How to Visit SS Nomadic
Read our travel guide on SS Nomadic in Belfast. Includes tips on how to get, what to expect, tickets, parking, where to stay, or when to go.
If you like ships and maritime history, SS Nomadic is one of the best places you can visit in Belfast.
This restored tender ship from the early 1910s is docked at the Titanic Quarter within a short walk from another major Belfast attraction, the Titanic Belfast Museum.
While obviously, the ship is not Titanic itself, it perfectly complements the museum and the story of the iconic ocean liner.
The best part is that SS Nomadic is included in the price of your Titanic Belfast admission ticket.
We didn't know that prior to reserving the tickets, so it was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.
Simply put, a visit to SS Nomadic and Titanic Belfast is one of the best things to do in Belfast.
The visit to SS Nomadic is very straightforward, but we believe there are still a few things you should know before you go to make the most out of your trip.
History
Built by Harland and Wolff alongside the Titanic and the Olympic, the SS Nomadic was a steamship of the White Star Line.
As the RMS Titanic was too large to dock at Cherbourg's shallow port, the original purpose of SS Nomadic was to transfer first and second-class passengers and their luggage to and from the giant ocean liner.
By the way, the third-class passengers and mail were transported by Nomadic's twin sister, SS Traffic.
SS Traffic has a really interesting history as well. As it was eventually torpedoed in 1941 and its wreck was later salvaged and scrapped, the ship is gone.
Anyway, SS Nomadic was launched on the 25th of April 1911 in Belfast, and the Cherbourg was just the start of its fascinating journey.
The ship was used as a tender ship for Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary ocean liners but also served for the French army in both World Wars as a minesweeper and troop carrier.
Eventually, SS Nomadic was anchored in Paris, where it was used as a floating restaurant and party venue for over two decades.
In the 2000s, the ship was towed out to Le Havre until it was saved and restored to its former glory.
After several years of extensive restoration, SS Nomadic was finally opened to the public as a museum in 2013.
Visiting the SS Nomadic
The SS Nomadic is a quarter the size of the Titanic, so it's often nicknamed a 'sister ship' or 'mini Titanic.'
It's dry-docked just across the Titanic Belfast and hard to miss.
As we kept our Ireland itinerary flexible, we happened to arrive in Belfast early in the morning.
The main museum was still closed when we got there, so we first walked around the River Lagan's waterfront.
The 67-meter ship was one of the highlights of our morning walk, though it was also closed this early in the morning.
As the Titanic Belfast museum opened first, we headed there instead. Several hours later, we headed back to SS Nomadic.
The first impression (well, technically, second) was pretty amazing. They did a terrific job on the restoration, so the history really comes alive here.
Despite its relatively large size, you can only imagine how huge the Titanic must have been compared to its tender ships.
That said, we explored SS Nomadic on a self-guided tour, and the overall experience was a bit lacking.
While the ship was beautifully restored, the interiors felt a bit empty.
As the ship's main role back in the day was to ferry passengers to the Titanic, there is not that much to see apart from a few decorated rooms and some information panels.
This was in striking contrast to the main museum, which contains tons of information and basically everything you need to know about Titanic.
So, our advice to improve your overall experience is that you may want to sign up for the guided tour or at least rent the interactive audio guide.
One of the highlights of our SS Nomadic visit was the opportunity to wander around the upper deck.
We enjoyed a bit of sun and lovely views of the surrounding area with Titanic Belfast in the backdrop.
Opening Hours
SS Nomadic is open daily but has seasonal opening hours.
Depending on the season, the museum is usually open from 10-11 AM to 4:00-6:30 PM.
The museum is closed from 24th to 26th December. The last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Opening times may change, so always check the official website before you go.
Entrance Fee
The admission to SS Nomadic costs £24.95 as the entry fee is included in the Titanic Belfast Experience.
You can book your Titanic Belfast Ticket, including SS Nomadic, here.
We feel you; this is not a cheap experience, especially if you, like us, travel around Ireland on a budget.
But the Titanic Belfast is well worth the price, and the SS Nomadic is just a neat little bonus.
Keep in mind that you must book your time slot in advance.
A few days later, we didn't book the Book of Kells museum in advance, and all the slots were booked out, so we had to wait a bit.
The official website mentions that you can visit SS Nomadic either on the same day or within a year of purchase.
As both attractions are basically next to each other, it really makes sense to combine a visit to both places on the same day.
How Much Time Do I Need
If you're planning to visit SS Nomadic, it is recommended to budget around 30-60 minutes for your visit.
This will give you enough time to explore the ship, learn about its history, and take in the exhibits.
Obviously, you can easily spend some extra time there if you're super into maritime history and ships or take a guided tour.
Keep in mind that SS Nomadic is part of the Titanic Belfast experience, so you will need to budget additional time accordingly (you can easily spend anything between 2 and 5 hours there).
When to Go
SS Nomadic is open year-round, so you can visit any time you want. We visited SS Nomadic on a lovely sunny (a bit windy) day.
But we can imagine SS Nomadic is lovely even during the bad weather.
In fact, SS Nomadic and especially the Titanic Belfast Museum are some of the best places to visit in Belfast on a rainy day.
Don't forget that if you want to avoid the crowds at the main museum, you need to book the first morning spots or get there in the afternoon.
So the bigger question is when to visit Ireland. The summer is the high season in Ireland, and you should expect great weather, crowds, and higher prices.
Summer and fall are excellent for those who want to save some money and avoid summer crowds in exchange for more unpredictable weather.
While winter is not as popular as other seasons, it's a great time of the year to explore all the museums Belfast has to offer.
What to Pack
Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. If you visit SS Nomadic on a rainy day, don't forget to bring a rain jacket or umbrella as the upper decks are exposed.
If you're unsure what to pack, check out our all-season Ireland packing list.
By the way, if the weather is really terrible, the upper deck may be closed.
How to Get There
SS Nomadic is located in the Titanic Quarter, only a stone's throw from the Titanic Belfast Museum.
There are several ways to get to SS Nomadic, including on foot, by car, or by public transport.
Car
SS Nomadic is 110 kilometers from Derry and 170 kilometers from Dublin.
We got to Belfast early in the morning, so we headed directly to the museum. SS Nomadic is less than 200 meters from the museum entrance.
If you arrive in Belfast by car, you can park at the Titanic Belfast.
Travel Resources
When renting a car, we use Rentalcars.com.
Parking
The museum has a large underground parking with more than 500 spaces.
Parking at Titanic Belfast is not cheap but very convenient.
On Foot
If you're staying in Belfast, the easiest way to get to SS Nomadic is on foot.
The ship is about two kilometers from the City Hall, so you can get there from the city center in about 20-30 minutes.
You can obviously get to SS Nomadic by bike (rent a bike via the Belfast Bikes Scheme). The docking station is just outside the SS Nomadic.
Train
Those traveling to Belfast by train can disembark at Titanic Quarter Station.
The train station is about a 15-minute walk south of SS Nomadic (use a pedestrian bridge to cross M3).
Bus
You can also get to SS Nomadic by Metro Serice (regular bus) and even Belfast Glider (tram-like bus).
The bus stop is just outside the museum. Check the Translink's website to see the bus timetables.
Tours
As Belfast is one of the best day trips from Dublin, you can consider taking a guided tour to see some of Northern Ireland's main highlights.
Some of the most popular tours combine the Giant's Causeway and other Antrim attractions, such as Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges, with a visit to Belfast, where you have enough time to explore the Titanic Belfast Museum.
Here, you can book a Giant's Causeway and Belfast Titanic Tour from Dublin in advance.
Where to Stay
Titanic Quarter is home to one of the best hotels in Belfast.
Other than that, there are not many accommodations near the SS Nomadic. Luckily, you can find tons of hotels just across the Lagan River.
Keep in mind that most budget hostels are located in the Queen's Quarter near the university, which is a bit further from here (still within walking distance, though).
Here, you can take a look at the hotels of our choice near SS Nomadic.
Titanic Quarter | Titanic Hotel Belfast - Located opposite the Titanic Belfast, this gorgeous hotel is one of Belfast's true gems. The historic building with Art Deco theme rooms offers a great escape from the chaos of city life.
Mid-range | AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast - This modern hotel with elegant bedrooms, amazing food, and excellent service is less than a 20-minute walk from SS Nomadic.
Luxury | Hilton Belfast - This luxury 4-star hotel is about a 20-minute walk from SS Nomadic. It has spacious, comfortable rooms with beautiful river views, modern decor, and an amazing location.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Is SS Nomadic Worth Visiting?
The SS Nomadic is worth visiting if you have extra time and an interest in maritime history and 20th-century ships.
The museum is compact, but you can learn about the ship's history and see what life was like on board back in the day.
If you plan to visit Titanic Belfast, there is no reason to skip SS Nomadic as it's included in the general admission ticket.
Just consider taking a guided tour or at least picking up the audio guide to get the most out of your visit.
If you're really pressed for time, we would still at least stop by, as the ship is beautiful even from the outside.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
