INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: UNDERSTANDING BACH'S B-MINOR MASS |
Belfast, 2-4 November 2007
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board gives reliable information on all the major tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, such as the Giants' Causeway (a World Heritage Site), the North Coast, and Downpatrick (according to tradition, Saint Patrick's resting place). Lonely Planet's Ireland also has detailed, county by county, chapters on Northern Ireland, as well as more extensive coverage of places to visit in the Irish Republic. The Belfast tourist office is located in the heart of the city in the Belfast Welcome Centre at 47 Donegall Place (tel. 028 + 90246609).
Sites of political interest outside Belfast city centre (east and west
Belfast murals, the Peace Lines, Stormont) can easily be visited in Black Taxi
tours, while the main city centre landmarks - such as the City Hall, the Albert
Clock, and the Crown Liquor Saloon - can all comfortably be seen on foot.
Queen's University is located in the south of
the city, and is near to a large number of restaurants, bars, parks, and shops
on the Golden Mile.
From Belfast it is very easy to visit Dublin and the Irish Republic. The trip to
Dublin takes about 2-3 hours by car or by train (the 'Belfast-Dublin
Enterprise', which leaves from Belfast Central Station and arrives at Dublin
Connolly). For timetabling and pricing information for rail and bus travel, see
www.translink.co.uk.
Here are some useful information from www.gotobelfast.com -- Free City Guides: download available in languages including Russian, Polish and German:
BanksHours are generally Mon-Fri, 9.30am - 4.30pm with some opening Sat mornings. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) dispense cash at hundreds of locations - banks, garages, and shopping centres. Using a credit card in an ATM is an easy way of obtaining sterling if you are travelling from the Republic of Ireland or from abroad. Bank of Ireland, a corporate partner of BVCB, has 47 branches across the province. The nearest ATMs to Queen’s University are located in the Student Union and between the QUB bookshop and Deane’s at Queen’s. There is also an ATM on Botanic Avenue opposite Café Renoir. Bureaux de Change can be found in larger bank branches, travel agencies, the Belfast Welcome Centre, some other Tourist Information Centres, big hotels and a few visitor attractions. Disability AccessBelfast Buildings are more accessible to wheel-chair users than ever. Disability Action: Tel. 028 9049 1011 EmergenciesPolice, ambulance, fire service: Dial 999 Internet Cafes
Linen Hall LibraryFounded in 1788, Linen Hall is the oldest library in Belfast. www.linenhall.com 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast Lost ValuablesPolice Lost Property Medical & Dental ServicesAdvice on medical and dental emergencies- Health
Information Service. NewspapersBelfast is unusual in having three dailies, Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and Newsletter, as well as the Sunday Life. All have daily entertainment listings. The free monthly tourism newspaper "Northern Ireland Travel News", obtainable in Ports, Tourist Information Centres and travel agencies etc., has pages on current attractions and events. The monthly events guide 'Whatabout?' provides a detailed definitive guide to the city, and is available in all airports, ferry terminals, bus & train stations, hotels and from the Belfast Welcome Centre. Places of WorshipMain Sunday services of major Christian denominations are advertised in the Saturday edition of the Belfast Telegraph. Places of worship for most faith communities are listed in Yellow Pages. The two cathedrals in central Belfast are St. Anne's Cathedral (Anglican/Church of Ireland) on Donegall Street and St. Peter's Cathedral (Roman Catholic) on Derby Street. Postal ServicesPost Offices and red post boxes are all over the city; Main Post Office is at Castle Junction and late mailings are accepted at Tomb Street Sorting Office. Small books of UK stamps are available in most convenience stores and petrol stations. Phone NumbersThe Northern Ireland Dialing Code (028) or (28) is used as a prefix when dialing from outside the region, or when making internal calls using a mobile phone. All Belfast numbers are composed of (028) followed by 90 and six digits. Eg. Belfast Welcome Centre: 028 9024 6609 |
Pub HoursGenerally Mon-Sat, 11.30am-11pm, Sundays, 12.30-10pm. Many bars in Belfast have later opening hours on Thurs- Sat nights. Children are not permitted on licensed premises. No alcohol may be served to under 18s. Recommended Pubs/Bars
Recommended Restaurants in Belfast
Shopping HoursCity Centre Shops generally open Mon- Sat, 9.30am-5.30pm (Thurs. until 9pm).Some larger stores open Sun 1-5pm. Neighbourhood stores and garage forecourt convenience shops often open much longer - 24 hours in many cases. SmokingNo smoking applies on public transport or in most public
buildings. More and more restaurants have a no-smoking policy; most have a smoke
free area. Taxis
Toursism
Travel AgenciesMost UK/Irish Travel Agencies and Tour Operators are represented in Belfast. Some locations may close at 1pm on Saturday. TippingIt is now a generally accepted practice in restaurants to leave a gratuity of 10-15 per cent for good service. Some restaurants may add on a obligatory 10 or 12.5 per cent service charge on large group bookings. |
Last updated on 23 October 2007