Getting around Northern Ireland is a doddle and because it’s so small, it’s also stress free. With good roads, great public transport and a range of discount passes, we do our best to help you get to as many of our most popular attractions and picturesque landscapes with minimal fuss.
Vehicle hire
Making your way around Northern Ireland by road couldn’t be easier. You can bring your own car on the ferries, or hire one from your point of entry. Find the right vehicle hire service here.
Just be sure that before you go you keep in mind which side of the road you’re on. Here’s a tip that’s true all over the world. The line is always on the driver’s side (as long as you’re in the right car of course) and for the first few hours, take a good long pause and think before you make that turn at a junction.
Tours & itineraries
Taking a tour is a great way of getting around without any stress at all and Northern Ireland has a huge range of guided tours to suit all interests. Whether you’re looking for a literary, political or pub tour, or want to get around by bus, taxi, boat or on foot there is a tour for you. Self-guided tours and itineraries are available. Browse them all here
Taking a Taxi
Taxis are often the first point of contact for visitors and provide a vital role in providing a warm welcome and sharing their local knowledge of the area. They can be an economical option for short journeys. In Northern Ireland all legal taxis should display taxi licence plates. Taxis and their services generally provide meter-reading fares; if a taxi does not have a meter ask the fare to your destination before setting off. In Belfast, taxi ranks are also available; these are generally in the city centre or at some points of entry. Additional information is available for visitors travelling with Guide Dogs.
Taxi Tours
In fact, taxi services are so good here that taking a taxi tour has become something of a must do. Our taxi drivers are never short of chat and banter and these tours offer a more intimate type of tour that focus on the recent history and politics of the region.
They are available from a range of companies in both Belfast and Derry-Londonderry, and regularly involve London-style black cabs - find a taxi tour here.
Using Electric Bikes (electrically-assisted pedal cycles) in Northern Ireland
Currently in Northern Ireland to use an EAPC on public roads, the vehicle has to be licensed and the user must wear a safety helmet. They must also hold a valid provisional or full Driving Licence (Category Q). Full details are provided on the NI Direct website.
Using Electric Cars (ecars) in Northern Ireland
Electric cars are being seen as a step towards a more sustainable future and the switch may become even more appealing in the coming years. Here in Northern Ireland ecarNI has introduced an extensive electric vehicle-charging infrastructure with over 300 charging points across many towns and cities. To map your sustainable travel route find out more on the ecarNI link here.
Public transport
Translink is Northern Ireland’s main public transport provider. Translink offers a range of great value tickets, Smartcards and mobile tickets to help you travel around Northern Ireland by bus and rail. Download the free mLink App from Google Play or App Store to buy your mobile tickets.
Translink offers a range of concession and Senior Citizen passes available for travel across Northern Ireland. Additionally, all senior citizens resident in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can now avail of free internal travel throughout both jurisdictions with a valid 60+, Senior SmartPass or RoI Senior SmartPass.
There are also services with a particular appeal to visitors. The Rambler Bus Services are designed to make our scenic rural areas more accessible to sightseers, walkers and cyclists. For timetable information call the Translink Contact Centre on (028) 90 66 66 30.
Ulsterbus Day Tours offer a selection of guided tours of the main attractions of Northern Ireland and across the border, departing daily during summer months (with a limited programme at other times of the year) from the Europa Buscentre. Destinations include National Trust properties, seaside resorts, shopping destinations, sporting and entertainment events plus special seasonal trips. Prices start from £22.50.
For more information on Translink timetables and fares please visit translink.co.uk or call the Contact Centre on (028) 90 66 66 30.
With a Metro dayLink card you can make the most of Belfast, with unlimited travel on the Metro network from just £3.50 (fares subject to change).
You can load your dayLink card with 1, 5 or 10 days and use your travel whenever you want.
The Belfast Visitor Pass is an integrated Translink smartcard providing unlimited bus and rail travel for 1, 2 or 3 consecutive days within the Belfast Visitor Pass Zone. It also provides a range of attractive discounts at visitor attractions, tours of the city, leisure and retail outlets, coffee shops and restaurants. It is available for adults and children and is ideal for visitors wishing to travel by bus and train and take advantage of the range of offers throughout the city.
Translink has an information desk at Visit Belfast, Donegall Square North. You can purchase tickets, Smartcards and find out more information about bus and train travel.
