Things to do in Belfast

What not to miss when you visit Northern Ireland’s capital.

We are delighted that our delegates will be able to experience all that Belfast and Northern Ireland have on offer this December and would like to thank Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and Visit Belfast for their support of the BES Annual Meeting 2023.

The logos of the supporters of the BES annual meeting

Belfast is packed full of world-class attractions, historic landmarks, museums, shopping and entertainment venues. As the gateway to Northern Ireland, the city is also perfectly positioned for sightseeing tours to Giant’s Causeway, Game of Thrones filming locations and road trips beyond the capital.

You can find plenty of information about the city of Belfast on the links below.

To help you make the most of your visit, Annual Meeting attendees can access a range of exclusive offers including this selection of free and discounted activities across Belfast and beyond. Click here to find out about all the deals on offer.

Northern Ireland Tours

Experience and Explore NI are a group of experienced tour guides with a passion for showing off the great sights of Northern Ireland. Pick from a cultural tour or an energetic hike across one of many stunning scenic routes. Combine both and experience the best of hidden Northern Ireland on full and half day tours. If you have an idea in mind, contact them directly and they will be happy to work with you to draw up a personalised itinerary.

Game of Thrones Studio Tour

Located at the real filming location, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour invites you to step behind the scenes of The Seven Kingdoms and beyond, providing the perfect day out for any fan of the show. Explore the costumes, props, and art and find out how one of the world’s most popular TV series was created and brought to life in Northern Ireland.

The studio tour is open daily. Delegates can get 25% off admission rates. Pre-book your tickets here using promo code “Delegate25” and present your conference name badge on arrival.

Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast is a world-leading visitor attraction which tells the story of RMS Titanic. Located beside the historic Titanic Slipways, the Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and Hamilton Graving Dock – the very place where Titanic was designed, built and launched, Titanic Belfast tells the story of Titanic from her conception, through her construction and launch, to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history.

Titanic Belfast is open daily. Delegates can access a discounted rate for the Titanic Galleries of £21.95 per person. Pre-book here using the promo code “CONFDELS2023” and present your conference name badge on arrival.

Belfast Walking Tours

Whether you’re interested in history, culture, food or all of the above, DC Tours have a tour for you. Join award-winning local tour guides and discover the city with the experts. Tours include a 2.5 hour city centre route exploring the history, culture, architecture and art of Belfast, perfect to fit in around the conference events. Their private and self guided audio tours let you explore Belfast (and beyond) at your own pace.

DC Tours run daily. Delegates can access 15% discount on standard ticket price. Pre-book here using the code “MEET15” and present your conference name badge on arrival.

Discover award winning food and drink tours

With their signature Belfast Food Tour, Gin Jaunt, City Cocktail Circuit and 5 Stop Brunch Tour, amongst others, Taste and Tour NI have made it their business to lead guests to Belfast’s brightest and best flavours. Their local guides will lead the cheer, helping guests discover the people, the history and the top tastes in the city.

Taste and Tour NI runs tours dairly, subject to availability. Delegates can get £5 off pp on all public tours by emailing and quoting ‘Delegate Offer’

Belfast’s Botanic Gardens

Belfast’s Botanic Gardens were established in 1828 and features tropical plants, giant bird feeders, rose and alpine gardens and sculptures. Beautiful trails around the park make a great way to spend an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you want an escape from the December weather you can also visit their Palm House and Tropical Ravine.

Belfast’s Botanic Gardens are free to visit and open daily.

Belfast Christmas Market

In December there’s plenty to do to get into the festive spirit in Belfast, and top of the list are the Christmas markets which have been running for over 15 years in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Visitors can sample festive treats, crafts and gifts from over 100 exhibitors from 28 countries or enjoy the fairground rides around the square.

The Belfast Christmas Market is free to visit and open daily.

Belfast Zoo

Belfast Zoo’s 55 acre site is home to more than 1000 animals and 150 species, the majority of which are endangered in their natural habitat. The zoo also carries out important conservation work and takes part in European and international breeding programmes which help to ensure the survival of many species under threat.

Belfast zoo is open daily from 10am to 4pm (last entry 2.30pm); delegates can get 10% off entry upon presentation of delegate badge.

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