Located in County Antrim, Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and its largest city, with a third of the country's population living there.

Surrounded by hills, the city lies at the head of Belfast Lough, a large natural inlet where the shipping industry once flourished. Much of the city is undergoing extensive redevelopment, and a lot has changed since Belfast was plagued by the Troubles of Northern Ireland, although there are some areas to the west where Catholic and Protestant communities are still separated. The central area spreads out from around Donegall Square, where the domed neoclassical building of the City Hall is located, and contains impressive Victorian and Edwardian buildings, many of which are adorned with sculpture.

The Titanic was built at Belfast's famous docklands, and cranes from the shipyard dominate the skyline today. The city is also home to many politically inspired murals, with the first Loyalist mural appearing in 1908, and many more from both sides of the divide painted in the years since. In the south of the city is the prestigious Queen's University, while nearby are the Botanic Gardens, which are also the setting for the huge Ulster Museum. To the north is Cave Hill, from where there are wonderful views over the city and coast. Belfast Castle, which dates from 1870, stands on the slopes of the hill, along with Belfast Zoo.

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