Car Hire Northern Ireland

Driving in Northern Ireland is a dream thanks to the network of motorways, A roads and scenic country lanes dissecting the bright green fields. It takes just over two hours to drive across Northern Ireland, so car hire is the often best way to get around.

Driving in Northern Ireland is similar to driving in the rest of the UK – unlike the Republic of Ireland. Speed limits are posted in miles per hour.

Key locations and routes

• Belfast is the creative heart of Northern Ireland, where business thrives and cultural attractions provide a backdrop for wonderful weekends.

• Belfast International Airport is a little over 19 miles west of central Belfast. If you’re hiring a car from here, exit the airport onto the A57, before turning right onto the A26 and joining the winding single-lane A52.

• Belfast City Airport offers access to the city south along the Sydenham By-Pass (A2), where it merges into the M3 and crosses the River Lagan.

• County Antrim. The M2 motorway connects the capital to County Antrim, where it’s easy to use the A26 to drive towards the north coast in your rental car.

• Derry is the glamorous second city, where political art flourishes almost as much as it does in Belfast and Peace Bridge symbolises the new culture hub status. Hire a car in Derry for the best route to the Causeway Coast and Glens district. Join the A2 for calming Castlerock, just 30 miles away.

• Along the coast. The iconic coastal drive begins at Portstewart and leads past Giant’s Causeway and picture-perfect Carrick-a-Rede. It ends at Ballycastle, a bucket-and-spade favourite.

• Other sites. Jump behind the wheel of your hire car and drive south to see laid-back Lisburn or beautiful Bangor, County Down’s key seaside resort. Dark Hedges is an otherworldly avenue framed by beech trees. You’ll find the iconic road trip destination on nearby Bregagh Road.

Serene and beautiful, Northern Ireland is a region like no other, where vast lakes and glens prevail.

Experience city life

Belfast is a city reinvented, with colourful street art adorning the walkways. Titanic Belfast is a must see – a futuristic museum about history’s most famous ship. Elsewhere, the Ulster Museum documents 9,000 years of history in the region.

To get a real sense of city life, head to St George’s Market, which hosts craft stalls on Saturdays and sells a variety of products, including books, on Sundays.

Car hire in Derry creates an opportunity to explore the 17th-century Derry Walls, which still frame the city centre. Inside them, you’ll find a host of museums.

Try the food

Northern Ireland has a unique and ever-changing culinary scene. The Ulster Fry is the ultimate must-try. A local version of the classic fry-up breakfast, this dish differs from the English Breakfast because of one essential ingredient – soda bread.

Rural inns are the perfect spots for a traditional Irish stew, while the cities boast a choice intriguing Asian-Irish fusion restaurants.

Discover coastal fantasies

Tourism in Northern Ireland has taken off in recent years thanks to the Game of Thrones franchise. Fans across the world have witnessed the magical coastline and taken to the roads in their hire cars to see it for themselves.

Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is one of the most iconic attractions along the Causeway Coast. The rickety crossing between the islet and the mainland was designed by a fisherman more three centuries ago and rebuilt in 2004.

Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Cushendun Caves are other top examples. Take the journey at your own pace by stopping off at beautiful beaches along the way.

Visit a castle

Northern Ireland is known for its historic castles. One of the best things about car hire is that it gives you the freedom to tour these off-the-beaten-track sites.

Belfast Castle is one of the most famous, but Dunluce Castle is also incredibly picturesque. A medieval fortress set on the cliffs near Portrush, this place was once owned by Winston Churchill.

Crom Castle is a magnificent neo-Tudor building complete with turrets – it’s privately owned, but you can still book a tour. Alternatively, visit Enniskillen Castle on the River Erne for an authentic look back at local history. The Gaelic Maguires ruled here 600 years ago.

Today, Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum trace the building’s many tales of dynasty and battle.

Hire a car in Northern Ireland to take your travels to another level - whether you’ve visiting for business or to unearth hidden treasures.