Belfast - Ireland 2014 - page 524

Coiste Irish Political Tours leads extended, three-hour walks along Falls Road to ex-
plain the history of the neighborhood from an intensely Republican perspective. Led by
former IRA prisoners, you'll visit murals, gardens of remembrance, peace walls, and com-
munity centers in this rejuvenating section of gritty Belfast. Tours meet beside the Divis
Tower (the 20-story apartment house at the east end of the Divis Road near the A-12 West-
link motorway overpass) and end at the Milltown Cemetery (£10, Mon-Sat at 11:00, Sun
at 14:00, tel. [phone], www.coiste.ie , Seamus Kelley). They also offer tours on Un-
ited Irishmen, Ballymurphy, or Milltown Cemetery.
▲ Big Bus Tours
City Sightseeing offers the best quick introduction to the city's recent and complicated
political and social history. Take their bus tour to use as a handy all-day transportation
service tolinkmajor sights.You'llcruise theCatholic andProtestant working-class neigh-
borhoods, politically charged sites like the dramatically situated Stormont Parliament
building and sobering Crumlin Road Gaol, and historic stops such as Titanic Belfast and
City Hall. The commentary points out political murals and places of interest—often deal-
ing with the Troubles of the last 45 years. You see sights from the bus and can get on and
off at any of the stops; buses pass every half-hour (£12.50, 2/hour, daily 10:00-16:30, tick-
ets valid for 48 hours, fewer tours in winter—call first, makes 20 stops over a 1.5-hour
loop; departs from Castle Place on High Street, 2 blocks west of Albert Clock Tower; pay
cash on bus, or book by phone with credit card, tel. [phone], www.city-sightsee-
ing.com ).
Their cousin tour is the Titanic Explorer hop-on, hop-off bus, which focuses only on
the Titanic Quarter. Stops lace together the Odyssey, S.S. Nomadic tender ship, Titanic
Belfast,andHarlandandWolffdrawingoffices,andincludeabriefguidedtourof Titanic 's
Dry Dock and Pump-House (£10, hourly, daily 9:45-16:00, ticket valid 24 hours, fewer in
winter—call first, makes eight stops over 45-minute loop; departs from Castle Place on
High Street, 2 blocks west of Albert Clock Tower, pay cash on bus, or book by phone with
credit card, tel. [phone], www.titanicexplorer.com ).
Bike Tours
Explore the countryside south of town on Belfast Bike Tours. Departing from the front
gate of Queen's University, you'll spend 2.5 hours peddling along an old canal towpath to
theGiant'sRing(ancientdolmen)andbackongenerallyflatterrain(£15;April-AugMon,
Wed, Fri-Sat at 10:30 and 14:00; Sept-March Sat 10:30 and 14:00; bikes, helmets, and
bottle of water provided; must reserve ahead by phone or email, mobile [phone],
www.belfastbiketours.com ) .