Dublin to Belfast bus with Dublin Express

What are the departure and arrival stations for bus journeys from Dublin to Belfast?

Departure bus station: Dublin City Center. The departure station for this journey depends on your chosen provider. If you are traveling with Aircoach, the bus station you will depart from is located on O’Connell Street, opposite the Gresham Hotel. The station is within the city center and only a short walk away from the main train station, Connolly. This is a bus stop rather than a bus station, so you will not find facilities at the stop itself, but as you are in the city center you will be surrounded by shops, restaurants, and other useful facilities. If you are traveling from Dublin to Belfast with Translink, you will depart from the Busaras Bus Station, which is also located directly in the city center. The main difference is here you will find facilities within the station itself, like a newsagent, bookshop, and a snack bar. The station also has an information desk where you can find information about your journey, as well as general tourist information.

Arrival bus station: Belfast Europa Bus Center. Your destination bus stop will be Belfast Europa Bus Center, which is located around a 7min walk from the city center. Both Aircoach and Translink buses arrive at this station. If you are looking to continue your journey, the bus station is located around a 20min walk from Belfast’s main train station, Lanyon Place. You can also take a taxi, which will take you around 8min. At Belfast Europa you will find a lot of useful facilities, including shops, cafés and an information desk. You can also directly access a shopping mall from inside the bus station.

Which bus companies travel from Dublin to Belfast?

There are two main providers that offer direct bus transportation from Dublin to Belfast, Aircoach and Translink. The journey time is very similar with both providers, as is the price and frequency, with both companies offering the route frequently throughout the day. Your chosen provider will probably end up coming down to the one that offers the most convenient departure time to fit in with your plans.

Aircoach buses from Dublin to Belfast

Aircoach buses from Dublin to Belfast operate hourly throughout the peak hours of the day and around every 2h during the early morning and late evening, then slightly less frequently throughout the night. The first Aircoach bus departs Dublin at around 1:30 a.m. and the last bus of the day departs at around 10:30 p.m. Between the hours of around 12:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., you will find hourly departures. All Aircoach buses between these destinations are direct and take around 2h 20min to cover a distance of around 103 miles (165 km).

Translink buses from Dublin to Belfast

When traveling on buses between Dublin and Belfast with Translink, your journey time will be around 2h 20min, however journey times for buses that depart at peak hours, such as their bus that departs at around 6:30 p.m. will take you a slightly longer time of around 2h 30min. Translink buses between these two locations are frequent, departing every hour throughout the day. However, Translink buses do not run at night, with the last bus of the day departing just after midnight, at around 12:15 a.m. and the first bus leaving at 7:15 a.m.

Buses from Dublin to Belfast: Services on Board

Aircoach provide several useful services on board their buses from Dublin to Belfast, including free Wi-Fi throughout the journey and charging points. This bus service does not offer any First-Class seats, but all standard tickets include reclining chairs. Each passenger is allowed to bring two pieces of luggage on board the bus. Aircoach buses from Dublin to Belfast are fully accessible for wheelchair users, however once you have booked your ticket through Omio, it is always best to contact the Aircoach customer service team at least 24h in advance if your require additional accessibility assistance. Currently you can not bring mobility scooters on board Aircoach buses. If you are traveling to Belfast with Translink, you will also only find one standard ticket type available, with no First-Class seating offered on board this service. All passengers may bring luggage on board the bus with a maximum weight of 55 lbs (25 kg). Buggies or strollers for young children can be brought on the bus free of charge, provided they are foldable and there is a suitable space available. Similarly, bicycles are permitted on board if they are foldable and there is a suitable space available, unfolded bikes are not permitted on this service. You are allowed to bring your pet on board Translink buses from Dublin to Belfast, as long as it is small and inoffensive, however this is at your own risk and the animal must be kept under control and on a lead or in a suitable container throughout the journey. All Translink bus services are accessible for wheelchair users.

How to find cheap bus tickets from Dublin to Belfast

There are several ways you can find cheap or discounted bus tickets from Dublin to Belfast if you are prepared. One great way to save money is by booking your ticket in advance. With Omio it is easy to view prices across various dates, so if you are able to be flexible with your travel dates, you may be able to save money by traveling on a certain day that is less popular with other travelers. Furthermore, you can find cheaper fares by traveling on less popular services, such as the buses that depart throughout the night to Belfast.