A world explorer who has visited every country on Earth has named Belfast as one of the UK’s top destinations for culture, history and food
The globe is brimming with extraordinary places boasting stunning scenery and unforgettable adventures, making it easy to miss what lies on our own doorstep. Yet occasionally, exploring closer to home proves to be the wisest choice.
But one UK city has beaten an impressive roster of premier destinations in the view of a seasoned world traveller. Henrik Jeppesen has visited every nation across the globe – an impressive total of 193 countries – and has crossed off more than 2,000 locations from his continuously growing bucket list. The Danish adventurer has been discovering the world since age 17, gathering an extensive wealth of local expertise and numerous recommendations, reports the Mirror.
Despite his vast experience travelling throughout Europe and visiting innumerable countries globally, there’s one location he champions above all others: “I absolutely loved Belfast when I visited. I still remember it as being one of the best and most surprising cities I’ve been to. The city is so charming, and it has a very rich history.”
Northern Ireland’s capital is where the RMS Titanic was built and houses the Crumlin Road Gaol, a historic prison now operating as a museum. City Hall stands proudly at the heart of the city, which earned its ‘Linenopolis’ nickname during the 19th century when Belfast dominated global linen production. But beyond its industrial heritage, Henrik was full of praise for Belfast’s residents.
“I really loved it there, and the people make the place special. They are really fantastic and I met I don’t know how many Northern Irish people, they’re just fantastic, talkative and lovely,” he said. “Then the feeling walking the streets, beautiful buildings – it’s really a lovely city with the atmosphere, and the food was great.”
Though his visit was brief – just three days 15 years ago – Henrik’s memories of Belfast remain vivid, and he’s keen to return. “I had plans to visit last month, but I couldn’t go, so I’ll go in the future. The city of Belfast is one of the great cities of Europe, and of all the cities I’ve visited, I haven’t felt that they’ve been that special like Belfast has.”
Reflecting on why the city might be overlooked, Henrik said: “You hear so much negativity in the media from the conflict back in the day, so it doesn’t really stand out as a place you want to visit. People think about London, Dublin or Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a fantastic city, but I think Belfast is highly underrated. It’s so simple and easy to get to, so if you want a quick weekend break, it makes so much sense to explore the city.”
For those planning a trip to Belfast or elsewhere across Europe, Henrik offered crucial guidance on how much time travellers should allocate to each destination. “If you go to other parts of Europe, you might want to do five cities in two weeks, but that might be too fast. It’s better to spend one week in each location,” the expert advised.
“It’s not to feel rushed. Is it really a holiday if you’re rushed? It shouldn’t be that you rush and hurry to see a lot of stuff. I’ve had moments in my travels when I’ve had to rush, but I don’t enjoy it as much; it’s better to take your own pace and explore a lot of things.”
More of Henrik’s global travels can be discovered on his website.
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