Which Belfast airport is better for getting to the city centre?

George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is much closer to the city centre — about 10 minutes by taxi or 15 minutes by bus. Belfast International Airport (BFS) is around 30 minutes from the city and costs more to get into town. If both are available at a similar price, BHD is the easier arrival.

Do I need a rain jacket in Belfast even in summer?

Yes, without question. Belfast receives rain in every month of the year and summer showers arrive with no warning. A waterproof jacket is the single most important item in your bag — not a packable one that might let some damp through, but a genuinely waterproof shell. This is not optional.

What shoes are best for visiting Giant's Causeway?

Wear shoes with a proper rubber sole and grip. The basalt columns at Giant's Causeway are wet most of the time and can be very slippery. Trainers with a good tread or lightweight hiking shoes are ideal. Leather-soled shoes and smooth-soled sandals are genuinely risky on wet rock.

Is Belfast in the Republic of Ireland or the UK?

Belfast is in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. The currency is British Pound Sterling (GBP), not the Euro. UK power sockets (Type G, the large three-pin plug) are used throughout Northern Ireland. This is a common source of confusion for visitors.

Carry-On Packing for Belfast: What to Bring

Belfast has transformed dramatically over the past two decades into one of the most visited cities in the British Isles — a compact, walkable city with a world-class museum (Titanic Belfast), a thriving restaurant and cocktail scene centred on the Cathedral Quarter, and easy access to some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Europe. The Causeway Coastal Route to Giant's Causeway is regularly rated among the best road trips on the continent. The one constant in Belfast, whatever the season, is the weather.

Getting there: two airports, one city

Belfast has two airports serving very different purposes. George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is right on the edge of the city — you can see it from the waterfront — and British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Flybe-successor carriers operate routes here. It is the easiest airport to use if you have the option. Belfast International Airport (BFS) is about 30 minutes northwest of the city and handles the higher-volume routes including easyJet, Ryanair, and long-haul connections. Both airports have good public transport links, though BHD's proximity makes it noticeably simpler to arrive and get moving.

Ryanair and easyJet carry-on rules apply in full — verify your bag size before travel and do not assume the gate agents will be lenient at BFS during busy summer periods.

Climate: the honest version

Belfast has an Atlantic maritime climate, which means mild temperatures year-round but persistent rain and overcast skies. Summer temperatures typically reach 15 to 18°C on a good day; highs over 20°C are noteworthy enough to make the news. Snow is rare. Extreme heat is essentially unknown. The weather is, by any objective measure, grey and damp for a significant portion of the year — and yet the city is genuinely enjoyable in any weather if you are dressed appropriately.

What this means for packing: layers, waterproofing, and comfort over style. Belfast rewards practical dressing.

What to pack

The essentials that actually matter in Belfast:

Waterproof jacket: not packable, not water-resistant, genuinely waterproof. A proper hardshell or Gore-Tex jacket is the single most useful item in your bag. If you only own a packable windbreaker, buy a proper waterproof before the trip.
Layers: a base layer and a mid-layer fleece or light knitwear cover the full temperature range you'll encounter. Even in July, evenings cool quickly.
Trousers: one or two pairs of smart-casual trousers. Jeans work but take a long time to dry if they get soaked — pack quick-dry travel trousers as an alternative.
Comfortable walking shoes: Belfast requires a fair amount of walking — the city centre is compact but sloped in places, and the Cathedral Quarter's cobbled streets need grip. Trainers or light hiking shoes with rubber soles work well.
Smart casual for evenings: Belfast's restaurant scene has genuinely improved — the Cathedral Quarter has excellent gastropubs, cocktail bars, and tasting-menu restaurants. Smart casual (clean trousers and a collar or non-crumpled top) is appropriate for most venues; no formal dress code is required.
Compact umbrella: a small collapsible umbrella fits in any bag and handles light Belfast showers efficiently. For heavy rain, the waterproof jacket is more practical.

What you do not need:

Heavy winter coat (layers and a waterproof jacket cover winter Belfast perfectly)
Sunscreen (the sun appears occasionally; you will not get burned)
Formal attire unless attending a specific event
Shorts (technically possible in peak summer but optimistic; light trousers are more practical)

Giant's Causeway: plan for the terrain

Giant's Causeway is about 90 minutes drive from Belfast along the Causeway Coastal Route, and it is easily the most-visited site in Northern Ireland. The UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt hexagonal columns formed by ancient volcanic activity — they are extraordinary to look at and genuinely demanding to walk across.

The columns are almost always wet from Atlantic spray and rain, and the surface is irregular. Rubber-soled shoes with real grip are essential. Smooth sandals, leather soles, and fashion trainers with flat soles are not suitable and create real slip risk on the lower causeway area. Pack one pair of proper shoes specifically because of this visit.

The route also passes the ruins of Dunluce Castle (clifftop, worth stopping for) and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge — all of which involve outdoor walking that rewards practical footwear.

Game of Thrones filming locations

Northern Ireland served as the primary filming location for Game of Thrones across eight seasons. The Dark Hedges (a famous tree tunnel in County Antrim) and Castle Ward in County Down are two of the most visited sites, both accessible as day trips from Belfast. These are outdoor, often muddy locations — reinforce the case for walking shoes over anything delicate.

Bag size recommendation

Belfast is a city break destination with a practical packing list. A 40–45 litre cabin bag handles four to seven days comfortably. The main space challenge is the waterproof jacket, which is bulky but necessary — wear it on the plane if it won't fit in the bag.

Three Belfast-specific tips

1. Power sockets are UK Type G. Northern Ireland is part of the UK despite being geographically on the island of Ireland. Type G is the large three-pin plug — completely different from the two-pin sockets used in the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe. Irish and European travellers commonly arrive needing an adapter.

2. Book Titanic Belfast well in advance. The world's largest Titanic visitor attraction sells out, especially in summer and on weekends. Book online before you travel — the self-guided exhibition takes two to three hours and is worth every minute.

3. The Cathedral Quarter is walkable from almost everywhere. Belfast city centre is compact enough that staying centrally means you rarely need transport. The Cathedral Quarter, St Anne's Cathedral, the Custom House, the Albert Memorial Clock, and the waterfront are all within walking distance of each other. A good waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes are all you need to enjoy the city in any weather.