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Belfast Car Hire

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Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, and the name originates from the Irish Béal Feirste, meaning mouth of the sandbanks, giving an idea of the city’s location on the mouth of the River Lagan and the western end of Belfast Lough.  The city’s traditional industries of engineering and shipbuilding have been replaced in recent years by a thriving service sector and booming tourist industry, giving Belfast one of the fastest growing economies in the UK.  There has been enormous investment in the regeneration of previously rundown areas, so that visitors can now enjoy the newly renovated dockland area, the Cathedral Quarter, and a plethora of museums and galleries  

Things to Do in Belfast

The city is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is only a short drive from some of the most stunning coastal scenery in Ireland, including the Giants Causeway, so arranging car hire for the freedom that a car gives to explore the wider region is a must.  Within the city itself, a fascinating but grim reminder of times recent and past is the Crumlin Road Gaol, where visitors are taken for a guided tour and talked through the history of the gaol and of the city. 

Top 3 Must See: Belfast

• Titanic’s Dock and Pump House

• Visit Ulster Museum

• Take a tour of Crumlin Gaol, 19th Century historical prison

A reminder of Belfast’s shipbuilding past is provided by Titanic’s Dock and Pump House, the last resting place of the ill-fated liner on dry land.   Her “little sister” the SS Nomadic has been completely refurbished and is now a popular visitor attraction.  The Cathedral Quarter is dominated by the spires of and magnificent stained glass windows of St Annes, but it is also a lively area full of cafes and bars, and hosts an annual festival of traditional Irish music. 

Drive Around Belfast

Driving in Northern Ireland is often a pleasure, with less traffic than the mainland, and stunning views of the countryside.  Belfast is a small city compared to many, and is easy to navigate.  As the international airport is some way out of town – 16 miles – it’s wise for the visitor to take advantage of the car hire facilities at Belfast Airport.  The route from airport to city centre is straightforward, the A26 from the airport road linking to the A52 directly to Belfast.  Or visitors might like to take a detour and stay on the A26 to enjoy the view of Lough Neagh.  For those wishing to tour both the North and South, the M1 is an excellent motorway mercifully free of heavy traffic except at peak rush hours, and links Belfast to Dublin in the Republic.  Travelling north from Belfast on the M2 wil bring you to Larne and the beauties of the coastal route.