Getting to the games

Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall

Planning on coming to Belfast for the World Fire and Police Games? We’ve got the lowdown on the practical information

Where can I fly into?

Flying into Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport will take you into the heart of the city's action. The City of Derry Airport is just over an hour away and Dublin Airport is a mere two hours away by car, train or bus.

What if I want to bring my car?

If you want to bring you car you will have to travel by ferry. The island of Ireland has several ferry ports whose ferries sail directly to and from Great Britain and France. Make sure you are familiar with the rules of the road before you arrive.

Is car hire easy to arrange?

Absolutely. This is best pre-booked before your arrival, but can still be done once you are here. Most airports and ferry ports have car hire firms based onsite making the collection and return of the cars straightforward. Always check their terms and conditions (some have age restrictions) as well as what documentation you might need.

How do I get around Belfast?

Belfast is a compact city that is really easy to get around on foot. If you need to take public transport, Translink operates the Metro bus service and the railway service in the city. The Belfast Black Taxi Tours are another unique way to tour the city and see all the sights, while Belfast City Sightseeing offers open top bus tours with hop on/hop off stops.

What about day trips beyond the city?

Where to go first should be the question. Lots of tour companies can organise day trips to some incredible sights outside the city, including as the Giant’s Causeway, the Antrim coastline or the fabulous Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. And that’s just within the one county! Then there’s Derry-Londonderry, the UK City of Culture for 2013; The Mourne Mountains, which inspired CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia (the kids’ll love that); and the Fermanagh Lakelands for those with a love of angling!

How do I get around Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland Railways operate in Belfast and Northern Ireland. For their fares, timetables and accessibility information, check out TranslinkUlsterbus services the towns in Northern Ireland, excluding Belfast. Goldline runs express coach services across Northern Ireland. Translink also provide bus transfers to and from the Northern Ireland airports

How far away is it to Dublin?

Dublin is approximately 165km (102 miles) from Belfast and is just under a two-hour drive. The M1 and A1 motorways have made this journey fairly effortless in recent years. By train it takes around two hours depending on the service scheduled. Travelling by coach will take two and a half hours.

How do I travel around the Republic of Ireland?

Ireland is a very small island with a good rail and bus network, so if you decide to arrive or leave from Dublin or Cork International Airports and travel around the island’s various towns and cities, you can easily reach Belfast either way.

What currency is used in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland the currency is pound sterling; in the Republic it’s the euro.

Are there any border crossings between Northern Ireland and the Republic?

No, it’s really very simple. So simple, in fact, that sometimes it can be hard to tell when you’ve actually gone “across the border” – there are a few tell-tale signs though, such as a change in road signage. Remember that while speed limits and distances in Northern Ireland are set in miles per hour; in the Republic it changes to kilometers per hour.