Belfast Black Taxi Tour: Troubles History from Drivers

Hear the Troubles from people who drove through them

A two-hour black taxi tour of Belfast led by drivers who lived through the Troubles, covering the Peace Wall, Falls Road, Shankill and Divis Flats. You travel by private cab with hotel pickup, listen to firsthand accounts of the conflict and its aftermath, and write a message for peace on the walls that still divide the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Shankill30m
2. Falls Road Belfast20m
3. Belfast Peace Wall20m

Explore Belfast's political history

• See murals on Shankill Road
• Listen to original black taxi drivers
• View Divis flats and international wall murals
• Visit Bobby Sands mural on Falls Road
• Write a quote on Belfast Peace Wall
• Tour Clonard monastery peace talks site

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel within one kilometer of Belfast City Hall and driven through the streets by someone who was there. The drivers aren't historians reading from a script. They supplied transport to their communities when the government wouldn't, and eight of them lost their lives doing it. That's the voice you get for two hours: what it was like to live through the Troubles, what happened on these roads, and what's changed since the peace process began.

The tour moves through Shankill, where loyalist murals and bonfires mark the birthplace of the UDA and UVF, then crosses into Falls Road to see the Bobby Sands mural and the Divis Flats with its international wall: over forty murals honoring Palestine, the Kurds, Cuba and other causes the Republican communities supported. You'll stand at the Peace Wall, the massive barriers that still divide Republican and loyalist neighborhoods, and you can write your own message for peace alongside quotes from President Clinton, Lady Gaga and Morgan Freeman. The route also passes Clonard Monastery, where Gerry Adams and John Hume held their first secret talks to start the peace process.

The cab holds your group and moves at a pace that lets the driver stop and explain. Eight hundred years of Irish and British history compress into two hours, but the point isn't speed. It's hearing it from someone who was on these streets when it mattered.

What’s included

• Transport by private black cab.
• live guide in English.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within one kilometer of Belfast City Hall.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day20 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (16 to 95 years) · Under 16: 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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Belfast famous black taxi tours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup is included within one kilometer of Belfast City Hall, so if you're staying in the city center without a car, the tour collects you and returns you to the same spot: no separate transport to arrange.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Peace Wall and what do visitors do there?

The Peace Wall is a series of massive barriers that divide Republican and loyalist communities across Belfast. Visitors write messages and quotes on the walls for peace, adding to messages left by other travelers and public figures.

Who are the taxi drivers and what makes their perspective different?

All drivers lived through the Troubles and drove these streets for a living, supplying transport to their communities when the government refused to serve those areas. Eight drivers lost their lives doing this work, so they offer a primary account of what happened and what daily life was like during the conflict.

Does the tour cover both Republican and loyalist areas?

Yes. You see Shankill, the loyalist neighborhood where the UDA and UVF were born, and Falls Road, the Republican area with the Bobby Sands mural and the international wall. The Peace Wall itself marks where these communities meet.

How long does the tour take and what's included in the price?

The tour runs two hours and includes transport by private black cab, the guide, and hotel pickup and drop-off within one kilometer of Belfast City Hall.

What is the Divis Flats and why is it on the tour?

Divis Flats is a housing complex in the Republican Falls Road area, known for the international wall featuring over forty murals. The murals represent causes supported by the Republican communities, from Palestine to Cuba to Kurdish independence.