Rideshare Services Recommendations for Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh
Feb 20, 2026 | 4:01 pm
#1
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Rideshare Services Recommendations for Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh
Some basic research says Uber operates in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh. Are there other regional services that are better?
For example, when we visited Norwich recently, Veezu and Enterprise were more available and better than Uber. It does look like Uber has a stronger presence in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh than Norwich. With that disclaimer, looking to tap into local knowledge for other recommended rideshare services.
My college age daughter and two of her friends will be traveling their soon. She has been in the UK for a month now and generally oriented to Europe. Regardless my wife and I always like her to have a safe travel option if she finds herself in a pickle.
Thanks,
Jon
For example, when we visited Norwich recently, Veezu and Enterprise were more available and better than Uber. It does look like Uber has a stronger presence in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh than Norwich. With that disclaimer, looking to tap into local knowledge for other recommended rideshare services.
My college age daughter and two of her friends will be traveling their soon. She has been in the UK for a month now and generally oriented to Europe. Regardless my wife and I always like her to have a safe travel option if she finds herself in a pickle.
Thanks,
Jon
Feb 20, 2026 | 8:10 pm
#2
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,956
Some basic research says Uber operates in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh. Are there other regional services that are better?
For example, when we visited Norwich recently, Veezu and Enterprise were more available and better than Uber. It does look like Uber has a stronger presence in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh than Norwich. With that disclaimer, looking to tap into local knowledge for other recommended rideshare services.
My college age daughter and two of her friends will be traveling their soon. She has been in the UK for a month now and generally oriented to Europe. Regardless my wife and I always like her to have a safe travel option if she finds herself in a pickle.
Thanks,
Jon
For example, when we visited Norwich recently, Veezu and Enterprise were more available and better than Uber. It does look like Uber has a stronger presence in Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh than Norwich. With that disclaimer, looking to tap into local knowledge for other recommended rideshare services.
My college age daughter and two of her friends will be traveling their soon. She has been in the UK for a month now and generally oriented to Europe. Regardless my wife and I always like her to have a safe travel option if she finds herself in a pickle.
Thanks,
Jon
Re: Belfast
I had good luck with Uber up to even 11pm but the driver said most drivers, unless on a run out there anyway do not go very far out from the general center of town. I was out the Lisburn Rd. near Kings Hall and he said that was getting close to the edge for most drivers. Pricing, speed of pickup, cleanliness of cars, and professionalism of drivers all top notch.
Feb 21, 2026 | 1:14 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2008
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lyft/Freenow is the dominant app in Dublin by a margin, but some drivers will use multiple apps.
Feb 21, 2026 | 6:52 am
#7
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They do in Manchester - not sure about other UK cities. I've never actually tried it, as the pricing doesn't seem much less than a "private" Uber.
Feb 21, 2026 | 9:06 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Oh really? Thanks, didn't know that. As you say, there would have to be a significant discount to use Uber for rideshares rather than the "normal" Uber service.
Feb 21, 2026 | 9:14 am
#9
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Folks, I may have given the wrong impression. I am looking for local alternatives to Uber and UberX (not shared Uber rides). I just meant app based ride services when I said rideshare. Anyway, advice already given in the thread appears to still be relevant. Uber should work (just a mechanism to book a licensed Taxi in some locations) and FreeNow (Lyft) for Dublin. Doesn't seem like Bolt is worth bothering with. I vaguely remember trying to use them on a previous UK trip and it didn't work. While less expensive is always great; reliable, safe, and timely are what I am more concerned with for my daughter and her friends. Thanks for all of the feedback so far.
--Jon
--Jon
Feb 21, 2026 | 9:25 am
#10
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If you're just looking for a safe means of transport for your daughter in the event that she finds herself "in a pickle", then all three cities have plentiful, licensed and safe taxis that you can either hail on the street or pick up at a taxi rank, just as you would in London. I have no idea how prices compare, as I rarely use taxis and have never used an app-based cab company.
Feb 21, 2026 | 2:10 pm
#11
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Certainly in the U.K., there's a technical difference between a taxi and a private hire - the latter can't be hailed in the street, for example. But in common parlance, they are often all called taxis, and Uber and all the rest of them will be licensed private hire drivers.
Feb 21, 2026 | 11:33 pm
#12
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Certainly in the U.K., there's a technical difference between a taxi and a private hire - the latter can't be hailed in the street, for example. But in common parlance, they are often all called taxis, and Uber and all the rest of them will be licensed private hire drivers.
Feb 22, 2026 | 3:02 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Neither is fully reliable in terms of accepting rides - can be hit and miss depending on location etc - but they are still generally available and much easier than back in the olden days.
Feb 22, 2026 | 3:17 am
#14
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In Dublin, will all hailed taxis accept ApplePay? Are FreeNow able to pick up at the airport?
Feb 23, 2026 | 9:50 am
#15
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The rideshare pick up at DUB is in the carpark. Curb outside arrivals is hailed only.