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About Belfast
About Belfast
Transportation in Belfast
Belfast international airport is Northern Ireland's hub for flights from Eire, Britain, Amsterdam, Brussels and New York; some regional flights from Britain (including Gatwick) arrive at the more convenient Belfast City airport.Northern Ireland's comprehensive bus system is operated by Ulsterbus, and includes services to Dublin. Belfast is also linked to Dublin by train (taking just over two hours), and to Bangor, Larne and Derry in the North. There are no left-luggage facilities at Belfast's bus and train stations.Ferries from the Isle of Man and Stranraer (Scotland) dock at Donegall Quay, not far from the city centre; the SeaCat from Stranraer gets you to Belfast in under two hours. Liverpool ferries dock at the Victoria terminal, 5km (3mi) north of Belfast. If you're renting a car to drive up to Belfast from the Republic, check that your insurance covers you for the journey to the North; Belfast is a 2.5-hour drive from Dublin.
Belfast's compact centre is perfect for getting around on foot. For destinations further afield, the excellent Citybus service covers 60 routes and includes a good system of nightbuses as well as ferry and train-terminal connections. Taxis range from black cabs and minicabs to West Belfast's People's Taxis, which pick up and drop off just like buses. If you're driving, be very careful where you park: for security reasons, unattended cars are not allowed to be left in areas designated a 'Control Zone'. Also for security reasons, you must remember to lock up when you park.
Belfast's compact centre is perfect for getting around on foot. For destinations further afield, the excellent Citybus service covers 60 routes and includes a good system of nightbuses as well as ferry and train-terminal connections. Taxis range from black cabs and minicabs to West Belfast's People's Taxis, which pick up and drop off just like buses. If you're driving, be very careful where you park: for security reasons, unattended cars are not allowed to be left in areas designated a 'Control Zone'. Also for security reasons, you must remember to lock up when you park.
Coming & Going in Belfast
Belfast has both a city and international airport. Direct flights from London, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Southampton, land at the convenient Belfast City Airport (tel: 9093 9093; www.belfastcityairport.com; Airport Rd). Most flights from the Republic of Ireland, Britain, Amsterdam, Brussels and New York land at Belfast International Airport (tel: 9448 4848; www.bial.co.uk; Aldergrove), 30km (18.5mi) northwest of the city.For getting to and from the airports, the AirBus service connects the international airport with the Europa Bus Centre or there are taxis available. Belfast City Airport has a shuttle bus from the terminal to nearby Sydenham Halt train station, where you can catch a train to Central Station, Botanic Station in the popular university area, or Great Victoria St. The AirLink Bus links the terminal with the Europa Bus Centre.
The giant catamaran car ferries serving the Isle of Man, Troon (Scotland), Heysham and Liverpool (England) dock at Donegall Quay, a short distance from the city centre. Car ferries to and from Scotland, dock at Larne, 30km (18.5mi) north of Belfast. Ferries between Belfast and Liverpool dock at the Victoria terminal, 5km (3mi) northeast of town.You can walk from Donegall Quay to City Hall in about 15 minutes. Alternatively, Laganside Bus Centre is only a five-minute walk away, where you can catch the Centrelink bus to Central Station, the Europa Bus Centre and Donegall Square.
Belfast has two bus stations. The main Europa Bus Centre is behind the Europa Hotel and next door to Great Victoria St Station and can be accessed via the Great Northern Mall beside the hotel. It's the main terminus for buses to Derry, Dublin and destinations in the west and south of Northern Ireland. The smaller Laganside Bus Centre (Oxford St), near the river, is mainly for buses to County Antrim, eastern Down and the Cookstown area. There are information desks at both bus stations, where you can pick up regional bus timetables, and or you can contact Translink (tel: 9066 6630; www.translink.co.uk) for timetable and fares information. Service between Belfast and London (14.5hrs) via the Stranraer ferry, Dumfries, Carlisle, Preston, Manchester and Birmingham can be booked at Europa Bus Centre.
Trains to Dublin and all destinations in Northern Ireland depart from Belfast's Central Station (East Bridge St), east of the city centre. Trains for Portadown, Lisburn, Bangor, Larne Harbour and Derry depart from Great Victoria St Station (Great Northern Mall), next to the Europa Bus Centre. For information on fares and timetables, contact Translink (tel: 9066 6630; www.translink.co.uk). The NIR Travel Shop (tel: 9023 0671; Great Victoria St Station) books ferries, Dublin Rail Breaks and Scotland Rail Breaks (for Glasgow and Edinburgh).
National Cycle Network route 9 runs through central Belfast, mostly following the western bank of the River Lagan. The Belfast Welcome Centre provides a free leaflet called Belfast by Bike.
Citybus (tel: 9066 6630; www.translink.co.uk) operates the bus network in Belfast. An increasing number of buses (including the Centrelink service) are low-floor buses with space for one wheelchair. You can buy your ticket or daily travel card from the driver. Most city bus services depart from various stops on and around Donegall Square at City Hall. You can pick up a free bus map from the Citybus kiosk at the northwest corner of the square. It also sells weekly and monthly Smartlink Travel Cards allowing unlimited bus travel within the city. The Centrelink bus (100) is a circular service linking Donegall Square with the Europa and Laganside bus stations, and Central and Great Victoria St Stations.
Regular black taxis have yellow registration plates and can be hailed on the street. Minicabs are cheaper but you have to order one by phone.
The giant catamaran car ferries serving the Isle of Man, Troon (Scotland), Heysham and Liverpool (England) dock at Donegall Quay, a short distance from the city centre. Car ferries to and from Scotland, dock at Larne, 30km (18.5mi) north of Belfast. Ferries between Belfast and Liverpool dock at the Victoria terminal, 5km (3mi) northeast of town.You can walk from Donegall Quay to City Hall in about 15 minutes. Alternatively, Laganside Bus Centre is only a five-minute walk away, where you can catch the Centrelink bus to Central Station, the Europa Bus Centre and Donegall Square.
Belfast has two bus stations. The main Europa Bus Centre is behind the Europa Hotel and next door to Great Victoria St Station and can be accessed via the Great Northern Mall beside the hotel. It's the main terminus for buses to Derry, Dublin and destinations in the west and south of Northern Ireland. The smaller Laganside Bus Centre (Oxford St), near the river, is mainly for buses to County Antrim, eastern Down and the Cookstown area. There are information desks at both bus stations, where you can pick up regional bus timetables, and or you can contact Translink (tel: 9066 6630; www.translink.co.uk) for timetable and fares information. Service between Belfast and London (14.5hrs) via the Stranraer ferry, Dumfries, Carlisle, Preston, Manchester and Birmingham can be booked at Europa Bus Centre.
Trains to Dublin and all destinations in Northern Ireland depart from Belfast's Central Station (East Bridge St), east of the city centre. Trains for Portadown, Lisburn, Bangor, Larne Harbour and Derry depart from Great Victoria St Station (Great Northern Mall), next to the Europa Bus Centre. For information on fares and timetables, contact Translink (tel: 9066 6630; www.translink.co.uk). The NIR Travel Shop (tel: 9023 0671; Great Victoria St Station) books ferries, Dublin Rail Breaks and Scotland Rail Breaks (for Glasgow and Edinburgh).
National Cycle Network route 9 runs through central Belfast, mostly following the western bank of the River Lagan. The Belfast Welcome Centre provides a free leaflet called Belfast by Bike.
Citybus (tel: 9066 6630; www.translink.co.uk) operates the bus network in Belfast. An increasing number of buses (including the Centrelink service) are low-floor buses with space for one wheelchair. You can buy your ticket or daily travel card from the driver. Most city bus services depart from various stops on and around Donegall Square at City Hall. You can pick up a free bus map from the Citybus kiosk at the northwest corner of the square. It also sells weekly and monthly Smartlink Travel Cards allowing unlimited bus travel within the city. The Centrelink bus (100) is a circular service linking Donegall Square with the Europa and Laganside bus stations, and Central and Great Victoria St Stations.
Regular black taxis have yellow registration plates and can be hailed on the street. Minicabs are cheaper but you have to order one by phone.
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