All Belfast, expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Belfast
Award winning travel
Best Belfast Tours by Duration
Best Belfast Tours by Price
Top Belfast Attractions
Belfast Tours & Travel Guide
“The Troubles” of Northern Ireland took place from the end of the 1960’s until the end of the 20th century. The rather vague name (the Troubles are sometimes also called the Northern Ireland conflict) refers to an ethno-nationalist conflict that escalated into a low level war.
The conflict centered around whether Northern Ireland should remain apart of the United Kingdom. Although the conflict was not about religion, the government was mainly Protestant and Unionist, and the nationalists were generally Catholic.
The Troubles began when the Nationalist group launched a campaign for the government to end discrimination against them, and the government attempted to stifle this campaign.
Both sides escalated the situation, with the Nationalists accusing the government of police brutality, and the union supporters accusing the campaign of being a republican front. The situation continued to devolve as time passed, and many conflicts originate between the youth and the police, and multiple paramilitary groups forming.
Understanding the Troubles is a key part of an Belfast history tour. Learning about this conflict not only helps one understand the significance of religion and religious history in Ireland, but for anyone interested in politics, it is a fascinating case study. Prior to the attacks prompted by Islamic extremism, the Troubles in Northern Ireland introduced the word terrorism in the way that we use it today.
Belfast is known as an industrial and rather gritty city, however, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful outdoors of Northern Ireland just outside the city. One such way is to do the Divis and Black Mountain Walk, which climbs the hills just outside Belfast and provides an excellent view of the entire city. The Cave Hill in Cavehill Country Park, reminiscent of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, is another beautiful walk with city views.
If you’re looking for more of a taste of the outdoors, there are other great places to go hiking and fishing near Belfast. Some other popular trails can be found in the following parks: Belfast Rail Trail, the Head of Tide Preserve, and Moose Point State Park.
Of course, if you want to experience Northern Ireland primarily by its natural heritage, consider going on a trek beginning or ending in Belfast.
James Armstrong
Sep 2023
Way over priced, a very poor value for the experience.
Trusted Customer
Sep 2023
See remarks at top of this page.
William Fitzgerald
Aug 2023
For anyone who has the time for a three week tour and wants to visit Great Britain and Ireland they will be hard pressed to fine a better and more thorough tour than...
Dianne Dixon-Brown
Jul 2023
Too many passengers crammed onto the bus.
Dina Nicklason
Jul 2023
The itinerary was intense, but we saw So much. Enjoyed our hotels. We would have brought fewer clothes if we had known that laundry was available often enough. In Lo...
1. Does Travelstride have all the tour operators?
2. How does the Member Savings program save me money?
3. Can I trust the tour operator and trip reviews on Travelstride?
4. What does ‘Stride Preferred’ mean?