Car Rental Belfast

Exploring Belfast is a pleasure by car, with easily navigable roads and some great places to drive, both inside and beyond the city. The A55 sweeps around the outskirts of the city granting you access to the suburbs, while the A24 and A12 lead into the heart of the capital and the Belfast waterfront area.

There’s plenty of city centre parking in convenient paid parking lots. Bear in mind when driving around that there’s no overtaking on the right and no free right turns on a red light. Some of the roads in the centre operate a one-way system and some popular shopping streets have been pedestrianized. 

Outside of the city, Northern Ireland is famed for its lush, green countryside. You can choose to visit the film locations of Game of Thrones or head north to the stunning Antrim Coast where ancient rock formations meet the Atlantic. The M2/A26 will take you to majestic Giant’s Causeway on the north coast, one of Northern Ireland’s most famous attractions. Drive along the coast from here for spectacular views and stop in Portrush for Victorian holiday nostalgia. The rural roads in the north are narrow but incredibly scenic. 

For those travelling further afield, the A6 skirts the top of the stunning Lough Neagh and leads to the walled city of Derry/Londonderry. The A1/M1 will get you to the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, in just under three hours through the cities of Lisburn and Newry

The iconic ship

Experience life aboard the world’s most famous – and famously doomed - ocean liner at the Titanic Visitor Experience, built at the location the original ship was launched from in 1912. Discover insightful exhibits detailing the construction, voyage and legacy of the infamous ship. 

In the Titanic Suite, the afternoon tea will whisk you back to another period entirely. Attentive service lends a feeling of opulence and the crockery is a replica of the original White Star Line range used on the Titanic.

Castles and gardens

The looming, stately parliament house of Stormont sits at the end of a long stretch of woodland on the outskirts of the centre. The leafy surrounding park is free for locals and visitors to explore. Sit under one of the great oak trees with a picnic on a sunny day and admire the handsome Stormont building.

Up the coast is the town of Carrickfergus where a craggy old castle perches on the cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea. Explore the old stone walls and crenulations of this once mighty fortress. Inside, get a feel for medieval life in Northern Ireland with interactive displays and relics from the past. There are often recreations of the medieval period at this attraction, so you can try your hand at archery and falconry, or indulge in a medieval banquet.

Myths and legends

Look in the right places, and you can find the mythic Northern Ireland out there too. A short drive north will take you to the Antrim Coast where emerald fields stop at sharp cliff edges and the wild Atlantic crashes below. Stop at Giant’s Causeway where black, hexagonal rocks rise from the sea like organ pipes. Mystery and legend surrounds the formation of the natural wonder. Climb the stone jigsaw and feel the invigorating ocean breeze.

To get a taste of the real life Winterfell from Game of Thrones, drive through the atmospheric, tree-shrouded Dark Hedges Road where golden sunlight casts shadows through gnarled old trees and plays tricks with your mind. If you’re feeling brave, walk across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge just along the road. This bridge rises 100 feet (30 meters) above the swirling sea below. 

With car rental in Belfast you can decide for yourself which of the legends and stories are real, or cleave close to the city and sample the burgeoning food scene. Whatever type of vacation you opt for, you’ll be charmed by the city and Northern Ireland.