Travel to Belfast

Air Connections to Belfast

Belfast has two airports with direct flights from major European cities. All other countries have frequent connections to Belfast via London, Manchester, Birmingham, Amsterdam or Paris.
In addition, Dublin Airport is about 2 hours away from Belfast by express coach or rail - ideal for a visit to Southern Ireland before or after the Conference.

Belfast City Airport (BHD):
Belfast City Airport is situated around three miles east of the city center. It has scheduled direct services from: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Isle of Man, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, London City, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Southampton. Tel: +44 28 9093 9093 or click: www.belfastcityairport.com

Belfast City Airport is served by the following airlines:
British Airways: www.ba.com
British European: www.flybe.com
British Midlands: www.flybmi.com

Belfast International Airport (BFS):
Belfast International lies 18 miles north-west of Belfast at Aldergrove. Scheduled direct services operate from: Amsterdam, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Liverpool, Luton, Paris, Stansted. Tel: +44 28 9448 4848 or click: www.belfastairport.com

Airlines serving Belfast International Airport:
Go: www.go-fly.com (no-frills low cost carrier)
Easyjet: www.easyjet.com (no-frills low cost carrier)
British Airways: www.ba.com
Manx: www.manx-airlines.com
Eastern Airways: www.easternairways.com

Dublin Air Connections (DUB)
Dublin Airport is situated in the Republic of Ireland, about 100 miles (160 km) from Belfast. There are direct international flights to Dublin from many countries, particularly with Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Dublin Airport Tel: +353 1886 6705 or www.dublin-airport.com. See below for details of connections from Dublin to Belfast.
Airlines serving Dublin Airport:
Adria Airlines: www.adria.si
Aer Arann: www.aerarann.ie
Aer Lingus: www.aerlingus.ie
Aeroflot: www.aeroflot.com
Air France: www.airfrance.ie
Air Canada: www.aircanada.com
Air Malta: www.airmalta.com
Air Wales: www.airwales.co.uk
Alitalia: www.alitalia.it
BA Citiexpress: www.brymon.com
bmi baby: www.bmibaby.com
bmi british midland: www.britishmidland.com
British Airways: www.ba.com
Flybe: www.flybe.com
British Regional: www.ba.com
Continental Airlines: www.continental.com
Crossair: www.crossair.com
Czech Airlines: www.csa.cz
Delta Airlines Inc: www.delta.com
Finnair: www.finnair.com
Helios: www.heliosairways.com
Iberia: www.iberia.com
Lufthansa: www.lufthansa.com
Luxair: www.luxair.lu
Malev: www.malev.hu
Manx Airlines: www.manx-airlines.com
Ryanair: www.ryanair.com (no-frills low cost carrier)
SAS: www.scandinavian.net
Skyways: www.skyways.se
Tyrolean: www.aua.com

Airport to City links

Click here for Belfast street map (80kb)

Belfast City Airport:
Located alongside the harbour about 3 miles east of the city centre. Belfast City Airlink bus service from outside the main Terminal exit to the Europa Buscentre in the town centre. Currently running every 40 minutes Monday to Friday, from 6 am to 9.30 pm in both directions. On Saturdays, the service runs every 40 minutes from 6 am to 8 pm in both directions, and on Sundays from 7 am to 9 pm. Journey time is about 15 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Fare currently £2.00 single (€3) Reservations not required.

The Europa Buscentre is located in the city centre, beside Jury's Inn Hotel and at around 15 minutes walk from most hotels. Walking to guesthouses and bed and breakfast accommodation in the university area would take around 20 minutes.

For further information call: +44 28 9066 6630 or click: www.translink.co.uk.

Alternatively plenty of taxis are available - fare currently £7 (€10.5) to City Centre depending on the traffic conditions. Value Cabs collect at airports and will also collect and drop to order, operating 24 hours. Tel: 028 9080 9080. Another reliable company is Fona Cabs, Tel: +44 28 90 333333.

Belfast International Airport:
Located 18 miles north-west of Belfast. Airbus Route 300 from outside the main exit brings you to the Europa Buscentre in the town centre. The service is currently running every half-hour from 6 am to 10.30 pm Monday to Saturday in the direction Belfast Europa - Belfast International, and from 7 am to 11.20 pm in the direction Belfast International - Belfast Europa. On Sundays, the service runs hourly: from 6 am to 9.30 pm in the direction Belfast Europa - Belfast International, and from 7 am to 11.20 pm in the direction Belfast International - Belfast Europa. Journey time 30-40 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Fare currently £5.00(€8) single or £8.00(€12.50) return. Reservations not required.

The Europa Buscentre is located in the city centre, beside Jury's Inn Hotel and at around 15 minutes walk from most hotels. Walking to guesthouses and bed and breakfast accommodation in the university area would take around 20 minutes.

Further information call: +44 28 9033 7011 or click: www.translink.co.uk.

Alternatively taxis are available but the fare will be about £20.00 (€31) depending on traffic conditions.

Dublin International Airport (DUB)
There is a direct Express Coach Service from Dublin City via Dublin Airport to Belfast Europa Buscentre, operating 6-7 times a day with a normal journey time of 2.5 - 3 hours. Buses leave Dublin bus station at 8 am, 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm and 8 pm Monday to Saturday, and call at Dublin Airport approximately 20 minutes later. The Sunday service begins at 10 am and runs every two hours until 8 pm.

The Europa Buscentre is located in the city centre, beside Jury's Inn Hotel and at around 15 minutes walk from most hotels. Walking to guesthouses and bed and breakfast accommodation in the university area would take around 20 minutes.

For details telephone: +353 1836 6111 or +44 2890 666630 click: www.buseireann.ie or www.translink.co.uk. Fares currently £10 (€15.5) single or £14 (€22) return.

There is also a frequent Aerdart Airport shuttle bus link from Stop No 6 at the airport to Howth Junction which connects with the Dublin City to Belfast Express Rail Service. The bus service connects with every train that stops at this junction. The fare is £4 (€6) single.

There is currently no rail service at Dublin Airport but there are plenty of buses and taxis available to reach Dublin City Centre and surrounding areas.

Rail Services between Dublin City and Belfast City
The Enterprise express rail service operates between Dublin Connolly Station and Belfast Central Station about every 2 hours with a scheduled journey time of about 2 hours. Current single fare is £30.00(€46.50). Belfast Central Station is just outside the city centre, at around 15 minutes walk from most hotels. Walking to the guesthouses and bed and breakfast accommodation in the university area would take around 35 minutes.

For timetable information and seat reservations call either Translink in Belfast or IrishRail in Dublin:
Belfast: +44 28 9089 9409 or www.translink.co.uk
Dublin: +353 1703 4070 or +353 1836 6222 or www.irishrail.ie

Ferry Services from UK to Northern Ireland
Belfast can also be reached by a number of ports in Scotland and England. For delegates coming by road or rail from or via the UK, Belfast is easily reached by sea crossings by traditional ferry or high speed catamaran. Some services arrive at Larne about 40 miles (60 km) north of Belfast, and services to the Republic of Ireland are also available. Contact details are as follows:-

Stranraer (Scotland) to Belfast: Stena Line. Tel: +44 870 570 7070. www.stenaline.co.uk

Troon (Scotland) & Heysham (England) to Belfast: SeaCat. Tel: +44 870 552 3523 www.seacat.co.uk

Liverpool (England) to Belfast: Norse Merchant Ferries. Tel: +44 870 600 4321 www.norsemerchant.com

Cairnryan (Scotland) to Larne: P&O European Ferries: +44 870 242 4777 www.poirishsea.com

Pembroke to Rosslare (Republic of Ireland): Irish ferries +44 8705 171717 www.irishferries.com

Holyhead (Wales) to Dublin (RoI): Irish ferries +44 8705 171717 www.irishferries.com

Holyhead (Wales) to Dún Laoghaire (RoI): Stena Line. Tel: +44 870 570 7070. www.stenaline.co.uk

Liverpool (England) to Dublin (RoI): Norse Merchant Ferries. Tel: +44 870 600 4321 www.norsemerchant.com

Liverpool to Dublin : Sea Cat Tel: +44 870 552 3523 www.seacat.co.uk

Driving on the island of Ireland
All traffic in the UK and Ireland is on the left hand side of the road - so any delegates planning a self-drive car hire should follow this!! All roads are well signposted and good road maps are available from most petrol (gas) stations, motoring organizations and bookshops. The maximum permitted speed is 70 miles per hour (110 kph) - except where lower limits are imposed by local signs - usually 30mph in towns. Seat belts are mandatory for drivers and all passengers.

The following international Car Rental Companies operate in Ireland so that bookings can be made before you leave home: AVIS, Hertz, National Car Rental, Europcar, Budget. If you plan to cross from Northern Ireland into the Republic or vice versa, check that the rental insurance covers you. Your own national Driving Licence should be acceptable for short stays.