How to Get to Belfast from Dublin

Located 167 kilometres from Dublin, Belfast is a visit not to be missed. Whether for its nature, its museums of recent history, the charm of the city or its gastronomic culture, the capital of Northern Ireland will win you over.

Although Dublin has a lot to see and do, if you spend a few days in the area, a visit to Belfast is a must. In this article I'll tell you about the best options for getting from Dublin to Belfast. Don't miss it!

The advantage of hiring an organised tour to visit Belfast from Dublin is that you can completely forget about the preparations. All you have to worry about is enjoying your trip, listening to your guide and getting to know the most emblematic places in Belfast.

A 12-hour tour that includes transfers, an expert guide who will help you learn about the recent past and the conflicts that this city has experienced, as well as free time to enjoy on your own is, without a doubt, the best option to discover all the secrets of Belfast in a short time and in a very comfortable way.

And if you decide to do this trip with an organised excursion, another important advantage is that it allows you to visit places between the two cities, such as the ones I'll tell you about below.

Don't miss the treasures along the way: the Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and when you see it, you'll understand why.

It's on the east coast of County Antrim and is a landscape of thousands of basalt columns that cooled millions of years ago. It looks otherworldly and has given rise to many legends.

As a tourist attraction, there are many options for visiting the Giant's Causeway from Dublin, but the best option is to choose a tour that includes the Giant's Causeway.

Crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge

Another cool stop sometimes offered by organised tours on the Dublin to Belfast route is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, which has been suspended between County Antrim and Carrick Island for over 250 years.

The distance covered by the bridge is only 20 metres, but you have to cross it 30 metres above the sea... Do you dare?

Interesting facts

• Price: 84 euros per person.
• Duration of the trip: 12 hours.
• What you will see: the La Paz Wall, the Titanic Museum, the Giant's Causeway and other complementary stops that are often surprises.

If you like to drive and create your own route you can rent a car, although I recommend that you only choose this option if you have experience behind the wheel: it is not so easy to get used to driving on the left.

In both Ireland and Northern Ireland you have the service of the best car rental companies, which are also based at the airport, so you can rent your car from the moment you land in Dublin:

• Sixt.
• Europcar.
• Avis.

If you need information on how to get from the airport to Dublin, I'll give you a hand. And if you want to make your own tailor-made travel plan, remember that there are some very interesting places near Dublin, but you can also visit Wicklow or the Cliffs of Moher. These places are close to Dublin and will certainly leave a lasting impression.

Interesting facts

• Price: around 50 euros per day.
• Travel time: about two hours on the A1 motorway.
• What you'll see: whatever you decide, but with the drawback that you'll have to be focused on driving.

There are three bus companies operating between Dublin and Belfast. The journey time is around two hours and some of them offer direct travel, making them a convenient alternative.

The changes between each company are in terms of where the stops are located and intermediate stops. Whichever company you choose, I advise you to book on their website before you go. This way you can guarantee your seat and avoid any possible setbacks:

• Aircoach: has two stops in Dublin city centre (one on O'Connell Street and the other on Westmoreland Street) and two stops at Dublin Airport, terminals 1 and 2. They travel directly to Belfast, so they are quite fast (less than two hours) and depart every hour.

• Aireann Bus: stops in Dublin city centre (at Busáras bus station) and at the airport, and also has hourly buses available. The difference is that it makes more stops on the way to Belfast, so if you plan to go all the way, it will be a bit of a hassle.

• Translink: uses the Dublin Busáras stop and arrives at the Europa Buscentre bus station in Belfast. Buses are available at all times and offer both direct services and services with intermediate stops, so if you choose this company check the journey details carefully.

Useful facts

• Price: around 10 euros.
• Journeytime: about 2 hours.
• Is it direct: you have two options, direct buses or buses with stops.

The train is also a great way to travel from Dublin to Belfast, as it's a mode of transport where you can enjoy the scenery at your leisure, especially if you book your seat by the window. Some of the areas along the route have stunning scenery.

Trains depart from Connolly Station in Dublin city centre and travel to Belfast Central Station, so you can start your journey as soon as you step off the platform (to give you an idea, Belfast City Hall is less than a ten-minute walk from this station).

Once you're there, you can customise your itinerary and enjoy some of the most interesting attractions the city has to offer:

• Book tickets for Titanic Experience and SS Nomadic in Belfast. Visit the world's largest exhibition about the ship and its tragic end.
• Book a seat on the Belfast sightseeing bus. An excellent option for a quick and comfortable tour of the city's most iconic sights if you're travelling on your own.
• Book a guided tour of Belfast. If you've arrived on your own but you like to listen to what the professional guide has to tell you, this is definitely the plan for you.

Useful facts

• Price: from 19 euros.
• Duration of the trip: about two hours.
• Is it direct: No, the journey has intermediate stops.

Want to see all the information in this post compared? Take a look at this table. Here you have all the facts and figures to help you decide which way of travelling best suits your plans.

Now you have all the information, which means of transport do you choose? Whatever it is, I wish you a good trip and that you enjoy this very special journey.