Gay Belfast Week Planner

"If you have not had a night out in Belfast, you have not lived" Sara Cox, BBC Radio One DJ. Saras right, this is a great city to party. All you need is a lot of energy and a little inside information!

In the morning take a tour of Belfast City Hall and shop in Belfast city centre. For lunch we recommend the Queens Bar, a gay friendly city centre pub located at Queens Arcade. After lunch visit the Belfast Welcome Centre, located at 47 Donegall Place in the City Centre’s main shopping area (near City Hall). It has a wide range of services to assist you in planning your visit to Belfast and other places in Northern Ireland. Why not jump on one of the many tourist bus and get a feel of the city. After dinner at the gay friendly 'The Spaniard' head across the road to The Potthouse for some drinks or for the best cocktails in Belfast vist the nearby Bert's Jazz Bar (High Street) part of the Merchant Hotel. On Monday the only place to be is El Divino which hosts its gay night Forbidden Fruit. Any Suggestions? Contact Gay Belfast or vist our Scene Page for addition details.

In the morning have a non stop adventure on board a www.belfastblacktaxitours.com with peace walls and murals in the back streets of the city you will enjoy the ride! In the afternoon head to the Odyssey complex (Queen's Quay) for loads of Bars, the cinema and W5. After dinner at Made in Belfast (Wellington Street) check out Grannie’s Fun Factory Quiz at Union Street Bar and then head round the corner to 'Vice' at the Kremlin (Donegall Street) with DJ Kristian Narin for an award winning night of camp classics and cabaret. Open until 2.30am. Wristbands cost £20 but this includes admission and a free bar. Any Suggestions? Contact Gay Belfast or vist our Scene Page

In the afternoon take the train to Carrickfergus (from Central Station) and visit the Norman Castle and / or History Museum at Antrim Street (includes tourist information centre). After dinner and drinks at 'The Apartment' (Donegall Sq West) take a taxi (free phone in the Apartment) to Union Street Bar for Tina's Selection Box and then 'Slosh' at the Shoe Factory with Regal MC, Twanda and friends (same building) which is open until 2.30am. Alternnatively, try Victor Victoria's with Pat Kent & HRH Titti Von Tramp, The team behind the Forbidden Fruit (see Monday) who present their mid-week night. Any Suggestions? Contact Gay Belfast or vist our Scene Page

In the afternoon head to 'Botanic Gardens' and 'Ulster Museum'. Botanic Avenue has many excellent cafe's for lunch. After late night shopping head to the 'Queens Bar' for dinner and then city centre cocktails at Muriel's Café Bar (Church Lane). After that check out Okie Dokie Karakoe at Union Street. Looking for a late night? Then check out 'Traffic' at the Kremlin with free entry before 11pm and some great drink promotions. Wear a red sticker for taken, an amber one if you're just out for fun, or a green sticker if you're looking for mister right, or mister right now! DJs Jamesy & Kenny K provide the music with drinks promos and much more. Any Suggestions? Contact Gay Belfast or vist our Scene Page

In the afternoon take a tour of the River Lagan, starting at 'The Lagan Lookout' (Donegall Quay) the boat tour is fab. After dinner and drinks at Cafe Vaudeville (Arthur Street) check out 'The John Hewitt' Bar (Donegall Street) or Union Street for an evening with Glitzy Glamour. For late night clubbing head to Karnival at the Kremlin (Donegall Street) with commercial pop and camp classics in the Long Bar with commercial dance and house in Red Square Bar. Any Suggestions? Contact Gay Belfast or vist our Scene Page

Get up early for St George's Market then head into Belfast for some shopping. In the afternoon shop and lunch on the Lisburn Road with lunch at Ryan's 'Gay Friendly' Bar. After your shopping, head to the 'Union Street Bar' for Tina's Karaoke from 4pm. After dinner at 'Nick's Warehouse' (Hill Street) head round to the downstairs bar at Union Street for Karaoke (from late afternoon to early evening) with Tina Leggs Tantrum then afterwards Grannies Time Tunnel, Finish the night round the corner at the 'Revolution' at the Kremlin (Donegall Street). Not picked up? head to 'The Garage'. Any Suggestions? Contact Gay Belfast or vist our Scene Page

In the afternoon clear your head at 'Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park' (Upper Malone Road) with its excellent internationally recognised rose garden and some great walks and talent. After all that fresh air, dinner at Pizza Express (Bedford Street or top floor of the Victoria Centre), then drinks and The Sunday Bingo Show with Trudy Scrumptious, Tina Leggs, Roxy Tumbledryer and the lovely Rusty Hinges at Union Street Bar. This could end your week in Gay Belfast unless you need a dance? If so head to 'Industry' at the Kremlin for nonsence clubbing. Any Suggestions? Contact Gay Belfast or vist our Scene Page

Visit Historic Belfast: City Hall is a fine example of Classical Renaissance style, free tours are available of this Edwardian masterpiece (1906). St Anne's Cathedral, designed in ‘Hiberno-Romanesque’ style, took 77 years to complete, but visitors agree it was worth the wait! Click here to find out more about the castles, churches and historic sites in Gay Belfast.

Discover the story of Belfast: Visit the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum’s carefully recreated ‘Old Town’, which tells the story of life in Ulster in the early 1900’s. The Ulster Museum has an award-winning Early Ireland gallery and outstanding ‘Made in Belfast’ exhibits, while Fernhill House tells the story of Belfast’s Shankill district. Click here for more information on museums and galleries in Gay Belfast.

Shop 'til you drop! Belfast offers a wonderful array of products ranging from the traditional to the more contemporary. A must for all shoppers is the central shopping area which runs from Donegall Place to Royal Avenue, and is easily explored on foot. St George’s Market (the oldest covered market in Ireland) runs a Variety Market every Friday morning which boasts the largest indoor fish market in Ireland with 23 seafood stalls! The Saturday morning Farm & Speciality Food Market offers a wide range of local high quality specialist food products. The Lisburn Road in the south of the city boasts a trail of chic designer boutiques, with plenty of al fresco cafes to offer a rest stop along the way. Find out more about shopping in Gay Belfast.

Historical Pub Walking Tours: No visit to Belfast would be complete without a trip around it’s famous and historic pubs. The hospitality of Belfast city and it’s people is legendary and there’s no better way to enjoy the ‘craic’ and the banter with the locals than over a few Baileys. Find out more about the Baileys Historical Pub Tours of Gay Belfast by clicking here.

Great Entertainment: You will also find a fantastic programme of top name concerts at the Odyssey Arena, a variety for all tastes at Belfast Waterfront Hall, top West End productions and performing arts at the Grand Opera House and the best of local theatre and drama at the Lyric Theatre. Belfast also offers an array of Festivals throughout the year.

Belfast Visitor Bureau Website: offers you all the information you need for your holiday or short break in Belfast. Find visitor information on a range of topics such as events, transport, tours, museums, restaurants, pubs and clubs. Website: gotobelfast.com

Coming to Belfast? For Gay Belfast recommended hotels and guesthouses: Check out the Gay Belfast Hotel Guide

Gay Belfast: the award winning website for scene news and events for the Belfast gay and lesbian community and those visiting the city. Coming to Belfast? Let Gay Belfast plan your day finds out what's happening each day in Belfast's gay scene. We tell you the best gay bars and clubs in Belfast so you do not waste any time. Check out the Gay Belfast recommended hotels and guesthouses for places to stay.