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HomeCultureTourism Belfast Castle Ireland 

 Belfast Castle Ireland 

Belfast Castle with its charming Cat Garden is located at the foot of the Cavehill just outside the city. From the castle, completed in 1870, you have a wonderful view over Belfast Lough. The building is home to the Cavehill Visitor Centre and can be rented for weddings and conferences.

But back to the Cat Garden. According to legend, visitors to the castle will be lucky as long as a cat is present. This was used as an occasion to immortalize cat portraits in mosaics, statues and even as hedge figures

Though most of the castle is now used as a restaurant and event venue, several key attractions on the estate keep visitors coming to this striking structure. Find the Cave Hill Visitor Centre in the basement, which tracks the human history of the hill, as well as the castle’s development. The spectacular grounds are an excellent place for a stroll, with the 1,200-foot (366-meter) tall McArt’s Fort lookout providing sweeping views over Northern Ireland’s capital. A stop at the castle is included on most Belfast city sightseeing tours and hop-on hop-off bus tours

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Things to Know Before You Go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes so you can stroll around the park’s sloping paths.
  • Enjoy a snack or light lunch during the day in the cellar restaurant or return for a multi-course dinner come evening.
  • Bring the kids along to play in the award-winning Cave Hill Adventurous Playground, located within the castle estate.

How to Get There

The castle sits on the slopes of Cave Hill, northwest of the city center. Ample parking can be found on site. If you want to use public transport, take any Metro 1 bus route along the Antrim Road and allow for a 15-minute uphill walk to the entrance. Alternatively, hop-on hop-off Belfast tour buses drop off travelers closer to the castle.

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