Northern Ireland Travel Guide

Social Conventions

Due to the political situation in Northern Ireland, visitors should take care when visiting certain parts of the main cities and the border area. No problems should arise, provided the visitor follows local advice and avoids expressing dogmatic opinions on political or religious topics.

Handshaking is customary when introduced to someone for the first time. Normal social courtesies should be observed when visiting someone's home and a small present such as flowers or chocolates is appreciated. It is polite to wait until everyone has been served before eating.

International Travel

Getting There By Air

There are frequent direct flights to Belfast from London airports as well as other major regional UK airports. Airlines that serve Northern Ireland from the UK include bmibaby (www.bmibaby.com) and easyJet (www.easyjet.com), which also flies between Belfast and several other European cities. From North America, Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) operates flights to Shannon and Dublin.

Departure Tax

None.

Main Airports

Belfast International Airport (BFS) (www.belfastairport.com) is 29km (18 miles) northwest of Belfast city center. To/from the airport: Trains run from Londonderry (Derry), Lisburn and Belfast to Antrim (10km/6 miles away) from where a taxi may be hired, or a shuttle bus can be taken to the airport. Buses run to the city center (journey time - 30-40 minutes). Taxis are available (journey time to city center - 20 minutes). Major car hire companies are represented at the airport. Facilities: Bureau de change, ATMs, shops, restaurants and executive lounge.

Belfast City Airport (George Best) (BHD) (www.belfastcityairport.com) at Belfast Harbour is handy for flights to most regional airports. To/from the airport: Regular train and bus services run to the city center. Facilities: Shops, ATMs, bureau de change, Wi-Fi, duty-free, cafes and bar.

Getting There By Water

Main ports: Belfast (www.belfast-harbor.co.uk).

When traveling via Great Britain to Northern Ireland there is a choice of several services across the Irish Sea; providers include P&O Irish Sea (www.poirishsea.com); Stena Line (www.stenaline.co.uk); and Norfolkline Irish Sea Ferry Services (www.norfolkline-ferries.co.uk).

Getting There By Rail

There are four main rail routes from Belfast Central Station: north to Londonderry via Ballymena and Coleraine; northeast to the port of Larne; east to Bangor along the shores of Belfast Lough; south to Dublin, in the Irish Republic, via Newry. The Belfast–Dublin non-stop express takes approximately two hours.

For information on timetables for rail services, contact Translink (www.translink.co.uk).

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Water

Northern Ireland's only inhabited island is Rathlin, a few kilometers off the north coast. Caledonian MacBrayne (www.calmac.co.uk) operates regular services between Ballycastle and Rathlin.

Getting Around By Rail

Rail passes
Freedom of Northern Ireland Pass is available for unlimited travel on trains and buses. Can be bought at main Northern Ireland railway stations.

Getting Around By Road

Traffic drives on the left.

Bus: Northern Ireland has an excellent bus network and there are particularly good links between those towns which are not served by rail. Translink operates both Metro, which provides services in Belfast, and Ulsterbus, which is responsible for all other services in Northern Ireland. Belfast has three main bus stations: Europa Buscenter at Great Victoria Street, Laganside Buscenter and Newtonabbey.

Centerlink provides a link between Belfast's principal rail and bus stations, as well as main shopping centers and the Waterfront Hall. Metro operates several routes. Ulsterbus operates a comprehensive network of services across the rest of the country. For more information, contact Translink (www.translink.co.uk).

Taxi: Available at main stations, ports and Belfast International Airport and are also bookable by telephone in larger towns and cities.

Car hire: The main firms operate in Northern Ireland and have desks at both Belfast airports with cars available on the spot. There is also a host of smaller firms.

Regulations: The speed limit is 30mph (48kph) in towns and cities unless signs show 40mph (64kph) or 50mph (80kph). On country roads, the limit is 60mph (96kph); on dual carriageways, trunk roads and motorways, 70mph (112kph), unless signs show otherwise.

Emergency breakdown service: If the car is hired, contact the hire company. Members of the continental equivalent of the AA (www.theaa.com) can contact their 24-hour breakdown service. The RAC (www.rac.co.uk) provides a similar service. They can be contacted from their roadside phones or from any call box. Non-members should consult the Yellow Pages for breakdown services.