Bus from Ballymena to Belfast
4 direct routes · 42–80 min · first bus 06:30, last bus 18:30 (weekdays).
Next buses to Belfast as of 05:37
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Ballymena, from the operators' timetables — they update automatically. Open the stop for live tracking.
Direct routes
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 218 | Goldliner | ~56 min | 14 | Sat 13 · Sun 8 | 06:30 | 18:30 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Ulster University Belfast | Ballee, Dunsilly, Antrim & Duncrue |
| 573 | Ulsterbus | ~85 min | 3 | Saturdays only | 09:00 | 16:45 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Laganside Bus Station | Ballee, Cromkill, Shankbridge, Chapeltown, Rathenraw, Milltown & 13 more |
2 occasional services — once or twice a day · 221, 120
Often school, college or market-day journeys — check the route before relying on one.
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 221 | Goldliner | ~42 min | 2 | Sat 2 · Sun 2 | 16:00 | 17:00 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Ulster University Belfast | Ballee & Duncrue |
| 120 | Ulsterbus | ~80 min | 1 | weekdays only | 15:45 | 15:45 | Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre | Laganside Bus Station | Ballee, Cromkill, Shankbridge, Chapeltown, Rathenraw, Dunsilly & 15 more |
Times are for the first boarding point in Ballymena on each route's weekday timetable — open the route for the full timetable, live map and every stop.
The same number runs elsewhere in the UK — see every 218 bus, 573 bus, 221 bus or 120 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Ballymena to Belfast?
4 routes run directly from Ballymena to Belfast: the 218 (Goldliner), the 573 (Ulsterbus), the 221 (Goldliner), the 120 (Ulsterbus). The most frequent is the 218, 14 times each weekday — board at Ballymena Bus & Rail Centre and get off at Ulster University Belfast, about 56 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Ballymena to Belfast?
Between 42 minutes on the 221 and 80 on the 120, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Ballee, Dunsilly, Antrim, Duncrue on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Ballymena to Belfast?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 06:30 and the last around 18:30. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Ballymena to Belfast?
Translink sets zonal fares on this journey. Smartlink/iLink cards and contactless are cheaper than cash, with daily and weekly caps on Metro and Glider.