Titanic Belfast is the reason many people come to Belfast, and it lives up to the billing. The angular, silver-clad building rises beside the old Harland and Wolff slipways in the Titanic Quarter, on the exact ground where Titanic and her sister Olympic were built, and it tells the whole story rather than just the sinking. The self-guided Titanic Experience runs through ten interactive galleries: boomtown Belfast at the start of the twentieth century, the shipyard and the men who worked there, the launch on 31 May 1911, the fit-out and the luxury of the first-class cabins, the maiden voyage, the disaster in April 1912, the inquiries and the myths, and finally the discovery of the wreck on the floor of the North Atlantic. Along the way a small ride carries you through a recreated shipyard. Your ticket also covers SS Nomadic, the tender that ferried first-class passengers out to Titanic at Cherbourg, now restored in the Hamilton Dock next door. This page links to the Tiqets entry ticket, which books a timed entry slot.
How to visit: Titanic Belfast is at 1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road, about twenty-five minutes on foot from City Hall along the river, or a short ride on the 26 bus routes. There is paid parking on site. Book a timed slot in advance, especially at weekends and in school holidays, and arrive about ten minutes before it. In November 2026 the museum opens daily from 9:50am to 5pm, with last admission one hour forty minutes before closing, so 3:20pm on a normal day. SS Nomadic keeps shorter winter hours, from 11am to 4:30pm, with last entry thirty minutes before it closes. The building is closed from 24 to 26 December.
What to expect: allow two to two and a half hours for the galleries, plus thirty to forty-five minutes for Nomadic. The early galleries are dense with text, photographs and voices from the shipyard, while the later ones are more atmospheric, including a striking space on the wreck. The whole route is wheelchair accessible. The Tiqets ticket is non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled, so be sure of your date before you buy.
Making the most of it: go first thing, when the galleries are calm, then walk out onto the slipways, where the outlines of Titanic and Olympic are marked in the ground at full scale. The old Harland and Wolff headquarters and drawing offices, where the ships were designed, are across the road as the Titanic Hotel, and a drink in its Drawing Office Two bar makes a perfect finish.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided route through ten interactive galleries on the building, launch, voyage and loss of Titanic, plus a visit aboard the restored tender SS Nomadic.
Best time
The first slot of the morning, when the galleries are quietest, with Nomadic after it opens at 11am in winter.
How long
Two to two and a half hours for the galleries, plus up to forty-five minutes for SS Nomadic and the slipways.
Tips
Book a timed slot ahead, note that the Tiqets ticket cannot be refunded or moved, and remember last admission is 3:20pm on a 5pm closing day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors and anyone who wants to understand why Belfast is so proud of the ship it built.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the shipyard ride and the interactive screens, and the whole route is step-free for buggies.
- Couples
- Pair a morning in the galleries with a drink or lunch in the old drawing offices at the Titanic Hotel across the road.
- Pair with
- A walk along the slipways and the river back to the city, or a black taxi tour in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- Half a day including SS Nomadic and the slipways.
Good questions
How long do you need at Titanic Belfast?+
Most visitors spend two to two and a half hours in the ten galleries. Add up to forty-five minutes for SS Nomadic and a walk on the slipways outside.
Is SS Nomadic included in the Titanic Belfast ticket?+
Yes, the Titanic Experience includes a walk through SS Nomadic, the tender that served Titanic at Cherbourg. In winter Nomadic opens from 11am to 4:30pm, with last entry thirty minutes before closing.
What are the Titanic Belfast opening hours in November?+
In November 2026 it opens daily from 9:50am to 5pm. Last admission to the galleries is one hour forty minutes before closing, which is 3:20pm on a normal day.
Do I need to book Titanic Belfast in advance?+
Booking ahead is strongly advised because entry is by timed slot and popular times sell out. The Tiqets ticket is non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled, so confirm your plans first.
How do I get to Titanic Belfast from the city centre?+
It is about a twenty-five-minute walk along the river from City Hall, or a short ride on the 26 bus routes. There is also paid parking on site if you drive.
