Bus from Belfast to Carrickfergus
11 direct routes · 32–54 min · first bus 07:05, last bus 21:15 (weekdays). Today, a Sunday: first bus 08:05, last bus 20:35.
Next buses to Carrickfergus as of 18:22
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Belfast, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 563e | Ulsterbus | ~46 min | 10 | Sat 11 · Sun 6 | 08:51 | 21:15 | Pottinger's Entry High Street | Joymount | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 3 more |
| 563 | Ulsterbus | ~47 min | 5 | Sat 2 · no Sunday buses | 10:50 | 18:00 | Laganside Bus Station | Joymount | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 3 more |
| 563b | Ulsterbus | ~41 min | 5 | Sat 2 · no Sunday buses | 07:20 | 14:50 | Laganside Bus Station | Joymount | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 3 more |
| 563f | Ulsterbus | ~40 min | 5 | Sat 9 · Sun 1 | 07:51 | 18:55 | Pottinger's Entry High Street | Joymount | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 3 more |
| 568b | Ulsterbus | ~43 min | 3 | weekdays only | 07:05 | 17:35 | Laganside Bus Station | Milebush Corner | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 5 more |
6 occasional services — once or twice a day · 263, 568, 263a, 568a, 563c, 568c
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 263 | Ulsterbus | ~35 min | 2 | weekdays only | 16:45 | 17:10 | Laganside Bus Station | Joymount | Whiteabbey, Jordanstown & Greenisland |
| 568 | Ulsterbus | ~42 min | 1 | Sat 2 · no Sunday buses | 13:45 | 13:45 | Laganside Bus Station | Milebush Corner | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 5 more |
| 263a | Ulsterbus | ~32 min | 1 | weekdays only | 17:30 | 17:30 | Laganside Bus Station | Joymount | Whiteabbey, Jordanstown & Greenisland |
| 568a | Ulsterbus | ~40 min | 1 | weekdays only | 12:25 | 12:25 | Laganside Bus Station | Milebush Corner | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 5 more |
| 563c | Ulsterbus | ~39 min | 1 | weekdays only | 08:05 | 08:05 | Laganside Bus Station | Davys Street | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 3 more |
| 568c | Ulsterbus | ~54 min | 1 | weekdays only | 17:05 | 17:05 | Laganside Bus Station | Golf Club | Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle, Whitehouse Lower, Whitehouse & 5 more |
Times are for the first boarding point in Belfast 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 563 bus, 263 bus or 568 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Belfast to Carrickfergus?
11 routes run directly from Belfast to Carrickfergus: the 563e (Ulsterbus), the 563 (Ulsterbus), the 563b (Ulsterbus), the 563f (Ulsterbus), the 568b (Ulsterbus), the 263 (Ulsterbus), the 568 (Ulsterbus), the 263a (Ulsterbus), the 568a (Ulsterbus), the 563c (Ulsterbus), the 568c (Ulsterbus). The most frequent is the 563e, 10 times each weekday — board at Pottinger's Entry High Street and get off at Joymount, about 46 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Belfast to Carrickfergus?
Between 32 minutes on the 263a and 54 on the 568c, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Duncairn, Skegoneill, Whitehouse Upper, Greencastle and other stops on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Belfast to Carrickfergus?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 07:05 and the last around 21:15. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Belfast to Carrickfergus?
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.