1 GREASY SPOON
There is no better introduction to Belfast than a hearty, artery- clogging fry-up of sausages, eggs, hash brown, bacon and black pudding, also known as Ulster Fry, Ulster being the name of a traditional province of Ireland.
I will walk it all off the rest of the day, I reason to myself as I sink into one of the leather booths in Bright's, something of an institution along the high street. The piece de resistance, at just £5.95 (S$10.70), is comfort food at its best and which sets you up for the day. Where: Bright's Restaurant, 23-25 High Street, BT1 2AA Info: Call 028-9024-5688 or go to brightsrestaurantbelfast.co.uk
2 TO MARKET, TO MARKET
Belfast is a compact, walkable city that is perfect for a weekend trip. You can take in most of what it has to offer in two, if not three, days and taxi rides are affordable.
St George's Market is a pleasant 10-minute stroll from Bright's. The weekend market sprawls across a cavernous 1800s building and is packed with traders peddling local arts and crafts, spices, cheeses, fresh meats and seafood.
The nicest way to enjoy it is to do a few rounds of the market, then grab a freshly brewed cup of coffee and park yourself on a bench while the two-man band strikes up. Where: 12-20 East Bridge Street, BT1 3NQ; open: Fridays to Sundays
3 BULLETS AND BOMBS
Before you even set foot on Irish soil, book a black cab tour of the city's famous murals because that will almost surely be the highlight of your perfect Belfast weekend.
I am lucky to have Pat, an infectiously friendly guide, who takes me into the heart of the Troubles - inner-city Belfast where Catholic and Protestant ghettos are still partitioned by corrugated iron fences and brick walls.
For the next 90 minutes, he regales me with tales of how the bloody sectarian conflict erupted on the streets of these neighbourhoods, leading to three decades of terror and hundreds of political murals that help tell the story of this complex, fascinating history. Info: Paddy Campbell Taxi Tours (call 079-9095-5227 or go to www.belfastblackcabtours.co.uk)
4 MICHELIN-STAR BITES
A week before I arrive in Belfast, I try booking a table at OX, the city's most celebrated restaurant, for dinner.
No luck there. These prized weekend slots are booked out at least a month ahead.
I did manage to score a spot at lunch, which turns out to be a blessing in disguise. For £20 for two courses or £25 for three courses, it is a steal for foodies on a budget hankering for a Michelin- star experience (that is, me).
Local boy and head chef Stephan Toman performs culinary magic with seasonal ingredients in non-stuffy, stripped-down surroundings that put the focus squarely on the food. Where: OX, 1 Oxford Street, BT1 3LA; open: noon to 2.30pm, 6 to 9.30pm (Tuesdays to Fridays); 1 to 2.30pm, 6 to 9.30pm (Saturdays) Info: Call 028-9031-4121 or go to oxbelfast.com
5 CRIME AND VINTAGE
About a 10-minute ride from Belfast city centre is Queen's Quarter, a leafy village that is home to the historic Queen's University, the Botanic Gardens and Ulster Museum, as well as a clutch of independent shops, cafes, galleries and bars, many catering to the university crowd.
A stroll through the park to the Palm House, a Victorian era curvilinear cast-iron conservatory, is a lovely way to spend the afternoon.
After that, browse the shops on the high street and pick out vintage finds.
Crime-fiction fans will be satiated at No Alibis, a bookshop specialising in British, Irish and American crime novels. Where: Botanic Gardens, College Park, Botanic Avenue, BT7 1LP; open: 7.30am to 9pm daily Admission: Free Where: No Alibis, 83 Botanic Avenue, BT7 1JL; open: 9am to 5.30pm daily except Sundays Info: Call 028-9031-9601 or go to noalibis.com