Translink Journey Planner
Help reduce traffic congestion on our hospital sites by travelling on public transport. The Translink Journey Planner can help you plan your rail and bus travel.
By bus
- Metro routes 9A and 9B leave from Donegall Square East and pass the Lisburn Road entrance to Belfast City Hospital.
- From Europa Bus centre Ulster bus 530a and 530 to Lisburn stops at Lisburn road entrance
- Park and Ride services from Blacks Road and Sprucefield stop at the Roden Street footbridge. You can walk from here to the Donegall Road entrance to the hospital in 10 to 15 minutes.
- Click here for all route timetables.
By shuttle bus
A shuttle bus runs regularly between the Royal Hospitals and Belfast City Hospital sites from 7.40am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday.
By bicycle
There are currently no cycle lanes on the Lisburn Road or Donegall Road.
Bicycle parking for visitors and patients is located at the two-storey car park in front of the Tower Block and Cancer Centre.
A Belfast Bike docking station is also available at the Lisburn Road pedestrian entrance to the City Hospital site.
By train
- The City Hospital has its own train stop. The Tower building is a five minute walk from the train stop.
- You can access regular connections to both Lanyon Place and Great Victoria Street, as well as the Bangor, Derry, Dublin, Larne, Newry, Portadown and Portrush lines.
Translink Park and Ride
Translink Park and Ride timetables
Disability Action Transport Scheme (DATS)
This scheme helps older people or people with disabilities to access local services. You must first join the scheme, but you will then be eligible to access the transport. There is a small charge for this service.
For further information, please contact Disability Action:
- Telephone: 028 9029 7870
- Website: www.disabilityaction.org
By car
The City Hospital can be accessed by either the Lisburn Road or Donegall Road entrances. Both entrances are close to the M1, Westlink and Boucher Road.
Car Parking
There are a number of car parks marked on this City Hospital site map, including one at the new Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre.
There is a small charge for parking, which you will need to pay at the pay machines BEFORE you return to your car.
Parking for blue badge holders
There are 55 parking spaces for blue badge holders on the ground level of the two-storey car park in front of the Tower Block and Cancer Centre. We will make every effort to find alternative parking if these spaces are fully occupied.
There are five parking spaces for blue badge holders in the car park at the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre, four in the Renal Unit car park and another four at the rear of the Tower Block. There are also six parking spaces for blue badge holders at the side of the Tower Block beside the loading bay.
There are no specific parking spaces for blue badge holders in the multi-storey car park near the Donegall Road entrance to the hospital. However, the car park has lifts so it is accessible to wheelchair users.
| Parking spaces for blue badge holders | |
| Car park beside the Tower Block and Cancer Centre | 55 |
| Beside loading bay | 6 |
| Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre | 5 |
| Renal Unit car park | 4 |
| Rear of the Tower Block | 4 |
Shopmobility
Shopmobility helps patients and visitors with limited mobility by providing electric scooters and wheelchairs to help them get around the City Hospital site. The Shopmobility service is opposite the main entrance to the Tower Block and Cancer Centre. It is a free service and available from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Read more about Shopmobility here.
Abuse of parking spaces for blue badge holders
Any vehicle parked in a space for a blue badge holder must have a valid blue badge displayed. Your vehicle may be clamped if you fail to do so.
Free car parking
Patients with specific acute conditions who are required to attend the hospital on a regular basis will be entitled to free parking on site during their period of treatment.
If you believe you are eligible, you should speak to the ward sister / nurse in charge.
Free car parking will be provided to anyone who meets the following eligibility criteria:
| Patient | Next of kin / partner | Relative | Visitor | |
| Radiotherapy / chemotherapy | Yes | Yes if transporting patient | Yes if transporting patient | No |
| Renal dialysis | Yes | Yes if transporting patient | Yes if transporting patient | No |
| Critical care / high dependency | N/A | Yes | Discretionary | Discretionary |
Trust staff will use discretion to apply the eligibility criteria in other situations where the duration and/or frequency of visits leads to significant charges, for example:
- a patient who may have a number of outpatient appointments over an extended period
- a patient who may benefit from lengthy or frequent visits from relatives or friends to help adjust to a new environment
- a patient outside the prescribed treatment categories who has to make lengthy and/or frequent visits for treatment
- relatives who are spending a lot of time with a very sick or dying relative
- parents or guardians who are staying with their sick child or baby
- husbands or partners who are with their wife or partner while she is in labour
Hospital Travel Costs Scheme
The Hospital Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) was set up in 1988 as part of the NHS Low Income Scheme. This scheme provides financial assistance to patients who do not need an ambulance, but require assistance with their travel costs.
Under HTCS, patients on low incomes or specific qualifying benefits may be refunded for fares to attend NHS services under the care of a consultant. The journey will need to meet certain criteria.
Electric vehicle charge points
We have installed electric vehicle charge points at Belfast City Hospital. The ecar charge points can be found on the ground level of the multi-storey car park beside the Donegall Road entrance to the hospital.
The charge points can be accessed using the RFID card supplied by e-carni.
Belfast City Hospital site congestion
Belfast Trust would like to apologise if you find yourself in a queue to access the car parks. We fully understand that you may be concerned that you could be late or possibly miss your appointment.
In these circumstances, you should proceed to your appointment location as normal. We will try to ensure that your appointment can go ahead after you arrive.
If your appointment needs to be rearranged, we will organise another date as soon as possible. We will ensure that our records do not show this as a missed appointment.
By air
Belfast City Airport has regular domestic flights and is six miles from Belfast City Hospital via the Westlink and M3 motorway. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes by car, but may take longer at peak times. Bus route 600 operates a regular service between the City Airport and Europa Bus Centre. Download the timetable here.
Belfast International Airport has regular flights around Ireland, the UK, Europe and other international destinations. The airport is 20 miles from Belfast City Hospital via the Westlink and M2 motorway. This takes about 35 minutes by car, but may take longer at peak times. Bus route 300 operates a regular service between the International Airport and Europa Bus Centre. Download the timetable here.
Public transport and travel information
Read more transport and travel information that may be useful for patients and visitors travelling to Trust facilities.