Metro is responsible for bus services in the Belfast area while Ulsterbus provides bus and coach services throughout the rest of the province.
Tourists visiting Belfast should download a copy of the brochure 'See Belfast by Metro' from the Translink website. This contains information on how to use the system to visit the city's main tourist attractions.
Metro's Main Arterial Services are Most Frequent
The most frequent Metro services are Metros 1 to 12 which run along Belfast's main arterial corridors. Metro also operates a network of other services in Belfast with varying frequencies as well as 'City Express' which links the city centre with suburban areas of Newtownabbey via the M2 motorway.
Belfast Metro Bus System Divided into Three Fare Zones
The system is divided into three zones. These are inner zone, city zone and extended zone. At present the cash fare from the city centre to anywhere in the inner zone is £1.20, city zone £1.50 and extended zone £1.80.
Anyone intending to make a number of Metro journeys while visiting Belfast should purchase a smartlink multi-journey ticket. These look like credit cards and can be loaded with pre-paid journeys in many newsagents and other shops across the city.
The cost of a city zone journey when using a smartlink ticket is £1.10 as opposed to the cash price of £1.50.
Metro Service 600 links Belfast City Centre with George Best Belfast City Airport at Sydenham. The high frequency service departs from Europa Bus Centre and serves other bus stops in the vicinity of the City Hall.
Metro Timetables And Information Available From Kiosk in Donegal Square West
Metro timetables are available from the Metro kiosk in Donegal Square West. Bus inspectors are also present in this area which is the city centre departure point for a number of services.
Ulsterbus links Belfast with other towns and cities across Northern Ireland. These services depart from Europa Buscentre in Great Victoria Street and Laganside Buscentre at Donegal Quay. Citystopper suburban services to Lisburn depart from Upper Queen Street.
Ulsterbus's high frequency Service 300 from the Europa Bus Centre links Belfast with Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove.
Ulsterbus also provides the hourly 109A service which links Belfast International Airport with Antrim and Lisburn.
Ulsterbus Goldline Services Connect Belfast With Towns and Cities Across Northern Ireland
Many Ulsterbus routes from Belfast are operated by its Goldline coaches. These services connect the city with many of Northern Ireland's main tourist destinations such as Derry, Armagh, the Fermanagh Lakelands and the scenic North Coast.
Tourists wishing to visit the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh can use Goldline to travel to the County Tyrone town.
Northern Ireland Railways Network Made Up of Three Lines
The NIR network is made up of three lines
- Bangor to Portadown which serves suburban stations in North Down and South Belfast as well as Lisburn, Moira and Lurgan.
- Belfast to Larne. These trains run northwards along the shores of Belfast Lough to Carrickfergus and Whitehead.
- Belfast to Derry. This runs to the north west via Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Castlerock.
The Bangor to Portadown line is an ideal way to reach the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra. Passengers should alight at Cultra Halt.
These trains all call at Belfast Central and Great Victoria Street Stations. The station at Great Victoria Street adjoins the Europa Buscentre. At peak times some services on the Bangor to Portadown line extend to Newry.
Some trains from Belfast to Larne extend to Larne Harbour which is the departure point for P and O Irish Sea ferry services to Cairnryan in Scotland.
A number of local trains on the Belfast to Derry line terminate at Ballymena. The line is also used by trains travelling from Belfast to the popular north coast resort of Portrush which leave the main line at Coleraine.
The Translink website includes a journey planner which allows people to find the most efficient way of reaching their destination using a combination of Metro, Ulsterbus and Northern Ireland Railways services.
For details on how to travel from Belfast to towns and cities in the Irish Republic click here.
 |
 |
 |
