Belfast airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Two airports, two very different transfers. Belfast International is the long one: no rail link, so it is bus or taxi. George Best City Airport is close enough that the train or a short bus ride works, and a taxi is cheap enough to be worth it with luggage.

Fares below are 2026 estimates; buy on board with a contactless card or phone.

Belfast International, also called Aldergrove, is about 30 km west of the centre on the M2. There is no train station at the airport, which surprises people who assume every UK airport has one. The 300 Airport Express bus runs to Belfast Europa Buscentre in roughly 30–40 minutes and is the default choice: frequent, luggage-friendly and cheap. It also runs overnight, so late landings are covered.

A taxi from the rank outside arrivals takes about 25–30 minutes to the centre and costs roughly £30–40. With two or more people and bags, that is often worth it. If you are heading to Antrim or the north coast rather than Belfast, the airport sits close to the M2 and Antrim, so a bus or taxi to Antrim station opens up the rail line to Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle country.

Do not plan on walking out of BFS: the terminal sits in open countryside with no footpath to anywhere useful.

George Best Belfast City Airport is 5 km east of the centre on the shore of Belfast Lough, and it is the easy one. A short walk or shuttle from the terminal reaches Sydenham rail station, where trains run to Belfast Lanyon Place (formerly Central) in about 10 minutes and on to other Northern Ireland destinations. The 600 bus does the same trip to the city centre in about 10–15 minutes.

A taxi from BHD is roughly £10–15 and takes 10–15 minutes, which makes it a reasonable splurge with luggage or after a late arrival. Check the last train and bus times if you land after about 22:00; the airport is close, but the rail timetable thins out at night.

Because the airport is so close, some travellers walk or take a taxi to a nearby hotel and start fresh in the morning. There is no need to pre-book a transfer.

Belfast transfers are cheap by UK standards. The 300 from Belfast International is the single biggest line item at about £8–9; everything else is under £15 unless you take a taxi from BFS. Fares are set by the operators and rise with inflation, so treat the numbers as 2026 estimates and check the operator site before you travel.

Taxis in Northern Ireland are metered and take card or cash. Airport ranks are licensed; avoid unmarked cars touting inside the terminal. If you are splitting a taxi three ways, the BFS fare works out close to the bus fare per person.

Belfast has two airports and they are on opposite sides of the city, so check which one your flight uses before booking a hotel or a transfer. BFS is the long haul west; BHD is the short hop east. Getting this wrong adds an hour and a taxi fare.

If you are continuing to the north coast, the Giant's Causeway or the ferry ports at Larne, the airport is not the best starting point for a city-centre detour. Change at Antrim or go straight from the airport by taxi to your next base.

Mobile data: an eSIM set up before you fly saves hunting for a SIM at arrivals, and both airports have free Wi-Fi for the first hour or so. Contactless payment works on buses, so you do not need cash for the 300 or 600.