Street art, Belfast by Rossographer, CC BY-SA 2.0

29.09.2026

Belfast

Belfast Street Art Walking Tour from Second Nature

Belfast's walls tell stories. Turn down almost any street in the city centre and you'll spot bright murals, bold graffiti, and giant portraits painted across old brick.

Street art, Belfast by Rossographer, CC BY-SA 2.0

A Belfast street art walking tour is one of the best ways to see this side of the city. It takes you past hidden gems most visitors miss, from famous murals to quiet corners of colour. Staying at Second Nature puts you close to it all, so lacing up your shoes and stepping outside takes barely a minute.

Why Explore Belfast’s Street Art?

Street art gives you a different view of Belfast. Instead of reading about the city's history in a museum, you see it painted right on the walls. Murals capture local heroes, music legends, and moments from Belfast's past and present. Some pieces are bold and political, while others are simply fun, colourful, and strange. Following a local guide, or a self-guided walking tour, is a great way to understand what each piece means and why it's there.

Belfast’s Murals: A Brief History

Belfast has painted its walls for over a century, and murals became especially important during the Troubles, the decades of conflict that divided the city. Political murals appeared on both sides of the community, marking territory and honouring the dead. Many still stand near Belfast's peace walls, the barriers built to separate neighbourhoods during the worst of the violence. In the city centre, though, a different kind of street art took over, as local and international artists began turning empty walls, old arcades, and narrow entries into bright, ever-changing galleries. This is contemporary street art: less about conflict, more about colour, creativity, and craft.

Where to Find Belfast’s Best Street Art

You'll find most of Belfast's street art packed into a small area of the city centre. The Cathedral Quarter, Commercial Court, and North Street hold the highest concentration of murals, with more waiting in the alleys nearby.

Stop 1: Cathedral Quarter

Start in the Cathedral Quarter, Belfast's most atmospheric neighbourhood, where cobbled streets, old pubs, and creative studios sit side by side. This is also home base for Seedhead Arts, the group behind Belfast's Hit the North street art festival. Their guided walking tour runs most Sundays and covers many of the murals in this area, painted by local and international artists. Look up as you walk, since some of the best pieces sit above eye level.

Stop 2: Commercial Court

Just off Waring Street, Commercial Court is one of Belfast's best-known street art spots. Large portraits and colourful designs cover almost every wall here, tucked into what was once a quiet lane through the Belfast Entries. Grab a coffee, look around, and take your time, since this small courtyard packs in more than its size suggests.

Stop 3: North Street

North Street is home to some of the city's largest murals, many of which cover the old North Street Arcade, a building that survived a bomb in 1976 and a fire in 2004 before becoming a canvas for street artists. The scale here is different from the Cathedral Quarter: bigger walls, bolder colours, and pieces that change often as new artists add their work. It's proof that Belfast keeps rebuilding, one wall at a time.

Stop 4: More Street Art to Discover

Keep wandering and you'll find more, since Hill Street has its own murals and graffiti tucked between bars and music venues, including the Dirty Onion, known for its live music and beer garden. Pass the Bullitt Hotel and check the surrounding walls too. Belfast's street art scene keeps growing, so no two walks look quite the same.

Things to Know Before You Go

Wear comfortable shoes, since most of this walking tour covers cobbles and uneven pavement. Belfast's weather changes fast, so bring a layer or a light rain jacket. Daylight hours are shorter in winter, so plan an afternoon walk if you visit then. Many murals sit close to homes and local businesses, so keep noise down and ask before photographing people. A little respect goes a long way in Northern Ireland's neighbourhoods.

Belfast's Cathedral Quarter (2) by Robert Ashby, CC BY-SA 2.0

Mural, the North Street Arcade, Belfast by Albert Bridge, CC BY-SA 2.0

Doors, Commercial Court, Belfast - April 2014(2) by Albert Bridge, CC BY-SA 2.0

Explore Belfast from Second Nature

Second Nature Belfast sits close enough to the Cathedral Quarter, Commercial Court, and North Street that you can walk to all three easily. Drop your bags, grab a coffee, and start exploring. Belfast rewards visitors who wander rather than rush, and a street art walking tour is one of the easiest ways to see the city up close.

How long does the Belfast street art walking tour take?

A self-guided walk takes about two hours, while Seedhead Arts' guided walking tour runs for roughly the same length, usually on Sunday afternoons.

Where does the tour start?

Most routes begin in the Cathedral Quarter, close to Commercial Court and North Street.

Is the walking tour free?

Walking the streets yourself costs nothing, though guided tours with Seedhead Arts have a fee, so check seedheadarts.com for current dates.

Can I see political murals on this route?

This guide focuses on the contemporary street art in the city centre, but to see the political murals near Belfast's peace walls, book a separate tour with a local guide who knows the area well.