Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for Visitors to Belfast

Update 4th January

The Northern Ireland Executive is urging people to travel only if it is absolutely necessary: everyone should comply with all travel restrictions in place for their region/country and check the guidance at both the point of departure and destination.

From 26 December 2020, a further set of coronavirus restrictions are now in force across Northern Ireland for a planned six-week period (with a review after four weeks). This page will be updated in line with any changes to guidance.

These restrictions include:

• Closure of all non-essential retail (delivery is allowed, but no click and collect services are permitted)
• Essential retailers may only offer off-sales until 8pm
• Hospitality businesses can only provide takeaway or delivery services until 11pm
• Hotels and tourist accommodation providers must close, with exemptions for emergency accommodation
• Visitor attractions and leisure activities will not be permitted to open

For travel information, our visitor advisors remain on hand to answer your queries – please email info@visitbelfast.com or call 028 9024 6609.

For a full list of all current restrictions, please click here.

If you are a tourism partner, please refer to this page for updates.

Please check this page for further updates, and we very much look forward to welcoming you to Belfast soon.

• If you are arriving into Northern Ireland from within the Common Travel Area and you plan to remain here for at least 24 hours, you must self-isolate upon arrival for 10 days in the same way as international arrivals. Click here for further information.
• Arriving into Northern Ireland from other countries may also require you to self-isloate for ten days. Please click here for further information and an updated list of exemptions.

Please check with individual transport providers for the latest information and precautions you need to take before planning a visit.

Visit Belfast Welcome Centre and Visit Belfast Information Centres
The Visit Belfast Welcome will be closed from 4pm on Thursday 24 December and will remain closed until restrictions are eased. We are still providing vital information services on our website, and visitors can email queries to info@visitbelfast.com or telephone 028 9024 6609. You can also tweet your queries using #AskVisitBelfast.

*Please note the Ticketmaster desk at Visit Belfast is now closed – customers can still apply for a refund directly from Ticketmaster via this link.*

Hotels & Hospitality

During the six-week period of restrictions, hotels and hospitality businesses must close, except for takeaway and delivery services.

Visitor Attractions

Indoor and outdoor museums, galleries, visitor and other cultural attractions are not permitted to open.

Theatres and concert halls are only permitted to open for rehearsals or a live recording without an audience.

Belfast Working to Help you Stay Safe: Belfast’s businesses are working hard to welcome you back to Belfast safely – city businesses displaying the mark want to provide assurances that the are following the latest government guidelines.

Northern Ireland is Good to Go:  ‘We’re Good To Go’ is the official UK mark to signal that tourism or hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland are following Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, putting in place processes to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.  Businesses that have achieved the ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark can display the licensed logo on their premises and as part of their communications.

Face coverings

The use of face coverings when you are in a public area indoors, such as in a shop or attraction, when social distancing is not possible, is mandatory, with exemptions for certain groups. Please click here to find out more.

Face coverings are also mandatory when using public transport across Northern Ireland – for more info click here.

Before you travel, our advice is to contact individual providers for up to date opening information. Anyone seeking visitor information can contact the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre and one of our travel advisors will be able to help.

For the most up to date information, advice and guidance, visit:

• • NI Direct: gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19
  • Department of Health: health-ni.gov.uk/news

Before you decide to travel we recommend you plan ahead. Consider where you’re travelling to and how easy it will be to maintain social distance on your journey and at your destination. It is more difficult to maintain social distancing in crowded areas. Thinking about this before you travel can help protect yourself and others.

Things to consider:

• Can you walk or cycle to the destination?
• What’s the latest travel advice from my transport operator?
• Can you book your ticket online, or is contactless payment is possible?
• Can you avoid crowded areas
• What’s the most direct route to my destination?

Value Cabs continue to operate 24/7 and have added a range of delivery services too. They’ve also adopted a number of measures to ensure the safety of their passengers and drivers. This includes a maximum of three passengers per taxi only and touch point clean downs between journeys. Protective screens have been fitted in many of their taxis and vehicles fitted with screens are available upon request. Download the app (valuecabs.co.uk/app) or call 028 9080 9080.

Since 10 July 2020 it has been the law to wear a face covering when using public transport services.

Passengers and staff must wear a face covering:

• on bus, coach and train services
• in public transport stations

For more information on bus and rail services provided by Translink visit translink.co.uk .

Visitors who have concerns while here in Northern Ireland should contact the special coronavirus helpline on 0300 200 7885.

If it is a medical emergency, call 999 and inform the call handler of your recent travel.

If you are NOT registered with a GP in Northern Ireland, you’ll find important information available via the NI Direct website which you should refer to.

Visit Belfast partners should click here for relevant information, advice and resources regarding coronavirus.

We’re here to help, so if you can’t find the info you’re after, or you just want to ask a really odd question, then we’re here for you.

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