Dublin VS Belfast: Which Irish city is better? (by two locals)

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Are you trying to decide between Dublin VS Belfast? You’re in the right place! Dublin and Belfast are the two main cities on the island of Ireland and although they are in different countries, people often hesitate between the two. When deciding on what cities to visit in Ireland, it is normal to be torn between Belfast and Dublin as they are both statements on the island. 

After having lived over 3 years in Dublin together and 3 more years in Belfast for Eric, we are happy to share our comparison between Belfast and Dublin and hope this post will help you decide which one to pick for your visit to the Emerald Island! 

You can check more posts about more world romantic destinations here.

Do you want to visit both Dublin and Belfast? Check out the perfect 8 days in Ireland itinerary here to travel to both cities!

***Some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not change the fact that we only recommend products, stays, activities and attractions we are satisfied with and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Dublin Vs Belfast: the basics and key facts

Before we go into detail about whether you should visit Belfast Northern Ireland or Dublin Ireland, we thought it would be nice to go over some basics and key facts about the two biggest cities on the island of Ireland. 

Dublin City: what does Dublin look like ?

Is Dublin Northern Ireland ? No, Dublin is located in the Republic of Ireland, which is a different country from Northern Ireland. It is not part of the UK and instead is part of the European Union. Dublin, which sits on the East coast of the country, is the capital city of the Republic of Ireland. 

Dublin city is not to be confused with Dublin County. Dublin County is the region in which Dublin City is located and is much bigger than the city itself. 

The currency used in Dublin is the Euro (€). This is very practical if you plan on traveling to other EU countries such as Portugal, Spain, Greece or France, as you won’t need to exchange your currency before traveling from and to those countries. 

Although Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland, it is quite smaller then other European capitals such as Paris. It has a population of 1,250,000 people which is growing everyday. This is due to the attractively of the city for jobs. Dublin is a hub for all types of jobs including technology, social media and law. In the past years, this has caused Dublin to go through a major housing crisis as the building of residential areas has not caught up with the fast growing population. 

Dublin’s origins can be traced back to the vikings which the city has used in several of its touristy attractions. Due to its rich history, Dublin offers historical visits and city centre. It is an eclectic mix of historic buildings and more modern constructions. 

Dublin is known for its Temple Bar District with all the pubs and live performers singing and playing music until the end of the night (sometimes early morning lol). It is also known for its skyline with the famous Samuel Beckett Bridge and the unique Library at the Book of Kells (more on this below). 

Belfast

Wanna play tourist in Belfast? Here are a few facts about the city.

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland which is located on the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the UK and isn’t part of the EU. 

The currency used in Belfast is the Pound (£) like in the UK. This means that if you are traveling from or to the EU, you will need to exchange your currency.

Although Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, it remains small in size with 639,000 inhabitants in 2022 which is much lower than Dublin. Although it is a growing city, most people still come to Dublin for jobs so it’s nowhere near Dublin in terms of growth.

The city can be traced back to the Iron Age and is full of history, parts of it being quite dark. Some of the darkest times happened more recently that you’d think with the 1990s violence between Catholics and Protestants (Ireland and Northern Ireland). The Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998 which has brought peace between the two countries. 

Besides its history, Belfast is known for being home to the Titanic Museum, and Queen University Belfast which seems to have been taken right out of a Harry Potter book!

Which is Better Dublin or Belfast for accessibility

Belfast vs Dublin have different pros and cons when it comes to accessibility. Let’s see which one would be more suitable for you. 

Dublin

Getting to Dublin

Dublin is equipped with an airport located about 20 minutes from the city centre. The airport has two terminals with direct flights to Europe and the USA, especially New York. From the airport, there are several ways to access the city including, several bus lines, taxis, and rental cars.

When our family visits us, they usually rent a car through Expedia which has been working out well for us. The car rental companies are located a bit off the airport and accessible by a free shuttle in a few minutes. As for buses, you can take the line 16 which takes you right to O’Connell Street in the city centre. 

You can also access Dublin by ferry. Ferries mostly coming from the UK and France. They are quite expensive in the summer (we have heard of tickets being €800 for one person and one car in July/August) but become more reasonable in September. 

If you are coming to Dublin from the island of Ireland, you can definitely take the train around the island. There are trains from Galway and from the different coastal towns as well.

Getting around Dublin

Dublin is not a big capital and is quite a walkable city. Having lived here for over 3 years now, we usually walk everywhere. If you’re going to walk around the city, we would recommend wearing comfortable flat shoes. Most parts of the city are paved which can make it a challenge to walk with heels! We would also recommend wearing closed shoes as there is quite a bit of broken glass (from those crazy pub nights) on the ground!

Another way to get around Dublin is renting Dublin bikes. There are lots of stations around the city and the first 30 minutes are free (with a fee to register). There are buses that go around the city as well. 

We wouldn’t recommend renting a car unless you are going to explore surrounding areas (see below)

Belfast

Getting to Belfast

Due to the offer of flights, a lot of visitors fly into Dublin before heading to Belfast. It’s not impossible to fly into Belfast but the offer is lower than Dublin and flights can also be more expensive. There are daily coaches connecting both cities so it’s fairly easy to fly into Dublin and then heading to Belfast. 

If you are flying to Belfast, you’ll be flying into either George Best Belfast City Airport or Belfast International Airport. You can take the bus from the airport to head to the city centre from either airport which will take 20 minutes or 40 minutes respectively. 

Getting around Belfast

Belfast being much smaller than Dublin, it’s a very walkable city. You can literally walk everywhere. However, there are also buses and taxis available for convenience. 

We wouldn’t recommend renting a car unless you are going to explore surrounding areas (see below)

Belfast vs Dublin: Tourist things to do 

Things to do in Dublin

Dublin has a wide range of visits and we recommend for you to check our 2 days in Dublin itinerary which is a hands-on itinerary that you can print and follow to see all the main landmarks and a couple of hidden gems in the city. 

The list of the main landmarks Ireland Dublin is known for include:

• The Guinness Storehouse: The tour is really fun and the sample tasting will teach you a thing or two about Ireland’s famous beer. The cherry on top os the end of the tour where you can head to the top fo the tower and have a 360° view of Dublin. Much worth it!
• The City centre: From Temple Bar to Trinity College, the Book of Kells and Grafton Street, there is enough to keep you busy here for a full day if not more!
• Dublin Castle: The visit of the castle and the Chapel is really good and very interesting. We would recommend it!
• St Patrick’s Cathedral: A must-see especially as a first time visitor. 

Things to do in Belfast

Belfast is a very beautiful city to visit with visit and monuments that will surprise you positively. Some of the main places to visit in Belfast City include:

• The Titanic museum: The museum goes over the history of the Titanic and is quite well put together. This is a visit we both really enjoyed. 
• The Botanic Gardens: Although not as big as Dublin’s, they are quite nice and the glasshouse is definitely a nice touch.
• The Ulster Museum: This is a free museum that is quite big and interesting. 
• Belfast City Hall: the city hall sits in the centre of the city and is quite beautiful. We loved our visit there and would highly recommend. 
• The Cathedral Quarter: Known as the beating heart of Belfast, this is where you’ll find St Anne’s Cathedral and all the pubs! 

Winner: We would say that both cities have very nice things to do and memorable visits. If you are in Ireland for a few days, we would pick Dublin but if you are here only for a day, then Belfast might be a better pick!

Belfast or Dublin: romantic things to do 

As we travel together, we are always looking for romantic things to do at our destinations. If you are a couple like us, you’ll appreciate this section about the romantic things to do in Belfast and Dublin. 

Dublin

We have a full guide on all the things to do in Dublin for couples which we recommend you check out if you end up choosing Dublin. Dublin has lots of romantic activities for all interests. One free romantic thing to do in Dublin would be picnicking and visiting Phoenix Park, Dublin’s equivalent to New York’s Central Park. Dublin also offers a couple of escape games which are really fun if you like to work as a team.

With this cruise, you will embark on this all-weather red river boat to cruise on the River Liffey and to learn more about Dublin from the arrival of the vikings to modern days. This is one of the best Dublin attractions for couples as you can sit together and let yourself cruise in a beautiful scenery. 

Would your partner enjoy a three course dinner onboard a cruising barge? If yes, then this experience is for you! This 2 hour Cruise offers a three course dinner with drinks while cruising Grand Canal in Dublin. Dinner is prepared onboard by the barge’s Chefs and takes place from 8pm to 10pm. After dinner, you can head to the deck and enjoy the views with a glass of bubbly! This is one heck of a romantic dinner Dublin has to offer!

Dublin also has a number of rooftop restaurants such as Ryleigh’s where you can eat with a beautiful view on the city! 

Belfast

From going to a comedy show to having a nice dinner or heading to bars, Belfast offers more of the basic of romance. One thing we would recommend though is a picnic at the Botanic Garden and checking out the glasshouse. Checking out close by landmarks such as the Giant’s Causeway can also be quite romantic on a nice day!

Winner: We think Dublin definitely wins this one with a much wider offer of romantic things to do in the city. 

Belfast and Dublin: free things to do 

If you are traveling on a budget and are looking for free things to do, this section will interest you.

Dublin

There is a wide range of free things to do in Dublin both for first time visitors and locals. Some of those visits include Dublin Castle Gardens and the Chester Beatty Library which is also the home to a rooftop garden, the geology building in Trinity College and Trinity college, Grafton Street, checking out the beautiful architecture of St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and visiting the free museums of the city. 

The Botanic Gardens, and finding the Phoenix Park deer are also great free activities in Dublin. 

Belfast

Belfast also has a few free visits including the Belfast City Hall (highly recommend!), the Botanic Gardens, and the Ulster Museum. 

Winner: From our experience, Dublin would win in terms of the number of free things to do. However, even though Belfast has less free things to do, they are still great visits and just as good as Dublin’s. 

Food in Dublin and Belfast

Dublin

Dublin has hundreds of restaurants spread over the city and as many options as you could imagine. From traditional Irish breakfast to delicious Asian cuisine and even French cuisine, you’ll find everything you could possibly think of here for a range of budgets. We have a list of our favourite restaurants in Dublin here categorised by budget that we recommend you check out. 

Some traditional Irish food include Irish Stew, Irish breakfast, Fish and Chips and Chowder. 

Belfast

Belfast also has a wide offer of food and restaurants although smaller than Dublin. The Ulster Fry is the traditional breakfast in Northern Ireland and is quite similar to an Irish breakfast. Seafood is also big which makes sense as the city is right on the water. 

Winner: The winner is clearly Dublin for the wider offer of food. 

Is Dublin or Belfast safer

In this section, we will talk about our own experiences. Keep in mind, everyone’s experience is different depending on a lot of different factors. For example, we recognise that we are both white and that in itself is a privilege. A person of colour’s experience might be completely different from ours but we just wouldn’t be able to guide you on that (and it’s not our place to do so). We do not want to undermine anyone else’s experience by sharing our own but hopefully it will give you an idea of what to expect.

Dublin

We have lived in Dublin for over 3 years now so we think we have a pretty good idea of how safe it is. Overall, we would say that Dublin is very safe. As a woman, I (Marie) feel safe 99% of the time even alone at night. I would recommend however to follow the usual safety rules at night such as keeping to the main avenues and avoiding the dark alleys, always let someone know where you are and when you get home, and have your phone ready to dial just in case. I have had way worse experience in France in cities that are deemed safe. Here, I’ve noticed that girls can wear whatever they want and no-one will whistle at them for example. Eric has never felt unsafe here.

When it comes to the safety in pubs, we’ve noticed that most people behave well and the ambiance is usually quite chill and friendly. There is the occasional annoying guy but every pub has security so issues get resolved quite quickly. In addition, we have noticed more and more pubs having codes in the washrooms to give to the bartender in case someone is bothering you. 

The population is quite varied in Dublin city centre and there is also a lot of homeless people but the majority of people are harmless. Dublin has had a bit of an issue with groups of kids but incidents remain isolated, at least form what we’ve seen. 

The North of Dublin has a bit of a worse reputation than the South but we know people from the North that have never had an issue. It seems that Dublin safety really varies from one street to another. Some streets that have bad reputations include Parnell Street, Sheriff Street and Mountjoy Square. We, however, have never had an issue in any of those. They are also not touristy streets so there is little chance you would step there anyways. 

Belfast

The population of Belfast is also quite varied and similar to Dublin in a way. Is Belfast Safe? Eric lived there for about 3 years and thought Belfast was safe. I visited him there several time and I also thought it was safe. Just like Dublin, always remember the basic safety rules and you’ll be fine overall. 

I think it’s important to remember that nowhere is 100% safe and to always be aware of your surroundings.

Winner: Both win this battle. 

Belfast vs Dublin population

The population in both cities varies a bit so we thought we would add a section on this. This is especially relevant if you are looking to move into one or the other.

Dublin

Dublin is a pretty eclectic city with a range of different people. It is a popular city both for Erasmus students and for young adults who wish to learn English by living here for a few months. This is because Dublin is the last capital in the EU that is located in an English speaking country. This means that Dublin has a big student population. It also means that Dublin is very cosmopolitan with young adults coming to work and live here from all over Europe but also from non-EU countries such as Brazil. 

Dublin being a professional hub in the EU, it also attracts lots of young professionals in their mid-20s up to their mid-30s. 

The population living in the city tends to be a mix of nationalities and young adults while the population in the surrounding areas tends to be more families and older generations. 

Belfast

Belfast is similar to Dublin in terms of students but there are far more young professionals in Dublin. Families in Belfast also tend to concentrate in the surrounding areas. 

Belfast is still impacted by its religious history so the city is still divided by religion, politics and ethnicity. We have heard of people having to book a hotel in a different area than they had planned because of their looks (skin colour).

Winner: Dublin is probably the winner here as the city is more cosmopolitan and welcoming. 

Dublin or Belfast nightlife

The Belfast Dublin competition continues for nightlife events.

Dublin

Dublin offers a range of activities to do at night. The main one would obviously be going to the pubs in Temple Bar, also called the Dublin Pub Crawl. This is a popular nightlife activity here. From the drinking to the live music and over 700 pubs in the city, you can definitely party until the early morning. Dicey’s is a popular pub among young crowds but Temple Bar remains the favourite among tourists.

But Dublin’s nightlife isn’t just about the pubs. Dublin is home to several theatres like the Olympia theatre or the Board Gais Energy Theatre, music venues like the 3Arena, and theme nights at restaurants. Museums, such as the Irish Museum of Modern Art, also organise night events especially in the summer when the weather is better. Some pubs also offer Irish Dancing nights which can be really fun if you’ve never seen that before! 

Dublin is also great for comedy shows and there are quite a few free ones  around the city. One of our favourites is the open mic at the Stag’s Head in the city centre! 

Belfast

Belfast is also home to lots of pubs which would be the main activity to do there at night. The St Anne’s Cathedral area is a popular hub for pubs and nightlife activities. The Limelight is a popular place for going out with a rooftop terrace bar and a dance club. Belfast also has a couple of theatre including the Lyric Theatre which offers a year-round programme. In Belfast, you can also see shows at the Waterfront Hall and some comedy shows as comedy clubs such as the Queen’s Comedy Club. 

Winner: No hesitation here, Dublin is bigger and offers a lot more options when it comes to nightlife activities so it wins the Belfast vs Dublin nightlife battle.

Dublin or Belfast Which is the Cheapest City to travel

Dublin

In the past couple of years, everything in Dublin has become more expensive for tourists (and locals, see section below). Hotels in the city centre are rarely under €100 per night unless you book months in advance. Renting a car will costs about the same per day especially in the summer. As covered above, ferries to Dublin are quite pricy in the summer as well and can go up to €800 for a round trip with a car. Food in grocery stores isn’t much more expensive than on mainland Europe, however, food in restaurants tends to be overpriced especially in touristy districts like Temple Bar. 

That said, flight tickets to Dublin from Europe remain low cost especially thanks to companies like Ryanair and Are Lingus. In addition, there are lots of free touristy things to do in Dublin which is great and can balance out your budget. 

Belfast

Costs in Belfast are (most of the time) much cheaper than Dublin. You can find decent hotels for less than €100 if you book a bit in advance. Restaurants are also charging a bit less for equivalent dishes and rental cars are also cheaper per day. 

If you’re flying into Dublin airport, you’ll have an extra cost of booking coach tickets to Belfast but those are usually reasonable. 

Winner: No hesitation for this Dublin vs Belfast battle, visiting Belfast is the winner by far!

Dublin vs Belfast cost of living

You might be wondering “should I live in Dublin or Belfast ?”. Well we both live in Dublin and Eric lived 3 years in Belfast so let’s see which one is better in terms of cost of living!

Dublin

Again, Dublin is outrageously expensive when it comes to the cost of living. Due to the number of young professionals migrating here, there isn’t enough housing for everybody which makes the rent price go up like crazy. Rent for a one bedroom apartment close to the city centre is usually around €1500 per month, rent for a room in a shared apartment can go for €900 per month or €1200 for couples. Apartments are also quite worn out and lots of them get moldy as they are badly insulated. Transportation can be around €100 per month which is quite expensive. 

Belfast

Belfast is much cheaper in terms of rent. For a one bedroom house in the city centre, costs are around £650 per month which is about €770. Transportation in Belfast isn’t needed as the city is very walkable so that’s a cost you’ll save on. 

Winner: The winner for this Belfast vs Dublin battle is once again, Belfast. 

Dublin vs Belfast : Things to do near 

If you have time, we recommend exploring around Dublin or Belfast!

Dublin Day Trips

There are lots of day trips you can take from Dublin and that includes to the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The Wicklow Mountains National park is gorgeous and only one hour from the city! We recommend renting a GoCar through the Go Car app and heading there for the day. 

Around Dublin, you can also take a day trip to go walk alpacas, one of the cutest activities you could ever think of! You can check out the Alpaca walking farms around Dublin here. 

Dublin is also surrounded by seaside towns such as Dalkey and Howth which are great day getaways to see more of the coast and eat fresh seafood. One day trip we love is going to Bull Island and Dollymount beach. You can head to these places by DART, the local train, for a few euros.

Belfast Day Trips

One of the most famous Belfast road trips is driving the Antrim coast, stopping by the Carrick O Rede suspension bridge and finishing at the Giants Causeway, one of the most impressive landmark in Northern Ireland. You can also stop by the Bushmill Distillery for a quick (but very interesting) tour!

Winner: It’s quite hard to pick as we love all of these road trips! In our experience, you get more day trip options from Dublin although the Belfast road trip is quite gorgeous! We think it’ a tie here! 

Dublin vs Belfast Accommodations

Where to Stay in Dublin

Hotels we would recommend include:

• the Celtic Lodge Guesthouse for its central location
• the Maldron Hotel on Pearse Street. We have stayed at the Maldron before and were very satisfied with the service and how close to the city centre it is.  

For a more budget-friendly option, the Abbey Court hostel has a good reputation although we have never stayed there. 

Now, maybe you would enjoy staying in nature rather than staying in the city. The Wicklow Mountains National Park, also called Ireland’s garden is located just about an hour in the South of Dublin. There are direct DART trains from towns in Wicklow to Dublin which makes it easy to reach the capital. Wicklow is beautiful and if you have time, we definitely recommend including it in your Ireland trip. From hiking the mountains to walking an alpaca in Wicklow, you will love this County. Wicklow is also home to more unique accommodations that are particularly fitted for romantic getaways. We have created a guide of the best sites for glamping in Wicklow where you can find the cutest chalets with hot tubs or unique pods to look at the stars!

Where to Stay in Belfast

Hotels we would recommend in Belfast include:

• The Stormont Hotel 
• The LWR Ormeau Guest House

Winner: Dublin has definitely more options so Dublin wins! 

Dublin or Belfast which is better – Finale

• Accessibility: Dublin
• Tourist things to do: Dublin
• Romantic things to do: Dublin
• Free things to do: Dublin
• Food: Dublin
• Safety: Tie
• Population: Dublin
• Nightlife: Dublin
• Cost of visiting: Belfast
• Cost of living: Belfast
• Day trips: Tie
• Accommodation: Dublin

The winner is Dublin. 

Dublin and Belfast itinerary 

If you can’t choose between Dublin and Belfast, this itinerary will help you visit both during your trip.

How far is it from Dublin to Belfast

The distance between Dublin and Belfast is 167km. How many miles from Belfast to Dublin? 167km is about 104 miles. It takes about 2 hours to drive from Belfast to Dublin so you could easily do a Dublin Belfast day trip if you don’t mind waking up early. 

How to get from Dublin to Belfast

You can travel between Dublin and Belfast by public transport. There is a Dublin to Belfast train that departs every four hours from Dublin Connolly station and arrives in Belfast Central Station. The journey takes the same amount of time as driving, which is 2 hours. 

There are also a number of day tours from Belfast to Dublin and from Dublin to Belfast. We recommend these two:

• Dublin to Belfast, Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle
• Dublin to Giants Causeway and Belfast city

Dublin and Belfast 3 day itinerary

• Day 1: Refer to Dublin itinerary 
• Day 2: Refer to Dublin itinerary
• Day 3: Belfast:
  • Morning: Belfast City Centre and Belfast City Hall
  • Afternoon: Titanic Museum
• Day 4: Push to Giants Causeway and stop by the Carrick-O-Rede Rope bridge on the way!

Any questions on Dublin vs Belfast? Drop them in the comments or on insta  and we will get back to you asap.