How to Get to Northern Ireland | Intrepid Travel US

Northern Ireland is well connected with the UK and Europe. As a small and compact country, it's also very easy to get around by car or public transport.

By air

If you’re traveling from afar, the easiest way to get to Northern Ireland is to fly to Belfast International Airport (BFS). You can fly direct from over 70 destinations in the UK, Europe and North America.

From the airport, take a Translink Airport Express 300 bus to the city center. The journey takes 30-40 minutes, and tickets cost £8 one-way or £11.50 return. The Airport Express 300 runs 7 days a week with services every 15 minutes.

You can also fly into George Belfast City Airport (BHD) from 18 destinations in the UK and Europe. The airport is only 3 miles from the city center.

By ferry

The ferry is a good option if you’re travelling from Britain and want to take your car. There are crossings from England and Scotland, with the high-speed ferry from Scotland taking just one hour. The main ferry companies include:

P O Cruises: from Cairnryan (Scotland)
Stena Line: from Liverpool (England) and Cairnryan
Kintyre Express: from Campbelltown (Scotland)
Steam Packet Company: from Douglas (Isle of Man)

By train

If you’re coming from the Republic of Ireland, you can take a TransLink cross-border train from Dublin to Belfast Central Station. It stops at all major towns including Louth, Dundalk, Newry and Portadown. The journey takes roughly 2.5 hours.

Getting around Northern Ireland

Getting around Northern Ireland is straightforward. There’s a great public transport system, the roads are relatively easy to drive and it never takes too long to get from A to B.

Drivin

Driving in Northern Ireland is an easy way to get around and explore at your own pace. You can take your car on the ferry or hire one at the airport. The roads can be narrow in places, particularly in more remote areas, so be mindful of this if you don't have much experience driving on country roads.

Public transport

Translink is the main public transport operator in Northern Ireland If you plan on using rail and bus networks to get around, you could benefit from buying a travel pass.

When traveling in Belfast, you could also buy a Belfast Visitor Pass for unlimited bus and rail travel for one, two or three consecutive days (note: this is only valid for travel within the Belfast Visitor Pass Zone).

Return to Northern Ireland FAQs

Joining a Northern Ireland tour

If you'd rather hand over the logistical reins so you can sit back and enjoy everything the Emerald Isle has to offer, why not join one of our Northern Ireland tours.