Be Safe in Belfast

Belfast is a safe city to visit and the days of having to worry about bomb threats from opposing political factions are essentially over, and provided you don’t stand up in the street shouting any staunch pro-loyalists or pro-nationalist views then this aspect of the country’s troubled past won’t affect you. Crime maintains a presence here just as it does in any capital city; however, if you keep your wits about you, you are unlikely to become a victim.

Safety

Belfast has its problems with crime just like any capital city; however, it is not known as an especially dangerous place to be and by and large, tourists will not find the environment imposing or threatening in any way. There are areas of the city where it’s not wise to stray into at night, particularly if you are a single female, but these are fairly obvious places and would include poorly lit and sparsely populated streets and districts.

The city centre is not noted for having an abundance of pickpockets, but in busy places, it’s wise to be mindful of your possessions and to keep cash and valuables in hard to reach places. As the locals like a drink, pub closing times see the inebriated spill out onto the streets, when fights are most likely to occur. So avoid getting into verbal conflicts or getting too close to potential troublemakers.

Police:  999

Health

Belfast offers no immediate threats to the health of either visitors or residents, and aside from the same risks of sexually transmitted diseases that any city presents, there is little to worry about with regards to viral-related illnesses. Tap water is entirely safe to drink and relatively palatable, and few residents see the need to buy bottled water, although you may choose to do so if you prefer your drinking water to be chlorine-free. The standard of healthcare in both public and private hospitals is high and visitors from EU countries with an EHIC can get free treatment at government-operated health centres.

General Hospital: +44 2890 773311