This post lists the best free walking tours you can take in Belfast, including self-guided tours and small group tours.
WHAT ARE FREE WALKING TOURS?
Free walking tours are name-your-own-price tours you can take without paying an upfront fee. These tours allow you to pay what you think your walk with the local guide was worth.
According to online reviews, €5 to €15 is the amount that most people claim to pay per adult if they enjoyed the tour.
Free tours generally cover the historic center of the city.
For themed tours, such as those dealing with the troubles, street art, food, or Game of Thrones, you are likely going to have to pay upfront for a tour.
Likewise, keep in mind that these free walking tours are popular due to their reputations and affordability. This means you might have over 30 guests per guide on any given tour time, particularly in the high tourist seasons.
If you want to avoid a crowded tour, or you would like a themed tour, you might want to consider a small-group walking tour. Here are just a few.
FREE CITY CENTRE WALKING TOURS OF BELFAST
Below are the best pay-what-you-like walking tours of Belfast city centre.
We will also list companies offering paid tours, as there aren't many free options available just yet.
Belfast Free Walking Tour
Belfast Free Walking Tour offers tours daily, most of which are for English-speaking travelers, some for Spanish-speaking travelers.
You’ll get to see the most famous landmarks of the city on your walk, including the Cathedral Quarter, Albert Clock, the Big Fish, Belfast City Hall, and City Laneways.
You can book their tours here.
You can also find paid cab tours and other themed tours that center on Belfast’s history or culture.
DC Tours
This company currently offers an outing they call the "Best of Belfast Walking Tour." This service of course covers some of the most notable sites in the city centre. They also provide a few historical details about the area.
You can take this tour almost every day at 10:00 am and it runs for approximately 2 hours. Tickets are £18 per person.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
Belfastology
If you're looking for a different experience of the city, this company claims to offer an eclectic Belfast walking tour.
In addition to seeing the sites, you'll also hear about the interesting history of this part of Ireland.
This tour is offered almost every day at 10:00 am, 14:00 (2:00 pm), and 16:00 (4:00 pm).
The outing lasts for around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Tickets are £18 per person.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
BELFAST HISTORY WALKING TOURS
This section will cover some of the best historical walking tours in Belfast. These outings usually provide detail about the political history of the city.
Most of these options will be paid tours, but we will include pay-what-you-wish services when and if they become available in the future.
Belfast Free Walking Tours
Aside from their one pay-what-you-wish tour, this company also offers an outing covering the political conflicts of Belfast.
You'll explore the neighbourhoods that were affected and hear about the history from both Republicans and Loyalist ex-political prisoners.
This tour runs almost every day at 14:30 (2:30 pm) and it runs for 3 hours. Tickets are £23 per person.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
DC Tours
In addition to their city centre tour, this company also provides a service covering the history of the Troubles.
Learn about the historical significance of this event and how it impacted Belfast.
You can take this tour daily at 10:30 am. The outing is approximated 2 hours and 30 minutes long, and tickets are just £18 per person.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
If you'd rather be in complete control of your walkthrough Belfast, a self-guided tour is a great option for you.
Self-Guided Art Walk
If you're fascinated by street art, take the Bumbling Tourist's self-guided art tour.
There is an accompanying Youtube video if you'd like a preview, as well as photos and an interactive map to help you find all the murals around the city.
There is also a guided tour of street art that you might consider.
Free City Destacados
You can walk around the city with this Ireland.com list of the best free spots to explore. From catching traditional music to finding a market, you'll find it in this guide.