Cross-border public transport services on the island of Ireland mostly link Belfast and Dublin, Ireland’s largest cities.
If you need to get from Belfast to Dublin (and vice versa) via public transport, your best bets are either the Buses or the Trains.
Note: This page covers Cross-Border services between Belfast and Dublin. For information on trains in Northern Ireland and intercity trains in the Republic of Ireland, visit our dedicated info pages for traveling by train in Northern Ireland and traveling by intercity trains in the Republic of Ireland.
Buses
Dublin and Belfast are linked by various cross-border buses. You have a choice of buses operated by Translink NI, or buses run by private operators.
Translink Goldliner buses
Cross-border buses run by Translink carry the “Goldliner” branding and route numbers carry an “X” prefix.
The Goldliner branding is also used for intercity bus routes in Northern Ireland.
Goldliner buses from Belfast
Translink runs the following Goldliner services between Belfast and Dublin:
X1: Belfast > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras (via Sprucefield, Banbridge, and Newry)
*Average journey time is at least 2 hours.
Goldliner buses from Derry/Londonderry
If you are connecting from Derry/Londonderry, the following options are available:
X3: Derry/Londonderry > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras (via Strabane, Omagh, Ballygawley, Aughnacloy, Monaghan, and Ardee)
X4: Derry/Londonderry > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras (via Dungiven, Maghera, Castledawson, Cookstown, Dungannon, Moy, and Armagh)
*Scheduled end to end journey times are between 4 hours to 4 hours and 40 minutes.
Goldliner buses from Newry
If you’re connecting from Newry, here are your options:
X5: Newry > Dublin Airport > Dublin Busáras
*The X5 only runs once a day everyday in only one direction between Newry and Dublin. The sole departure is the 0525am from Newry Buscentre, and puts you in Dublin Busáras at 0655am.
Timetables
To view the timetables for Translink’s cross-border Goldliner bus services, please use the Timetables search function on Translink’s Timetables webpage.
Where do I board my Translink Goldliner bus?
| I am departing from | I board the bus at |
|---|---|
| Belfast | Béal Feirste | Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street, beneath the Europa Hotel. *If departing after hours, access departure stands via night gate at Glengall Street. |
| Derry / Londonderry | Doire | The Buscentre on Foyle Street by the Guildhall; or the North West Transport Hub on Waterside east of the River Foyle. |
| Newry | An tIúr | Newry Buscentre on Soho island in town. |
| Dublin | Baile Átha Cliath | Busáras – Connected to Luas Red Line and walking distance to Dublin Connolly station. |
Read about the Goldliner X1 service to Dublin
Other operators
As of December 2023, there are two non-Translink operators on the Belfast – Dublin route. These are Aircoach and Dublin Express (a National Express company).
Aircoach buses from Belfast
Aircoach runs the following services between Belfast and Dublin:
705X: Belfast > Dublin Airport (both terminals) > Dublin City Centre (Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street)
Click here for the 705X timetable.
Click here for Aircoach’s website.
Where do I board my Aircoach 705X bus?
| I am departing from | I board the bus at |
|---|---|
| Belfast | Glengall Street next to the Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street, beneath the Europa Hotel. |
| Dublin | Opposite the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street – Connected to Luas Green Line. |
Dublin Express buses from Belfast
Dublin Express runs the following services between Belfast and Dublin:
785: Belfast > Dublin Airport (both terminals) > Dublin City Centre (Burgh Quay) > Dublin City Centre (Westland Row)
Click here for the Dublin Express website
Where do I board my Dublin Express 785 bus?
| I am departing from | I board the bus at |
|---|---|
| Belfast | Glengall Street next to the Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street, beneath the Europa Hotel. |
| Dublin | South Westland Row (connections to Pearse DART); Custom House Quay. |
Trains – the Enterprise service
Enterprise is the flagship cross-border service jointly operated by NI Railways and Irish Rail. It runs on specially branded locomotive-hauled carriages in a 2-class configuration.
While generally reliable, I remember the branded trainsets as having a tendency to be subject to relatively frequent service issues. In those scenarios, the branded trainsets are replaced by regular Irish Rail or NI Railways units which may or may not have First Class.
Nevertheless, the Enterprise remains the most comfortable way to travel between Belfast and Dublin. There are no other train services between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Where do I board the Enterprise?
| I am departing from | I board the Enterprise at |
|---|---|
| Belfast | Béal Feirste | Lanyon Place Station, formerly named Belfast Central Station. |
| Portadown | Port an Dúnáin | Portadown Train Station |
| Newry | An tIúr | Newry Train Station |
| Dundalk | Dún Dealgan | Dundalk Clark Station | Stáisiún Dhún Dealgan Uí Cleirigh |
| Drogheda | Droichead Átha | Drogheda MacBride Station | Stáisiún Droichead Átha Mac Giolla Bhríde |
| Dublin | Baile Átha Cliath | Dublin Connolly Station | Stáisiún Uí Chonghaile |
How do I purchase Enterprise tickets?
| I am departing from | I buy my tickets from |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland (Belfast, Portadown, and Newry) | Translink NI website |
| Republic of Ireland (Dublin, Dundalk, and Drogheda) | Irish Rail website |
Enterprise Timetables
To view the timetables for the Enterprise services, please use the Timetables search function on Translink’s Timetables webpage, or the Timetables page on Irish Rail’s website.
Read about the Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin
