Preparing your trip to Ireland? In less than 3 minutes of reading, we show you our tips on how to get from Dublin to Belfast to make your journey easier. Have a great trip!
But first…
- You are going to cross into another country outside the EU but there is no border. Don’t worry if you don’t see it.
- Check that your mobile company doesn’t charge extra for roaming in the UK. O2 or Movistar, for example, don’t.
- The official currency is the Pound Sterling. If you want to exchange money and withdraw for free, open a REVOLUT account. The physical card takes up to 7 days to arrive, but the virtual card is available immediately.
- Even though there is no border, you will be asked for your passport if you booked a hotel. Don’t forget it!
These are the ways to get from Dublin to Belfast both from the city center and from the airport itself. We hope our tips are useful!
How to get from Dublin to Belfast by bus
The fastest way to get to Belfast from Dublin is from the airport.
You don’t need to go to Dublin city center to reach Belfast. There is an excellent bus network from Dublin airport to the rest of Ireland. You can reach Cork, Galway, and Belfast directly from the airport.
The companies operating buses from Dublin to Belfast are Translink and Aircoach, both from the city center and from the airport.
NOTE! These buses fill up days in advance during high season, and you may have to wait and pay more.
Translink
It has two lines: X1 and X2.
The X1 also passes through Dublin city center and makes intermediate stops. The X2 is direct from the airport.
Buses depart from airport stop 11, zone 13 of TERMINAL 1. If you land at T2, don’t worry: they are right next to each other.
X1 Line
First service from Dublin city center (Busáras station): 04:45.
First service from Dublin airport: 05:20.
Frequency: every hour.
Last service city center/airport: 02:45 / 03:20.
Airport Dublin – Belfast journey time: 2h15min.
X2 Line (direct from airport)
First service: 08:55.
Frequency: every 2 hours.
Last service: 20:55.
Journey time Dublin airport – Belfast: 1h45min.
Dublin Busáras Station:
The one-way ticket to Belfast bought online costs £9, and if you pay in cash, £15.
Aircoach
On Aircoach, the line is 705X. The ticket costs €15 one-way and €21 round trip. This bus goes from Dublin city center to Belfast, stopping only at the airport.
The bus first departs from terminal 2 (Zone 20) and then goes to terminal 1 (Zone 2).
First service Dublin: 01:20.
First service T2-T1: 01:45-01:50.
Frequency: every 2 hours.
Last service: 23:20 (city center), 23:45 (airport).
Journey time Dublin airport – Belfast: 1h50min.
Upon arrival in Belfast: You will arrive at Europa Buscentre, even if the bus drops you off at the side.
In front, where the cup icon appears, is the Crown Liquor Saloon, where our Belfast free tour starts. If you are registered and arrive with luggage and limited time, you can leave your luggage at the bus station.
This is a time-saving solution: they charge £5 per bag.
If your hotel is nearby and you have more than an hour, it’s better to go by Uber, Fonacab, or ValueCabs (download the app). It will cost about the same as leaving your luggage.
In Belfast, it is not allowed to pick up clients without a reservation by phone/app. Be careful or it will be expensive!
If in doubt, leave your luggage and have a coffee at Cafe Nero in the station or a bacon and sausage sandwich at the Sandwich Station, which is where the workers go. Guaranteed quality.
How to get from Dublin to Belfast by train
IMPORTANT
If you plan to go and return by train, buy the round trip at once. If you try to buy a one-way ticket Ireland-Northern Ireland, you are redirected to Translink’s site and the ticket costs €50 instead of €15.
Tickets are purchased at IrishRail.ie and depart from Dublin-Conolly station. The round trip usually costs around €30.
- Departures: 07:35, 09:30, 11:20, 12:21, 13:20, 15:20, 16:50, 18:20, 19:00, 20:50
- Duration: 2h10min.
The train station is located here:
Upon arrival in Belfast: The Dublin to Belfast train arrives at Lanyon Place. Normally you would get off here, but we leave some tips to move around from here.
If you want to go to the city center/university area, you can take another train Belfast Lanyon Place – Belfast Botanic.
If you are in the Titanic area, there is another train to Titanic Quarter.
It’s a 2-minute journey that saves you a taxi ride.
Trains run every 15 minutes and you can buy tickets at the station for £2.
The station café offers products on the Too Good To Go app several times a day. A great option if you want something quick and cheap.
How to get from Dublin to Belfast by car
First: driving on the other side is easier than it seems. You will bump your arm on the door trying to change gears three times, and then everything goes smoothly. Also, people in Ireland drive very politely and are usually very patient.
To rent a car, I recommend SIXT. My experiences with them have been positive. And above all, rent directly with the company. Intermediaries are not known for good customer service.
If you are going to rural areas, take full insurance and, if possible, make sure it covers punctures in tires and windshield. I myself had a puncture and would like to save you that experience.
To get from Belfast to Dublin, the best route is the M1 motorway. In less than two hours, you are in Belfast.
Once you arrive in Belfast, either leave the car at the hotel or take it to the city center. If you choose the second option, here is a list of places to park, paid and free.
Finally…
This has been our guide on how to get from Dublin to Belfast. We hope it was useful. If you have questions, corrections, or want to thank the writer, please leave a comment!
