3 reviewed party hostels · from €17.21/night · Hostelworld rated
Belfast's nightlife punches well above its weight for a city this size. Botanic Avenue and the nearby Golden Mile are the twin engines of the after-dark scene, lined with pubs, late bars, and clubs that fill up fast on weekends. The Cathedral Quarter, centred on Hill Street and the Cathedral Arts Quarter, draws a slightly older crowd to craft beer bars and live music venues. Come Thursday night, students from Queen's University flood out and don't really stop until Sunday. Hostels are concentrated around the Queen's Quarter, which puts you within easy walking distance of both areas. Vagabonds and Botanical Backpackers sit in the thick of it on or near Botanic Avenue, while Global Village is a solid option a bit further north. Dorm beds start around €17 a night, making Belfast one of the more affordable cities in the UK for backpackers.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
Environmentally friendly social hostel, great for solo travellers looking to meet new people. Free healthy breakfast included, as well as a free coffee, tea, and fruit. Hostel with a nice atmosphere and cosy living room for hanging around. Well-located, around 10 minutes' walk from the centre of nightlife and popular pubs.
If you are looking to stay in the heart of Belfast’s party zone, Vagabonds hostel is what you are looking for. Nearby the lively and buzzing pubs and bars. The spacious and funky living room is a great spot for meeting and bonding with other travellers. Enjoy movie nights or play a Pool for free.
Lagan Backpackers is recognized by their visitors as a place full of fun! - this hostel is a party-oriented location for backpackers who are searching to socialise with people from different place. This hostel includes a nice common room to share drinks while socialising as also dinners for a good price. At last, the nearby area is full of bars and pubs.
How Belfast's nightlife zones break down
Stretching south from the city centre around Queen's University, this area is the backpacker heartland of Belfast. Botanic Avenue cuts through it with a string of bars, restaurants, and late-night spots, and the Botanic Gardens sit at one end. Most of the best-rated hostels, including Vagabonds and Botanical Backpackers, are within a few minutes' walk of each other here.
The Cathedral Quarter sits north of the city centre around Hill Street and St Anne's Cathedral, and it's where Belfast's more creative, arts-led crowd drinks. The area has a genuine concentration of independent bars, live music venues, and late-night spots. It's about a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride from the Queen's Quarter hostels.
The Golden Mile runs along Great Victoria Street and Shaftesbury Square, connecting the city centre to the Queen's Quarter. It's home to some of Belfast's biggest clubs and late bars, and it's the strip that gets genuinely rowdy after midnight on weekends. The Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street train station are both on this stretch, making it easy to arrive and get out.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
One of Belfast's most established live music and club venues, Limelight sits on Ormeau Avenue and pulls in big crowds for indie, alternative, and electronic nights. The main room has a proper club feel, while the adjoining Speakeasy bar is good for a drink before things kick off. It gets seriously packed after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Set in one of Belfast's oldest buildings in the Cathedral Quarter, The Dirty Onion is a wood-heavy, atmospheric bar with live traditional music most nights. Pints are reasonably priced and the crowd is a solid mix of locals and travellers. The outdoor courtyard fills up fast in any weather remotely above freezing.
A tiny, triangular corner pub near Victoria Square that's been serving Belfast since the Victorian era. It's always packed, there's no DJ or stage, and that's exactly the point. Craft beers and real ales, good craic, and a proper local feel that's hard to find in bigger UK cities.
A Cathedral Quarter cocktail bar and club that goes hard on electronic music and DJ nights, with a lineup that leans towards house and techno. The space is split across two floors, with the bar upstairs and the dancefloor below. Friday and Saturday nights get going late, so don't bother arriving before 11pm.
A cult favourite on Union Street, the Sunflower is known for its cage door entrance, cheap drinks, and a genuine Belfast atmosphere. Live music and folk sessions happen regularly, and there's a pizza hatch out back that keeps people fed well into the night. It draws a loyal, unpretentious crowd that ranges from students to locals who've been drinking here for decades.
Held at venues across Belfast (regularly at the Limelight complex), Shine is the city's longest-running club night and still the one to catch for serious dance music. It focuses on house and techno with consistently strong bookings. Tickets sell out, so check the schedule and book ahead.
A Cathedral Quarter institution tucked down Commercial Court, the Duke of York is covered in old whiskey adverts and has the kind of character that can't be designed. It gets very busy on weekends, and the alleyway outside becomes an informal overflow area with outdoor heaters in winter. Good for an early evening pint before moving on.
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