Belfast International Airport Car Rental

Airport Basics.....

The Belfast International Airport is actually about 13 miles north and west of Belfast, and was at one time called Aldergrove Airport. The airport reported passenger count of more than 5 million passengers in 2008, but (probably because of global economic downturns) had an estimated passenger count of near 4 million in 2010, for it's second consecutive annual passenger count decrease. The airport can be easily reached from the M2 Motorway. This article studies the Belfast International, not the George Best Belfast City Airport.

Belfast Airport Car Rental.....

Renting a car at the Belfast International is not a difficult proposition. There are currently 6 car rental companies with offices at the facility, and the majority of them are situated at the Arrivals Hall. The companies located there include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National Car Rental. Each of these six companies are well-known and would make a great choice for hiring a car at the Belfast Airport.

Driving out of the Airport with your newly rented vehicle, you will 'T' into A 57. For folks headed to Atrium or Londonberry, you will want to take a left at the 'T'. For folks traveling to Belfast we recommend the following driving directions:

As the Belfast International Airport is located in a fairly obscure place, there really isn't a network of high-quality roads leading into Belfast. As there are several different roads one could use to find Belfast, we've recommended the one with the fewest decisions for the you. Coming out of the airport you will take a right at the 'T', onto A57. Continue on A57 for about 7 km. During this span of 7 km, you should travel thru four round-a-bouts. Continue straight on each of them until you approach the M2 motorway. Blue signs on the side of the road will mark point towards your merging onto M2 towards Belfast. You will travel in a counter-clockwise circle before eventually merging with Southbound M2 traffic heading for Belfast. Travel about 8 km more. Watch for overhead blue signs directing you towards Belfast East, Belfast West and Newcastle.

When returning your car, signs will be post the directions back to the airport. National and Alamo car rental state that their rental car returns should be at an off-site location across the road from the airport entrance. Please inquire about return locations when picking up the car from the airport.

Airport Amenities.....

The airport has many amenities to offer would-be passengers. For example the airport has a pretty decent shopping list. Duty free Les Boutiques, Boots (a health and beauty retailer), the Irish Quarter specializes in last minute gifts, and WH Smith is a book and newspaper shop.

Currently, there are at least 7 restaurants located in the airport. The Lagan Bar, Burger King, Cafe Bar, Cafe Ritazza, The Strangford Grill, Starbucks, and Mountcharles Catering all have shops set up within Belfast International.

In case you want to stay the night near the airport, there is a hotel located within 50 meters of the airport. Park Plaza Belfast contains over 100 rooms, and most folks say that their stay was quiet and comfortable, especially considering the proximity to the Belfast Airport. Their phone number is +44 (0) 28 944 57000.

Car Rental Driving Distances.....

Below, we have put together a few local areas near the airport. If you are driving to one of the local towns near the airport, some driving estimates, as below, might be helpful. Car Rental distance from Belfast International to:

Dublin is approximately 175 km.
Galway is approximately 379 km.
LondonDerry is approximately 92 km.
Belfast City Center is approximately 26 km.
Belfast Cookery School 26 km.
Belfast Bike Tours, 20 km.
Titanic Dock and Pump House (Science House) 30 km. (See pics below)

Car Rental Types Available at the Belfast International Airport.....

Just about all types of cars are available for hire at the Belfast International. Compacts, SUV's, Luxury Cars and Economy Cars are all available here. Use our booking engine to see exactly what is available and when it is available. Also, note that you will be able to reserve booster seats, child toddler seats, infant child seats and additional drivers when booking your car from Eurocar Rental. When booking, make sure that you have the correct Belfast Airport location. All of the above information is for the Belfast International, not the Belfast City Airport. Have a great time in Belfast!