Orientation
BELFAST
What’s with all the Donegalls? Okay, get this: Donegall Square surrounds the city hall, Donegall Road runs from the west, crossing through town at Shaftesbury Square and becoming Donegall Pass, and finally, there’s Donegall Street that runs right through the heart of the cathedral district. Lesson to be learned? If someone gives you directions via a “Donegall” anything, make sure you get a second opinion. Belfast is a slim city, running mostly north to south, with the previously conflicted Fall and Shank ill Roads in West Belfast usually just being visited by tourists in a cab. Queen’s University lies south of the city center along University Road (follow Bedford St. and Dublin Rd. from City Hall) and houses most of the student life and nearly all of the budget accommodations in Belfast. What was called the “Golden Mile” in past years—the triangle of Dublin Rd., Great Victoria, and Bruce St.—is now pretty much dead. A few fast-food joints and the odd pub can be found there, but the new hotspot for nightlife is the Cathedral Quarter, the area above City Hall near the River Lagan.
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
The University District centers on Queen’s University but extends into the residental neighborhoods to the west and south. The Student Union, The Botanic, and Eglantine Inn are all popular student bars, and there are several hostels and bed and breakfasts on Eglantine and Fitzwilliam Streets. Lisburn Road provides the other, far-side north-south channel, and also has several good restaurants and cafes. If you ever get disoriented, ask for either Lisburn or University Rd. and you’ll be able to point yourself back toward the city center.
THE CATHEDRAL QUARTER
Boasting the hottest nightclubs and several bars, the Cathedral Quarter is experiencing an upsurge in both popularity and establishments—this is where you’ll find the new pub on the block. High Street provides a neat “bottom” to the neighborhood, which extends up to the University of Ulster and east over to North Street. Full of smaller streets, Waring street has some good bars and luxury hotels, and then there’s that Donegall street again.
THE SHOPPING DISTRICT
Right next to the Entries and City Hall, the shopping district houses the more high-end shopping of Belfast as well as the massive Victoria Square and Castlecourt shopping centers. Shoppers will be happy to note that Belfast is much cheaper than Dublin.
THE ENTRIES
A series of cobblestone and brick walking streets, the entries provide all the shopping that the Victoria and Castlecourt centers can’t. The term “entry” actually refers to tiny alleyways that have “covered” entrances in between shops on the wider open streets. Chances are you’ll see them as you walk around, but if you need help, just ask someone and they’ll be happy to point you to the nearest one.