Bus from Carrickfergus to Belfast
11 direct routes · 26–52 min · first bus 06:24, last bus 20:30 (weekdays).
Next buses to Belfast as of 09:27
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Carrickfergus, 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 | ~42 min | 10 | Sat 11 · Sun 6 | 06:27 | 20:30 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse, Whitehouse Lower, Greencastle & 3 more |
| 563b | Ulsterbus | ~36 min | 5 | Sat 2 · no Sunday buses | 08:27 | 16:20 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse, Whitehouse Lower, Greencastle & 3 more |
| 563 | Ulsterbus | ~42 min | 4 | Sat 2 · Sun 1 | 07:17 | 18:03 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse, Whitehouse Lower, Greencastle & 3 more |
| 568 | Ulsterbus | ~37 min | 3 | Sat 2 · no Sunday buses | 07:40 | 15:21 | Milebush Corner | Ulster University Belfast | Woodburn, Greenisland, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse & 5 more |
| 563f | Ulsterbus | ~36 min | 3 | Sat 6 · no Sunday buses | 08:57 | 17:49 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse, Whitehouse Lower, Greencastle & 3 more |
6 occasional services — once or twice a day · 263a, 568b, 263, 568a, 563d, 568d
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 263a | Ulsterbus | ~36 min | 2 | weekdays only | 06:24 | 07:45 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Duncrue & Duncairn |
| 568b | Ulsterbus | ~38 min | 1 | weekdays only | 09:44 | 09:44 | Red Brae Road | Ulster University Belfast | Woodburn, Greenisland, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse & 5 more |
| 263 | Ulsterbus | ~26 min | 1 | weekdays only | 07:06 | 07:06 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Duncrue & Duncairn |
| 568a | Ulsterbus | ~52 min | 1 | weekdays only | 12:03 | 12:03 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Eden, Kilroot, Woodburn, Greenisland, Jordanstown, Monkstown & 7 more |
| 563d | Ulsterbus | ~45 min | 1 | weekdays only | 08:08 | 08:08 | Joymount | Ulster University Belfast | Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse, Whitehouse Lower, Greencastle & 3 more |
| 568d | Ulsterbus | ~39 min | 1 | weekdays only | 07:04 | 07:04 | Red Brae Road | Ulster University Belfast | Woodburn, Greenisland, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse & 5 more |
Times are for the first boarding point in Carrickfergus 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, 568 bus or 263 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Carrickfergus to Belfast?
11 routes run directly from Carrickfergus to Belfast: the 563e (Ulsterbus), the 563b (Ulsterbus), the 563 (Ulsterbus), the 568 (Ulsterbus), the 563f (Ulsterbus), the 263a (Ulsterbus), the 568b (Ulsterbus), the 263 (Ulsterbus), the 568a (Ulsterbus), the 563d (Ulsterbus), the 568d (Ulsterbus). The most frequent is the 563e, 10 times each weekday — board at Joymount and get off at Ulster University Belfast, about 42 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Carrickfergus to Belfast?
Between 26 minutes on the 263 and 52 on the 568a, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Greenisland, Jordanstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse and other stops on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Carrickfergus to Belfast?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 06:24 and the last around 20:30. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Carrickfergus 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.