titan travel best of ireland

The Best of Ireland - Heritage of the North and South

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Our VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Belfast. On arrival we transfer to our hotel.

This morning, we depart on the Causeway Coastal Route - alongside the glens of Antrim. The first stop is Carrickfergus Castle, one of Northern Ireland’s most striking medieval monuments. We continue to the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway. This geological feat is an unforgettable force of nature; or maybe you’ll choose to believe the myth that this was the handiwork of a local ogre!

We’ll depart for our excursion to the Titanic Belfast Exhibition, to learn the story of the Titanic, from its construction to the infamous maiden voyage. Journeying south, we’ll stop at Enniskillen for a cruise on Lough Erne, home to 160 wooded islands, dotted within hundreds of miles of fresh water. We continue on to Athlone.

We’ll travel around Liscannor Bay and encounter the rugged Cliffs of Moher rising some 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. This naturally impressive scenery is worth a small diversion as we make our way to Cork.

This morning we'll visit Blarney Castle, a tower house that began its life in the 15th century and is today surrounded by 60 acres of lovely gardens. It's also home to the fabled Blarney Stone, built into its battlements. We’ll then head west to Killarney National Park, where Ireland’s highest mountains sweep down to lake shores. We’ll drive on the Ring of Kerry - a 179km route of raw natural beauty and spectacular scenery before returning to the hotel.

This morning we depart Cork for Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, home to the famous crystal glass. We take a look at the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre to learn of its time-honoured trade, before making our way to Dublin, where we’ll spend the next two nights.

This morning we introduce you to the Republic of Ireland’s capital city and visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. The rest of the day and evening is free, so why not enjoy one of the many restaurants in Temple Bar and take in the atmosphere of this lively city.

We transfer to the airport for your return flight home. Upon arrival your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

What's Included

7 nights in hotels

Return flights. Prices are based on British Airways from London Heathrow.

Titan tour manager

10 meals: 7 breakfasts 1 light lunch 2 dinnersundefined excursions and visits

Visits to Carrickfergus Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, Titanic Belfast Exhibition, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, the Ring of Kerry, Waterford Crystal and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

Cruise on Lough Erne, EnniskillenPlus

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Titan's VIP door-to-door travel service

Travel in destination by coach

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Do i have to pay a single supplement.

In most cases a single supplement will apply. If the price for a Single room for sole occupancy is not shown, please ask our team for details and we will be able to check the details for you.

Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

How long has the tour company been trading.

We've been taking our customers across the world on escorted tours for more than 40 years

What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

Our commitment to sustainable travel is part of our ethos. We love exploring the world and hope that, alongside our customers, we can be part of a bigger change in respecting the people and wildlife on our planet and minimising the impact we have on our environment.

What policies are in place for Covid-19?

With some COVID-19 rules and restrictions still in place there are a few details that you need to know. This information is subject to change. It’s your responsibility to monitor changes and ensure you fulfil all relevant criteria for travel. Rest assured that we’re on hand to help and answer any questions you might have.

What documents will I receive before I travel?

You’ll receive your Final holiday documents via email approximately 14 days prior to your departure.

Reviews of this operator

Recently returned from the great....

Recently returned from the great Indian rail journey.My wife and I could hardly believe the value for money.From pick ups from Durham to Heathrow and back,to the number of coach and train journeys , quality hotels, great choice of food throughout and our first night in Heathrow Hilton. What really made our trip a success was our guide, Prashant,who managed a party of twenty four very varied, sometimes a little unpredictable travellers with ease.Nothing was too much trouble for him and as a group we gelled and warmed to Prashant as he kept us safe, well informed and a little entertained by his mix of authority and humanity.Where do I begin with the tour itself ? India,a country of extremes.Poverty,wealth,order,chaos.Sometimes bleak,often breathtakingly beautiful.The people,the cities,art, architecture,flaura and fauna.Delhi,Jaipur, Amritsar,Agra, Ranthambore, Chandigarh and the icing on the cake that is Shimla. An absolute masterclass of man versus nature,the railway and buildings are an unbelievable feat,but wait until you see the dual carriageway being built on the mountainside.🤯I could go on for a very long time but I'll just post some photos.Thanks to Titan,thanks to the excellent Prashant and and a massive thanks to the other twenty two travellers who helped shape our holiday of a lifetime.🏁💜

I have booked the Icelandic...

I have booked the Icelandic Adventure holiday with Titan Travel, the Booking Staff was pleasant throughout. What I love about Titan Travel, transfer from your home to the airport and vice versa is included in the holiday.

Danube cruise was great value....

Danube cruise was great value. Well organised. Clear instructions from Titan prior to travel. Door to door service great.

Exceptional trip and service by Titan

Just returned from a fabulous tour of California & the golden west. It’s a full on tour with early starts but you see so much varied landscape from the ocean to the desert to Yosemite. My 2nd tour with Titan & my first solo tour. Thoroughly enjoyed it & met some great people. Grand Canyon was amazing would definitely recommend

Not merely a holiday, rather a memorable experience

I have used other travel operators; this was the 1st time of touring with Titan----Israel, The Holy Land, from being collected from home and returned at the end of the holiday this was an unforgettable experience; the Tour Manager, a PhD Archaeology made the whole tour so interesting, he enlightened us throughout each day from an historical, archeological and Biblical viewpoint, bringing each site we visited come to life, and went over and above his remit escorting us for evening trips around the local area; thanks also to our very patient driver who coped with the very busy traffic; our hotels were good, professional and pleasant staff and really good food; I would recommend Titan to anyone looking for a fascinating tour with excellent efficient service thank you Titan nor just for a holiday for a memorable experience

We had a 2 weeks...

We had a 2 weeks fantastic holiday arranged by Titan to Vietnam and Cambodia. Excellent,well organised Throughly enjoyed. Very good service by Vietnam Airlines, if you could afford book it in premium economy. We had a door to door service , picked up to airport from home and then dropped at home from airport, very convinient. Particular credit goes to our guide THI who is a caring, knolegeable, friendly down to earth man who made our trip a memorable one. I will not hesitate to book another holiday through Titan, their staff are friendly and helpful

We had a fantastic holiday...

We had a fantastic holiday in Mississippi. Right from our chauffeur driven car picking us up to the return journey, we had a great time. The first hotel The Gaylord was amazing,absolutely huge,first class. The second The Double tree in Memphis unfortunately wasn't, the hotel was tired and very basic, the only plus was where it is situated in the centre of town, we were only there two nights so it wasn't to bad. The American Queen Steam Boat was first class all the way, thoroughly enjoyed the seven nights sailing down the Mississippi. The last hotel the Sheraton New Orleans was very comfortable too. Our guide throughout our time away was Laura Tuttle. she was amazing, very knowledgeable, and helpful. We also had a coach driver Guil, who went over and beyond to give you the best time. Other coach guides included Jim,who was so funny, and also very knowledgeably. Very entertaining throughout. The entire itinerary itinerary was very well thought out, included a huge variety of visits to different Interesting locations. Highly recommend using Titan for all your holiday destinations.

Perfect Italian Holiday…

Just returned from a lovely week in Sorrento at the Grand Hotel Hermitage, we had an excellent guide Peter Macchristopher. we loved the hotel the staff were very nice especially in the dining rooms, the food was good and the room we had was really nice with a wonderful view. Altogether very good value holiday.we felt the trip to Pompei was very good also boat trip to Amalfi. I would recommend a walk to the village of St Agatha and a three hour ride on the Little Blue Train. Great fun.this can be booked at reception.

THE GREAT INDIAN RAIL JOURNEY!!!!...

THE GREAT INDIAN RAIL JOURNEY!!!! (Dreadful) Avoid Titan and Saga at all costs. False descriptions of the tour and dreadful administration Returned to the UK last evening with a great sigh of relief after the worst holiday ever. 1. No block booking of airplane seats by Titan. (Husband and I sat apart on the long, overnight flight) 2. Unable to pre-book seats as Titan reference numbers did not coincide with anything. 3. Husband and I not sat together on any of the train journeys! In fact, on one occasion I was sat, alone on a sleeper carriage, a couple of carriages away from the rest of the group who were scattered over two or three carriages. Terrifying as a female to be sat alone in the midst of noisy locals!!!!! (Eventually the guide, Rahi, did come to rescue me and found a seat near the main group) 4. The guide, Rahi, would usually get off the coach and begin walking off without waiting for all the group to disembark the coach. (Spot the guide in the crowd!) 5. The guide, Rahi, refused to use any identifying prop such as a flag, hat, jacket or umbrella. Frightening to be in the manic crowds of Delhi and other crowded places to be unable to see the guide. 6. NO AUDIO HEADSET system on any excursion 7. The guide, Rahi, didn’t face the whole group, but stood sideways on and was unable to be heard by the majority. 8. OUTRAGEOUS behaviour by the guide when he enquired as to the whereabouts of my husband, whom I explained was in bed with an upset stomach and was feeling unwell. Rahi DID A REVERSE AIR PUNCH😳😳. This was in response to an earlier conversation when my husband had complained about our separate seating arrangements. TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL 9. When we arrived at Heathrow to find our aircraft seats were not allocated, we were advised to speak to our guide on arrival at Delhi. Rahi merely shrugged his shoulders and said he couldn’t do anything. 10. Tour pace incorrect - gruelling pace and only half a day relaxation due to the guide, Rahi, throwing in visits to shops and factories fie him to earn his commission as I head him tell another!!!!!!! 11. When off loaded the return flight due to illness, we were unable to get in contact with Titan/Saga. Left in Delhi without an hotel or flight!!! Found accommodation but didn’t remove shoes or clothes due to the poor standard. Final summary: Poor, disappointing, inefficient, incompetent, misleading, misrepresentations, are just a few words to describe.

Luxury VIP door to door...

Luxury VIP door to door travel! I don't think so....Titan sent a Toyota Prius uber to Stanstead for a return journey to Newport, S Wales. 4 adults plus luggage! the experience was anything but luxurious. Contacted Titan on the return journey and since return. They simply didn't seem interested and offered us a £300 travel discount off a future trip! After a lot of emails they converted it to a £300 cash refund. Give it a lot of thought before booking !

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Titan Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 75 days before the start of the tour.

Transfer as credit to Future Tours

Titan Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform titan travel, 75 days before departure.

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Titan Travel requires a minimum deposit of 395 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

Cancellation Policy

We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of titan travel charges.

Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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The Best of Ireland

7 nights from £1995.

Enjoy and explore the adventure on this The Best of Ireland tour.

• Learning more on the story of the Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage, at Belfast's Titanic Exhibition.
• VIP door-to-door travel service

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The Best Time to Visit Ireland (Pros + Cons of Each Month)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: April 26, 2024

There is no single best time of year to visit Ireland, and I’m saying that having lived here for 35 years.

‘Best’ is dependant on  you . For example , if you want to visit when the weather in Ireland is likely to be good. ‘Best’ will be summer.

Below, you’ll find the pros and cons for each month to help you decide the best time to visit Ireland based on your likes and dislikes .

But first, a quick overview:

• Summer (Jun, Jul + Aug): Warmest months. Crowd/flight prices are at peak
• Winter (Dec, Jan + Feb): Coldest months. Crowd/flight prices are lower
• Autumn (Sept, Oct + Nov): Days long in Sept + Oct. Short + wintery in Nov
• Spring (Mar, Apr + May): Tends to be rainy in Mar + Apr. Summery in May

The best time to visit Ireland

If you take 20 seconds to look at the illustration above, you’ll get a quick insight into the months in Ireland and what to expect from each.

Below, you’ll find an overview of each month with info on average temperatures, festivals, what to wear in Ireland during that month along with  travel tips for Ireland .

Click to enlarge image

Ireland in January can be very hit and miss. The average temperature in January is 7°C/44.6°F with average lows of 3°C/37.4°F.

January is the best month to visit Ireland if you are working with a tight budget and you are willing to take a gamble with the weather.

• Prices : If you’re visiting Ireland on a budget , flights and accommodation are cheaper
• Crowds : The popular attractions in Ireland will be quieter, as this is off-season

Disadvantages

• The weather : The days tend to be cold, wet, and windy
• Daylight : The sun rises from 08:29 and sets from 16:38
• Closed attractions : Some seasonal attractions will be closed

Visiting Ireland in February can also be risky weather wise, with average highs of 8°C/46.4°F and average lows of 2°C/35.6°F.

Spring is still far from the horizon and the days are short and chilly. In the past, we’ve had heavy snow fall, flooding and stormy weather in February.

February is the best time of year to go to Ireland if you have a limited budget and you aren’t too phased by potentially poor weather conditions.

• Prices : February is off-season in Ireland, so flights and accommodation are cheaper
• Crowds : Ireland’s usually busy attractions will be quieter (the Guinness Storehouse and Giants Causeway will always draw crowds, though)
• Weather : Similar to January – cold, wet and windy
• Daylight : The sun rises at 07:40 and sets at 17:37
• Seasonal attractions : Some seasonal attractions will remain closed

Many people want to visit Ireland in March to attend a St. Patrick’s Day festival or to soak up the buzz surrounding March 17th.

March marks the arrival of spring in Ireland. In years past, we’ve had heatwaves in March and stormy weather. 

March is the best time to go to Ireland if you have a sizable budget and want to experience St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Spring has sprung, the days are longer and the weather isn’t as cold as the previous months.

• Weather : March marks the start of spring. There are average highs of 10°C/50°F and average lows of 4°C/39.2°F
• Long ish days : The sun rises at 07:12 and sets at 18:17
• Prices : The period around March 17th sees prices skyrocket. The end of the month (Easter) can be pricey, also
• Weather : The weather can be very changeable. Over the last five years, we’ve had snow storms, heavy rainfall and scorching weather
• St. Patrick’s Day crowds : Crowds are at their peak (it’s for this reason that, for many, March won’t be the best time to visit Dublin )

in April, the weather has picked up, the days are longer and there are average highs of 13°C/55°F and average lows of 4°C/39.2°F.

The only issue with April, aside for the potential for bad weather, is that schools get two weeks off, which results in a shortage of accommodation in some places.

April is best time of year to visit Ireland if you’re working within a budget (after Easter) but want plenty of daylight hours to explore the island.

• Flights : The cost of a trip to Ireland is much less in April, thanks to lower flight prices
• Long days : The sun rises at 06:23 and sets at 20:00
• Weather : The weather can to be nice and mild
• Easter holidays : Schools get 2 weeks off around Easter, which can drive up the cost of accommodation
• Weather : The weather  can  also be terrible (see our April weather guide )

Along with September and October, May is the best time to visit Ireland. This is the shoulder season and the weather is mild, the days are long and both prices and tourist numbers are yet to skyrocket.

I.e. the weather is mild, the days are nice and long and we’ve haven’t yet reached the summer holidays, so places aren’t too busy (see our guide to Ireland in May for more).

• Weather : The weather in May can  be good, with mean temperatures ranging between 9.0°C/48.2°F and 13.0°C/55.4°F
• Long days : The sun rises at 05:17 and sets at 21:26
• Summer buzz : Long, mild days and the incoming summer tends to bring a lively atmosphere to many towns and villages
• Festivals : This is when they really start kicking off (see our Irish festivals calendar)
• Weather : Yep – it’s a pro and  a con – the weather in May can also be awful (it was last year!)
• Prices : Accommodation and flights will be near peak level price-wise
• Crowds : Better weather and long days means more people tourists

June in Ireland marks the arrival of summer, bringing with it warm and often dry weather and average highs of 18°C/64.4°F and lows of 11.6°C/52.88°F.

This is peak season in every sense – tourist numbers jump as do the price of flights and hotels.

June is regarded as the best time to travel to Ireland by many visiting tourists as the weather tends to be good, temperatures are mild and there’s plenty of daylight hours.

• Weather : Weather tends to be dry and warm with highs of 18°C/64.4°F and lows of 11.6°C/52.88°F
• Long days : The sun rises at 05:03 and sets at 21:42
• Festivals : Numerous music festivals in Ireland  take place during June
• Prices : Demand is at its highest, so you can expect to spend more for flights and hotels
• Crowds : As June is peak season in Ireland, expect places to be more crowded

July is the best time to go to Ireland if you’re looking for good weather. Although it’s not guaranteed, it’s more likely to be fine in July than during many other months.

Personally, I head away for one week in Ireland every mid-July and, for the most part, we always get decent weather (see our guide to Ireland in July for more info).

• Weather : We get average highs of 19°C/66.2°F and lows of 12°C/53.6°F
• Long days : The sun rises at 05:01 and sets at 21:56
• Summer buzz : Long, balmy days tend to bring tourists and a lively atmosphere to many towns, villages and cities
• Prices : Summer is peak season, so you’ll be paying more for hotels, B&Bs and Airbnbs
• Crowds : As the schools are out for the summer, expect more crowds travelling around the island, especially to the likes of Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula

August boasts long days, warm weather and plenty to see and do (see our counties hub for endless places to visit).

As was the case with July, there’s several pros and cons for visiting Ireland in August , many of which revolve around the demand for accommodation and crowds.

August is the best time to go to Ireland if peak prices and crowds don’t bother you. The trade off is mild weather, long days and a busy festival calendar.

• Weather : It’s usually good with highs of 18°C/64.4°F and lows of 11°C/51.8°F
• Long days : You’ll have 16 lovely hours of daylight to wander
• Summer buzz : Again, the summer months bring a buzzy atmosphere to many towns
• Prices : Yep – prices are still at peak levels
• Crowds : The likes of the Dingle Peninsula , the Inishowen Peninsula , the Ring of Kerry and other tourist hot-spots will be very busy

Ireland in September is when the shift from a busy summer season takes place. Tourist numbers drop and the kids go back to school.

This is Ireland’s shoulder season (the season between peak season and the off season) and it’s a great time to explore.

September, along with May and October, is the best time to visit Ireland as prices drop, the days are long, the weather is mild and there’s less crowds.

• Crowds : As kids have gone back to school, there’s less crowds
• The weather : The average high temperature tends to hover between 13°C/55.4°F and 16°C/60.8°F
• Flights : Flights should be a little cheaper as this is the shoulder season
• Long days : The days are starting to shorten, but the sun still rises early at 06:33 and sets at 20:15
• Weather : Yep, a pro and a con. The weather, as always, is unpredictable. With that being said, we’ve had some great Septembers recently

October in Ireland is Autumn and you’ll find many places blanketed in orange leaves and the weather is cool and crisp.

Ireland experiences average highs of 13°C/55°F and average lows of 6°C/42°F during October

October, along with May and September, is the best time to go to Ireland thanks to lower flight and hotel prices, relatively long days and its often dry days with cool temperatures.

• Weather: We often get Octobers that are sunny, crisp and dry
• Crowds: Ireland’s usually busy attractions will be less crowded as we’re no longer in peak-season
• Prices: Accommodation in the more off-the-beaten-track locations will be cheaper (you won’t notice a huge difference in the hot-spots)
• Prices: You should find that flights are cheaper than in peak-season
• Shorter days : By mid-October, the sun won’t rise until 08:00 and it sets at 18:40
• Weather : The weather in Ireland in October is unpredictable (see our October weather guide )
• Mid-term : Schools break in Ireland at Halloween for a week and hotel prices jump

Visiting Ireland in November comes with its pros and cons. On the plus side, many towns and villages come alive with Christmas markets from mid-month.

On the con side, it’s winter , so the weather can be all over the place. November tends to be cool and crisp with an average temperature in Ireland in November between 12°C/53.6°F and 9.5°C/49.1°F.

November is the best time to travel to Ireland for a city break. Many cities (Galway, Dublin, Cork and Belfast) holding Christmas markets.

• Crowds : You’ll encounter fewer crowds at the usually busy attractions (although places with Christmas markets will be busy)
• Prices : Accommodation in the more off-the-beaten-track towns in Ireland will be more affordable
• Flights : Should be cheaper as we’ll be in the depths of the off-season
• Short days : The sun doesn’t rise until 07:23 and it sets early at 16:53
• Seasonal attractions : Some seasonal attractions in Ireland’s quieter villages in towns will be closed
• Weather : The weather could  be wintery. We’ve had mild, stormy and freezing cold Novembers in the past few years

December marks the arrival of Christmas in Ireland and you’ll find most towns and villages alight with fairy lights.

The average temperature for Ireland in December tends to be similar to November, coming in at around 5°C/41°F, but this can vary.

December is the best time to visit Ireland if you’re happy to chance the weather and you want to experience Christmas markets, cosy pubs with big open fires and less crowds.

• Festive buzz : Most towns and villages in Ireland will be decked out in Christmas lights
• Crowds : You’ll encounter fewer crowds at the usually busy attractions
• Prices : Accommodation in the more off-the-beaten-track towns and villages will be cheaper
• Flights : Flights can be pricey with people flying home for Christmas
• Short days : Sun rises at 08:16 and sets around 16:10
• Weather : The weather in December has been mild for several years, but there’s also a good chance of rain and strong winds

The best time to go to Ireland climate wise

For most, the best months to visit Ireland will be the ones where the weather is at its best. For those planning a trip to Ireland on a budget, it’ll likely be the off-season months.

Below, I’ll give you an overview of the climate in Ireland by month in some of the tourist hot-spots, like Killarney. This data comes from Met Eireann , the Irish Meteorological Service.

Need help with your Ireland itinerary ? We recently published the world’s  largest library of Irish Road Trip guides (and it’s free!)

Summer (June, July and August)

Autumn (september, october and november), winter (december, january and february), spring (march, april and may).

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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Monday 8th of March 2021

Hi! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful tips! My husband and I are planning to bring our adult daughters (24 and 29) to visit at the end is September. We are very excited! Should we stay in Dublin and then take our guided tours from there? We will have 9-10 days. Thank you! Janine

Thursday 27th of February 2020

We just booked a trip to southern Ireland for November. I am very excited. Can you recommend some must do's while we are there?

Wednesday 4th of March 2020

If you hop into our guide to the counties of Ireland you'll find heaps of things to do!

Thursday 30th of January 2020

Hi Keith Thankyou for the great read. My daughter and I are wanting to travel to Ireland for Xmas from Australia. As it will be cold n rainy which doesn’t really bother us, but worried we mighten get to see a lot of attractions would many be closed? Cheers Toni ?

Saturday 1st of February 2020

If you pop in the name of the attraction into Google and visit the official site you should get an idea of whether or not they'll be open or close when you're visiting.

Everywhere will be closed on Christmas Day with many places also staying closed on December 26th, but that can change from attraction to attraction.

Latitude: 53.41291, Longitude: -8.24389

Ireland  is an island in north-western Europe which has been divided politically since 1920. Most of the island is made up of Ireland (the Republic of Ireland). The remainder is Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. An uncommon geological richness and the warming effect of the Atlantic produce an astonishing diversity of terrain on this lovely island, which is splashed throughout with lakes and primeval bogland. Ireland also adds further interest to the landscape through the sacred associations of so many of its physical features.

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Titan/Saga: Mobility required for Level 2 holidays

Hi Deb. Thank you for your response to my review. However, I’m afraid you have missed the point I was making in respect of mobility. It is not Saga giving advice, it is people being in denial of their mobility and booking inappropriate tours. On our recent tour, some folk were clearly in denial about their mobility and booked a level 2 holiday when it was clearly beyond their ability to walk at a moderate pace. This became a issue for those quite rightly wanting to enjoy the holiday they had booked. Hence my comment about the tour guide’s authority being made clear in holiday confirmation.

Date of experience : 30 May 2024

Reply from Titan Travel

Hi, Thank you for your further comments, we appreciate you feeding back to us. Kind regards Thomas Titan Travel

A tough trip but worthwhile

Sicily, Jewel of the Mediterranean Great service to Gatwick. Loved the hotels. The only one that was disappointing was Mercure in Palermo which was very much a bed factory and chaotic breakfast. The other hotels were brilliant and the food was exceptional. As a suggestion why not add a free day on arrival , a free day in Palermo and a free day before departure. The itinerary was pretty intense and looking at the average age of those travelling it was quite a challenge. With three extra days at leisure you would feel that you both a tour and a holiday. There were supposed to be two free afternoons but these amounted to returning to the hotel at 3/4 pm! Also please include gratuities as these are embarrassing for both the customer and the guide

Date of experience : 06 June 2024

Hi Roger Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We have noted and listened to your comments regarding the Hotel Mercure and adding some free days to the tour. We will be feeding back your review to our Product team. Kind regards, Thomas Titan Travel

A great trip to undiscovered Portugal…

A great trip to undiscovered Portugal Lisbon to the Algarve. We had a very good guide and saw so many interesting things including some well timed local festivals. Only downside was the very late return to the UK.

Date of experience : 13 May 2024

We booked and paid a deposit with…

We booked and paid a deposit with extension our Kenya trip last October 2023 to take us on our next adventure this August 2024. A party of 4 costing over £20k Grand Safari Kenya with a Mombasa addition.Exciting and so looking forward to this. We went to pay our full cost on 24th May and was told by Hay’s Travel our agent that the holiday was no longer available on that date. 😢 So we gave a few different options we are still no further forward.Apparently we were told 6 spaces were left for 6th September so no problem let’s go for that but it seems the issue was the extension?we are guessing.But titan offer this in their brochure.Very frustrated customers because we are no further forward due to being not available now but Titan are not offering what is available with extension. Why is this taken so long it’s over two weeks and we have no confirmation.Hays Travel are keeping us updated but you don’t help the situation.

Date of experience : 03 June 2024

Hi, We're so sorry to hear about your disappointment. This is clearly not the kind of feedback we hope to receive. If you could please email over your booking reference details to [email protected], we will look into this further and ask our agents to contact you directly to provide an update. We do hope that we can find a resolution, restore your faith in us and that you have a great holiday. Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Fantastic customer service

I had a few queries about our holiday when I was booking and Rita sorted everything out and gave me all the information I needed. She was absolutely lovely. I also had a query about an event on our holiday and someone called me back with an answer very quickly.Fantastic customer service 👌

Date of experience : 31 May 2024

Hi Joan, Thank you for your feedback from which we are delighted Rita was able to support you throughout your booking journey. Kind regards Thomas Titan Travel

Grand tour of Japan for 21 days

Our tour guide Colin and local tour guide seiko were excellent throughout the tour. From the time we were picked up from home by Colin our driver, who was very punctual, to being met by our driver John to bring us home after the holiday was so well organised we could not fault anything. We had a daily schedule from Colin so we knew what we were doing, the hotels we stayed in were excellent, as was the staff, the country is so clean,all transport runs on time and the people are so friendly, food was good (if you like suishi),there was western style breakfast in the hotels though. We are now looking forward to our next tour with titan and hope it is as good as this one.

Date of experience : 06 May 2024

Canadian Rockies Grand Circle tour

We have just returned from our wonderful holiday in British Columbia and Alberta on the Canadian Rockies Grand Circle tour. Mostly a coach holiday, the pace was just right. The vehicle was very comfortable and our driver, Byron Stroud was excellent. We were lucky to be accompanied by tour manager Alex Cussins whose experience, knowledge and organisational skills were second to none. All the accommodation was very good and although the itinerary had to be altered a little (some things not yet open in May) the variety of activities and the fantastic scenery and wildlife could not fail to please. Two days on the Rocky Mountaineer were very special and not to be missed. All in all, a well planned trip from start to finish. Thank you Saga /Titan for making us feel quite special.

Date of experience : 20 May 2024

Thank you for your review, we are so pleased to read you had a wonderful holiday in Canada. We hope you will be travelling on more adventures with us in the future. Kind regards, Thomas Titan Travel

An incredible experience !

In the Footsteps of Livingstone. There are not enough words to say how wonderful this trip is!, I want to go again! Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe were incredible, a long awaited dream and my breath was taken away. Botswana magical. The game drives,river cruises , the light aircraft flight will never be forgotten. The animals up close , their babies and finally the elusive leopard I cannot put into words how amazing it was. We had a great guide Lech who made sure we saw so much and more. Lots of tears from me so overcome and in awe. Accommodation superb and our guide Morag was a lovely lady so sad to say goodbye. Titan thank you for a trip I will NEVER forget. I'm already looking through your brochure for another trip! Thank you highly recommend this trip .

Date of experience : 17 May 2024

Hi Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're delighted to hear that your trip to Italy was amazing and that you were thoroughly satisfied with the service provided by Titan Travel. We are looking forward to seeing you again soon. Kind regards Thomas Titan Travel

The Tour Guide and local guides were…excellent pity about hotels

The Tour Guide and local guides were excellent. The hotels not so good. Big conference hotels where we felt processed. Food, not wonderful and coffee awful. Too many other tours at one hotel, dining room was crowded and noisy. Locations not too good re access to other restaurants. A pity as Puglia is well worth the visit.

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're really pleased to hear that your tour manager and local guides looked after you so well. Your comments regarding the restaurants are disappointing as we do appreciate that dining is an important part of the overall experience. These will be passed to our products team for their information and review. We do hope that you will still consider us for your future travel plans, Best Wishes, Deb Titan Travel

Hi our first experience with Titan was…

Hi our first experience with Titan was with Michael a driver from Plymouth. He picked us up from St Austell Cornwall and took us to a hotel near Gatwick airport. He was first class looking after my wife and myself on the journey could not ask for a better driver. Now looking forward to the onward experience and holiday in Sicily Arthur and Sharon Robertson

Hi, Thanks so much for your review. We're delighted to hear that you had a great start to your holiday and that Michael provided such great service. We hope you have a fantastic time in Sicily, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Titan Rockies Grand Circle tour

The tour did everything described in the brochure, the hotels were mostly excellent, Rocky Mountaineer brilliant, the coach and driver superb, well lead by Alex, a very knowledgeable and helpful tour guide. It didn't all go to plan but we made up for that by all the wildlife we saw; breathtakingly beautiful, as was the scenery and many landscapes we went through. The hotels were all very lovely and each one was the same standard throughout, apart from the Lobstick Lodge Hotel we went with Titan 20 years ago, tired looking then and even more so now. What is disappointing are the tours cancelled; the Spirit Island cruise, which was too early to run in the season, also the cablecar in Whistler. We really should have had more time at Mt. Robson, Maligne Lake (half a day) and Lake Louise. We only had short stops. Also too much time, for us, in Vancouver. Why does Titan advertise these tours knowing it's too early in the season? They should schedule the holiday a bit later when all the tours are up and running. Air Canada made a mess of seat allocation for everyone both ways! The luggage movements throughout and travel arrangements to and from the airport were perfect.

Hi John, Thank you for your 5 star review. We are delighted overall you had an excellent holiday and thank you for your feedback about the excursion availability. We hope to see you again for more adventures. Kind regards Thomas Titan Travel

Lack of information regards possible…

Lack of information regards possible extension Phoned to make a booking on a Nile trip three weeks ago tomorrow and asked for cost of an extension at the end of the holiday- as advertised as possible I am still waiting, have phoned three times and very nice folks who replied could not help me and said they were waiting for the information. I have not travelled with Titan before but this does not fill me with a huge amount of confidence

Hi, Thanks for sharing your review. We're really sorry to read about your disappointment with the booking process. We understand that our sales managers are aware of your booking and are working to find a resolution. They will be in touch with you directly to confirm your requests. We do hope that despite these issues, you have a great holiday, Best Wishes, Deb Titan Travel

Bucket List Trip of a Lifetime - Route 66…

This Route 66 holiday was an awesome experience. As I/we sit back home writing this review, the impact this holiday made will be long lasting for months to come. Steve Pritchard, Titan (who chaperoned us from Heathrow and back and Joe (our driver Stateside) were a great combination that made the intensive pace run like clockwork. Steve’s attention to detail was second to none and his knowledge kept us focused on getting the best experiences. The hotels were well chosen and places visited well thought through. Checking into the hotels were made easy by Steve being able to ‘bulk’ all the room keys and hand them out on arrival. Any body contemplating a tour like this should ask for Steve Pritchard and Joe. A number of us are considering doing the Deep South tour next year with Titan, but requesting Steve & Joe to manage us. A huge applause is merited for making great memories. Bern & Diane Bakes 🥳👏👏

Date of experience : 05 May 2024

Hi Bernie and Diane, Thanks so much for sharing such a great review of your recent trip down Route 66. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great time and really pleased that Steve and Joe did such a great job. We look forward to you making some more memories with us soon, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Canada Tour May 2024

From the moment we were picked up from home, to be driven to Heathrow, for our 2 weeks in Canada, everything was perfect. Our driver Trevor was excellent, nothing was too much trouble for him. At Heathrow we met up with our tour director, for the next 2 weeks, Alex Cussins. From that moment our holiday was perfect in every way, the planning, organisation, places we visited, the accommodation, all excellent. Even the 2 days on the Rocky Mountaineer was perfect. The organising of our luggage being collected before boarding, then left in our hotel rooms for when we arrived, perfect in every way. A special big thankyou to Alex, he was brilliant, his knowledge of everywhere we went, was incredible. Also, our coach driver for the 2 weeks, Baron Stroud, he was absolutely brilliant. Nothing too much trouble to him. This was our first Titan holiday, hopefully not our last. Thankyou. Val and Steve, Tingley, West Yorks.

Hi Val and Steve, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review of your recent trip. It sounds like you had a wonderful experience exploring Canada. We're delighted to hear that Alex and the team did such a great job making the trip so special. We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Highs and lows

Hotel in ideal position for walking along the Turia. València is a wonderful destination and our experience was enhanced with the help of our guide Jack. Clean hotel, pleasant staff. Ruined by dreadful food in the evening . Last evening, cold fish soup.Not a vegetable in sight, highly salted, large lumps of brown meat and thin dry fried potatoe. Alternative a plate of bitter salad leaves with dry chicken scattered on top. Pudding cold custard with a biscuit balanced on top. Fortunately discovered a nearby restaurant Roma where we could purchase edible food at a reasonable price. Not good enough Titon, food is important toward a holiday.

Date of experience : 15 May 2024

Hi Margaret, Thanks for sharing your review. We're really sorry to hear about your disappointment in the food served on this trip, as we appreciate that dining is an important part of the overall holiday experience. We have passed your comments on to our Customer Relations team who will investigate the issues you have raised and contact you directly to address your concerns. We do hope that you will still consider us for your future travel plans, Best Wishes, Deb Titan Travel

first holiday in a long…

This is my first holiday in a long time! So I decided to book through a travel agent. The service from the titan rep via the travel agent was excellent. (The phone was on loud speaker during the booking process). The titan rep came across very skilled, answering questions and sorting out queries quickly. From first picking up the brochure, through to booking I feel this is a very professional company. My experience has left me feeling I have definitely picked the right firm to go with.

Hi Kyle, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're delighted to hear that our agents have been able to help you confirm your booking and we hope you have a wonderful holiday, Best Wishes, Deb Titan Travel

Good and interesting trip

Good and interesting trip. Felt a bit rushed at times, especially in Instanbul. An extra day there would have been beneficial. Also would have like more time at Gallipoli/Anzac. Feel Titan should include more detail in their brochure regarding how much walking and steps involved in Instanbul. Level 2 is not enough as have done 2 trips at that level with ease. Our guide, Serhat, and driver, Ali, were both excellent. The visit to the village and lunch with local families were a highlight and excellent. Unfortunately, felt boat trip in Instanbul not value for money, and would not recommend.

Hi Marguerita, Thanks for sharing your feedback for your recent trip. We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience and that Serhat, Ali and the team did a great job. We do appreciate your suggestions for improvements, these will be passed to our products team for their information and review. We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure very soon, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Titan are the best company to book a perfect holiday!

We have been on many Titan holidays and have been treated extremely well on every trip! We have been very lucky to have travelled to most of the places we have wanted to go and hope to continue to visit many more!! Thank you Titan!!

Date of experience : 05 June 2024

Hi Martin, Thank you for your amazing review. We look forward to seeing you on another Titan Tour soon. Kind regards, Thomas Titan Travel

The Jewels of Spain

The Jewels of Spain, solo tour. I really enjoyed the level of exploration with rest days with optional activities. Karen was our excellent tour manager and was always available. The hotels were comfortable and the food was varied and plentiful. The door to door service took the anxiety out of travel. Thank you, I am looking forward to my next adventure.

Hi Gillian, Thanks for taking the time to share your review of your recent trip to Spain. We're delighted to hear that you had such a great time and that Karen and the team did such a great job. We also look forward to you joining us again for another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Deb Titan Travel

The holiday that never was!

We were looking to travel to Nepal and India with Titan travel. We liased with our tour operator and went in to book our trip for the dates advertised in April 2025. After all our efforts we were to be told that Titan had pulled the April dates despite still being shown on their website and brouchure. No explanation was given by Titan. Unreliable and disappointing , wont consider Titan again. Trailfinders is far more reliable

Date of experience : 22 May 2024

Hi Matt, We are so sorry to hear about your experience and disappointment that your holiday didn't go ahead. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback which we can assure you has been passed to the relevant teams. Please feel free to contact us for more information as our agents would be more than happy help you find an alternative trip. We would love the opportunity to restore your faith in us. Kindest regards, Kane Titan Travel

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Welcome to Belfast – birthplace of Titanic and home to an award-winning visitor attraction that transports you back to the glory days of Belfast’s maritime history.

Take yourself down the Maritime Mile into the city’s Titanic Quarter and you’ll feel the past looming large. There is the slipway where Titanic was first launched; the SS Nomadic which ferried passengers from shore to board the doomed ocean liner; the Thompson dry dock where Titanic was fitted out in unimaginable luxury. And there, in the heart of it, is the vast shimmering shell that is Titanic Belfast.

Built on the site of the Harland and Wolff shipyard where Titanic was constructed, Titanic Belfast has become one of the world’s leading Titanic attractions. The building itself is a wonder. Its angular, aluminum-clad design mirrors the shape of Titanic’s prow and its height (38 meters) is the same as the ship’s hull. Inside, nine interactive galleries – tracing the ship’s story from creation to tragic sinking – tell the entire tale on an awesome scale. Expect gantry rides, poignant artefacts, and stunning cabin recreations.

Scenes from Titanic Belfast

L-R: Titanic Belfast and the Titanic Hotel Belfast; sculpture of Titanica, inspired by traditional female ship figureheads; Titanic slipways; interactive gallery within Titanic Belfast

On your self-guided tour of the Titanic Experience, you’ll explore the stories, the people, and the relics that survived the sinking of Titanic on its maiden voyage in 1912.

A walk through the galleries will immerse you in Belfast’s industrial past (Harland and Wolff was the biggest shipyard in the world at that time) where you’ll meet the legions of craftspeople who created the grandest ship the world had ever seen.

Moving reminders of those that lost their lives are everywhere and include one of only twelve remaining life jackets, a violin used by one of the ship’s musicians, and a pocket watch from passenger Joakim Johnson, frozen at the time of 1:37am when it was submerged in the freezing Atlantic Ocean.

Recreation of a first-class cabin at Titanic Belfast

The sinking of Titanic changed the world and the exhibition explains what happened in the aftermath of the tragedy, its lasting legacy and the measures put in place to prevent such a disaster from ever happening again. It also follows the fascinating hunt to find Titanic in its final resting place in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

Explore outside the building and you’ll find the slipway from which Titanic was launched and see the life-sized plan of the ship’s promenade deck outlined in white stone. Next to this, the Titanic Memorial Garden offers a reminder of the human cost of the sad tale – permanent glass panels have been etched with the names of the passengers who were lost on that fateful night in April.

Belfast’s extraordinary maritime heritage is celebrated on the Maritime Mile. Starting from the City Quays and finishing at the Titanic Pumphouse, it takes you on a tour of the city’s famous waterfront with stops at important landmarks such as the Great Light, Samson and Goliath (the famous yellow cranes used by Harland and Wolff), and the SoundYard, an art installation that recreates the sound of metal striking metal – sounds that once rang out daily in the bustling Belfast docks.

Close by Titanic Belfast, two important titans of naval history are on view. SS Nomadic is the last remaining White Star Line ship in the world and was built alongside Titanic in 1911 to ferry passengers to the great liner from shore. A self-guided tour is included in your ticket to Titanic Belfast.

And don’t miss HMS Caroline , the second longest-serving warship in the Royal Navy, which has seen action in both World Wars and the Cold War Era.

Susie Millar, Titanic Tours Belfast

No one knows Titanic’s story better than those who live and breathe it. Along with the insight of their ancestors who lived during and, even more importantly, after Titanic’s build, Titanic tour guides in Belfast are unrivaled in their connection to the ship.

The Discovery Tour (part of the Titanic Belfast experience) and Titanic Tours Belfast , run by Susie Millar – great-granddaughter of a Titanic engineer who perished with the ship – are just a couple of options. Or you can take a guided cycling tour with Donal Kelly from Belfast Mic Tours , and he’ll tell you the ever-changing story of Belfast's rich maritime history.

Drawing Office Two at the Titanic Hotel Belfast

Indulge yourself with Afternoon Tea at Titanic Hotel Belfast right beside Titanic Belfast. This luxury hotel is located in the old Harland and Wolff Headquarters and Drawing Offices and is filled with Titanic heritage.

Pay a visit to the Thompson Dock and Pumphouse at the end of the Maritime Mile. The dry dock is the last site where Titanic rested on dry ground as it was fitted out for its maiden voyage. The Pumphouse is the first working distillery in Belfast city in almost 90 years and offers tours as well as tastings of its award-winning spirits.

If you’re heading back into the city, stop into Robinson’s bar where the collection of Titanic memorabilia is so unique that you’ll feel like you’re pottering around a museum. Among the stunning array are a Titanic steward’s badge, a commemorative jewelery box and Philomena – a doll reputedly rescued from Titanic’s floating wreckage.

To cut a long story short, Titanic is Belfast and Belfast is Titanic. If you want the whole story, this is the place to start.

Need to know: Titanic Belfast

Belfast highlights.

Don't miss these things to see and do

Accommodation

Titanic Hotel Belfast

Titanic Belfast Discovery Tour

HMS Caroline

Lagan Legends Walking Tour

The Maritime Mile

Belfast City Bike Tours and Bike Hire

Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock

The Great Light & Titanic Walkway

Ulster Transport Museum

Titanic Trail

The world's most authentic Titanic hotel is now open. The transformation of the legendary Harland & Wolff headquarters and spectacular Drawing Offices is now complete. Belfast's deluxe-hotel offers an unforgettable experience.

Built in 1911, Nomadic provides the story of Titanic's little sister, the only tangible surviving link with the world's most famous ship and the last White Star Line vessel in the world.

The World War One warship HMS Caroline is the last surviving ship from the 1916 Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the conflict. Now a floating museum, it invites its visitors to experience the highs and lows of life at sea. By stepping onto its marvellous original deck, you are stepping back in time. Enjoy exploring real parts of the ship on your visit, like the Captain's cabins, the ward room and deck areas. Or try your hand at code breaking!

Take a guided walk through one of the most historic maritime areas in the world, home to the World-Famous Harland & Wolff shipyard.

Embark on an exciting three-hour bicycle tour of the city of Belfast, suitable for all group sizes.

This is the city's first working distillery in almost 90 years. Explore the site where Titanic last rested on dry ground, before her maiden voyage. Visitors to Thompson Dock and Pumphouse will clock in, as workers did a century ago, and experience first-hand a working distillery, before listening to the story of Belfast’s whiskey tradition; why it disappeared and how it has returned to the home of Titanic Distillers.

The Great Light is one of the largest optics of its kind ever built in the world, and is around 130 years old. It is located on the Titanic Walkway, a new 500 metre maritime walkway on Victoria Wharf, connecting the Titanic Slipways to HMS Caroline.

Coffee shop serving coffees, teas, paninis, sandwiches & pastries & tasty homemade sweet treats.

Celebrate the history of invention and innovation through engineering, design, and technology at Ulster Transport Museum. Check out the famous Delorean, a Ferguson tractor and a model replica of the Titanic!

Discover Belfast’s links to its unique Titanic and maritime heritage following this trail from the Titanic Memorial Garden at Belfast City Hall to Titanic Quarter.

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Titanic Belfast: The World’s Largest Titanic Visitor Experience

Categories Antrim , Down , Where To Go

When in the Northern Ireland capital, Titanic Belfast is a definite must-visit. More than a tourist attraction, it is an experience. Located right in the heart of Belfast, this six-story building is right next to the site where the world-famous ship was constructed. Currently, it is one of the best things to do in Belfast, Northern Ireland . 

Things you'll find in this article

Titanic Belfast: The World’s Largest Titanic Visitor Experience

History of the titanic belfast, operation hours , titanic belfast museum tours.

Titanic Museum in Belfast, Image by Christine Rogador

A visit to the Titanic Belfast Museum is a one-of-a-kind cultural experience. The first four floors take you through nine interactive galleries. These galleries feature exhibitions about the  Titanic from some design drawings to its first and only voyage.

There’s also an impressive collection of original artifacts. These are carefully considered and guaranteed authentic. The curators at Titanic Belfast also made sure that these items add to the narrative of Belfast’s maritime and industrial heritage, as well as that of the RMS Titanic. 

Titanic Belfast is known all over not just for its associations with the legendary Titanic. It is also recognized for the great work that went into ensuring that visitors enjoy the experience. Just how much work, and how long did it take to put up this excellent Belfast attraction? 

It all started with the location. The site where the museum stands now used to be part of the Belfast water. This area was used for a variety of purposes, including shipbuilding.

This was where Harland and Wolff constructed graving docks and slipways for building Titanic and Olympic ships.

Sadly, shipbuilding businesses eventually declined. As a result of disuse and disrepair, and most of the derelict buildings were destroyed. This abandoned area was named the Titanic quarter or TQ in  2001. Soon after, plans to refurbish the area started floating around.

The TQ was to be converted into a vibrant, interesting place that has with a Science park, hotels, houses, a museum, and other entertainment facilities. 

In 2008, plans for the ‘Titanic Signature Project’ was completed. Funding would come from various organizations such as Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Belfast Council.

More support came in as the construction of the Titanic Belfast museum progressed. The  Titanic Belfast was eventually finished then opened to the public in March 2012.

The Titanic Belfast has an area of 14,000 square meters. This already covers the interactive galleries and underwater exploration theater. There are also cabins like those in the actual Titanic as well as deluxe suites. Titanic Belfast was designed and intended to tell a story. This story does not solely pertain to the infamous ship but also the era gone by.

That particular era was when the economy boomed and shipbuilding was still a major industry. Titanic Belfast was even of the same height as the infamous ship! 

Inside the attraction, the galleries and exhibitions feature everything you’d ever want to know about the ship. It starts from the sketches, its conception in Belfast during the early 20th century.

It continues through the construction and launch, to the much-celebrated maiden voyage up to the tragic end.

Most of us may know the story already but in Titanic Belfast, it is told in a way that’s just a tad cheeky, fresh and insightful. 

There are some special tours you can join in Titanic Belfast especially if you’re working around a strict schedule while in the city. The first is the Discovery Tour, which lasts for an hour and done inside and outside the building.

This tour is basically like tracing the steps of those who designed and constructed RMS Titanic. The other tour is the Afternoon Tea, where you can enjoy Sunday tea in a luxurious Titanic suite.

There’s also a replica of the staircase and jazz musicians playing while you sip your tea. 

Visitors Information for Titanic Belfast

Admission Fees 

Adult£19.00

Child (5-16)* £8.50 Child (under 5)Free

Family Pack (2 adults, 2 children) £46.50

Essential Carer Free

Student/Unemployed  [Mon-Fri Only]£15.50

Senior (60+) [Mon-Fri Only]£15.50

Contact Information

Address: 1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road, Belfast BT3 9EP, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0)28 9076 6399 / +44 (0)28 9076 6386

Email: [email protected]

If you are looking for tours to the museum, here are some of our recommended Titanic Belfast tours for you. 

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. I also lived in 3 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.

35 Fun Things To Do In Belfast City - Ireland Travel Guides

Friday 4th of June 2021

[…] Titanic Belfast Museum is one of the top places to see in Belfast. This huge museum offers self-guided tours for visitors […]

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Absolutely fab from start to finish. Went on the ‘Southern Sights & Sounds’ 14 day trip to experience all things Southern in the USA - we are big Elvis fans and ...

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We recently went on the trip of a lifetime to Australia and New Zealand, unfortunately it was cancelled half way through, the rep and Titan were excellent in keeping...

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About the company.

Introducing Titan Travel

Titan will never compromise on quality. We continue to make every effort to ensure that, when you travel with us, you enjoy the holiday of a lifetime, every time. Every individual aspect of your holiday has been carefully considered to deliver the best ratio of quality and value, provide complete peace of mind and yet still satisfy the most adventurous travel spirit. The expert planning, choice of hotels and transportation methods, included excursions and the services of an expert Titan tour manager can really enhance your appreciation of a destination and transform an ordinary holiday into a truly inspiring one.

Many escorted holidays sold by British tour operators originate in the destination and are aimed at the international market, with multilingual commentaries, sweepingly general itineraries and local contracted hotels and tour managers. Titan holidays are different. They are expertly crafted in-house and are only on sale in the UK; our well-travelled product specialists know their destinations inside out and select the best hotels, airlines, trains and cruise vessels. Properly balanced itineraries, most unique to us, are designed to include excursions and visits of particular interest to British travelers as well as a number of free days when there is always a choice of relaxation or enjoyable things to do. And, in the majority of cases, Titan holidays are escorted by the best tour managers in the business.

Included on every Titan holiday

Door-to-door chauffeured transfers wherever you live in the UK with no mileage restrictions as part of the peerless VIP door-to-door travel service †

Free return regional flights and home transfers for customers in northern England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands

Direct scheduled international flights (wherever possible) with world-renowned airlines

The services of a Titan tour manager throughout † (unless stated otherwise)

Named hotels, selected for their location and quality, or carefully chosen cruise accommodation

Best available coaches with experienced drivers and daily seat rotation

Excursions and visits to those attractions which are obvious highlights of a region, clearly specified in the ‘What is included’ panels of the tour pages

A number of meals, also specified in the ‘What is included’ panels

A comprehensive airport check-in service at Heathrow and Gatwick

SkyCaps porterage at Heathrow and Gatwick

Porterage at hotels (one bag per person)

All applicable airport and port taxes, security charges and UK air Passenger Duty

Not included in our new range of essentials holidays.

Exceptional Value

Quality often comes with a price tag and, indeed, Titan has never striven to be the cheapest tour operator. What you get with us though is unparalleled value for money, with a host of inclusions as standard and a range of exclusive offers and discounts.

Traveling in style With Titan, not only does your holiday begin and end at your front door, it also includes scheduled international flights with world-renowned airlines and the most memorable form of touring transport. Where this is a coach, we look to provide the best available, with air-conditioning, w/c and daily seat rotation in the interests of fairness. But escorted tours are not simply limited to coaches. Titan is one of the UK’s leading rail specialists and a number of our holidays incorporate journeys on iconic trains, that seem to transport you not only through some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes in the world, but also back in time to a nostalgic ‘golden age’ of luxurious and stylish travel.

If you are undecided between the elegance and relaxation of a cruise and the enthralling insight of an escorted tour, Titan’s Cruise & Tour® holidays could be a perfect choice. You can cruise with some of the most respected names in the industry, including Fred.Olsen and Holland America, around regions of awe-inspiring beauty and head ashore for an extra land-based touring element. Alternatively, the waterways of Europe, Egypt and China link the most spectacular cultural gems in picturesque fashion and a river cruise is an outstanding way to appreciate wonderful destinations from a different and more relaxed perspective. Our river cruise partners include Uniworld, multi award-winning operator of 5★ boutique river cruises.

Included Excursions We don’t believe that our holidaymakers should pay extra for optional excursions to experience what are obviously the most important attractions of a country or region. You get much better value if they are included from the start. Unless otherwise stated, every visit mentioned in the tour itinerary is included in the cost of your holiday.

Quality named hotels and lodges Hotels on Titan holidays are much more than simply a place to sleep at the end of the day. They may place you at the heart of a thrilling city or in a retreat of sublime tranquillity; reflect the character and heritage of a destination or play an integral part in its social scene; present inspiring views or a range of exhilarating experiences. Location and quality are key considerations. At Titan, we always seek to provide the best of both choosing a lower priced holiday based on lower quality, more remote hotels can often be a false economy in the time and money you end up wasting during your stay.

Low or No Single Supplements

We are always looking at ways of minimizing or eliminating our single supplements. A number of tours featured on this website have low or no single supplements to pay.

The UK's best holiday price promise

It has always been a Titan principle that the earlier you book, the lower the price you pay. Our holiday price promise provides complete peace of mind – if we subsequently reduce the price to below what you have already paid (after any discounts have been applied), we will contact you to refund the difference†!

This guarantee applies to tour prices only (excluding all Traveller, by Titan holidays and any selected loyalty rewards we may offer to past travelers from time to time) and does not include airline upgrades, holiday additions, extended stays or regional connecting flights and selected special offer products.

Titan Travel Trips & Specials

Deluxe Alaskan Voyage

Paris and Normandy

Grand Tour of South America

Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas

Liverpool Short Break

Canada in the Fall

essential Rome & Sorrento

Barbados and the Islands of the Caribbean

Save up to $650 on your 2017 holiday with titan travel , want a tailor-made trip instead, your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Top Titan Travel Trip Categories

Titan travel company ranking by category, similar companies, about travelstride, find your perfect trip, travel confidently.

Titanic Rail Trail & Wild Atlantic Way

Travel south, southwest and north by train.

FREE Upgrade in Killarney from B&B Guesthouse to 4* Hotel (subject to availability in our partner hotels).

FREE 48hr Dublin Bus Hop-on-Hop-off City Sightseeing Tour tickets.

All aboard our 9-day rail trail through Ireland!

We are delighted to offer a 9-day/9-night tour of Ireland which includes the highlights of Ireland and covers the theme of the ill fated Titanic story.

We visit Cork, Blarney Castle, and Cóbh near Cork City, the last port of call of the Titanic. We include Belfast where she was built, we explore Clifden in Connemara, where Jack Phillips, the Titanic's wireless operator worked for Marconi before the fatal voyage.

This tour also takes in Ireland's most famous attractions such as The Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, The Ring of Kerry, Bunratty Castle, The Giant's Causeway, Inis Mór (Inishmore) - the largest of the 3 Aran Islands - and Galway Bay on the wild Atlantic Coast.

Visit one of the filming locations of the Oscar nominated 'Banshees of Inisherin'

• Return Rail Travel.
• Reserved Seats on the train.
• Railtours Ireland Host throughout.
• Visitor Attraction Admissions.
• Tour of Inis Mór, Aran Islands.
• 2 Nights Killarney B+B with Free Upgrade to 4* Hotel.
• 2 Nights Galway 3*/4* Hotel.
• 1 Night Clifden 3*/4* Hotel + Dinner
• 3 Nights Dublin 3*/4* Standard Hotel.
• 1 Night Belfast 4* Hotel.
• Full Irish Breakfast Included.

€3,029pps

"Accommodations were excellent"

Aug 2019 by Saucysavory Brampton, Canada

What a lovely way to see this stunningly beautiful country. Hotel accommodations were excellent and in a couple of places we were upgraded. Tour guides were knowledgeable and fun. Well planned stops and lunch breaks. It’s amazing how quickly large numbers of people can be handled so smoothly. Amazing places to shop. The hop on and off Dublin bus tour works very well. Combination of city sight seeing, small towns and beautiful countrysides. We really lucked in with the weather as every place we went we got to see it all! A little bit of a short gentle rain one day. Described as angels tears and just enough to keep the dust down! This company will put together a tour to your liking. Try to see as much as you can and enjoy the well informed guides. The only thing I would do differently is add another day and take a break in the middle. We did on average 24000 steps a day! We certainly ate well and there is no shortage of great spots to eat. So much to see and experience!

"WORDS ALONE CANNOT EXPRESS OUR THANKS"

Sep 2018 by Michael Gallagher

Dear Jonathon - Tour Host

Thank you so much for the tour of Ireland. You really brought to life the issues, challanges, myths as well as the culture of Ireland. Words alone cannot express our thanks for all that you did for us during our time with you. We especially enjoyed the Irish Ceili and the Celtic Nights Show. It was nice of you to introduce me to Shaun and Matt before the show.

I feel that I really connected with my roots and have a whole new appreciation for everything Irish.

"We had an outstanding time. The scope of the tour was splendid. "

Jun 2016 by Tormey Party

I would like to report for the Tormey party on our recent trip.    We were on the Titanic Rail Trail & Wild Atlantic Way -9 day tour plus the Welcome Package, starting June 7. We had an outstanding time.  The scope of the tour was splendid. We felt we got to see a broad variety of Ireland’s sights and attractions.  The pace was challenging but not too much even for our group including 8 senior citizens.  We can’t pick out what we liked best; so many fine sights.  The Abbeyglen Castle Hotel was outstanding and a welcome change of pace in the middle of the tour.  The owner Brian Hughes did a great job organizing our time there, making us welcome and even providing a souvenir group photo. The logistics for the many transfers, different hotels and attractions went very well.  We were impressed with the coordination, detail planning and execution.   We had no real problems.  We made good use of our free time to familiarize ourselves with various pubs and museums.   We got comfortable enough with your railroad and its people that several of us went off by train on our own to visit a new found distant cousin in Bunbrosna, County Westmeath.   His pub (Tormey’s Bar) could use some tourist traffic if you could add his place to some tours in that area. Your personnel were all very welcoming, knowledgeable and helpful.  Several standout for mention here.  First, Andy Gerrity, our first leg Host for Cork, Cobh, Killarney and on to Galway.  He was very welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and entertaining.   John O’ Halloran for the Connemara back county tour was very knowledgeable.  Jim (lost his last name, the ladies describe him as tall and handsome, perhaps it was the suit jacket) provided some very interesting history and background on our train ride to Belfast and took our picture at Kylemore. We have already recommended your firm to other potential travelers.   We are very pleased with the experience.  Keep up the good work

"The tour was fabulous...great staff..."

Jul 2015 by Gladys R

The tour was fabulous...great staff, friendly, and willing to make your day as memorable as possible..a no hassle, good time trip!

"I would recommend this company to anyone wishing to have a very comprehensive tour of Ireland"

Mar 2015 by Denise, Wisconsin

9 day Wild Atlantic Titanic tour .6 people ranging in age from early 50’s with a disability to 76. First I have to say this is our first trip to Ireland and our first experience with a tour group. We didn’t know what to expect but the itinerary that was sent to us via email and then also given to us when we met the Railtours rep at the train station in Dublin was very detailed. We never were left to flounder on our own. We were handed from guide to guide be it train or bus. We had a person with us that is disabled and much care was given to make sure he was comfortable when he could not join us on some of the site seeing along the way. Things we learned about touring.One, wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Ok you don’t want to look like a tourist , well you are getting off a bus or train and following a guide , you are a tourist. Dress comfortable and wear shoes you can hike in. I am very athletic and some of the sites are a climb. The steps up Blarney castle & Bunratty castle very doable for most. The fort on Inés Mor , the Cliffs of Moher, the access to the rope bridge and the Giants Causeway.. all will give you a work out. Second thing we learned , take a break. We did the nine day tour and having a day off in Dublin was very much needed. This tour you are on the go, and do a lot of site seeing. Allowing yourself a day off is not wasting time, its recharging for the next adventure. Every hotel we stayed was prepared for us, welcomed us and were all very comfortable. Those that were exceptional were the North Star Hotel in Dublin. Claire went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. She is the best and will take great care of you. John , Kevin and Sean the bartenders, well , what can I say they also took great care and were lovely to chat with. The Abbeyglen Castle hotel in Clifden.. lovely place , interesting and very relaxing. If I had it to do again , I would take a 2 day break at the Abbeyglen Castle vs. the overnight stop. Third thing, find a way to spend more time in Northern Ireland. The guided tour is one day , you are then on your own for the next day, with hop on hop off bus passes and a ticket to the Titanic site.And that is fine but I think there are more things to do and we just didn’t have the time to research it and find out. Suggestions, on this 9 day tour , the day we landed in Galway, was a Saturday night, finding a place to eat was a challenge, do a bit of research and book a restaurant ahead on the weekends so you do not have to go door to door to get some food after a long day of travel. This tour gave us many lasting memories, many laughs and just an overall great experience.Railtours, Jim, Fiona, Shane, from the emails and phone calls setting this up to every single person we came into contact with you were all professional, friendly , accessible. Your guides, both the Railtour people and the subcontracted again , all very well versed in the local history , fun and ready to help and answer questions. I would recommend this company to anyone wishing to have a very comprehensive tour of Ireland. Thank you for all the help, and a wonderful experience.

"We couldn't believe how amazing Railtour Ireland and its people are! Wow! Just simply wow!"

Mar 2015 by Jimmy, Malta

We couldn't believe how amazing Railtour Ireland and its people are! Wow! Just simply wow! We were treated so well we felt like royalty! From booking to pick ups, tour guides... amazing! Norman, Pat and Alan, you rock! Gerard who drove us from Killarney to Limerick; Honestly man, can we employ you? You're amazing! Knowledgeable, patient, calm all rolled up in one! Brendan, our dear guide! How do you do it? How can you be so prepared yet so funny at the same time! You have our admiration and heartfelt gratitude! John, who drove us while Brendan was the guide, you're epic! Fantastic! No other way to describe you! Michael at Deros - thank you for the amazing time, the views, the photography breaks, the dining suggestion! You are one incredible man!! Thanks ever so much guys!!!

Visitor Attraction Admissions Included: Blarney Castle and Gardens, Cobh Heritage Centre, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Dún Aonghasa, the Giant's Causeway, Belfast Hop-on-Hop-off City Bus Tour & Titanic Visitor Centre.

Blarney Castle, Cobh and Killarney

Killarney Town Centre

FREE UPGRADE TO 4* HOTEL IN KILLARNEY, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY IN OUR PARTNER HOTELS AT THE TIME OF BOOKING.

Check-in is 20 minutes prior to Train Departure Time.

Check-in beside the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their bright yellow jacket!

Check-in for 07:00 departure from Dublin Heuston Station.

Your departure station, Dublin Heuston, was opened in 1844 as the headquarters of the Great Southern & Western Railway and is now the official principal station of Iarnród Éireann – Ireland’s national railway company.

As your train departs, we travel in a south westerly direction, passing Inchicore, railway engineering works and then some of Dublin’s western suburbs – soon we are in the lush fertile countryside of County Kildare, Ireland’s Kentucky. Look out for the many stud farms near the track. The train passes through the town of Newbridge, home to the famous Newbridge Silverware.

We now enter the Curragh of Kildare, which soon comes into view on both sides of the line. The Curragh (pronounced: Curra) is famous for its racecourse, home of the Irish Derby. At this time of the morning you are likely to see some of Ireland's finest bloodstock being put through their paces. The Curragh is also the headquarters of the Irish army and their buildings can be seen in the distance to the east.

We pass the town of Kildare, and the Church of Ireland (Protestant) Cathedral of St. Brigid’s – completed in 1223 – can be clearly seen to the south (left hand side when facing direction of travel). We cross the River Barrow at Monesterevin and enter Co. Laois.

Our train journey makes a stop at Portlaoise (pronounced: Port Leesh-eh). Departing Portlaoise, we soon enter Co. Tipperary and pass the town of Templemore. Shortly after, we pass Loughmoe Castle which can be clearly seen on the southern side of the train, built in the 15th century, the Purcell family lived there until 1760. The next stop is at the town of Thurles. At our next stop – Limerick Junction – a number of Railtours Ireland clients will be leaving the train for the Cliffs of Moher tour. Please remain on the train for the Cork, Blarney Castle and Cobh Heritage Day Tour! Our final stop before Cork is at the town of Mallow.

We arrive into Cork Kent Station for 09:35 and we transfer to our Railtours Ireland tour coach, passing through Cork City en route to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle & Gardens, built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy. You will have time to kiss the famous stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eternal eloquence on those lucky enough to do so. There is also time for shopping and lunch at Blarney and we recommend that you have lunch there, as this will be the only opportunity during the day to have a substantial meal.

We depart Blarney Castle for Cóbh, via the city centre, taking in some of the city sights while en route to our next destination.

On arrival at Cóbh, we will visit St. Colman’s Cathedral. We will then proceed down along the sea front passing the former White Star Line offices en route to the beautifully restored Victorian railway station/transatlantic terminal. This is now the Cóbh Heritage Centre, home to the Queenstown Story. The centre also houses much information about the Great Famine and subsequent Irish Emigration; 3 million Irish people emigrated from Cóbh, (principally to the United States) including Annie Moore, whose statue is located in front of the heritage centre.

Depart Cóbh by train to Killarney, where the rest of the evening is free. There is a large selection of cafés, restaurants and bars in Killarney town as well as many opportunities for live traditional Irish music and entertainment.

Ring Of Kerry Tour

Enjoy your Ful Irish Breakfast at leisure before departing on your Ring of Kerry tour.

There are plenty of stops along the Ring of Kerry for morning tea, lunch and photo stops etc. Ireland’s highest mountains are located in Kerry and Carrauntouhil, which can be seen en route, is the highest, standing at 1041 metres.

We will make a stop at the Kerry Bog Village Museum, which gives people an insight into how people lived and worked in rural Ireland in the 18th century. The village is the only one of its kind in Europe. Later on the approach to Waterville there are views (weather permitting) of the Skellig Rocks (islands), where Star Wars 'The Force Awakens' was recently filmed.

We will make several photo stops, a stop for lunch and one final stop at the pretty village of Sneem, for about 30 minutes, or as directed by your tour leader.

An essential part of any visit to Ireland, this tour circles the magnificent MacGillycuddy Reeks and runs through its many passes and valleys along the shores of Dingle Bay and Kenmare Bay. There is an unspoilt nature to Ireland's most beautiful region and the Ring of Kerry provides many unforgettable memories as it passes through the many picturesque villages such as Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem and returns via Ladies View, the famous Lakes of Killarney and through the Oakwoods of Killarney's magnificent National Park.

At the end of the tour you will be brought to Killarney for your second night.

Limerick, Cliffs of Moher & Galway

Galway City Centre

Enjoy your full Irish Breakfast at Leisure.

07:30 Depart Killarney by road to Limerick to join the Bunratty Castle and Cliffs of Moher Tour.

Arrive into Limerick where we will join our Railtours Ireland tour coach. Limerick has a population of about 90,000 and its city charter was granted in 1197AD, making it older than London! As we cross the river Shannon - Ireland’s longest river - you will see views of King John’s Castle to the right. The castle was completed in 1200 and marks the origins of the city.

Limerick’s most famous author, Frank McCourt, grew up here and the city was the setting for his famous book Angela’s Ashes. Limerick is also the birthplace of celebrated BBC radio DJ, Terry Wogan and Hollywood star, Richard Harris. We will pass the GAA grounds of Páirc na nGael –the home ground of County Limerick’s Hurling and Gaelic Football teams. Limerick is also the home of Irish Rugby and we will pass Thomond Park, the Rugby stadium.

After a brief city tour we travel onto Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The castle was completed in 1425 and, after many years of neglect, has been restored to its former glory. There is also a folk park here which you will have time to explore.

After the visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk park we make our way to Co. Clare. There is a lunch stop at a local pub before arriving at the Cliffs of Moher, which are among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. There is plenty of time to visit Ireland’s second most popular tourist attraction and your host will advise you of the departure time. From here, we take the coast road for much of the way to Galway, with time for photos along the Burren. This is a national park and the word 'Burren' comes from the Irish Language, meaning ‘rocky place’. It is a unique lunar landscape of limestone which was described in 1649 by one of Oliver Cromwell’s men as: “No tree to hang a man, no water deep enough to drown him and no soil deep enough to bury him”. Today the Burren is noted for its diverse flora with few parallels elsewhere in Ireland or, indeed, Europe.

We continue along the coast road to Black Head, passing the quaint coastal villages of Ballyvaughan and Kinvara before joining the main road to Galway.

At the end of the day the coach will set you down at Eyre Square, in the centre of Galway City, adjacent to your hotel (and the railway station). You will be directed to your hotel by your host and your evening is free in Galway.

Aran Islands Tour - Filming location of the Oscar nominated 'Banshees of Inisherin'

Depart Galway City for transfer to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands. Irish is the spoken language on the Aran Islands, although the locals will be more than happy to speak to you in English. For many, the highlight of the tour is the formidable pre-Christian fort of Dún Aonghasa, with spectacular sea-cliffs on the western side and unspoilt views of the Atlantic Ocean. Transfer times may vary seasonly.

Notes on Aran: Your tour of Inis Mór includes stops at 'Seven Churches' (15 minutes), Dún Aonghusa (75 minutes) and Kilronan for lunch (45 minutes).

After your tour of Inis Mór you will be transferred back to Galway Station. Upon arriving at Galway Station please present your Railtours Ireland ticket and travel pack at the ticket barrier and you will be directed to your reserved seats on the train, where your host will be waiting for you.

Depart Galway for Dublin Heuston Station at 19:20hrs. Returning to Dublin Heuston at 21:45hrs.

Depending on your day of departure, tours on Day 4 and Day 5 may be reversed.

Connemara and Kylemore Abbey

Clifden Hotel

Enjoy your full Irish breakfast at leisure.

Depart Galway and our conducted tour of Connemara leaves Galway to the village of Moycullen. From Moycullen the road rises and falls towards the lovely village of Oughterard on the shores of Lough Corrib, traditionally regarded as Ireland’s premier angling centre. Now the gateway to Connemara opens, and the breathtaking colours of this unspoilt countryside are revealed in all their natural splendour.

At Maam Cross, the "Connemara Crossroads", there is a replica of the cottage used in the 1950s John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara film The Quiet Man, which was filmed here. From Maam Cross, our tour heads out to Leenane, Kylemore Abbey and Letterfrack, in the shadow of purple mountains rolling down to blue and green rocky valleys, reflecting the rich and varied colours of Connemara.

There is a lunch break at Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, a nineteenth-century castle now owned by the Benedictine nuns who run an excellent pottery, gift shop and restaurant here. Letterfrack is one of Ireland’s major national parks. The colourful town of Clifden has been one of Irelands leading holiday resorts for generations. It is an excellent touring centre beloved by the walker, the biker, the hiker or the fisherman. It was here too, at Derrygimlagh Bog, near Clifden that aviation history was made when Alcock and Brown crash landed after their historic transatlantic flight in 1919.

You will be brought to your Clifden hotel for your overnight stay which includes dinner.

Dublin City Centre

Enjoy your Full Irish Breakfast at leisure.

Depart Clifden for a morning tour of the Sky Road and Coral Beach, which has spectacular coastal scenery. We visit Derrygimlagh Bog, the site of the Marconi transmitting station where Jack Phillips worked as a wireless operator. He left in 1911 and joined the Titanic, and went down with the ship as he sent the final distress messages.

This is also the site where Alcock and Brown landed in 1919 after the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight. We return to Kylemore for our lunch stop (not included).

We continue our tour through Connemara enjoying spectacular mountain and lake scenery on our way back to Galway.

Depart Galway for Dublin Heuston at 19:20hrs.

Returning to Dublin Heuston at 21:45hrs.

Discover Dublin Free Day

This is your leisure day in Dublin, during which you can use your Hop-on-Hop-off Dublin City Sightseeing Tour ticket.

This Hop-on-Hop-off tour will take you to Dublin's most famous attractions including the Guinness Brewery, Trinity College, which houses the Book of Kells , Kilmainham Jail, Christchurch and St. Patrick's Cathedrals, plus lots lots more.

Giants Causeway

Belfast City Centre

Check-in is located in the main concourse area of Connolly Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their bright yellow jacket!

Check in for 07:35 Departure from Connolly Train Station.

Arrive into Belfast Central Station for 09:45 where we will be met by our tour coach to continue on our journey along the Causeway Coastal Route, along Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast. Upon arrival, guests can see one of Belfast’s most well-known landmark, the two Harland & Wolfe Cranes which are nicknamed Samson and Goliath.

Leaving Belfast we take the coast road north from here. We continue on passing the coastal villages of Glenariff, Cushendall and Cushendun. There are stunning views of the sea to the right and the mountains or the Glens of Antrim to the left. You can even glimpse the Scottish coast on a clear day.

We have a lovely lunch stop at the Fullerton Arms in Ballintoy for a delicious pub grub style lunch.

The highlight of the tour is definately a visit to Giant’s Causeway, Irelands only World Heritage Site. Spend some time climbing over the ancient stones, snapping some photos, and enjoying the myths and legends that surround this world famous attraction. We then re-board our luxury coach, and make our way along the coast, for one last short stop at the ancient ruins of Dunluce Castle, we then head back to Belfast for your overnight stay.

Belfast City & Titanic Belfast

After enjoying a full Irish breakfast (the famous Ulster Fry) at your leisure, you will join the Belfast Hop-On-Hop-Off tour which not only explores the city centre but also the Titanic Quarter (see the original dock where the doomed liner was built). We also visit the new Titanic Visitor Centre and you can see the last surviving White Star Line Ship The Nomadic . You will also see the murals of the Falls and Shankill Roads with plenty of free time for shopping and exploring.

Return to Dublin on any scheduled train departure and make your own way to your Dublin hotel. Hotel in Dublin included.

Lagan leviathan – Frank McNally on the centenary of a great Belfast shipbuilder (and Home Ruler), William Pirrie

The man who turned belfast into a powerhouse.

William Pirrie: at the height of his career, he oversaw construction of a ship called the Titanic

The otherwise all-conquering life of William Pirrie (1847-1924) was overshadowed by one unfortunate setback: that at the height of his career, he oversaw construction of a ship called the Titanic.

But this was not the only crisis Pirrie faced in early 1912. Because, perhaps surprisingly for a chairman of Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, he was also a Home Ruler, something that earned him intense enmity from Belfast unionists in the early months of that year.

In January, Pirrie had hosted a meeting of the local Liberal party at the Ulster Hall, inviting fellow home rulers John Redmond and Winston Churchill to speak.

The choice of location – normally a bastion of loyalism – was a red rag to his unionist critics, who were so enraged they booked the venue for the night before and then refused to vacate.

Soft landing – Frank McNally on a long-awaited airline refund

Frank McNally: It’s June, and on Irish roads farm machinery is bustin’ out all over

Brewing up a storm – Tim Fanning on the Bialetti moka express coffee pot

When the Liberals reconvened their meeting at Celtic Park in February, loyalists including his own shipyard workers pelted Pirrie with rotten eggs, bags of flour, and other missiles.

And yet also in 1912, the Spectator magazine declared him alone responsible for the success of Harland & Wolff.

“No one can deny that the marvellous development of that firm during the past 30 years is due entirely to his wonderful business acumen, organising powers, and sagacious oversight,” it wrote.

A eulogy accompanying his award of an honorary doctorate a few years earlier had gone even further, suggesting Pirrie was the man who turned Belfast into the powerhouse it had become.

His “talents and indefatigable exertions so stimulated the activity of his town that he lifted it from a comparatively inferior position to that of being the third greatest commercial city in the Empire”.

This titan of industry had himself risen from modest beginnings. He was born in Quebec in 1847 of Irish emigrant parents but, after the death of his father only a year later, accompanied his mother back to Ireland, where he grew up in the village of Conlig, Co Down.

After schooling at Belfast’s Royal Academical Institution, still only 15, he joined Harland & Wolff as a “gentleman apprentice”. From that humble base, he ascended rapidly.

By the age of 22, he was the company’s head draughtsman; by 27 a partner. While still in his 40s, he became Harland & Wolff’s chairman, retaining that role for the rest of his life.

As the firm’s “presiding genius,” The Irish Times would later recall, “he saw as few others saw at that time that the future of the shipbuilding industry lay in the big ship. Hitherto the modern leviathan was unknown, and to William Pirrie must be attributed a great deal of the credit for its evolution.”

Being a Belfast Presbyterian, Pirrie was heir to Ireland’s original republican tradition. He himself, however, was no republican.

An early alignment with unionism, which helped him become lord mayor in 1896, gradually evolved into support for Home Rule, fueled by a mixture of liberal politics, pragmatism, and thwarted ambition.

Suspicious of his moderation towards the Nationalist and Labour movements, conservative unionists had blocked his path to a political career.

But Home Rule under the crown seemed to be the future. Pirrie imagined a new Ireland flourishing within the empire and saw himself playing a prominent part.

It’s said that after the various crises of 1912, he “visibly aged”. And yet some of his and the shipyard’s best years were still ahead.

Appointed director of merchant shipbuilding by Lloyd George, to replace the terrible wartime losses, he proved an enormous success, propelling Harland & Wolff’s to greater heights than ever and a peak workforce of 30,000.

In the process, he underwent another political evolution, back towards his original unionism, eventually taking a seat in the House of Lords in 1921.

But then Irish politics had also changed, utterly, in the intervening decade. Home Rule was now as sunk as the Titanic. Pirrie had never been in sympathy with the militant republicanism that replaced it.

In April 1922, Irish Times columnist “Nichevo” (pseudonym for a future and famous editor, Bertie Smyllie) profiled Pirrie as part of a series on great “Irishmen of today”.

The piece began by noting that he was now, in years at least, “an old man”. But it also declared him to be still “as lively as a cricket” and “a mass of radiating energy”.

Few of any age, wrote Nichevo, “can claim to lead a more active or useful life than this great Ulsterman who . .. has done more than any other living man to advance the material prosperity of this country.”

A footnote to the profile listed others already featured in the “Irishmen of Today” series. These included, poignantly, “Mr Arthur Griffith” and “Mr Michael Collins”, neither of whom would see the autumn of that year.

Pirrie outlived both by 22 months. But he died on a ship off Cuba, 100 years ago this week, on June 7th, 1924.

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