Belfast Black Taxi Tour: Political Murals & Peace Wall

Hear Belfast's 30-year conflict from someone who drove through it

A two-hour black taxi tour of Belfast led by a local driver who witnessed the Troubles firsthand, visiting the Falls Road and Shankill murals, the Peace Wall, Crumlin Road Gaol and key sites tied to the city's political history. Pickup from Belfast city center is included. Airport, train station and cruise ship pickups are available for an extra fee paid on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Belfast Peace Wall15m
2. Falls Road Belfast15m
3. Crumlin Road Gaolpassing by
4. Shankill15m

Explore Belfast's Troubles history and murals

• Visit Falls Road Divis Flats and murals
• Tour the Peace Wall and write message
• See Clonard Monastery architecture
• Visit Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden
• Learn about Belfast mural culture
• Pass by Saint Peters Cathedral
• Explore Falls Road history
• Pass by Crumlin Road Gaol
• Visit Shankill Road loyalist area
• Photograph Shankill Road murals

The experience

Your guide is one of the original black cab drivers who transported their communities through 30 years of conflict, risking their lives every time they sat behind the wheel. That lived experience shapes what you see: the murals painted by Nationalist and Loyalist communities aren't just street art. They're territorial markers and political statements that still divide neighborhoods. The tour covers Falls Road, where the Provisional IRA was born and Republicanism took root; Shankill Road, the heart of Loyalism dating back over 500 years; and the Peace Wall, which still physically separates communities across a network of over 40 walls stretching 20 miles through the city.

You'll stop at Crumlin Road Gaol, the oldest jail in the city, which housed famous prisoners and operated as a hanging gaol into the 1960s. At the Peace Wall itself, you write your name and a message of hope on the barrier: a ritual shared by US President Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama. The route also takes in Clonard Monastery, built by local craftsmen and Italians in the middle of Falls Road, and the Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden, which commemorates fallen volunteers and civilian casualties from 1969 onward. Saint Peter's Cathedral, built in the 1800s, is where a famous Republican song was composed by a Catholic priest.

The two-hour loop moves by private black taxi, so you're not walking between stops or waiting for a group to gather. Your guide explains Irish history stretching back 900 years and how the conflict shaped the city's street art. Pickup is free from Belfast city center (within 1 km of City Hall). If you're arriving by air, train or cruise ship, arrange that pickup when you book and pay the surcharge in cash on the day.

What’s included

• Two-hour private black taxi tour with a local guide.
• pickup from Belfast city center within 1 km of City Hall.
• visits to Falls Road, Shankill Road murals, the Peace Wall (where you write a message), Crumlin Road Gaol, Clonard Monastery and Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden.
• and Saint Peter's Cathedral.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (14 to 97 years) · Senior (98 and older) · Youth (9 to 13 years) · Under 9: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Belfast famous black taxi tours

Is this one for you?Two hours leaves your afternoon free for other Belfast sights or a meal, so book this early in your day if you want to explore the city center afterward. Airport and train station pickups add time and cost extra, so arrange them only if you're arriving outside the city center.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 13 years). Children under 9 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly are the murals I'll see on Falls Road and Shankill?

Falls Road and Shankill Road are covered in murals painted by locals to depict their political allegiances: IRA and Republican imagery on Falls Road, UVF and UFF symbols on Shankill. The guide estimates Belfast has roughly 300 quality murals on display, many more fading with age. They commemorate history, mark territory and reflect what matters to each community.

Can I actually write on the Peace Wall, or is that just a photo stop?

You write your name and a message of hope directly on the Peace Wall during the tour. It's an active ritual. The wall holds signatures from world leaders and visitors from everywhere.

How long is two hours, and will there be time to get lunch after?

The tour runs two hours and covers four main areas (Falls Road, Shankill, the Peace Wall and Crumlin Road Gaol) by taxi, so you're not walking between stops. That leaves the rest of your day free for a meal or other plans in the city center.

Do I need to book airport pickup in advance, or can I arrange it when I arrive?

Airport, train station and cruise ship pickups are available but must be arranged at booking. They cost extra and are paid in cash on the day. City center pickup within 1 km of City Hall is included.