Murals & Black Taxi Tour

The murals of Belfast are the most visible legacy of the Troubles — and an absolute must for any Belfast visitor. In the districts of Falls Road (nationalist/Catholic) and Shankill Road (unionist/Protestant), huge political murals cover the house facades: depictions of paramilitary fighters, freedom heroes, historical events, and messages of peace.

The most impactful way to experience these districts is a Black Taxi Tour (about £40–50 for 1–2 people, 90 minutes). The drivers — often themselves witnesses of the conflict — drive through both districts and share firsthand accounts of the Troubles. You see the Peace Walls — up to 8 meters high concrete walls that still separate the districts and are closed at night. You sign the wall (like thousands before you) and hear stories that no history book can tell.

The tour is not easy to digest, but essential for understanding Northern Ireland. It shows both the unionist and nationalist perspectives without taking sides. In the end, you better understand why the peace process is so fragile and so valuable.

Important murals: Bobby Sands (Falls Road) — the IRA hunger striker who died in prison in 1981 and became a martyr. King William III (Shankill Road) — the Protestant king who won the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Peace Wall on Cupar Way — here you can leave your own messages.