A Black Cab Tour of Belfast is, in my opinion, the best way of getting an insight into the city’s past.
Now, don’t get me wrong – there’s plenty of things to do in Belfast that immerse you in the city’s history, but none compare to a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast (this tour, in particular!).
These driving excursions take you across the city to the murals and peace wall to uncover the city’s turbulent history.
Stuck for time? The best black taxi tour in Belfast is this one!
Some quick need-to-knows before taking a Black Cab Tour of Belfast
Although a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. What are they
Belfast Black Cab Tours are given by drivers who lived through the many years of unrest in Northern Ireland. The tours offer a unique understanding of the city’s troubled past and offer an insight into how Belfast has changed over the last decades.
2. Where you’ll visit
Although the itineraries of a Black Cab Tour of Belfast will change depending on the driver, you’ll more than likely see The Shankill Road, The Falls Road, the Belfast Peace Wall, the highlights of the city and the better-known Belfast murals.
3. Are the worth doing
A Black Cab Tour of Belfast is a unique way to discover the city’s past through stories told by someone that lived through The Troubles. These tours are widely regarded as one of the best ways to learn about the city’s history.
What to expect from a Belfast Black Taxi Tour
If you’ve never heard of the Black Cab Tours of Belfast, I’ll break down what you can expect from them in the section below.
Again, it’s worth noting that there are several tour providers operating in the city, so what each offers may differ slightly.
1. A unique experience
A Black Taxi Tour is one of the most unique things to do in Northern Ireland. It’ll give you a window into the city’s past that you won’t get from any guidebook.
And it’ll treat you to a style of storytelling that’ll captivate you from beginning to end. You’ll also be taken to what are often regarded as no-go areas of Belfast that you arguably wouldn’t want to be visiting solo.
2. An unbiased insight into the Troubles
The tours provide an unbiased view of The Troubles, offering an insight into the tragedies experienced by both communities in Belfast.
You’ll also hear what it was like to live through The Troubles from a person that experienced the good and bad of the last 40 or so years.
3. A look at Belfast’s Murals
Perhaps the most unlikely attraction to come from the Troubles, was the murals that can now be found dotted around Belfast.
Some of the common themes and depictions include of Bobby Sands, Frederick Douglass, the Red Hand of Ulster and Jackie Coulter, amongst many others.
Three Belfast Taxi Tours well worth doing
OK, so, you’ve decided that you fancy heading off on one of the Belfast Black Cab Tours – you’re in for a treat!
Below, you’ll find some of the different tours on offer. Note: if you book a tour through a of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going.
1. The political Belfast Black Cab Tours
The Belfast Political Taxi Tour showcases the history of the Troubles with a visit to the murals around the city, including on The Falls Road and The Shankill Road, two communities still separated by the peace wall.
Your driver will be a taxi driver who lived through the Troubles, so you’ll be able to get a real insight into the history and ask whatever questions you want to know about this dark period in time.
The drivers are all dedicated to providing an unbiased account, so you can make your own mind up about the city’s divisions at the end of the hour-long drive.
- Price: From £68/€83 per group up to 2
- Duration: 1 hour
- Reviews: 4.8/5 from 2,500+ reviews
- Tickets: Book your ticket here
2. Belfast Taxi Tours of the city’s murals and more
The Belfast Taxi Mural Tour is also conducted by drivers that lived during the Troubles. This means that you’ll be able to get a really personal insight into the ups and downs of Belfast’s history.
The tour takes you to the Peace Wall at The Falls and Shankill Roads to see the famous murals, where the driver will be able to explain the meanings behind the depictions on both sides.
You’ll also be able to find out the local secrets around the city including the best restaurants, with a driver who knows the ins and outs of the city.
- Price: From £35/€42 p/p
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Reviews: 4.9/5 from 950+ reviews
- Tickets: Book your ticket here
3. Political Wall Murals and Peacewall
With this slightly longer tour option, you’ll be able to stop for plenty of photos and chat away with your informative driver. All the guides on this tour grew up through the Troubles and are able to give a personal insight of life during the conflict.
The tour also takes you to the peace wall and past all the famous murals (not to be confused with the newer Belfast street art), where you’ll get the chance of signing your own name on the wall that has divided the city for over 45 years.
You can also be conveniently picked up from wherever you’re staying in the city centre and taken to all the must-see places around town.
- Price: £120/€143 per group up to 2
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Reviews: 4.8/5 from 200+ reviews
- Tickets: Book your ticket here
Black Cab Tour Belfast FAQs
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is a Black Cab Tour of Belfast worth it?’ to ‘Which Belfast Black Cab Tours are best?’.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
Are the Belfast Black Cab Tours really worth doing?
Yes – 100%! The Belfast Taxi Tours offer a first-hand insight into the city’s past that you won’t find elsewhere and, as you’ll discover from online reviews, they are very well received.
How long is the Black Cab Tour Belfast?
Tours differ depending on the provider, but they generally last around an hour (make sure to check this in advance).
What do you see on a Black Cab Tour of Belfast?
You’ll see the city’s murals, the peace wall, The Falls and Shankill Roads and corners of the city that saw extensive unrest.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.
Paul harper
Sunday 26th of March 2023
Well worth doing , our driver was from the republican side . And he told us about his experiences and life during the troubles .he was also very fair , in seeing it from the other sides aspect .( the common man’s side not the establishments) . Belfast is clearly a better place now . I can genuinely say I fell in love with all the people and places I saw . Peace and prosperity to you all
Robson
Sunday 8th of January 2023
Are there any Black Cab Tours that can take two couples?
Keith O'Hara
Monday 16th of January 2023
Hey - I'm pretty sure many of them do. You can select a group of four when booking.
Gareth Thomas
Sunday 3rd of October 2021
Hi we arrive on a Sunday and leave on a Wednesday , when would the best time to take the tour please ? Gareth