Visiting Belfast

Belfast, the largest city and administrative capital of Northern Ireland, is in the east of the region at the mouth of the River Lagan. The city’s name is derived from the Irish-language phrase ‘mouth of the sand-bank’. Belfast’s origin was as a centre for a number of industries, including linen, shipbuilding, rope-making and tobacco processing, and it attained city status during a late 19th–century boom, resulting in the significant number of Victorian-era buildings visible in the city today.

Ulster University’s Belfast campus can be found in the north of the city centre, in the city’s Cathedral Quarter.

Transport

Bus and Train

Translink operates bus and train services throughout Northern Ireland, sharing cross–border services to Dublin with Bus Éireann. Private operators such as Aircoach also connect Belfast and Dublin. Translink also operates local bus services within Belfast (Translink Metro).

The central bus station is the Europa Buscentre, Great Victoria Street, with cross-border services to Dublin, inter–city services to Derry/Londonderry and connections to towns across Northern Ireland.

Central Station serves as one of the main rail hubs for the region, with Great Victoria Street (part of the complex at the Europa) connecting to servies across Northern Ireland.

Air

Belfast is served by Belfast City Airport (George Best) in the east of the city, and Belfast International, outside the city, close to Antrim town.

Sea

Ferry services from Belfast port connect to Cairnryan and Liverpool; Larne Harbour, to the north, connects with Stranraer.