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The Titanic Experience in Belfast

Let’s get one thing right, straight away. The Titanic Experience in Belfast is THE Titanic Experience to beat any and all others. It is the largest, most in-depth, Titanic museum experience in the world.

The beautiful, purpose built structure housing the Titanic Experience is a behemoth in its own right. It stands taller than Belfast City Hall, has underground parking for more than five hundred cars, and is encased in more than 3000 different shaped, silver anodized folded panels.

Like a multifaceted diamond, the building sparkles in the sunshine (rare enough in Northern Ireland). This is one large and gorgeous grand design.

The building of the Titanic Museum in Belfast.
Awesome architecture is one of the beauties of the Titanic Experience Museum in Belfast.

There are metaphors to the ill fated Titanic worked into several aspects of the building, both inside and out. For instance, the ticket counters are made to resemble the wooden blocks used to hold the Titanic upright as it was being built. Looking at it in this photograph you can see the shape of the hull and the metal plates, roughly the same size as those used on the Titanic, rising up above the ticket window.

Ticket Counter at the Titanic Experience Belfast Bringing the full story of the Titanic to life, the Belfast Titanic Experience lets you in on all the stories and secrets of the huge, luxury ship. Click here to read more and find out how to include this stop on your Northern Ireland itinerary. .................... Belfast guide | How to buy tickets | Titanic history | Titanic stats | things to do |
You can buy tickets for the Titanic Experience on the day of your visit

Titanic Belfast Tickets, Online or In Person?

Our June journey to the Belfast, Ireland Titanic Experience started in early February. We knew we wanted to include a trip to the museum and were worried that it would be difficult to get tickets on the day of our visit. Here’s where we hit an iceberg, so to speak. After a quick Google search we were on the official website and navigating through crystal clear waters. Ticket sales involved a click through calendar that seemed to be working just fine.

The Queen of the World, Titanic Belfast Bringing the full story of the Titanic to life, the Belfast Titanic Experience lets you in on all the stories and secrets of the huge, luxury ship. Click here to read more and find out how to include this stop on your Northern Ireland itinerary. .................... Belfast guide | How to buy tickets | Titanic history | Titanic stats | things to do |
The queen of the world in front of the Titanic Experience Belfast

However, as I clicked the final “purchase” button, I realized the date was wrong, even though I had clicked on the date of our planned trip. Of course, the sale went through for the next day! After a confused call to the contact phone line, we were able to refund those tickets, but not make a new reservation over the phone. The next time through on the website we noticed the calendar month wasn’t changing even though we were picking June.

Inside the Titanic Experience, Belfast Bringing the full story of the Titanic to life, the Belfast Titanic Experience lets you in on all the stories and secrets of the huge, luxury ship. Click here to read more and find out how to include this stop on your Northern Ireland itinerary. .................... Belfast guide | How to buy tickets | Titanic history | Titanic stats | things to do |

We let it sit for several weeks and in late May we realized we should try again. This time the glitch was gone and our ticket purchase went through without a hitch. When we arrived at the Titanic Experience, there were no lines at the ticket office and we thought, well, I guess booking online isn’t all that important. Maybe it isn’t, but then again, as we were finishing up our tour the line for tickets was out the door. Our recommendation, go ahead and book online just to be safe (just check that the dates do actually change to your selected month).

History of Belfast Ship Building Bringing the full story of the Titanic to life, the Belfast Titanic Experience lets you in on all the stories and secrets of the huge, luxury ship. Click here to read more and find out how to include this stop on your Northern Ireland itinerary. .................... Belfast guide | How to buy tickets | Titanic history | Titanic stats | things to do |

Hands On At Titanic Belfast

One thing we really appreciated about the Belfast Titanic Experience was the hands on elements sprinkled throughout the exhibits. There was a station where you could learn and master the wireless code used on the Marconi wireless transmitters found aboard the Titanic and other ships of the time period.

Other stations in the exhibits had mechanically operated quiz machines, while another used images projected on the floor which you controlled by moving around the room. We could easily have spent a few more hours at the museum if we had engaged at all of these stations.

Titanic the Ride.
Titanic the Ride, housed inside the experience, another unique element

Another benefit to having a museum built specifically for the purpose is being able to build an amusement park ride right inside the building. The Titanic Experience in Belfast has a set of cars propelled along an overhead track. The cars whisk visitors gently along through the construction phase of the Titanic’s hull.

You’ll see, hear, and feel the work of the riveters pounding the hot rivets through the steel plates. The ride descends and rises as it takes you through the “shipyard” and past a replica of the Titanic’s massive rudder. Don’t worry, this is an informative ride  not a thrill ride, but it is dark and might be a little scary for very young visitors.

Titanic Shipyard Belfast Bringing the full story of the Titanic to life, the Belfast Titanic Experience lets you in on all the stories and secrets of the huge, luxury ship. Click here to read more and find out how to include this stop on your Northern Ireland itinerary. .................... Belfast guide | How to buy tickets | Titanic history | Titanic stats | things to do |
An observation deck in Titanic Belfast building looks out over the shipyard where Titanic was built.

What To Expect

The Titanic Experience Belfast tour will lead you through the history of ship building in Belfast, the design phase of the ship, construction, fitting out, the voyage, the fateful night, and the aftermath. This is an in-depth journey of discovery about everything you could possibly want to know about the Titanic.

There are original plans to view, construction equipment to hold and marvel at, recordings of survivors tales, court proceeding records, and underwater footage displayed on a movie screen that will take visitors to the bottom of the Atlantic to see what the Titanic looks like today.

ROV Used to Film the Titanic.
Underwater ROV like the one used to film the underwater wreckage

The Experience ends with a collection of exhibits about underwater salvage around the world. This was one of my favorite areas as the idea of treasure hunting along the ocean floor has always intrigued me. This gallery takes visitors through the history of underwater salvage and presents the processes and technology involved.

Eating Aboard the Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast has two dining options on sight, the Bistro 401 and the Galley Cafe. Both were doing a brisk business, feeding customers as quickly as possible without rushing anyone. The food in the Bistro looked delicious with a wide range of Irish food options on the menu. However, we had plans elsewhere so opted instead for tea and coffee and snack in the cafe. The dessert options were amazingly delicious and the tea and coffee were all perfect.

Titanic Belfast Food Options.
Dessert options at the Galley Cafe

Titanic Belfast Tickets and other Important Information

  • Titanic Belfast tickets can be bought online and will help visitors avoid lines at the ticket counter.
  • Price includes entry to the galleries, the Titanic ride, and entrance to the White Star’s last surviving ship, SS Nomad, moored near the building.
  • Discounted tickets are available for seniors (60+), students ( 16+ with ID), children (5-16), and children under 5 are free.
  • A family ticket is available for two adults and two children.
  • Audio guides are available for an additional price.
  • Dry dock and pumphouse visits are available for an additional cost as well.
  • Open daily, year round except 24-26 December. Hours are seasonal, so check the website to be sure.
  • Free Wifi is available and works.
  • Getting to the museum is easily accomplished by car (follow the well placed directional signs) or Translink bus 26, 26A, B, or C from the city center.
  • Underground parking is available and affordable with direct interior access to the museum.
  • More information and ticket sales can be found at Titanic Belfast, official website.

Other things to do in Northern Ireland after the Titanic Belfast Experience

  • Visit Giant’s Causeway
  • Take a Black Cab Tour
  • Go to Bushmill’s Distillery
  • Take a Game of Thrones tour (or DIY with your own rental car)
  • Enjoy a pint or two in an old pub at the Crowne

Have you experienced the Titanic Belfast?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Bringing the full story of the Titanic to life, the Belfast Titanic Experience lets you in on all the stories and secrets of the huge, luxury ship. Click here to read more and find out how to include this stop on your Northern Ireland itinerary. .................... Belfast guide | How to buy tickets | Titanic history | Titanic stats | things to do |

Pin the Titanic Experience for later.

Foodie Flashpacker

Friday 18th of August 2017

I would love to visit this museum! I think the story of the Titanic is really interesting and the museum looks really well done. I had never heard of it before!

Corinne Vail

Saturday 19th of August 2017

Nathan, It's a relatively new museum, and you can tell with how they thoughtfully built the exhibits. It's very much a "how it was done" type of museum.

Sandy N Vyjay

Friday 18th of August 2017

We love museums of every kind, arts,science, natural history, the works! But the Titanic Experience sounds really unique, a simulated experience of sorts. Must have been a fascinating experience indeed. Would love to do this first thing in Belfast.

Corinne Vail

Saturday 19th of August 2017

Sandy, If you are going to Belfast, yes, do it.

RobRob @TravelLatte(.net)

Tuesday 15th of August 2017

Great post. The building does look beautiful, but we had been wondering if a museum devoted to what could be the best covered ship in history would be worth the trip. Looks like a resounding yes! Thanks for all of the details and the walkthrough of the experience. #wkendtravelinspiration

Jim Vail

Tuesday 15th of August 2017

Thanks for the feedback Rob. We had that same thought before going, but we're glad we went.

annette @afrenchcollection

Monday 14th of August 2017

It certainly looks like there is much to enjoy about this tour. I would really like to go on the ship construction ride, that is a great thing to include in the design of the museum and, of course, those desserts look fantastic! We all seem to agree on how good they look. #wkendtravelinspiration

Jim Vail

Tuesday 15th of August 2017

The museum cafe is definitely a good spot for an afternoon tea. The only problem is there is so much to choose from.

100cobbledroads

Monday 14th of August 2017

Museums are such great platforms for learning and this one is fun too. I would head to the station where I can learn the Marconi wireless code. Wow!

Jim Vail

Tuesday 15th of August 2017

That was one of the most popular stops in the museum, for sure!