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Driving Belfast

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Hi All,

I’ve read a few posts on here about people who absolutely DON’T want to drive into the city of Belfast. Trying to figure out just how tricky it’s going to be for us. After three days in Dublin, we plan to rent a car at the Dublin airport, drive into Belfast, park the car for a few days at our hotel or airBnb, and then drive on to the Antrim Coast once we leave the city. It seems many people do the same. Warnings over driving into Belfast have me concerned. This will be our first day of driving in the Republic and NI. I’m sure we will be highly stressed. Is Belfast so very awful in which to drive? I have visions of mazes of one way streets and Lincoln Tunnel type traffic jams from the ominous warnings of earlier posts. If it truly is something to avoid, we could take the train from Dublin to Belfast and rent our car when we are ready to leave the city. Unfortunately, with a drop off at Dublin airport, we may incur a fee for dropping off at a different location. What say you Northern Ireland experts?

Thank you!
Christine

Posted by
8880 posts

I've think that you may want to consider renting your car after you leave Belfast. Why pay for extra days rental and parking in a location where the car may be a liability?

Posted by
25 posts

Because paying for a rental with a different drop off point is more expensive than renting the car with the same drop off point, so it's literally cheaper for me to rent the car on our way out of Dublin and park it in Belfast for two days than it is to rent it on our way out of Belfast and return it to Dublin. And, because I might want to make little detours on our way from Dublin to Belfast.

I'm just asking how nightmarish driving through Belfast might really be. Thanks!

Christine

Posted by
8 posts

+1 for what Travelman said. The GPS we had was far better than using phones. Enter the destination in and the GPS directions were spot on. We drove Dublin to Belfast Titanic Experience then to our hotel. Then didn't drive until we left Belfast.

Posted by
25 posts

Thank you, Paul. I’ll definitely look into parking. One of the Airbnb’s came with free parking, other than that it sounds like it is pretty expensive. This is exactly the type of info I was looking for- much appreciate it!

Posted by
25 posts

RayP,
Did you find that drive particularly stressful? Will look into GPS as well.

Posted by
9221 posts

Its IS STRESSFUL. It Is congested.

Worse than LA and that is saying a lot.

Then again your trip your choice.

Just remember your British pounds for your pints to calm your nerves once you've settled.

Posted by
8 posts

Yes. Driving in an unfamiliar city is stressful.

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