Belfast International sits about 18 miles north-west of Belfast city centre, a 30 to 40 minute drive, and one fact shapes every trip: there is no railway station. Your two realistic choices are the Translink Airport Express 300 coach (adult single around £8, about 40 minutes) or a taxi from the 24/7 rank (roughly £25 to £40). Uber can drop you here but cannot collect you. Prices checked August 2026.
Getting to and from Belfast International at a glance
| Option | Price | Time to Belfast centre | Runs at night? | Door to door? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express 300 coach | ~£8 single | ~40 min | Yes, 24 hours | No, city stops |
| Taxi / private hire | ~£25 to £40 | 25 to 35 min | Yes, 24/7 | Yes |
| Drop-off (forecourt) | from ~£5 | 30 to 40 min | Yes | Yes |
| Long Stay drive and park | ~£63 for 5 days | 30 to 40 min | Yes | Yes |
Belfast International handled about 6.68 million passengers in 2025, which makes it Northern Ireland's busiest airport and the second-largest gateway on the island of Ireland. It has a single terminal, and heavy early-morning departures mean the coach and the rank both stay busy through the small hours.
In this guide
- Taxis, Uber and private hire
- Public transport
- Parking
- Drop-off and pick-up
- Popular routes
- Latest news and updates
- Airport facilities and lounges
- Travel blog and guides
- FAQs
The quick answer
If you are travelling light and watching the cost, the Airport Express 300 coach is the one to take: an adult single is around £8, the run to Belfast Grand Central Station takes about 40 minutes, and it is effectively a 24-hour service with overnight departures. That last point matters at Belfast International because so many easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair flights leave very early.
If you are two or more people with luggage, or you want the door, a taxi from the rank often works out at a similar price per head once you have paid separate coach fares, and it drops you exactly where you are going. The rank outside Arrivals is staffed 24/7, and fonaCAB and Value Cabs both serve the airport. One catch worth knowing: although Uber operates in Belfast, it cannot pick you up at the airport, so arrivals use the rank or the 300.
If someone is collecting you by car, there is a paid drop-off charge on the forecourt from about £5. The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, which you can use for around 10 minutes at no cost, about 100 metres further to walk. Driving yourself instead? The cheapest parking is Long Stay, roughly £63 for 5 days when pre-booked online.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train to Belfast International Airport? No. Belfast International has no railway station and no rail link at all. The nearest station is Antrim, about 5 miles away, which you would still reach by taxi or the Airport Express 300 coach first.
What is the cheapest way from Belfast International to the city centre? The Airport Express 300 coach, an adult single around £8 (child about £4), taking roughly 40 minutes to Grand Central Station. See the public transport page.
How much is a taxi from Belfast International to the city? Roughly £25 to £40 by metered saloon depending on the time of day, with a journey of 25 to 35 minutes. More on the taxis page.
Is there Uber at Belfast International Airport? Uber operates in Belfast but cannot collect you at the airport, it only supports drop-offs to BFS. Arrivals should use the taxi rank instead.
Is Belfast International the same as Belfast City Airport? No. Belfast International (BFS, Aldergrove) is about 18 miles out, while George Best Belfast City (BHD) is about 4 miles from the centre. They are around 22 miles apart and easy to mix up when booking.
How we verified this
The prices and facts on this site were checked in August 2026 against the airport's own website and the named operators (Translink's Airport Express 300, fonaCAB and Value Cabs). Tariffs and timetables change, and some airport prices are not published centrally, so confirm the specifics on the official Belfast International Airport and Translink sites before you travel.
Sources: Belfast International Airport, Translink, fonaCAB, Value Cabs.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Belfast Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Belfast International Airport website before you travel.