Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Ballymena travel guide

Ballymena Tourism | Ballymena Guide

You're Going to Love Ballymena

With a population of 28 932, Ballymena is a must-see destination in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Ballymena to see all of its attractions.

When to visit Ballymena

Ballymena in January
Estimated hotel price
£79
1 night at 3-star hotel
Ballymena in January
Estimated hotel price
£79
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Ballymena

Plane

When flying to Ballymena, you’ll arrive at Belfast Intl Airport (BFS), which is located 24 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Ballymena is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 305 km from Ballymena. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Alamo, among others, in Manchester.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ballymena, including National Express, Bus and Hannon Coach. From Dublin, the bus ride to Ballymena takes 241 km and will cost you around £22. From Glasgow, the ticket costs about £46 for a journey of 523 km.

Plane

When flying to Ballymena, you’ll arrive at Belfast Intl Airport (BFS), which is located 24 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Ballymena is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 305 km from Ballymena. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Alamo, among others, in Manchester.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Ballymena, including National Express, Bus and Hannon Coach. From Dublin, the bus ride to Ballymena takes 241 km and will cost you around £22. From Glasgow, the ticket costs about £46 for a journey of 523 km.

Airports near Ballymena

PIKGlasgow Prestwick
BFSBelfast Intl
BHDBelfast City

Airlines serving Ballymena

KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,835 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,930 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,697 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,273 reviews)
Ryanair
Good (5,053 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,076 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (254 reviews)
easyJet
Good (1,799 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,459 reviews)
China Southern
Good (96 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,767 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (829 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,163 reviews)
Kenya Airways
Good (262 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (642 reviews)
Jet2
Excellent (161 reviews)
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Where to stay in Ballymena

Average rates range from around £136 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £191 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Ballymena

Most booked hotels in Ballymena

See all
Garron View
3 stars
Excellent (9.6, Excellent reviews)
£59+
View
Rondo, Ballymena, Nr Ireland
1 star
Excellent (9.6, Excellent reviews)
£47+
View
Galgorm
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£186+
View
Dunsilly Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£123+
View
Antrim Heights Bnb
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£61+
View
Dunadry Hotel And Gardens
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£142+
View

Hiring a car in Ballymena

Hiring a car in Ballymena costs £23 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 13% cheaper than airport locations in Ballymena.

Expect to pay £1.31 per litre in Ballymena (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.63 and £20.84. The most frequently booked car type in Ballymena is Intermediate (Ford Grand C-MAX or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Ford Focus or similar) is, on average, 76% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Ballymena costs £23 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 13% cheaper than airport locations in Ballymena.

Expect to pay £1.31 per litre in Ballymena (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.63 and £20.84. The most frequently booked car type in Ballymena is Intermediate (Ford Grand C-MAX or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Ford Focus or similar) is, on average, 76% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Ballymena Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Ballymena city guide for the best Ballymena travel tips. To help you organise your Ballymena trip ideas, this Ballymena visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.