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markets · Sunday 19 July 2026 · 11:00am 
Belfast Castle Artisan Market
At Belfast Castle · Antrim Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT15 5GR
At Belfast Castle · Antrim Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT15 5GR
On a Sunday morning in July, the grounds of Belfast Castle fill with the work of makers from across Northern Ireland - jewellers, bakers, artists, potters, and food producers setting up around 40 stalls against a backdrop that few markets anywhere can match. The castle sits on the lower slopes of Cave Hill, and on a clear day the views stretch out over Belfast Lough. Free to enter and genuinely well attended, this is a solid morning out for anyone who appreciates well-made things and wants a reason to get up the hill.
The Belfast Castle Artisan Market has been running on selected dates throughout the year since 2014, organised by a team of makers themselves - people with a direct interest in promoting craft and independent production in Northern Ireland. That shows in the curation. You will find original art and prints, handmade jewellery, candles, ceramics, and textile work alongside food stalls: fresh bakes, confectionery, vegan options, and the kind of local produce you won’t find in a supermarket.
Around 40 stallholders set up each date, running from 11am to 4pm. The July date falls mid-summer, when the castle grounds are at their best. The August dates are also worth noting - the 8th and 9th coincide with Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann being held in Belfast, so the whole city has an unusually good atmosphere that weekend.
Entry is free. You pay only for what you buy.
Belfast Castle is on the Antrim Road in north Belfast, in the Cave Hill Country Park. From Belfast city centre, Translink Metro bus services run up the Antrim Road and stop nearby - the castle is well signed from there. By car, the Antrim Road is straightforward to reach from the M2 motorway. There is on-site car parking at the castle, though a charge may apply at weekends.
Cave Hill Country Park itself is worth a walk if you have time - the views from the top look out over the whole city and lough. Belfast city centre is fifteen minutes away by bus, with the Cathedral Quarter, St George’s Market, and the Titanic Quarter all easy to reach. There is more to see in Belfast and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to Belfast Castle in Belfast? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Belfast area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.