Getting around Northern Ireland: with and without a car

Mixed: depends where you go Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.

Thompson Dock and Pump-House, Titanic Quarter & East BelfastPhoto: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 4.0

Albert Bridge, Titanic Quarter & East BelfastPhoto: Chris Andrews, CC BY-SA 2.0

Carrick-a-Rede, The Causeway CoastPhoto: Stuart Yeates, CC BY-SA 2.0

Stations, bridges and harbours from our guide where we hold a photo; each links to the area page that lists it.

Paying for local transport in Belfast and Northern Ireland

Translink (Metro, Glider, iLink)

Translink says iLink offers "unlimited bus and rail travel for a day, week or month" in selected areas, across 5 zones, on Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus, Goldliner and NI Railways services. On the Glider you "simply tap your card at the validator before boarding".Source: Translink (opens in new tab).
You cannot top up iLink online. Translink lists main bus and train stations, Visit Belfast on Donegall Square North, the Belfast International Airport Welcome Centre, PayPoint agents (top-ups only) and Glider stop machines as places to buy or top up.Source: Translink (opens in new tab).
Translink's home page also lists contactless payment, a Belfast Visitor Pass and Ulsterbus smartcards under its ticket links.Source: Translink (opens in new tab).

Translink (Northern Ireland’s buses and trains).Translink runs buses and trains in Northern Ireland. It says contactless payment is available on board its buses, and that on Glider services you buy a ticket from the machine at the halt before boarding (cash or card).Translink tickets (opens in new tab)

Without a car

Getting here

By air

Belfast International Airport is about 13 miles north-west of Belfast, and George Best Belfast City Airport is beside Belfast Harbour, about three miles from the centre, according to Wikipedia. City of Derry Airport serves the north-west. Translink's airport services page lists coach services to the two Belfast airports. ¹

Belfast International Airport (opens in new tab) · George Best Belfast City Airport (opens in new tab) · City of Derry Airport (opens in new tab) · Translink airport services (opens in new tab)

By train and bus

Belfast Grand Central is an integrated rail and bus station in the city centre, and Lanyon Place station has trains to Derry~Londonderry, Bangor and Larne. Translink also sells tickets for the Enterprise train to Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. ²

Translink (opens in new tab)

By ferry

Stena Line lists sailings between Cairnryan and Belfast and between Liverpool and Belfast. P&O Ferries lists Cairnryan to Larne. Check each operator for timetables. ³

Stena Line (opens in new tab) · P&O Ferries (opens in new tab)

Once you are there

Translink

Translink's site offers a journey planner, timetables, airport coaches, Ulsterbus smartcards and contactless payment. Check coverage and frequency for the specific route you want. ⁴

Buses and trains with Translink

Translink runs buses and trains across Northern Ireland. Its site has journey planning, timetables and travel updates. ²

Glider in Belfast

Glider is a bus rapid transit service run by Translink. Route G1 links west and east Belfast and route G2 links the city centre with the Titanic Quarter. ²

Contactless and passes

Translink's site lists contactless payment, travel cards and a Belfast Visitor Pass. Check which suits your trip before you buy. ²

Accessibility advice

Translink publishes accessibility advice for passengers. ²

Stops near each area

From our area guides (Northern Ireland): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.

Belfast city centre & Cathedral Quarter

Belfast Grand Central: Trains and buses. Integrated rail and bus station on the west side of the centre; it replaced Great Victoria Street station and the Europa Buscentre
Belfast Lanyon Place: Trains. Station on East Bridge Street near the Lagan, with services to Derry~Londonderry, Bangor and Larne
Glider: Bus rapid transit. Translink routes G1 (west to east Belfast) and G2 (city centre to the Titanic Quarter) run through the centre
Donegall Square: Buses. City centre bus stops around Belfast City Hall; check Translink for routes

Belfast city centre & Cathedral Quarter: getting there

Titanic Quarter & East Belfast

Titanic Quarter: Trains. Station in east Belfast a short walk from the Titanic Quarter and the Odyssey complex
Glider G2: Bus rapid transit. Translink route linking the city centre with the Titanic Quarter
Glider G1: Bus rapid transit. Translink route linking west and east Belfast through the city centre
Belfast City Airport: Flights. George Best Belfast City Airport lies beside Belfast Harbour, about three miles from the city centre, according to Wikipedia

Titanic Quarter & East Belfast: getting there

The Causeway Coast

Portrush: Trains. Terminus of the Coleraine to Portrush line, in the seaside resort at the western end of the coast
Coleraine: Trains and buses. Station that shares facilities with the Ulsterbus depot, for connections along the coast
Causeway Coastal Route: Driving route. Scenic drive that the Causeway Coast and Glens tourism site names as the route along this coast
Ballycastle: Ferry. Rathlin Island Ferry runs to Church Bay on Rathlin Island, according to Wikipedia

The Causeway Coast: getting there

Derry~Londonderry

Derry~Londonderry station: Trains. Northern Ireland Railways terminus on the east bank of the Foyle, also called the North West Transport Hub
Peace Bridge: On foot. Foot and cycle bridge linking Ebrington Square with the city centre
City of Derry Airport: Flights. Regional airport for the north-west; the airport website lists easyJet among its partners

Derry~Londonderry: getting there

The Mournes & Newcastle

Newcastle: Buses. Check Translink for bus services to Newcastle from Belfast and other towns
Silent Valley: Car. The Silent Valley Mountain Park is run by Northern Ireland Water; check its page for access arrangements
Tollymore: Car or walk. The forest park is at the foot of the Mournes near Newcastle; check nidirect for details

The Mournes & Newcastle: getting there

Fermanagh Lakelands

Enniskillen: Buses. Bus services run to Enniskillen; check Translink for routes
Lough Erne: Boat. Boat trips, cruisers and day boats operate on the lough; see Fermanagh Lakelands for operators
Car: Driving. Most sights beyond the town are best reached by car; the Fermanagh Lakelands site lists EV charging points

Fermanagh Lakelands: getting there

No timetables or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.

With a car

Licence, insurance and units

nidirect says you can drive on your national licence if you have reached the minimum age (17 for a car) and that a provisional licence issued abroad is not valid. Carry your licence and proof of insurance. Speed limits are in mph in Northern Ireland and km/h in the Republic of Ireland. If you take a hire car across the border, check the cover applies in both places. ⁵

Roads and tolls

Discover Northern Ireland says to drive on the left, that roundabouts run clockwise and you give way to traffic from the right, and that Northern Ireland has no tolls, though major motorways in the Republic do. ⁶

By car on the coast and in the lakes

Many of the sights on the Causeway Coast, in the Mournes and around Lough Erne are some distance from stations. A car, or a tour from Belfast, is the easiest way to reach them.

General rules (driving on the left, licences, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).

To and from other regions

Straight-line distance from our region centres, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a timetable; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.

Distance and fastest published train time from Northern Ireland to other regions
To or from	Straight line	Fastest train (National Rail)	Notes
Bath	467 km (290 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Bristol	451 km (280 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Cambridge	530 km (329 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Cardiff	426 km (264 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Cornwall	503 km (312 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Edinburgh	268 km (167 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	The 2 hours 15 minutes is the Stena Line crossing between Belfast and Cairnryan only (about 12 daily sailings, per Stena). Stena says Edinburgh is reachable from Cairnryan in 3.5 hours.
Glasgow	207 km (129 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	The 2 hours 15 minutes is the Stena Line crossing between Belfast and Cairnryan only (about 12 daily sailings, per Stena). Stena says Glasgow is "less than 2 hours away by car, rail or bus" from Cairnryan.
Liverpool	282 km (175 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
London	564 km (350 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Manchester	322 km (200 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Oxford	488 km (303 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Portsmouth and Southampton	562 km (349 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Stratford & Warwickshire	431 km (268 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
The Cotswolds	450 km (280 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
The Jurassic Coast	526 km (327 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
The Lake District	238 km (148 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
The Peak District	361 km (224 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
The Scottish Highlands	306 km (190 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
Wales	326 km (203 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—
York	376 km (233 miles)	No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab)	—

Figures retrieved 25 Oct 2026 for the intercity data. Timetables change.

Stations in our data

90 stations and stops (Northern Ireland)

OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Overpass API. Fetched 2026-11-01. This is the list behind the near-me page, not a complete list of stations.

Adelaide (rail), Translink NI Railways
Antrim (rail), Translink NI Railways
Armagh Bus Station (bus), Translink
Ballycarry (rail), Translink NI Railways
Ballyclare Buscentre (bus), Translink
Ballymena (rail), Translink NI Railways
Ballymoney (rail), Translink NI Railways
Balmoral (rail), Translink NI Railways
Banbridge Bus Station (bus), Translink
Bangor (rail), Translink NI Railways
Bangor Bus & Rail Centre (rail), Translink
Bangor West (rail), Translink NI Railways
Belfast Grand Central (rail), Translink NI Railways
Belfast Lanyon Place (rail), Translink NI Railways
Bellarena (rail), Translink NI Railways
Botanic (rail), Translink NI Railways
Bushmills (heritage), Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway
Carnalea (rail), Translink NI Railways
Carnfunnock Family Fun Zone Miniature Railway (heritage), Carnfunnock Family Fun Zone
Carrickfergus (rail), Translink NI Railways
Castlerock (rail), Translink NI Railways
City Hospital (rail), Translink NI Railways
Clipperstown (rail), Translink NI Railways
Coleraine (rail), Translink NI Railways
Colin Connect Transport Hub (bus), Translink NI
Cookstown Bus Station (bus), Translink Ulsterbus
Cullybackey (rail), Translink NI Railways
Cultra (rail), Translink NI Railways
Damhead Miniature Railway (heritage), Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers Ltd
Delamont (rail), Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Derriaghy (rail), Translink NI Railways
Derry~Londonderry (rail), Translink NI Railways
Dhu Varren (rail), Translink NI Railways
Downpatrick (heritage), Downpatrick & County Down Railway
Downpatrick Bus Station (bus), Translink
Downpatrick Loop Platform (heritage), Downpatrick & County Down Railway
Downshire (rail), Translink NI Railways
Dromara Bus Station (bus), Translink
Drumawhey Junction (heritage), Belfast & County Down Miniature Railway Society
Dungannon Bus Station (bus), Translink
Dunmurry (rail), Translink NI Railways
Enniskillen Bus Station (bus), Translink Ulsterbus
Finaghy (rail), Translink NI Railways
Foyle Street Buscentre (bus), Translink
Giant's Causeway (heritage), Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Railway
Glynn (rail), Translink NI Railways
Greenisland (rail), Translink NI Railways
Helen's Bay (rail), Translink NI Railways
Hilden (rail), Translink NI Railways
Holywood (rail), Translink NI Railways
Inch Abbey (heritage), Downpatrick & County Down Railway
Jordanstown (rail), Translink NI Railways
King Magnus' Halt (heritage), Downpatrick & County Down Railway
Laganside Bus Centre (bus), Translink Ulsterbus
Lambeg (rail), Translink NI Railways
Larne Bus Station (bus), Translink
Larne Harbour (rail), Translink NI Railways
Larne Town (rail), Translink NI Railways
Limavady Bus Station (bus), Translink NI
Lisburn (rail), Translink NI Railways
Lisburn Bus Station (bus), Translink
Lurgan (rail), Translink NI Railways
Magherafelt Bus Station (bus), Translink Ulsterbus
Magheramorne (rail), Translink NI Railways
Marino (rail), Translink NI Railways
Moira (rail), Translink NI Railways
Mossley West (rail), Translink NI Railways
Newcastle Bus Station (bus), Translink
Newry (rail), Translink NI Railways
Newry Bus Station (bus), Translink
Newtownards Bus Station (bus), Translink
Oakfield Park (heritage), Oakfield Park
Omagh Bus Station (bus), Translink Ulsterbus
Peatlands Park Railway (rail), Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland)
Portadown (rail), Translink NI Railways
Portrush (rail), Translink NI Railways
Portrush Bus Station (bus), Translink
Poyntzpass (rail), Translink NI Railways
Scarva (rail), Translink NI Railways
Seahill (rail), Translink NI Railways
Strabane Bus Station (bus), Translink Ulsterbus
Sydenham (rail), Translink NI Railways
Titanic Quarter (rail), Translink NI Railways
Trooperslane (rail), Translink NI Railways
Ulsterbus Laganside (bus), Translink Ulsterbus
University (rail), Translink NI Railways
Whiteabbey (rail), Translink NI Railways
Whitehead (rail), Translink NI Railways
Whitehead Excursion (heritage), Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
York Street (rail), Translink NI Railways

Official links

Discover Northern Ireland (opens in new tab): Tourism Northern Ireland's official visitor site
Visit Belfast (opens in new tab): the city's official visitor site
Visit Derry (opens in new tab): official tourism site for Derry~Londonderry
Causeway Coast and Glens (opens in new tab): the official guide to the north coast
Fermanagh Lakelands (opens in new tab): official tourism site for Fermanagh
Visit Mourne Mountains (opens in new tab): official tourism site for the Mournes and Ring of Gullion
Translink (opens in new tab): buses and trains across Northern Ireland
Belfast International Airport (opens in new tab): flights and transfers
George Best Belfast City Airport (opens in new tab): flights and transfers
City of Derry Airport (opens in new tab): flights for the north-west
Stena Line (opens in new tab): ferries to Belfast
P&O Ferries (opens in new tab): ferries to Larne
GOV.UK: electronic travel authorisation (opens in new tab): who needs an ETA to visit the UK

More on Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland guide · how to get there

Questions people ask

Can I get around Northern Ireland without a car?

Belfast and Derry have bus and train links, and Translink covers the network, but the Causeway coast, the Mournes and the Fermanagh lakes are easier by car. Check the timetable for each leg.

Do I need to check a driving zone in Northern Ireland?

We found no charging or low emission zone for Northern Ireland in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.