Arrival, Information and Transport
Belfast is served by two airports . Most flights arrive at Belfast International Airport , nineteen miles west of the city in Aldergrove; from here, there are airport buses to Europa bus station (Mon-Sat every 30min 7.10am-11.20pm; Sun hourly 6.50am-11.20pm; GBP5 single, GBP8 return). A taxi costs around GBP25. A handful of carriers use the tiny Belfast City Airport , three miles northeast of the centre, from where Citybus #21 runs to City Hall on Donegall Square (Mon-Sat every 20-30min 6am-10.20pm; on Sun the route is served by buses #101 and #102 hourly 9.35am-9.35pm; Mon-Sat 90p, Sun 60p). Alternatively, trains run from Sydenham Halt, a short walk from the City Airport terminal, to Central Station (Mon-Fri every 30min, less frequently at weekends; 90p). A taxi from City Airport to the centre costs around GBP5. Ferries from Britain arrive at various dockside termini. The Seacat catamarans from Heysham and Troon, and summer-only boats from the Isle of Man run by Isle of Man Steam Packet Company all use Donegall Quay . From here to the city centre is about a fifteen-minute walk, or a GBP3 taxi-ride. Stena high-speed ferries from Stranraer dock a little further north at Corry Road - a taxi from here will cost around GBP4 or GBP5. Norse Irish Ferries from Liverpool dock even further north on West Bank Road ; expect to pay a taxi fare from here of at least GBP5. P&O ferries from Cairnryan and Fleetwood, as well as some Stena boats from Stranraer, dock at the town of Larne , twenty miles north , connected by Ulsterbus to the Laganside Buscentre and by train to Yorkgate and Central stations. The majority of trains call at Great Victoria Street Station in the centre, with the exception of trains from Dublin and Larne which terminate at Central Station near the Waterfront Hall on East Bridge Street, a little way east of the centre. From Central Station you can hop on a connecting train to Great Victoria Street Station which stops midway at Botanic and City Hospital stations - both of which are useful if you're staying in the university quarter. Express buses arrive at one of Belfast's two stations. The Europa bus station, alongside Great Victoria Street train station in Glengall Street behind the Hastings Europa Hotel , handles services to Armagh, Derry, west Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone as well as to the Republic, the airports and the ferry terminals. The Laganside Buscentre in Queen's Square near the Albert Clock serves Antrim, east Derry and east Down. Both of them are very central and well served by Citybus services. The Centrelink bus runs every twelve minutes on a very useful circular route from and to Central Station, via Donegall Square, the Europa bus station and the Laganside Buscentre.
Your Tip for Belfast
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