Commonly misunderstood, the nation of Northern Island is a small strip of land at the northern tip of the Isle of Ireland. The country is not part of Ireland but part of the United Kingdom, and up until recently has been home to much internal and political strife, but today is one of the UK's more popular travel destinations.
If you travel to Northern Ireland, you'll probably start off in the capital city of Belfast. It's a city easy to navigate, and although once a troubled place, in recent times it has underwent a massive renaissance and today is one of the best places to live in the British Isles. A popular option is to take a Black Taxi tour of the city, complete with colorful commentary from a local. On the ride you'll see one of Belfast's famous attractions; the murals which were painted during the years of strife that help you understand how history unfolded.
The main square in Belfast is a charming place, filled with pubs and shops, all in the shadow of a Ferris Wheel perfect to get a view over the city; Belfast Castle, in the northern part of town also has a great view. Other attractions in town include the city hall, the stunning Saint Anne's cathedral, a fun zoo and a wonderful photography gallery.
Northern Ireland is also blessed with a spectacular countryside, perfect for hiking - steel blue waters and lush green hills extend all the way from Belfast to the west coast. Along the way, you'll find small villages forgotten by time, hidden beaches with not a soul in sight, and hills with relics from wars gone by. It's a surreal place to visit and a must. But the most popular spot is known as Giant's Causeway, a unique rock formation that looks as if a race of giants built a road of rocks out into the sea to get them to Scotland, just off into the distance. The rocks sink down into the sea, but legend has it that you once could walk from one island to the other.
Whether it's the Belfast culture and history you want to learn about, or see some of the natural wonders, if you travel to Northern Ireland, you're bound to be impressed.
