Irish cities advice welcome

[leadfarmer]

Hi all

Not a bike trip this time, we’re on a cruise up the coast of Ireland in a couple of weeks and will be stopping at Galway, Dublin and Belfast

We are taking the MIL so can’t do too much walking

Any recommendations of the best way to visit these cities in a day ? Hop on hop off bus ? Tube trains ?

And of course for the locals, any hidden gems ? Must see places not necessarily featured on the tourist trail?

Hanx!

 

[Harvey Mushman]

No help really as I've never been to Belfast. I'd avoid Dubland like the plague but Galway is nice you can't really go wrong there..

Hopefully someone else comes with better advice but enjoy the trip regardless.

 

[Aidan1150]

Galway is a small enough city so walking around shouldn't be too taxing. Belfast is thriving at the moment and there's a very relaxed easy going vibe around the place. Plenty of good spots for eating and drinking and still reasonably good value. Dublin is always very busy but can be hideously expensive. Getting around in Dublin is easy enough using the Luas (trams) but none of our cities have tube services.

 

[Flintlock]

A shop that's a bit different within walking distance from the Cruise Terminal in Belfast

On the Square Emporium · Belfast

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Mzokk]

The easiest way to get round Belfast is the hop on hop off open topped bus.

Info Here.

Attractions Archives - Belfast City Sightseeing

belfastcitysightseeing.com

The cheapest way round is to buy a belfast city metro day ticket at about £4.00.

For things to see (for free) A trip to South Belfast and Queens University is a good shout. There you have access to the Ulster Museum (very good) and the Victorian palm house and tropical ravine in the Belfast Botanic Gardens behind the University. Paid the Titanic exibition is good. There are Lots of good eateries around the Cathedral Quarter and the Historic Duke of York pub and also the Mac, which has free Art exhibitions

The MAC Belfast | Metropolitan Arts Centre | The MAC Belfast

Belfast's home of international art exhibitions, the best live theatre, top shows and events, and all manner of weird and wonderful goings-on. Book here.

themaclive.com

For a well preserved Victorian pub the Crown Bar in Great Victoria Street is worth a visit.

 

[Mzokk]

OH! and if you want to spurge a bit on a (very good) afternoon tea. Booking afternoon tea at the Observatory at the top of the Grand Central Hotel is worth a shout. From the observatory you get panoramic views of the City Belfast Lough and the surrounding hills. Our kids have booked this for us a few times for Christmas and its great. You can finish off with a couple of Cocktails in the Cocktail bar beside the Observatory.

Afternoon Tea at The Observatory | Afternoon Tea Belfast City Centre

Enjoy handcrafted treats, delicate sandwiches, and perfectly brewed teas high above the city. Afternoon Tea at The Observatory is an unforgettable treat!

www.grandcentralhotelbelfast.com

 

[Flintlock]

Another spot, if you are into bird watching, just up from the Cruise Terminal

Belfast Lough RSPB Reserve · Belfast

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[DrFarkoff]

Hi all

Not a bike trip this time, we’re on a cruise up the coast of Ireland in a couple of weeks and will be stopping at Galway, Dublin and Belfast

We are taking the MIL so can’t do too much walking

Any recommendations of the best way to visit these cities in a day ? Hop on hop off bus ? Tube trains ?

And of course for the locals, any hidden gems ? Must see places not necessarily featured on the tourist trail?

Hanx!

Belfast is Easy There are Hop on Hop off services "But" there will be a service organised from the cruise ship to the main tourist office at Belfast (and back later) Outside you will get the usual Bluffers that will offer hop on hop off tickets

You can buy a range of cards for our public transport network that I used to work for, Staying within Belfast you get a Belfast visitors card (or I link 1 )for about a £5 valid all day for bus and rail travel in the city limits

Right beside the tourist centre that is the Belfast Glider system (big purple Eco bendy buses) halt, "Wellington Place" and you take a G2 which will take you past the Titanic visitor centre or just get off and see the Nomadic or just wonder at the cranes Samson and Goliath , or stay on past the Titanoc and see some of the remaining buildings of Harland and Wolff, and HMS Caroline

Or get a Number 8 to pass Queens University and the Botanic Gardens (within 150 yards of each other and back into town to take a ride up to the Crumlin road Gaol or St Georges Market The Crown and Robinsons opposite the Europa Hotel (the World's most Bombed Hotel I believe!) are two very famous Belfast pubs that have been in a load of movies and TV series

Going Further afield ?? the price increases Zone 1, 2, 3 to Zone 4 at about £20 But these allow you access to all Translink bus and train services all over N Ireland

a Zone 2 i link card £10 ish takes you out as far as Carrick to see the castle or Antrim to see Shanes Castle or out as far as Bangor to see Crawfordsburn estate Helens bay and things that you will see portside on your way in

Zone 3 takes you out to Whitehead for the railway museum and on to Larne if you want

I link cards LINKY

And an easy tip is If you want to go and see anywhere in Belfast (but it works all over)

 

[leadfarmer]

Cheers, but I’m back now

We did use the hop on hop off bus for Belfast as it happens, and visited the Crumlin Road Gaol and of course saw plenty of murals on both sides of the city

 

[leadfarmer]

We enjoyed Dublin, although yes it’s obviously a tourist trap but hey we were tourists

 

[JJH]

I do bus tours off the ships. 1 mistake that’s easily made is that Dublin is actually Dunlairie. Spelt wrong. It’s a bout 6 miles south of Dublin City. The dart will bring u into the city. BUT you could book a Paddywagon tour which will meet you off the ship and bring u for a trip to Glendalough in the morning and Dublin City in the pm and back to the ship. As others have said Galway is a small city and quite easy to get around. Paddywagon also do trips from Belfast and Cork. You don’t mention Cork but if it’s on your itinerary Paddywagon do Blarney castle and the city. Ships usually dock in Cobh which is the last docking place for the titanic. Again quite a distance from cork city. JJH

 

[leadfarmer]

I do bus tours off the ships. 1 mistake that’s easily made is that Dublin is actually Dunlairie. Spelt wrong. It’s a bout 6 miles south of Dublin City. The dart will bring u into the city. BUT you could book a Paddywagon tour which will meet you off the ship and bring u for a trip to Glendalough in the morning and Dublin City in the pm and back to the ship. As others have said Galway is a small city and quite easy to get around. Paddywagon also do trips from Belfast and Cork. You don’t mention Cork but if it’s on your itinerary Paddywagon do Blarney castle and the city. Ships usually dock in Cobh which is the last docking place for the titanic. Again quite a distance from cork city. JJH

We got a taxi in to Cork with a great sweary ex cavalry local guy

Dublin was as you say actually Dun Laoghaire but the train goes straight from the docks to Dublin City center , runs every 10 minutes I think and took about 15 minutes

 

[Ban_6]

im writing this as a word of warning......anyone staying in / around Dublin city. i cant speak for other cities / towns around IE.

im surprised nobody has mentioned already ? Gong on last coupe of years and has gotten worse.

I was born and live here in Dublin , commute daily across the city, so before all the nay-sayers come on saying how great Dublin is, im throwing it out there anyway. Id rather warn ppl than not.




DO NOT LEAVE ANY BIKE UNLOCKED ANYWHERE. Locks are a deterrent, but they are usually carrying bolt cutters and lump hammers etc, operating in 3 or more groups.

Staying in a hotel or B&B, make sure they have secure parking and its locked to something.




Motorcycle theft is rife, the scum are able to move freely around the city in broad daylight with balaclavas on, on stolen bikes, scooters etc. They are carrying weapons with impunity.

cops not interested - our woke government and politicians wont allow the cops to be heavy handed or ram them off the road. ive seen first hand, and some cops genuinely couldnt give a toss.



ive had a couple of run ins myself commuting home through the city, and had to stand my ground while stopped at lights. ive also put a couple of ppl travelling through the city wide to the situation if i see them on the road or parking a loaded bike up.

there are constant videos / snippets from app platforms that circulate regularly, showing cops stopped and choosing to ignore these scum. ive called the cops myself on a few occasions, being told there is nothing they can do, their hands are tied. There are cops stations where these scum regularly wheelie up and down outside of and wrong way up streets etc, ive witnessed this too first hand myself.


this kind of impunity behavior thing seems to becoming more popular, i know you have it in the UK, but do not think for one minute Dublin is what it was a few years ago. It aint.

Be smart , regardless how busy the street is, do not chance it.

 

[Henri Flection]

Galway, always Galway. I worked for the Bank of Ireland in 2000 in a role that involved travelling to all sorts of out of the way places and based myself in Salthill with occasional overnights to Dublin. Galway is small enough so as not to be overwhelming however Dublin is a grubby city to be avoided. The Meath girl I was seeing at the time (free Dublin accommodation ;-) ) described Dublin as a "hole of a place full of drunken Brits on a stag night in Temple Bar in their shiny white trainers...."

If you must do Dublin, the Hole in the wall was a fantastic pub back then and was my local for a while.

I've never met anyone that has been to Galway and didn't like the place.

 

[glenn2926]

Galway is lovely. I had Guinness and Oysters sat in a bar overlooking Galway Bay when my wife and I toured Ireland on the Blackbird.
Dublin is a fantastic night out if you have a local to show you where to go.
Belfast is a fantastic city but having a local show you around is again very useful.

 

[frodi]

Galway, always Galway. I worked for the Bank of Ireland in 2000 in a role that involved travelling to all sorts of out of the way places and based myself in Salthill with occasional overnights to Dublin. Galway is small enough so as not to be overwhelming however Dublin is a grubby city to be avoided. The Meath girl I was seeing at the time (free Dublin accommodation ;-) ) described Dublin as a "hole of a place full of drunken Brits on a stag night in Temple Bar in their shiny white trainers...."

If you must do Dublin, the Hole in the wall was a fantastic pub back then and was my local for a while.

I've never met anyone that has been to Galway and didn't like the place.

I met my current wife in Galway.
Just saying.
Be careful out there.

 

[wessie]

I was born and live here in Dublin , commute daily across the city, so before all the nay-sayers come on saying how great Dublin is, im throwing it out there anyway. Id rather warn ppl than not.

DO NOT LEAVE ANY BIKE UNLOCKED ANYWHERE. Locks are a deterrent, but they are usually carrying bolt cutters and lump hammers etc, operating in 3 or more groups.

A friend had a flat in Dublin with shared underground parking where he stayed a few times a month. Thieves got into the garage and tried to have it away with his KTM 1300. They did not get past his Pragmasis chain before being disturbed and fleeing. He's given up the flat now he has retired and lives in relative peace in the Cotswolds.