How to get from Dublin Airport to Belfast
The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, is located 158 kilometers away from Dublin International Airport. Trips from Dublin airport to the centre of Belfast usually take around 1 hour and 45 minutes both by public transportation and taxi transfers. Dublin airport taxi trips are expensive and travelers should expect nothing less than 250€. On the other hand, people can use one of the Aircoach or Translink Goldline buses that offer rides multiple times a day to Belfast. Tickets cost 15€ to 17€ depending on the bus operator.
Comparison of the options
| OPTION | PRICE | DURATION | AVAILABILITY | |
|---|
| Bus | €30 | 120min | 24/7 | |
| Taxi | €250 | 90min | 24/7 | |
How to get from Dublin airport to Belfast by bus
There are two bus options from Dublin airport to the city of Belfast; the Aircoach connection or one of the Translink goldline bus lines. The Aircoach 705X offers rides from the airport every hour on a 24-hour basis. Trips normally last around 2 hours and tickets cost 17€ for adults and 9€ for children. The other bus option is one of the Translink bus lines (X1, X2A, X5, X5A); the connections are available on a 24/7 schedule as well. Trips normally last a little less than the Aircoach buses, while tickets cost 15€ for adults and 9€ for children.
How much is the bus from Dublin airport to Belfast ?
The Aircoach tickets cost 17€ one way and 25€ round trip for adults and 9€ one way and 14€ round trip for children. Similarly, the Translink tickets cost 15€ one way and 22€ round trip for adults and 9€ one way and 13.20€ round trip for children.
Waiting time is 30 minutes at most during day time and 1 hour during night hours for both bus options.
Both bus companies offer 24/7 connections from Dublin airport.
Where do I get it from?
The bus station for both bus companies is located on the right side of Terminal 1 as you get out of the building's exit doors. Clear signs indicate available upcoming buses and overall schedules.
Convenience
All in all, the bus option is not the most comfortable nor the most convenient choice of transportation from Dublin airport to Belfast. However, compared to taxi or private transfer prices, it is definitively the most practical ground transportation method, since it is efficient and affordable.
Editor’s Note
Due to the frequency of both bus companies, travelers can rest assure that there is always going to be an available bus within 30 minutes at most, as soon as they get to the station.
Useful Tips
Tickets can be purchased from one of the available licensed vendors at the airport or directly from the driver.
It is important to note that passengers do not have to pay additionally for luggage space. Bicycles, baby strollers and wheelchairs are allowed as well. How to get from Dublin airport to Belfast by taxi
Despite the free industrialized taxi market in Ireland, most taxi drivers try to avoid long distance rides such as the Dublin airport to Belfast for a number of reasons. In general, the trip does not really benefit the driver since it is quite hard to find a customer on the way back, as a result it is highly recommended to always pre-book a taxi to Belfast. The trip is estimated to take 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic conditions.
Taxi fare from Dublin airport to Belfast
The applied rate for long distances is 1.80€/km or 0.64€/min during slow traffic. The overall expected fare is around 250€ to 280€. Pre-booking your taxi in advance for lower fixed rates is highly recommended.
Convenience
Although the taxi option is the fastest and most convenient ground transportation option from Dublin airport to Belfast, taxi fares fluctuate on the same range as plane tickets. Regardless of the price, the comfort of a private vehicle is unmatched compared to a public mean of transport, especially during long-distance journeys.
Editor’s Note
It is highly recommended to pre-book your taxi with one of the private taxi companies operating at Dublin airport, since they usually offer lower fixed rates compared to regular taxis.
Useful Tips
Always try to negotiate a fixed price for long distance journeys, in order to avoid getting scammed by additional false variables that drivers could claim affected the price.
Remember that due to the distance inconvenience all drivers have the right to refuse such a long ride. Therefore, ask help from an airport taxi staff member to get you a proper driver. 
