Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [502]
Libraries
Belfast Central Library (Map; 9050 9150; Royal Ave; 9am-8pm Mon-Thu, to 5.30pm Fri, to 4.30pm Sat)
Linen Hall Library (Map; 9032 1707; cnr Fountain St & Donegall Sq; 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Wed & Fri, to 7pm Thu, to 4pm Sat)
Medical Services
For advice on medical and dental emergencies, call NHS Direct ( 0845 4647; 24hr).
Accident and emergency services are available at these hospitals:
City Hospital (Map; 9032 9241; 51 Lisburn Rd)
Mater Hospital (Map; 9074 1211; 45-51 Crumlin Rd) Near the junction of Antrim Rd and Clifton St.
Royal Victoria Hospital (Map; 9024 0503; 274 Grosvenor Rd) West of the city centre.
Ulster Hospital (Map; 9048 4511; Upper Newtownards Rd, Dundonald) Near Stormont Castle.
Money
There are plenty of ATMs around town. There are currency-exchange facilities at the Belfast Welcome Centre, the post offices on Bridge St and Shaftesbury Sq, and at Thomas Cook branches.
Post
Post office Main post office (Map; 12-16 Bridge St; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat); Bedford St (Map; 16-22 Bedford St); Botanic Gardens (Map; cnr University Rd & College Gardens, South Belfast); Shaftesbury Sq (Map; 1-5 Botanic Ave)
Tourist Information
Belfast Welcome Centre (Map; 9024 6609; www.gotobelfast.com; 47 Donegall Pl; 9am-7pm Mon-Sat, 11am-4pm Sun Jun-Sep, 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat, 11am-4pm Sun Oct-May) Provides information about the whole of Northern Ireland, and books accommodation anywhere in Ireland and Britain. Services include left luggage (not overnight), currency exchange and internet access.
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (Map; 9096 4188; 216 Falls Rd; 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri) This cultural centre Click here in West Belfast has a tourist information desk.
Fáilte Ireland (Irish Tourist Board; Map; 9026 5500; www.ireland.ie; 53 Castle St; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri year-round & 9am-12.30pm Sat Jun-Aug) Can book accommodation in the Republic of Ireland.
Tourist information desks George Best Belfast City Airport (Map; 9093 5372; 8am-7pm Mon-Sat, to 5pm Sun); Belfast International Airport (off Map; 9448 4677; 7.30am-7pm Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm Sun)
Travel Agencies
STA Travel (Map; 0871 702 9803; 92-94 Botanic Ave; 10am-6pm Mon-Sat)
Thomas Cook (Map; 0845 308 9139; 10 Donegall Sq West; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Wed & Fri, to 8pm Thu, 10am-5.30pm Sat)
Trailfinders (Map; 9027 1888; 47-49 Fountain St; 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 6pm Sat, 10am-6pm Sun)
USIT (Map; 9032 7111; 13B Fountain Centre, College St; 10am-5pm Mon-Fri)
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DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
Even at the height of the Troubles, Belfast wasn’t a particularly dangerous city for tourists, and today you’re less at risk from crime here than you are in London. It’s best, however, to avoid the so-called ‘interface areas’ – near the peace lines in West Belfast, Crumlin Rd and the Short Strand (just east of Queen’s Bridge) – after dark; if in doubt about any area, ask at your hotel or hostel.
One irritating legacy of the Troubles is the absence of left-luggage facilities at bus and train stations. You will also notice a more obvious security presence than elsewhere in the UK and Ireland, in the form of armoured police Land Rovers, fortified police stations, and security doors on some shops (mostly outside the city centre) where you have to press the buzzer to be allowed in. There are doormen on many city-centre shops and pubs.
If you want to take photos of fortified police stations, army posts or other military or quasi-military paraphernalia, get permission first, just to be on the safe side. In the Protestant and Catholic strongholds of West Belfast it’s best not to photograph people without permission; always ask first and be prepared to accept a refusal. Taking pictures of the murals is not a problem.
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SIGHTS
City Centre
CITY HALL
The Industrial