The best hotels in Belfast: 10 great options to suit every budget

We lived in Belfast for several years and know all of the best places that the city has to offer, including its best hotels.

We have regularly worked with hotels in the area to promote offers and with that, we have built up a strong knowledge of the best hotels in Belfast for every budget.

Hotels in Belfast aren’t quite as expensive as some other major cities in Europe, meaning you can often get a 5* stay in the city for less than you would typically see in Western Europe.

As Belfast is quite compact, many of its best hotels are quite close to one another and also within walking distance to all of Belfast’s major attractions. The decision really then doesn’t come down to where the hotel is situated as much as the style of hotel you would like to stay in.

Here, we will provide you with options for every budget, from grand luxury to historical boutique buildings and budget friendly options perfect for anyone visiting the university area as well.

Where to stay in Belfast – at a glance

Belfast is not a huge city so you will almost definitely be staying at a hotel in Belfast city centre so you can be within walking distance of the main attractions.

That being said, depending on your reason for visiting, you may want to choose a hotel in one of the suburb areas outside of the city centre or you may just need to know the best airport hotel for transiting out of Belfast International.

Hotels in Belfast City Centre – Most people will stay in the city centre of Belfast as it is a relatively small city. Our top pick for a hotel in Belfast City Centre is the The Merchant for a luxury hotel or else The Harrison for an alternative option.

Hotels outside Belfast City Centre – The majority of Belfast’s best hotels will be found in the city centre but if you would like to stay outside the centre we would recommend The Culloden Estate for a luxury stay or else the Stormont Hotel.

How many days do you need in Belfast?

Ordinarily, we would suggest you spend at least 3 days in any city to allow sufficient time to explore and enjoy the city, without feeing like you are in a huge rush to move from one place to the next. 

While we would suggest the same for Belfast, you can actually squeeze a lot into a 1 day itinerary in the city so it is a great option for a shorter stay as well.

If you are planning to spend more time in Ireland away from Belfast, we would suggest heading to one of our favourite places in the country, the Causeway Coast tour, which has so many stunning coastline views to enjoy.

Best Hotels in Belfast for every budget

Best luxury hotels in Belfast

For a relatively small city, Belfast has a number of luxury hotels to choose from, particularly in the city centre. The majority of these hotels are set in the heart of the city, just a short walk from the main shopping streets, bars & restaurants in Belfast.

The best luxury hotel in Belfast in our opinion is The Merchant Hotel, which has a stunning interior and is set in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. The Merchant is renowned for its domed ceiling in the heart of the building and its afternoon tea offering.

The hotel is just a few minutes walk from all the best bars and restaurants in Belfast around the Cathedral Quarter so it is ideal for ease of access to the main attractions in Belfast.

Alternatively, you could also stay at The Grand Central Hotel. The unique selling point of this hotel is its Observatory rooftop bar, which has beautiful views overlooking Belfast City Centre.

The Grand Central has a very modern design with a real luxury feel and as the tallest building in Belfast it immediately stands out as a key landmark when you arrive in the city.

Our final recommendation for a luxury hotel in Belfast would be Regency House. This boutique hotel is set in a stunning listed building, it has a beautiful garden on site and they have also just revamped their brunch menu, which is now one of the best in the city.

The rooms here are full of style and character and it is only a 2 minute walk to the train station, making it really convenient for day trips from Belfast as well.

Mid Range Hotels in Belfast

For a mid range option we have a few personal favourites. If it is your first time in Belfast we think Room2 is a great option as it is right in the heart of the city.

The rooms in this hotel are stylishly designed and modern and most importantly, you can be on the main shopping streets in less than 5 minutes from Room2. It is also right across the street from our favourite coffee spot in Belfast, Nine Squared so you will hardly need to get out of bed to get a great caffeine fix in the morning.

Our next suggestion would be the Titanic Hotel. This is particularly a great option if you are planning to stay in Belfast for a few days as they often have special offers running like 3 nights for the price of 2 so definitely keep an eye out for that if you are planing a long weekend stay.

Again, this hotel is in a particularly historical area of the city and provides very easy access to the Titanic Exhibition Centre, where you can learn some of the history around the famous ship.

The area surrounding the hotel is great for a morning walk and you will be right beside the SSE arena so it is perfect for concert goers but also has a range of family friendly activities like W5 a well.

Our final suggestion for a mid range hotel would be The Harrison. Again, the Harrison is a boutique hotel in a great location and its interiors are filled with character. This is a great option in South Belfast, close to a lot of trendy cafes and bars off the Malone Road.

Set in a historic building, the Harrison has retained lots of its original features and has a really unique design throughout. If you want a hotel that feels intimate and is uniquely designed, we would definitely recommend a stay in the Harrison.

Other contenders: The Europa Hotel

Budget Friendly Hotels in Belfast

Our first recommendation for a budget friendly hotel is the Stormont Hotel. Naturally, prices do fluctuate throughout the year but they regularly have double rooms available at comparatively good rates and the hotel itself is well designed with an onsite bar & restaurant available to guests.

One thing to note with this hotel is that it is not in Belfast City Centre so you will need a car or to use public transport. However, it is right across from Stormont Estate, which has beautiful walking trails and there is a great play park here if you are travelling with your children.

There is also a great food scene In this area. We love going to General Merchants or Haptik for breakfast when we are here and you can also get one of the best pizzas in the country nearby at Flout!. There is also a great coffee spot called Terracotta which does a great cookie as well so you are spoiled for choice in that department.

We also used to live in this area and have stayed at the Stormont ourselves, it’s definitely worth considering if you are happy to be outside the city centre.

For a great budget hotel in Belfast city centre, our pick would be The Ibis in Queens Quarter. Set right beside Queen’s University Belfast, this one is perfect if you are visiting friends or family at university.

As it is a student area, there is also a ton of places that you can get great food on a budget nearby so a stay here is perfect for anyone visiting Belfast on a budget.

Best airport hotels in Belfast –

Finally, if you just want a great airport hotel to use as a base for an early morning flight etc. our pick would be Dunadry Hotel, which is about 4 miles away from Belfast International.

This hotel has a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre as well as a very well regarded restaurant so it is perfect for a relaxing night before heading to the airport.