Botanic Gardens, Belfast (must see)
Belfast’s Botanic Gardens is a lush 28-acre oasis tucked into the vibrant Queen’s Quarter, right by Queen’s University and the Ulster Museum. First established in 1828 by the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society, it opened its gates as a public park in 1895. Over time, it has earned annual Green Flag recognition for its excellent maintenance and community value. Locals and visitors alike flock here for peaceful walks, picnics on manicured lawns, and lively events-from summer concerts to the Belfast Mela festival.
The gardens’ architectural centrepiece is the iconic Palm House-a beautifully restored Victorian glasshouse designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and completed in 1840, with Turner’s cast-iron curved structure added soon after. Divided into cool and tropical zones, it shelters an exotic collection including bird-of-paradise blooms, ancient Xanthorrhoea, and rare lilies that bloom after decades. Just steps away is the lesser-known Tropical Ravine House, a two-level “jungle glen” dating from 1889, now beautifully refurbished with interactive displays and sensory features.
Beyond these glasshouses, visitors can stroll through colourful rose and herbaceous gardens, discover a serene alpine garden and mature trees-some planted as far back as the 1880s, including hornbeam-leafed oaks. Sculptures, a children’s playground, bowling green, and giant bird feeders offer charm and variety, while occasional live recitals or opera performances bring a festive atmosphere.
Open daily with free admission, Botanic Gardens is easy to reach via Metro 7 or 8 (stop at Queen’s University or College Park). It’s a must‑see for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a peaceful yet culturally rich slice of Belfast life. Whether you’re admiring Victorian engineering under glass or wandering through fragrant pathways, the Botanic Gardens is a timeless green haven in the heart of Northern Ireland’s capital.
The gardens’ architectural centrepiece is the iconic Palm House-a beautifully restored Victorian glasshouse designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and completed in 1840, with Turner’s cast-iron curved structure added soon after. Divided into cool and tropical zones, it shelters an exotic collection including bird-of-paradise blooms, ancient Xanthorrhoea, and rare lilies that bloom after decades. Just steps away is the lesser-known Tropical Ravine House, a two-level “jungle glen” dating from 1889, now beautifully refurbished with interactive displays and sensory features.
Beyond these glasshouses, visitors can stroll through colourful rose and herbaceous gardens, discover a serene alpine garden and mature trees-some planted as far back as the 1880s, including hornbeam-leafed oaks. Sculptures, a children’s playground, bowling green, and giant bird feeders offer charm and variety, while occasional live recitals or opera performances bring a festive atmosphere.
Open daily with free admission, Botanic Gardens is easy to reach via Metro 7 or 8 (stop at Queen’s University or College Park). It’s a must‑see for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a peaceful yet culturally rich slice of Belfast life. Whether you’re admiring Victorian engineering under glass or wandering through fragrant pathways, the Botanic Gardens is a timeless green haven in the heart of Northern Ireland’s capital.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Belfast. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Botanic Gardens on Map
Sight Name: Botanic Gardens
Sight Location: Belfast, Ireland (See walking tours in Belfast)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Belfast, Ireland (See walking tours in Belfast)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Belfast, Ireland
Create Your Own Walk in Belfast
Creating your own self-guided walk in Belfast is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Belfast Introduction Walking Tour
For over a century, the political situation of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, has been the source of strife, first between the Crown-loyal Protestants and Irish Catholics, and more recently between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Sitting on the banks of the River Lagan where it meets the Irish Sea, the city owes its name to this coastal condition, with "Belfast"... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting on the banks of the River Lagan where it meets the Irish Sea, the city owes its name to this coastal condition, with "Belfast"... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
The Troubles and Peace Process Landmarks
Decades past the official end of The Troubles in Belfast, the price of peace in Northern Ireland remains high. One of the means with which to secure it, back in 1969, was erecting a wall to physically separate the capital's warring Protestant and Catholic communities. Known since as the Peace Wall, the structure has become a popular tourist attraction for the multiple murals painted thereon... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Belfast Victorian Architecture Jewels
Described as “modestly scaled, undemonstrative, somewhat solid in aspect, and usually restrained (sometimes even austere) in its use of external decoration”, the urban landscape of Belfast has been influenced by the demands of shipbuilding and linen industry, much as transitioning between culture, arts, commerce, and education. Still, the architectural spectrum of the city is quite broad and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles