, go out and about the North Coast on a horse with the sea wind on your face as you take in the fantastic views of the surrounds.

Go on a whiskey tasting and tour with professional Blue Badge tour guide Marty McAuley, owner of UlsterWhiskey.com. Discover the past, present and future of Ireland’s best-loved spirit!

If you and your mates are fans of the hit series Game of Thrones, then you shouldn’t miss the Northern Ireland Game of Thrones Tour! Visit the locations where the iconic scenes were shot, such as the Iron Islands, Winterfell, and more! The best part is you get to do the tour while walking around wearing the coats and other costumes that can make you look like a character from the show!

Have you seen ‘Crystal Maze’? Well Prison Island Belfast is a cooler version of that with 25 different prison-themed challenge cells. It’s a totally unique way to bond with your mates! Escape the cells with teamwork and use your physical and mental skills to beat the cell!