Park: Belfast has over 40 public parks and they are the perfect places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre. The Botanical Gardens in Belfast's university area is popular with local residents, students and tourists. The centrepiece is the magnificent restored Palm House which is one of the earliest examples of curvilinear cast iron glasshouses. There are plenty of concerts and music festivals staged every year including the Tennents ViTal festival in August.

Shopping: Belfast has all of the normal chain stores that you find in any busy high street, as well as some more interesting and unusual shops. Castlecourt shopping center is the premier mall in Belfast with over 60 outlets over two floors. It also has some good restaurants and coffee shops if you are in need of a break.

Northern Irish crafts offer some beautiful jewellery, ceramics, pottery, woodwork and glassware. Craft NI promotes and supports these local industries and they showcase some of the highest quality crafts at its premises in Cotton court, at the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral quarter.

Odyssey Centre: the Odyssey is a large multi-functional entertainment and sports centre situated in Queen's Quay. The state-of-the-art venue is the perfect place for the whole family and has a range of entertainment options to suit most people. The Arena is the largest indoor venue in Ireland and includes an Olympic-size ice rink and a retractable running track.