No visit to Belfast is complete without a black taxi tour, and many travellers say it was the most memorable hour of their trip. A working cab driver picks you up in the city centre and drives you to West Belfast, where the nationalist Falls Road and the unionist Shankill Road run side by side, separated by the peace walls built during the Troubles. Along the way you stop at the political murals, which commemorate hunger strikers, paramilitaries, victims and international causes, and which still change as the city’s politics evolve. Your driver tells the story of the conflict, the ceasefires and the Good Friday Agreement, often with personal experiences from those years, and answers questions frankly. At the peace wall itself, visitors traditionally sign their names and messages alongside thousands of others. Drivers also share tips on where to eat and drink. The tour is wheelchair accessible. This page links to the Tiqets ticket for the Belfast guided taxi driver tour, which picks up from a central hotel two minutes from City Hall.
How it works: meet at the front doors of the Leonardo Hotel Belfast, formerly the Jurys Inn, on Great Victoria Street, about two minutes’ walk from City Hall. Arrive ten minutes early with your smartphone voucher. The tour lasts sixty to seventy-five minutes depending on traffic, with a live guide in English. You can cancel for a full refund, or reschedule, up to twenty-four hours before your tour.
What to expect: the taxi takes a small group, so the conversation is personal and you can ask whatever you like. Expect to stand at the murals and the wall in the open air, so bring a coat in November. Every driver tells the story a little differently, shaped by their own background, and the best ones are careful to explain both communities. The areas you visit are residential, so be respectful when taking photographs of homes and people.
Making the most of it: take the tour early in your stay, as it gives context to everything else you see in Belfast. Combine it with Crumlin Road Gaol on the same day, and if you want more time on the murals, return to the Falls Road on foot afterwards to explore at your own pace.
What to expect
The experience
A small-group taxi tour of about an hour through West Belfast, with stops at the Falls Road and Shankill Road murals and the peace walls, led by a driver who lived through the Troubles.
Best time
Early in your trip and in daylight, so the murals are easy to see and the story frames the rest of your visit.
How long
Sixty to seventy-five minutes, depending on traffic.
Tips
Meet ten minutes early at the Leonardo Hotel on Great Victoria Street, dress for standing outside, and be respectful when photographing homes.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every first-time visitor who wants to understand the Troubles and the peace process from someone who lived it.
- Families
- Good for older children and teenagers, who enjoy signing the peace wall and asking the driver questions.
- Couples
- An eye-opening hour that sparks conversation, perfect before an evening in the city centre.
- Pair with
- Crumlin Road Gaol on the same day, or a walk back along the Falls Road to see more murals.
- Time needed
- About an hour, or two with a walk afterwards.
Good questions
How long is the Belfast black taxi tour?+
The tour lasts sixty to seventy-five minutes, depending on traffic. It includes stops at the murals and the peace walls.
Where does the black taxi tour pick up?+
It meets at the front doors of the Leonardo Hotel Belfast, formerly Jurys Inn, on Great Victoria Street. That is about two minutes’ walk from City Hall.
What do you see on a Belfast black taxi tour?+
You visit the Falls Road and Shankill Road, the political murals and the peace walls in West Belfast. The driver explains the Troubles and the peace process along the way.
Can you sign the peace wall in Belfast?+
Yes, visitors traditionally write their names and messages on the peace wall. Your driver will show you where to stop.
Is the black taxi tour wheelchair accessible?+
Yes, the Tiqets listing describes this tour as wheelchair accessible. Mention any needs when you book so the right vehicle is sent.
