Business Traveller Guide to Belfast

Staying in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Belfast is Northern Ireland's capital and an ever-growing destination for business travel. The city is comprised of quarters, each bustling with a combination of rich history, dynamic business, and lively entertainment. The Cathedral Quarter has plenty of pubs with live music or, you can learn about the Titanic in its birthplace in the Titanic Quarter. Belfast's Innovation District is a growing business hub located near the Belfast Harbour Estate and the city centre, close to Belfast's commercial core.

While the Belfast central business district (CBD) is in the city centre, there is plenty to do and see wherever you stay during your business travel to Belfast.

Key Information for Visiting Belfast

Weather in Belfast

Summers are mild in Belfast, with highs of 19° in the hottest months of July and August, ranging to lows of 4° in Winter (December – February). Rainfall is year-round so it's best for business travellers to Belfast to bring a raincoat. On the plus side, you'll probably see a few rainbows! Belfast has lots of hiking routes and nearby attractions to be explored so bring good walking shoes and remember that wherever you're going, pack an umbrella.

Currency in Belfast

Currency (GBP)

The currency in Belfast is the Pound Sterling. Much like other major cities, Belfast is predominantly a cashless society. It is still useful to have some cash to hand in case of emergencies or, if some smaller, independent shops are cardless. There are plenty of ATMs around if you ever need cash.

We recommend business travellers to Belfast to check the opening and closing times of shops on Sundays as there are some restrictions impacting trading times on this day.

Health & Well-being in Belfast

When looking to stay healthy as a business traveller in Belfast, you should feel comforted knowing that there is a wide range of choice available. There are lots of gyms and fitness centres for a more traditional work-out and lots of green spaces for walking, running, or cycling. Our top picks are: the Botanic Gardens, Stormont Estate's woodland park and trails, Hillsborough Forest and lastly Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, home to the famous City of Belfast International Rose Garden. Being so spoilt for choice, it's really up to you to pick your favourite.

For a family-oriented day, we recommend Colin Glen Forest Park, with its Gruffalo themed walkways, golf, and Northern Ireland's longest zip line! Feeling adventurous? Visit 'Let's Go Hydro' – Northern Ireland's largest inflatable water park!

Data in Belfast

When planning your data coverage for your business trip to Belfast it's good to know that the best data providers in Northern Ireland are EE and Vodaphone. Their plans can be purchased online or in store – just remember to bring the address of your serviced apartment and a form of ID if buying in person.

Plug Type: Type G, 3-Pronged Plug

Emergency Contact Numbers in Belfast
 

Just in case of an emergency, the key numbers to know are;

999 for an immediate response to an emergency (police, fire, ambulance) 

101 for a non-urgent emergency which doesn’t require immediate assistance

Cuisine in Belfast

Whether looking to dine with colleagues or wanting to explore the food of Northern Ireland’s capital alone, Belfast has a range of cuisine to try. We recommend beginning your day with a traditional cooked breakfast – a hearty plate of bacon, sausage, eggs, soda bread, black pudding, tomato and mushroom. Or, if you're on the go, you must try the Belfast Bap - a bread roll with sausages, bacon and egg which can traditionally be bought at St George's Market.

On colder days, you should indulge in a bowl of Irish Stew. This is traditionally lamb and vegetables cooked in broth but it's not uncommon to find variations made with beef.

If visiting the Big Fish sculpture has got you hungry, Belfast has excellent, fresh, local sea food to try in various restaurants.

For dessert, we must mention Irish coffee – hot coffee, whiskey, and sugar with a whipped cream topping. And to go with it perhaps a slice of Fifteens traybake – a treat made with fifteen of each ingredient; digestives, marshmallows, glace cherries, all combined with condensed milk and desiccated coconut.

Speaking the Language in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Although English is the main language in Belfast, it's good to know some of the Northern Irish lingo so that you can follow along in conversations. Here are the basics:

Aye = Yes

Wee = Small

Grand = Good / Awesome

Craic (said crack) = Fun / a good time

What's the craic = How are you / what are you doing?

Bout ye = How are you?

Getting Around Belfast - Transport

Belfast is a compact and largely walkable city. To speed your journey up, you could take advantage of one of the 400 public bikes available for hire across the capital through the 'nextbike' app. Just remember to cycle on the left side of the road!

For journeys further afield, Belfast has various public transport options so there's no need to hire a car. Translink is the main public transport provider in Northern Ireland. They run the metro, Glider, Ulsterbus and NI railways.

If you do find yourself taking the bus a lot, you can get various travelcards to save on your journeys. You can either buy and preload a specific number of trips or, purchase unlimited travel for a period – perfect when journeying multiple times in a day. These, as well as travel updates, timetables, and different ways to get around Belfast can be found on the Translink website. We recommend business travellers to Belfast to plan your trips in advance - don't expect all transport systems to run throughout the night! If you are in a pinch however, there are plenty of local taxis which are more affordable and popular than Uber.

Belfast Map

Now that you've read the basics for business travel to Belfast, consider a day trip to visit the world-famous Giants Causeway or, explore the grounds of Belfast. We also recommend exploring the W5 Belfast, an interactive science museum beside the River Lagan – and make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the native seals, otters, and salmon that live here on your journey! Read more of our Belfast fast facts here!

We're proud to have the most extensive serviced accommodation portfolio on the market. Check out our leading serviced apartments in Belfast, browse our full selection here, or get in touch with one of our team today to find your perfect serviced apartment.