Accommodation Guide – Northern Ireland

In our experience, short-stay accommodation is usually best booked through Booking.com* as often breakfast is included, payment is deferred to time closer to your travel time and cancellation terms are usually more flexible. In addition, when booking through the next best option, AirBnb, you are often paying cleaning fees which can work out pricey if you are just staying a few days.

Places to Stay in Belfast

Belfast city centre is compact and centred around the City Hall. Broadly speaking, there are two clusters of hotels, the first around Great Victoria Street Station, close to the beautiful Opera House and to iconic bars such as The Crown Bar and Robinsons, and the second cluster is found in and around the Cathedral Quarter with its abundance of bars and restaurants. There are also a few hotels overlooking the Lagan. Being a compact city, it takes just 15-20 minutes to walk across the centre so wherever you choose, you will never be too far away from a restaurant or bar, or attraction.

Moving away from the center of town, consider the leafy streets of Botanic & Queen’s Quarters in and around Queen’s University, the Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum. The area is on the hop-on hop-bus route and a short walk/taxi ride into town.

Learn more about things to see and do in the Belfast. 

City centre

• The Europa – ££ – known as ‘the world’s most bombed hotel’, the hotel is a landmark in Belfast. Despite the history is has been recently refurbished and deserves its reputation as one of Belfast’s top hotels. Learn more >>
• The Merchant Hotel – ££££ – expect opulance and history, located close to the Cathedral Quarter for bars and dining. Learn more >>
• The Bullitt Hotel – £££ – A sister hotel to the Merchant, and also located close by in the Cathedral Quarter. Named for Steve McQueen’s 1968 movie Bullitt, the hotel vibe is accordingly McQueen cool. Learn more >>

Titanic Quarter

• Titanic Hotel Belfast – adjacent to Titanic Belfast and occupying the old Harland & Wolff Offices of the old shipyard where Titanic was built.  Keep in mind that it is located across the river from the city centre however this is still a short walk/ taxi ride away. Good for George Best Airport. Learn more >>

Botanic / Queen’s Quarter

• Gregory by the Warren Collection – ££ – Reasonably priced hotel with garden in leafy streets of Queen’s Quarter. While there are no breakfast/dining facilities there are many local cafés and restaurants. Learn more >>
• The 1852 Hotel– ££ – A self check in hotel with good-sized rooms and comfy beds, and a good restaurant/café downstairs. Quirky welcome with a free beer! Learn more >> 

Places to Stay on The Causeway Coast & Glens

Most attractions are an easy day-trip from any location along the Causeway Coast so you can find a place to stay that meets your needs without worrying too much that you are in the ‘wrong’ place. To help you get the lie of the land take a look at our 7-Day Road Trip or our Causeway Coastal Route write up.

The major towns to stay are Ballycastle (for Rathlin Island, traditional bars, the Dark Hedges and the Glens), Bushmills (for the distillery and Giant’s Causeway), and Portrush and Portstewart for beaches, restaurants and all attractions. Smaller towns to check out include Cushenden and Cushendall in the Glens, and Ballintoy, Dunseverick, Portballintrae and Castlerock.

There are of course a large number of stunning places to stay in rural settings along the coast, the Glens and not forgetting the area around Benevenegh and Limavady, or even further inland along the Bann river.

Last but not least, we must mention the Causeway Hotel which is located right by the Giant’s Causeway with fabulous views along the coast – and free access to the Giant’s Causeway centre (access to the Causeway itself is always free).

Places to Stay in Derry Londonderry

Derry~Londonderry is famous for its walls and there are quite a number of hotels and B&Bs within the city walls if you want to be at the heart of all that history. Parking may be a problem however, because the city area is quite compact, you can easily park outside the city walls and walk. The council carparks are the most economical option and are most easily used with the Just Park app which allows you to top up remotely.

There are also a number of hotels and B&Bs outside the city walls towards the university.

Learn more about things to see and do in the Derry~Londonderry. 

Within the city walls

Number 8 The Townhouse ££  Bed and breakfast with a strong Victorian vibe.  (Booking.com rating 9.0)

Shipquay Boutique Hotel ££  A luxurious and intimate boutique hotel built in a listed building. (Booking.com rating 9.0)

Maldron City Hotel ££ A modern 4-star hotel just inside the city walls. Some rooms have views over the River Foyle and over the walls. (Booking.com rating 8.2)

The Bishop’s Gate Hotel ££££ Another historic luxury boutique hotel within the city walls situated within an elegant listed building built in the 1800s. (Booking.com rating 9.2)

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Close to the city walls

The Jazz House £ and The Art House £  Both owned by the same company, these townhouse hotels are both gorgeously lavish, decorated with an Edwardian / Roaring 20’s mood. Located a short walk outside the city walls in a quiet residential street close to the university. Breakfast not provided. (Booking.com rating 9.3 / 9.5)

Holiday Inn Express ££  There’ll be few surprises with this established hotel brand. A solid 3-star modern hotel just outside the city walls. Buffet breakfast. (Booking.com rating 8.4)

City outskirts (easy parking)

Arkle House £ A small country house with gardens, parking and a good breakfast. (Booking.com rating 9.1)

Everglades Hotel £  A modern 4-star hotel across the River Foyle, overlooking the hills of Donegal (Booking.com rating 8.7)

Larchmount House B&B £££  A welcoming Grade II-listed Georgian house set in beautiful gardens and with a highly-rated breakfast included.  (Booking.com rating 9.8)

Places to Stay in the Fermanagh Lakelands

Fermanagh boasts many lovely places to stay and where you choose to stay will depend on how you wish to spend your time – see our write up on the lakelands. Enniskillen is the main town offering restaurants and pubs, but you may prefer to stay lakeside or out in the country to make the most of the scenery and tranquility.

Belmore Court ££  A practical modern motel just 10 minutes walk from the centre of Enniskillen town, offering great breakfasts. (Booking.com rating 8.8)

Dromard House £  A welcoming B&B in a quiet rural setting a walkable two miles out of Enniskillen. Accommodation is in an annexe with a guest kitchen with a traditional breakfast served in the main house. A walk through the woods takes you to the lough shore. (Booking.com rating 9.4)

Ashwoods House £  A rural setting a short drive out of Enniskillen on the road towards Cuilcagh, Marble Arch Caves and Florence Court. The rooms each feature a kitchenette and patio with garden views. Highly rated breakfast. (Booking.com rating 9.8)

Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges £££ A modern resort hotel set on the lough shore just out of Enniskillen with facilities including a spa, gym, indoor pool, two restaurants and a bar. (Booking.com rating 8.5)

Lough Erne Resort £££ This 5-star luxury hotel hosted the 2013 G8 summit and it is no surprise that the hotel boasts two championship golf courses, a Thai spa, and an infinity pool, generous ground with all rooms offering lake views. A short drive out of Enniskillen. (Booking.com rating 8.7)

Places to Stay in South Down – The Mournes and St Patrick’s Country

You should aim to find accommodation in or around Newcastle or Downpatrick as the attractions mentioned in our write up on the area are all close by. You will find a full range of accommodation, from glamping pods with spectacular views to 4-star luxury at the Slieve Donard Hotel and Spa in Newcastle.

Conlyn House, Newcastle ££: A seaside Bed & Breakfast in Newcastle giving you seaviews and easy access to the town’s bars and restaurants. Full Irish breakfast!

Slieve Donard Hotel & Spa, Newcastle ££££: An iconic 4-star Victorian hotel set in six acres of immaculate private grounds by the sea with views towards the Mournes.

Dundrum Inn, Dundrum ££: An 1800s inn with a garden, restaurant and a bar so you won’t have to go far for your first Guinness.

Denvir’s Coaching Inn, Downpatrick ££: Established in 1642, Denvir’s is the oldest surviving Coaching Inn in Ireland and is now a grade ‘A’ listed building. It is in easy walking distance of St Patrick’s Centre, grave etc.

If you are interested in enjoying a country house experience, check this article – The Very Best Country Hotels and B&Bs in Northern Ireland