Navigating Belfast: A Complete Transportation Guide from Black Cabs to Bike Shares

Before diving into transportation options, it helps to understand Belfast's digestible geography. The city center is compact enough that many attractions sit within a 20-minute walk of each other, making it wonderfully accessible for families with children.

Belfast is divided into distinct quarters, each with its own character. The Cathedral Quarter houses cobblestone streets and artistic venues. The Titanic Quarter showcases the city's maritime heritage. The Queen's Quarter surrounds the university with leafy streets and museums. The Gaeltacht Quarter celebrates Irish language and culture. And the central shopping district connects them all.

During my week in Belfast, I found myself constantly referencing a pocket-sized city map that proved invaluable for impromptu detours with my friend's children. While smartphone maps work well, having a physical map allows kids to participate in navigation and better understand the city's layout. I recommend picking up the free Belfast Welcome Centre map or investing in a waterproof city map if you're visiting during the frequently rainy seasons.

No transportation guide to Belfast would be complete without highlighting the city's most iconic vehicles: the black taxi cabs. But these aren't just any taxis—they're living pieces of history.

During The Troubles, when public transportation became unsafe or unavailable in certain areas, these black cabs emerged as a community-organized transportation system. Today, they offer some of the most insightful political tours of the city, particularly along the Peace Walls that still separate some Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods.

As a journalist who has documented cultural transitions worldwide, I found the Black Cab Tours profoundly moving. The drivers, many of whom lived through The Troubles, offer personal perspectives that bring context to the colorful political murals and imposing barriers. For families with older children (I'd recommend ages 10+), these tours provide an educational experience that textbooks simply cannot match.

My guide, Tommy, spoke with remarkable balance about both sides of the conflict, answering my questions with nuance rather than simplified narratives. When my friend's 12-year-old asked why some walls still stood, Tommy explained the complexity with respect for a child's understanding without talking down.

A standard tour costs about £35-45 for up to 3 people (around £10-15 per person), making it both an educational and economical way to see the city's most significant historical sites. Most tours last 60-90 minutes—perfect for a family's attention span—and can be booked through your accommodation or directly with companies like Belfast Black Cab Tours.

Belfast's public transportation system offers excellent value for families watching their budget. Translink operates the Metro bus network covering most of the city, with the newer Glider service (a hybrid between a bus and tram) providing rapid east-west connections.

The Glider became my preferred mode of transportation midway through my stay. These sleek purple vehicles offer smoother rides than traditional buses—a blessing when traveling with motion-sensitive children. The Glider's dedicated lanes mean it bypasses traffic congestion, and the frequent service (every 7-8 minutes during peak times) minimizes waiting with impatient little ones.

For families planning multiple journeys, the Translink Family & Friends Ticket offers unlimited day travel for up to two adults and four children for just £9.50—an exceptional value if you're exploring attractions across the city. I watched local families use these tickets for day trips combining the Titanic Belfast museum, Botanic Gardens, and shopping districts all on one fare.

If you're staying for several days, consider getting a visitor travel card which combines unlimited public transportation with discounts to major attractions. For a family of four, the savings can add up significantly over a week's stay.

I found Belfast bus drivers surprisingly patient with my questions about stops and routes. Many buses announce upcoming stops, but I recommend downloading the Translink app for real-time arrivals and journey planning. This proved invaluable one rainy afternoon when we needed to quickly find shelter-to-shelter routes between museums.

For families with older children, Belfast's bike share scheme offers an active and environmentally-friendly way to explore the city. With over 40 docking stations strategically placed near major attractions, Belfast Bikes provides convenient access to the city's growing network of cycling paths.

The riverside paths along the River Lagan became my weekend sanctuary. Following the water from the Titanic Quarter through the city center and into the leafy Lagan Valley Regional Park offered a peaceful perspective of Belfast that many tourists miss. The flat terrain makes it manageable even for casual cyclists, and I spotted numerous local families enjoying weekend rides.

To use Belfast Bikes, download the Nextbike app and register before your trip. The casual use tariff is £1 for 30 minutes, with the first 30 minutes free if you purchase a 3-day subscription (£5) or annual membership (£25). For a family of four, renting bikes for a full day might be more economical through a dedicated bike rental shop like Belfast City Bike Tours, where full-day rentals cost around £15-20 per bike with family discounts available.

During my exploration, I appreciated having a phone mount attached to my handlebars for easy navigation. This kept my phone secure while following cycling routes, allowing me to fully enjoy the scenery without stopping constantly to check directions.

The most family-friendly cycling route is the Traffic-Free Loop that connects the Titanic Quarter with the Lagan Towpath—perfect for a half-day adventure with stops at playgrounds and ice cream shops along the way. Just remember to pack rain protection; Belfast's weather can change quickly, as I discovered during an unexpected afternoon shower!

As a budget-conscious traveler who's explored cities across five continents, I can confidently say that Belfast offers some of the best walking value I've encountered. The compact city center means families can cover major attractions without transportation costs, while free and low-cost walking tours provide cultural context that enhances the experience.

The free (tip-based) Belfast Free Walking Tours depart daily from City Hall at 11am and 1pm, offering a comprehensive 2-hour introduction to the city. Our guide, Sarah, brilliantly engaged both adults and children, peppering historical facts with amusing anecdotes that kept my friend's 8-year-old entertained throughout. For families, I'd recommend the earlier tour when energy levels are higher.

For a more specialized experience, the Street Art Walking Tour (£15 adults, £8 children) explores Belfast's vibrant mural scene beyond the political artwork. The Cathedral Quarter's colorful transformations particularly captivated the children in our group, who delighted in spotting quirky characters hidden within larger pieces.

Walking between attractions, I relied heavily on my comfortable walking shoes. Belfast's variable weather and occasional cobblestone streets demand footwear that can handle both comfort and water resistance—a lesson I learned after a soggy first day in canvas sneakers.

To make walking more engaging for children, I created a simple scavenger hunt with items to spot: a Titanic reference, something with the Belfast coat of arms, street art featuring animals, and so on. This transformed routine walks between attractions into adventures, with small treats as rewards for completed findings.

While Belfast itself offers plenty to fill a week's itinerary, some of Northern Ireland's most spectacular attractions lie just beyond the city limits. For families seeking to explore further, several transportation options make day trips accessible without renting a car.

The most budget-friendly approach is using Translink's public buses and trains. The Enterprise train connects Belfast to Dublin (2 hours) with family tickets offering significant savings. Meanwhile, Ulsterbus services reach coastal towns like Bangor (30 minutes) for beach days and Carrickfergus (30 minutes) for its impressive medieval castle that delighted my friend's castle-obsessed son.

For the iconic Giant's Causeway and dramatic Antrim Coast, organized day tours provide the most efficient option. After comparing several companies, I chose Allen's Tours (£25 adults, £20 children) for their family-friendly approach and value. Their Giants Causeway Day Tour included stops at Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle ruins, and Dark Hedges (of Game of Thrones fame), with our driver Paddy entertaining the children with giant-themed folklore throughout the journey.

Packing provisions for day trips saves considerable money. I recommend bringing a insulated water bottle that keeps drinks cold all day. Northern Ireland's cafe prices can add up quickly for a family, so carrying water and snacks helps maintain your budget.

For families with teenagers interested in Game of Thrones filming locations, specialized tours depart Belfast daily. These cost more (approximately £50-65 per person) but include authentic experiences like archery at Winterfell Castle (Castle Ward) and photo opportunities with direwolf-like dogs that appeared in the show—experiences my colleague's teenagers rated as their trip highlight.