Feb 10, 2025
Very informative tour... - Very informative tour with lots of important stops to it. Thanks a lot, would reccomend for anyone who wants a balanced view.
Review provided by Viator
Feb 2, 2025
A fresh new perspective - I spent the day with Marti doing a double day of tours. I’ll start by saying I’ve done many tours in many cities in many parts of the world, and can definitively say that Marti is the most knowledgeable tour guide of his city that I have ever had. Hands down. I was amazed that after 7 hours he still had plenty of new knowledge and there was zero overlap between tours (& he offers additional tours to those I took). As a professor and closet historian I am always looking for deeper knowledge and Marti did not disappoint. He clearly has a passion for his subject and has spent a lifetime preparing to give you your next tour. I’m no stranger to Belfast having visited many times and taken a variety of tours, including but not limited to the political tours. Marti’s tour tied so many ends together and provided such a rich context and new perspectives to help provide a deeper meaning. He takes the time to explain the people and meanings in the political and non-political murals and understands the deeper purpose they serve much more thoroughly than any of the previous political tours I’ve taken (at least 6, given my interest in the topic and my fathers leaving Belfast for America in 1968). He’s aware of the past, the present and efforts being made to reach forward and drag the future of Belfast into the present. The thing that differentiates Marti’s tour from other political tours is his optimistic view of the future and the explicit examples he provides about how people are working together across communities to build bridges and inspire hope. He doesn’t withhold or smooth over the past, but this man lives in the future. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 23, 2025
Marti's Memorable Mural Experience - I spent a fabulous few hours with Marti! He was very knowledgeable about the local area, especially the murals. His quirky sense of humour made for an entertaining tour. Recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 2, 2025
Best experience - Best guided tour I've done in a while. Marty is very kind and knowledgeable. We've had a great time with my friends.
Review provided by Viator
Dec 8, 2024
Unique tour by an eccentric local guide - Marti walked us though the city, telling us interesting stories about the past, present, and future of Belfast citizens. He approached the social affairs from a hopeful perspective, and he came across as a warm, respectful, and peculiar guide. We'd definitely take another tour with him next time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 6, 2024
Amazing and insightful tour led by Marti - Great tour, very interesting and insightful, would highly recommend!
Would also advise taking the music and street art tour as well
Our guide Marti was available at short notice and made us feel safe throughout
Very passionate about the topic as well as peace and climate change in general, which was amazing, Marti got his messages through very well!
Focused on peace and maintaining peace without forgetting past events
Objective and lovely guide, thorough and impressive knowledge, lots of information and key points about the history of Northern Ireland
Good amount of walking, covered a lot of ground and history through street murals. Very informative and interesting!
Breath of fresh air
Very interesting artwork, food for thought!
Lots of useful local recommendations for drinks/dinner/live music after the tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 12, 2024
Political Murals and Street Art - Really enjoyed this tour. My husband and I arrived a bit late but the tour guide sent us a message and waited for us. The tour guide covered an incredible amount of information and took us to some very interesting places. He was very knowledgeable
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 9, 2024
Belfast's difficult road to the future - Very interesting and upsetting experience with a dedicated and well informed guide. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 18, 2024
A curate's egg - Tour – This is a 3 hour guided walking tour which starts from MAC building in St. Anne’s Square – it is a lot cheaper than taking the Black Taxi tour that appears at many of the stops on this tour
There was a lot of walking – different underfoot surfaces - some uphill - often at speed – across busy roads – through housing estates – through security gates with views of the walls separating the communities
Many views of the murals on the Peace Wall – some disturbing - others controversial especially referring to the fallen from the Troubles as well as those reflecting a pro-Palestine agenda – we had a comfort break after about 2 hours – we ended close to Kelly’s Cellars pub and the community centre next door
Guide - Marti - good to start with a detailed explanation of the history of Ireland as background to the tour – but he often talks with his back to you whilst walking at pace - at different volumes - strident to a whisper - lost my attention at the Falls Road – for me he mixed messages and opinions amongst a smatterings of fact – as well as seeming to think he could be a target for assignation - overly theatrical - seemed to think that Belfast invented Peace and could export the process to anywhere in our troubled world – didn’t impress a couple from Israel who were faced with some very graphic pro-Palestine murals – the walls told a different story.
Despite Marti - this tour route was interesting and instructive – clearly wounds haven’t fully healed and the divide is still being enforced by gates – being in a guided group gave the feeling of security in areas we would have been reluctant to visit on our own – so despite my reservations this tour is a must when visiting Belfast – thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 16, 2024
Interesting tour but dry presentation - The explanation of the complex history of the Island of Ireland, with multiple groups forming and unforming. Descriptions of the most recent events in the last 60 years. The tour leader appeared a bit reluctant to engage with questions. More interaction with the group would have been better. We left before the end of the tour so I can’t comment on the elements we missed.
Review provided by Viator