Directions

By Car

Starting out from Dublin Airport, the M1 Motorway is well signposted for Belfast; this is a toll road and there is one Toll Plaza approximately 31 km from Dublin Airport. The motorway ends at Newry (approximately 94 km from the Dublin Airport) and at this point follow the signs for Belfast, (this road is the A1) and continue on this road signposted for Belfast. At the Sprucefield roundabout (approximately 137 km from Dublin Airport) the A1 joins the M1 motorway (signposted The North, Belfast). Once within the Greater Belfast area the signs will display as City Centre. At Grosvenor Road Junction (approximately 152 km) leave the motorway and follow signs City Centre onto the B38.

Belfast is easliy accessable from the West of Northern Ireland using the main arterial route in the country, the M1. To get to the North Coast and the Rest of Countys Antrim and Londonderry, the M2 provides easy access.

By Air

Belfast is served by two airports. The main one, Belfast International Airportis approximately 17 miles from Belfast city centre and handles both international and domestic flights. Scheduled flights in and out of Belfast International Airport (BFS) serve many cities in the UK along with European destinations.

The second airport, George Best City Airport, is situated 3 miles from the city centre and mainly handles domestic flights within Ireland and the UK. Scheduled flights operate to England, Scotland, the Isle or Man and the Republic Of Ireland. The main airline operating out of the airport is FlyBE.

Ulsterbus provide a service from the Europa Bus Centre to both Belfast airports. Taxis can be hired outside the two airport terminal buildings and a number of car hire firms are available within the terminals. There is no direct train service to and from Belfast International Airport but trains do run to Belfast from the nearby town of Antrim. For George Best Belfast City Airport there is a rail service from the nearby Sydenham station to Central Station. A shuttle bus runs between the airport building and the train station.

Dublin Airport is approximately 2 hours by road or rail and a regular 24 hour (on the hour) express coach service operates between Belfast and Dublin Airport.

Belfast Airport
George Best City Airport
Dublin Airport

By Rail

Central Station is Belfast’s main railway station. It is close to the city centre, about a ten minute walk. A free bus link will bring you from the station into the city centre on production of your train ticket. This service runs every twenty minutes but stops at 9:15pm. There is a taxi rank outside the station.

The frequent cross-Border Enterprise service to Belfast Central Station from Dublin is deservedly very popular. Seats can be reserved by telephoning +44 (0) 28 9089 9409. Central is also the main departure point, along with Great Victoria Street Station, for the regular trains from Belfast to the suburbs and to Londonderry, the ferry port of Larne, and the main seaside resorts of Bangor and Portrush. Botanic, Central and Great Victoria Street stations are popular stops for the main entertainments area.

Belfast can be reached from most towns and cities in Ireland, north and south, via the bus and rail network. The buses are operated by Ulsterbus and the trains by NI Railways, both of which fall under the one integrated authority called Translink. These also link in seamlessly with the bus and train companies in the Republic of Ireland, Bus Eireann and Irish Rail, respectively, to provide a service that covers all of Ireland.

It is also possible to book bus or train and ferry tickets to allow passengers to travel from any town or city in the UK to Belfast. Bus and ferry tickets can be purchased through National Express.

Most buses arriving in Belfast terminate at the Europa Bus Centre, and most trains terminate at Belfast Central Station. Both of these are in the centre of Belfast.

Translink

By Sea

The Stena HSS Belfast Ferry Terminal is located at Corry Road, approximately 1.5 km from the city centre. Regular scheduled ferry services operate between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Stranraer, Troon and Cairnryan in Scotland, and Fleetwood and Liverpool in England bring both foot passengers, cars and other vehicles into the area through the two ferry ports of Belfast and Larne in Co Antrim. If you are interested in private yacht charter to Northern Ireland contact Sail Northern Ireland who offer tailored packages from a number of UK harbours.

P&O Irish Sea

StenaLine