Overview
Belfast is one of the UK's easiest short-haul city breaks — the capital of Northern Ireland, wrapped around the River Lagan and framed by Cavehill and Belfast Lough. It pairs shipbuilding heritage and a lively Cathedral Quarter with quick access to the Causeway Coast. As part of the UK, travel from Great Britain is a domestic hop, so there are no borders to worry about and flights run frequently from early morning to late evening. Use the price charts on this page to see how current fares to Belfast International (BFS) are moving.
Best time to fly to Belfast
Belfast has a mild, changeable maritime climate. May to September brings the longest days and the best chance of dry, bright weather, with July and August warmest at around 18–19°C. These months are busiest and fares tend to firm up, especially around school holidays and weekends. Spring and early autumn are quieter and often better value, while winter is cool, wet and windy but rarely freezing. St Patrick's Day in March and the autumn arts programme are popular draws. Check the When to book chart above to line your dates up with lower fares.
Airlines and routes
Belfast International is well served by low-cost carriers. easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 all operate UK routes to BFS, with easyJet the largest airline at the airport. You can fly direct from London (Gatwick, Luton or Stansted depending on the carrier), plus Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, among others. Every UK route is non-stop, so connections are not needed. Typical flying time is about 1 hour 15 minutes from London and around 55 minutes from Manchester. Note that George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), closer to the centre, is a separate airport used mainly by Aer Lingus and some easyJet flights.
Things to do in Belfast
The city centre is compact and walkable, with most highlights a short taxi ride apart.
- Titanic Belfast: Award-winning museum on the slipways where the ship was built, covering her design, launch and legacy.
- Belfast City Hall: Grand Edwardian landmark on Donegall Square with free guided tours and surrounding gardens.
- Crumlin Road Gaol: Restored Victorian prison with guided tours of the cells, tunnel and execution chamber.
- Cathedral Quarter: Cobbled streets full of bars, street art and live music, at their best in the evening.
- Black Taxi tours: Local drivers explain the political murals and recent history of the Falls and Shankill roads.
At Belfast International Airport (BFS)
Belfast International sits near Aldergrove, about 18 miles (30 km) north-west of the city centre. The Airport Express 300 bus runs frequently, day and night, to the Europa Bus Centre in the centre and takes roughly 40 minutes. Taxis wait outside arrivals and take around 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. Car hire desks are in the terminal if you plan to explore the Antrim coast or the wider countryside.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Belfast
- Book roughly four to eight weeks ahead for the best balance of choice and price; last-minute seats on this route are rarely cheap.
- Fly midweek, ideally Tuesday or Wednesday, and pick early-morning or late-evening departures, which usually carry the lowest fares.
- Use flexible date search to compare a day either side — shifting a weekend trip by 24 hours can cut the cost noticeably.
- Compare easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 together and factor in baggage: the headline fare is only cheap if you travel light.
Travel essentials
Belfast is part of the United Kingdom, so UK travellers need no visa and no passport for a domestic flight, though airlines require accepted photo ID — carry a passport or driving licence to be safe. The currency is the pound sterling; you may be given Northern Ireland banknotes, which are legal and accepted across the UK. There are no vaccination or entry requirements, and the NHS operates as it does elsewhere in the UK. Northern Ireland shares a soft, open border with the Republic of Ireland if you plan to travel on to Dublin.
