Edinburgh to Belfast flights are something I genuinely wish someone had walked me through before I fumbled my way into booking this route the expensive way. It was 2021, I was sitting in a café on Cockburn Street with a flat white going cold beside me, and I’d just clicked “confirm” on a last-minute flight that cost me £89 one way. For a 45-minute flight. That’s basically paying per minute at that point.

I’ve made that mistake so you don’t have to. And honestly, since then I’ve done this crossing probably six or seven times — sometimes flying, sometimes taking the ferry just to mix things up — and I’ve gotten the price down to as low as £14.99 one way. Here’s everything I’ve learned about getting between these two brilliant cities without the financial sting.

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Why Edinburgh to Belfast Is Actually a Weird Little Route

Before we get into the money stuff, it’s worth knowing what you’re dealing with. The flight itself is ridiculously short — we’re talking about 45 minutes in the air, maybe an hour if there’s a headwind. You’re barely at cruising altitude before they’re asking you to put your tray table up. The Irish Sea is, in the grand scheme of things, not that wide.

But because it’s a short regional route, the pricing can be all over the place. Airlines know that business travelers book this corridor constantly — Belfast is a serious business hub — which means last-minute seats get expensive fast. Budget accordingly: this is a route where booking two or three weeks out makes a genuine difference, not just a marginal one.

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The Carriers Actually Flying This Route (And Which One I Trust)

Right now, easyJet is pretty much your main player on the Edinburgh to Belfast route, operating flights out of Edinburgh Airport (EDI) into Belfast International (BFS). Occasionally you’ll see other options pop up, but easyJet has been the consistent budget option here for years.

Here’s the thing about easyJet that I’ve had to make peace with: the base fare looks great until you start adding things. I learned this the hard way on a trip where I thought I’d snagged a £19.99 fare, only to watch it climb to £47 once I added a cabin bag. Yes, a cabin bag. So when you’re comparing prices, always factor in your luggage situation. If you’re traveling with just a personal item that fits under the seat — and honestly, for a weekend trip to Belfast, you really can — the base fare holds up.

The flight time is about 45-55 minutes, which means you could technically pack lighter than you think. I once did a long weekend in Belfast with nothing but a hiking daypack. Wore my bulkiest layers on the plane, stuffed everything else in, and saved myself the bag fee. Not glamorous, but £20+ is £20+.

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When to Book Edinburgh to Belfast Flights for the Cheapest Price

This is where I’ve done the most trial and error, and I’ll give you the honest version rather than the optimistic one. For this specific route, I’ve found the sweet spot is roughly three to six weeks out. Any earlier and prices can be oddly high — airlines seem to hold out for business travelers who’ll pay more closer to the date. Any later and you’re at the mercy of whatever’s left.

Tuesday and Wednesday departures are typically cheaper than weekend flights, which makes sense since the leisure crowd travels Friday through Sunday. I’ve grabbed midweek easyJet seats on this route for under £20 including taxes. Meanwhile, a Friday evening departure on the same week can be double or triple that. If your schedule has any flexibility at all, use it.

I also check Google Flights’ price calendar view obsessively before committing. It lets you see an entire month at a glance, which is so much better than clicking through dates one by one. Color-coded cheapness — genuinely one of my favorite things.

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The Ferry Alternative That’s Actually Worth Considering

Okay so this isn’t a flight tip, but I’d feel like I was gatekeeping if I didn’t mention it. Stena Line and P&O Ferries both run Belfast to Cairnryan (which is the closest Scottish port), and the journey takes about two hours. From Cairnryan you’re looking at a roughly two-hour drive or bus to Edinburgh, so the total travel time is longer — but the experience is completely different.

I took the ferry once purely out of curiosity and ended up staying on deck watching the Scottish coastline disappear while eating a surprisingly decent breakfast roll. It cost me about £25 for a foot passenger ticket, which at the time was actually cheaper than the flight once I’d factored in airport transport. The vibe is more relaxed, there’s no security theater, and if you’re prone to flight anxiety at all, it’s a solid option.

That said, it’s not always cheaper when you add the bus/train connections on both ends. Do the full math before assuming the ferry wins on price.

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Edinburgh Airport: Getting There Without Spending £30 on a Taxi

One thing that kills the budget on cheap Edinburgh to Belfast flights is the getting-to-the-airport part. Edinburgh Airport is west of the city center, and a taxi from the Old Town will set you back £25-35 depending on traffic and your driver’s interpretation of the scenic route.

The Airlink 100 bus is the move. It runs from Waverley Bridge right to the terminal, costs around £5 single (or £8.50 return), and honestly it’s just as fast as a taxi outside of rush hour. I’ve taken it dozens of times. The trams are another option now too — the Edinburgh Trams line extended to the airport, and a single from the city center is around £8.50, but it takes a bit longer than the bus depending on where you’re starting from.

Factor this into your budget before you celebrate that £19.99 fare. The actual door-to-door cost is what matters.

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Arriving in Belfast: International vs. City Airport

This trips people up. Belfast has two airports — Belfast International (BFS), which is about 18 miles from the city center, and George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), which is practically in the city. easyJet typically flies into International, which means another bus or taxi on the Belfast end.

The Airport Express 300 bus from Belfast International into the city center costs around £8 and takes about 35-40 minutes. It’s reliable and runs frequently, which is exactly what you want after a 45-minute flight and a lot of airport admin.

If you ever have the option of City Airport, take it. I caught a different flight into BHD once and walked to my Airbnb in 20 minutes. It was deeply satisfying.

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The Bottom Line on Cheap Edinburgh to Belfast Flights

Look, this is not a route where you’ll be bragging about a transatlantic mistake fare. The savings are more modest — we’re talking the difference between £90 and £18 — but on a short break budget, that difference is a pub dinner and a half. Worth caring about.

Book three to six weeks out, travel midweek if you can swing it, pack light to dodge the bag fees, and use the Airlink bus on both ends. Do all of that and you’re crossing the Irish Sea for somewhere around £30-40 total, door to airport. That’s genuinely reasonable for an international flight, even a short one.

Belfast is absolutely worth the trip, by the way. The food scene has gotten seriously good, the Black Taxi tours are unlike anything else in the UK, and the locals are — trust me on this — some of the warmest you’ll meet anywhere. Go. Just don’t pay full price to get there.

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