How to choose the cheapest Belfast City Airport Parking?

Used to just rocking up to official Belfast City Airport parking on the day and paying as you enter? Perfectly understandable as you just want to relax and enjoy your holiday; however, by using Airport Parking Shop and a tiny bit of planning, you can save money and perhaps find an option better suited to you.

A comparison: Turning up at Short Stay costs £50 for 12–24 hours (then a £65 daily rate). Long Stay lists £95 for 5–6 days with a £20 daily rate thereafter (≈ £115 for 7 days). Our lowest price last week was £86.03 for a 7-day stay.

Tempted? Then, whether it is the nearest car park or the cheapest, we give you the answers below in just three bite-sized chunks.

1 – Understand Your Parking Type Options (and what's usually cheapest)

Quick Insights

Park & Ride is usually the cheapest (you park further away and take a bus), while Short Stay, right by the terminal, is the most expensive.

A Deeper Dive

(but don’t worry you will be back to the surface in no time)

• Short Stay (or Multi-Storey) — usually very near to the terminal and just a few minutes’ walk to departures.
• Long Stay (or Park & Ride) — these two names exist because Long Stay is more often used for official airport car parks, while Park & Ride is used by third-party providers. What they have in common is that they usually require a shuttle bus or a longish walk of 10+ minutes.
• Meet & Greet — you leave your car and keys near the terminal; it’s parked for you in a secure compound.

If you’re travelling with the family, you may find the Meet & Greet service is best suited to you; if you’re not carrying huge amounts of luggage then a cheaper Park & Ride may be the best option for you.

Belfast City Car Park Specifics

Official options are all on-airport and walkable: Premier (closest, includes Fast Track), Short Stay (very close) and Long Stay (economy, about a 5–10 minute walk). Blue Badge bays are available in all official car parks. There is no established third-party Park & Ride to BHD.

Walkable (official)

• Premier Car Park — walk ~2–3 minutes; includes Fast Track Security passes; covered walkway; self-park, keep keys.
• Short Stay — walk ~2–4 minutes; ANPR/ticketless; turn-up 12–24h £50, daily rate £65.
• Long Stay — walk ~5–10 minutes; best for week-plus; turn-up bands from £40/24h, £95/5–6 days, then £20/day.

Park & Ride (official/third-party)

• No routine third-party Park & Ride product is sold for Belfast City; use the walkable official car parks above.

Meet & Greet

• Not generally offered as a parking product at Belfast City (BHD).

Which parking type is cheapest?

Expect to pay more for convenience. Premier (closest, includes Fast Track) and Short Stay carry premium day rates; Long Stay is typically the best value for trips of 3+ days (around £95 for 5–6 days, then £20/day thereafter). Pre-book to beat turn-up pricing.

Using Airport Parking Shop

Tip: By default, Airport Parking Shop lists prices from low to high irrespective of the parking type, which you can see in the blue box. If you are sure what kind of parking type you want, simply hit the Filter Results option above the results and then select just what you want under Parking Options on the left.

2 – Plan to Book in Advance

Quick Insight

Start looking at least two weeks in advance.

The Quick Dive-Down Part

Turning up and paying at the barrier is the most expensive way to park (and you might find limited space). Short Stay is £50 for 12–24 hours (then £65/day). Long Stay shows £40/24h, £95 for 5–6 days and £20/day thereafter (≈ £115 for 7 days). Our lowest price last week was £86.03 for a 7-day stay. You can save substantially by booking in advance; aim for at least two weeks ahead.

Tip: Prices go up due to availability (or lack of), so at busier times of the year, like school and national holidays, you may want to start looking at prices even earlier.

3 – Compare Parking Features to Find the Best Value

Once you’ve decided on a parking type, compare what they offer to get the right balance of price and convenience:

• Transfer time & frequency (walk minutes only at BHD; no shuttle)
• Distance from terminal (Premier/Short Stay ~2–4 minutes; Long Stay ~5–10 minutes)
• Keys (keep vs. leave — all official car parks are keep your keys)
• Opening hours (24/7 operation; ANPR/ticketless entry)
• Security & reviews (Park Mark, CCTV, patrols)
• Accessibility (Blue Badge bays in Premier, Short Stay and Long Stay)
• Total price, not headline (compare Short Stay day-rate vs Long Stay weekly bands)

Compare Parking Options

Using Airport Parking Shop

Tip: After doing a search the features above will be displayed in the tabs, or by hitting the More Info button.

Motorbike parking

Please find information on motorcycle parking at Belfast City Airport on our dedicated blog page

Belfast City Guide

The capital of Northern Ireland today combines a remarkable industrial heritage, beautiful scenic surroundings, and places of interest for every generation. The city centre is packed with historic Victorian architecture and the impressive Victorian designs of the City Hall which are considered to be the focal point of the city.

If you come to Belfast you'll discover every kind of restaurant you could wish for, many of which have won prestigious awards. At night, lights from the Waterfront Hall and the vast Odyssey Arena (which opened in 2000 and is Ireland's largest entertainment complex) sparkle across the blue, floodlit lagoon. The enormous Castlecourt shopping complex is the most convincing symbol of the city's new achievements and future potential.

The historic Belfast Castle is situated on the slopes of the Cave Hill overlooking Belfast Lough, but climb to the top for awe-inspiring views over Belfast, the surrounding countryside, the Irish Sea and (on a clear day) Scotland.