Dublin vs Belfast International Airport Parking
For travellers in Northern Ireland, the choice between Dublin and Belfast International is rarely about parking alone, but parking is a real part of the cost and convenience of each option. Belfast International is closer for most of the North and charges in sterling. Dublin offers a much bigger route network, free drop-off and a wider range of parking, but adds an extra hour or more of driving, a motorway toll and euro pricing. This guide compares parking at the two airports side by side, adds in the journey costs, and helps you decide which works out better for your trip.
Belfast International is usually the more convenient choice for Northern Ireland drivers on short European trips, with on-airport long stay parking and a shorter drive. Dublin often wins when it offers a better flight, a route Belfast does not serve or a long-haul connection. Dublin's drop-off is free, while Belfast International charges £5 for up to 10 minutes.
A week of pre-booked parking at Dublin starts from €56.99 at Holiday Blue through us. Belfast International's on-site Long Stay is listed from about £90 for a week, and its turn-up rates start at £30 for one day. Include the extra drive time, fuel and the €2.30 M1 toll each way when Dublin is the further airport.
Dublin vs Belfast International at a Glance
| Dublin Airport (DUB) | Belfast International (BFS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers (2025) | 36.43 million | 6.677 million |
| Distance from Belfast city centre | About 158 km (1 hr 35 min to 2 hr) | About 18 miles (about 30 min) |
| Currency | Euro | Sterling |
| Road toll from Belfast | M1 toll, €2.30 each way (car) | None |
| Main on-airport long stay | Express Red, Holiday Blue (about 8,000 spaces each) | Long Stay, Mid Stay, Park and Fly |
| Independent long stay | Park2Travel (6,100+ spaces), hotels | Off-airport operators such as Cosmo Parking |
| Valet options | DAA Drop & Go, independent meet and greet | Limited; check current operators |
| Kerbside drop-off | Free (set-down zones) | £5 for up to 10 minutes; Long Stay free for 15 minutes |
| Self-park policy | Keep your keys (DAA car parks) | Keep your keys (airport car parks) |
Is It Cheaper to Park at Dublin or Belfast International?
For a week of pre-booked parking, Dublin's long-stay car parks are competitive: through us, from €56.99 at Holiday Blue and €66.99 at Express Red. Belfast International's on-site Long Stay is listed from about £90 a week, with off-site park and ride from about £35 to £65 a week. Turn-up rates at Belfast International start at £30 for a day in Long Stay.
Belfast International published turn-up rates
| Car park | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | Each extra day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Stay | £35 | £70 | £105 | £35 |
| Mid Stay | £35 | £55 | £75 | £20 |
| Long Stay | £30 | £40 | £50 | Not published |
A week of parking at each airport
| Option | 7 days | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin: Holiday Blue | From €56.99 | Pre-booked with us, year-round from price |
| Dublin: Express Red | From €66.99 | Pre-booked with us, year-round from price |
| Dublin: Park2Travel | From €70.99 | Pre-booked with us, year-round from price |
| Dublin: drive-up | €140 (Holiday Blue), €175 (Express Red) | DAA turn-up rates of €20 and €25 per day |
| Belfast International: Long Stay | From about £90 | Published guide price (JustPark, 2026) |
| Belfast International: Mid Stay | £155 | Turn-up rate: £75 for 3 days plus £20 per extra day |
| Belfast International: off-site park and ride | About £35 to £65 | Published guide range, booked early (2026) |
Dublin prices are our lowest year-round prices and are higher during school holidays, Christmas and summer. Dublin charges in euro and Belfast in sterling; your card provider applies the exchange rate. Search your dates for live prices.
Add the journey cost
For a driver starting in Belfast, Dublin adds roughly 125 km each way compared with Belfast International, plus the M1 toll of €2.30 each way. That extra fuel, toll and time can outweigh a modest parking saving. Starting further south, in Newry or South Armagh, the difference narrows considerably because Dublin is closer to begin with.
| Cost element (return trip from Belfast) | Dublin | Belfast International |
|---|---|---|
| Driving distance | About 316 km | About 60 km |
| Tolls | €4.60 (M1, both directions) | None |
| Drive time | About 3 hr 10 min to 4 hr | About 1 hr |
| Parking, 7 days | From €56.99 (Holiday Blue, with us) | From about £90 (Long Stay) |
Distances are approximate round-trip figures from Belfast city centre.
Should You Fly from Dublin or Belfast?
Choose Belfast International for convenience on routes it serves well, particularly UK and European leisure flights. Choose Dublin when it offers a route, schedule or fare Belfast cannot match, especially long-haul or less common European destinations, and factor the extra drive into your decision.
| Your trip | Usually better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short European break from Belfast area | Belfast International | Shorter drive, sterling pricing, on-airport long stay |
| Long-haul or transatlantic | Dublin | Much wider long-haul network; US preclearance at Terminal 2 |
| Route not served from Belfast | Dublin | Larger network |
| Travelling from Newry or South Armagh | Either; compare | Dublin is relatively closer |
| Being dropped off | Dublin | Free set-down vs £5 at Belfast International |
| Tall vehicle | Dublin (Express Red or Park2Travel) | Confirmed no height limit at Express Red and 4.40 m at Park2Travel |
How Do Drop-Off Charges Compare?
Dublin Airport does not charge for drop-off at its terminal set-down zones. Belfast International charges £5 for up to 10 minutes in its drop-off area, and Belfast City charges £4. Both Belfast airports offer free short periods in their long stay car parks.
| Airport | Kerbside drop-off | Free alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | Free (stay with your vehicle) | Not needed |
| Belfast International | £5 for up to 10 minutes (from March 2026) | Long Stay free for 15 minutes; Blue Badge holders 30 minutes free in Short Stay |
| Belfast City | £4 for up to 10 minutes | Long Stay free for up to 10 minutes |
DAA holds planning permission for paid drop-off zones at Dublin but has said it has no current plans to introduce charges. See our guide to Dublin Airport drop-off and pick-up.
Parking Options at Each Airport
Dublin Airport
- Express Red: closest long stay, 5-minute shuttle, no height restriction. From €66.99 for a week with us. Guide
- Holiday Blue: DAA's value long stay, 15-minute shuttle. From €56.99 for a week with us. Guide
- Park2Travel: independent, 6-minute shuttle, 3-hour overstay grace period. From €70.99 for a week with us. Guide
- Drop & Go and meet and greet: valet options at the terminals. Drop & Go, meet and greet
- Hotel park and fly: Clayton, Crowne Plaza, Maldron and others. Guide
Belfast International
- Long Stay: official on-airport car park, listed with a Park Mark award, about a 6-minute walk from the terminal. Turn-up rates from £30 for a day.
- Mid Stay and Short Stay: within walking distance of the terminal; turn-up rates from £35 for a day.
- Park and Fly: on-airport park and ride with a short shuttle.
- Off-airport: independent operators such as Cosmo Parking with shuttle transfers.
Belfast International's car parks list security features including CCTV, fencing, barriers, staff patrols and automatic number plate recognition, and operate a self-park policy.
Practical Tips for Choosing
- Price the full trip: flights, parking, fuel and tolls, not parking alone.
- Compare the same dates at both airports; seasonal demand affects each differently.
- For Dublin, pay with a card without foreign transaction fees, since charges are in euro.
- For early Dublin flights from the North, consider a hotel the night before. See driving to Dublin Airport from Northern Ireland.
- Book ahead at both airports; turn-up rates are far higher than pre-booked prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
For every parking option at Dublin, see our main guide to Dublin Airport parking.
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