Hotels for Belfast City (Half) Marathon

Accommodation near Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon?

With thousands of runners and spectators hitting the Belfast streets for the spectacular atmosphere of the Belfast Marathon, you wouldn’t want to miss this magical scenery. Finding the best hotel in town is the only way to ensure you get impressive support from the time you land in Belfast all the way to the end of the marathon.

There are three options as far as accommodation in Belfast for the marathon is concerned. Firstly, you can opt to stay in places within the start line of the marathon in the Stormont area of Belfast.

The Stormont Estate is known to be the best green spaces across Northern Ireland. This woodland park is open to the public for such activities as picnics, fitness trails, and outdoor gym. Across the estate is an excellent hotel suitable for your stay in Belfast, the Stormont Hotel.

Alternatively, you can stay in hotels within walking distance of Belfast Marathon’s finish line and the start line of the Belfast Half Marathon at Ormeau Park and Ormeau Embankment.

You can opt to stay in the city centre of Belfast and board a bus or cab to the marathon’s start line. The Cathedral Quarter is a developing area in the city centre of Belfast, located 2.2 miles from the Ormeau Park and Ormeau Embankment. If you prefer staying within walking distance from where the Belfast Marathon will be taking place, then the Cathedral Quarter is the best spot for you. The area has ideal hotels for your accommodation in Belfast, including the Merchant Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel, Park Inn by Radisson, Hilton Belfast, and Europa Hotel.

What are the best hotels for 2025?

Some of the best hotels and places to stay for the Belfast Marathon include;

1. The Stormont Hotel

Stormont Hotel is situated adjacent to Stormont Estate, about 6.4 km from the city centre of Belfast. The hotel’s positioning makes it a perfect choice for touring the country, attending the Belfast Marathon, and enjoying the city’s pleasures.

The four-star hotel comes with 105 luxurious bedrooms, a refurbished lounge, and round-the-clock room service. Stormont Hotel is a popular destination for all forms of events, including conferences, banquets, day meetings, and social events. Active guests staying at Stormont Hotel will find leisure and commercial activities within easy reach. It’s the nearest property to the start line of the Belfast marathon.

2. Holiday Inn Express Belfast City

Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Belfast is a rebranded and newly refurbished luxury hotel in Belfast.

The hotel is situated 1.5 miles from the city centre. Holiday Inn Express Belfast sits within the University Quarter of Belfast, next to Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, and the Queen’s University. The modern hotel has up to 171 guestrooms, multilingual staff, and daily housekeeping services. It is ideal for individual visitors, couples, and families. You can access the city centre and other surrounding areas from Holiday Inn Express Hotel by bus. The finish line of both half and full marathon is within close distance of this property.

3. Radisson Blu Hotel Belfast

The Radisson Blu Hotel in Belfast is a contemporary hotel that enjoys the benefits of a stylish interior. Located about 0.7 km from the city centre, the hotel boasts of lying on a scenic riverside setting.

Radisson Blu features up to 120 rooms, designed and furnished to suit leisure, business, and sports travellers. Commercial activities around Belfast city centre are a walking distance away. You can also board a bus to access attractive sites, such as the Botanic Gardens and Titanic Belfast. Notably, Radisson Blu Belfast has a vast array of services, including luggage storage, dry cleaning, and complimentary tea and coffee.

4. Maldron Hotel Belfast City

The Maldron is a chain of contemporary hotels, offering four-stay stays to international and local visitors. Maldron Hotel Belfast is situated within the heart of Belfast city, making it a perfect spot for touring the city and country. Restaurants, shops, and historical landmarks are within walking distance from the hotel.

The four-star hotel features new, stylised rooms that fall within a range of different room types. The rooms are designed to deliver a luxurious and comfy experience to business and individual travellers. The Maldron’s Grain and Grill Restaurant is established to cater for the visitors’ catering needs. It’s one of the best city centre hotels.

Where is the Start and Finish?

The race covers a distance of 43 km (26.7 miles) across a new route introduced in 2019. The Belfast Half Marathon, on the other hand, is the largest in Northern Ireland, covering a distance of up to 13.1 miles.

Whether you are attending the Belfast Marathon or Half as a participant or spectator, there are plenty of ideal and top places to stay in Belfast.

Originally, Belfast Marathon’s route stretched from Belfast City Hall to Ormeau Park, through the Shankill Road and Falls Road. However, in 2019 a new route was introduced.

The start of the new route is at Stormont and its finish line at Ormeau Park. This new route was designed to provide the marathon participants with a flatter and faster racing experience. It also guarantees local support along the way. Since its introduction, the new route is yet to be changed.

On the other hand, the Half Marathon starts at Ormeau Embankment and closes at Ormeau Park.