Serviced Apartments in Ballymena

Discover the best activities and attractions Ballymena has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

The Braid (Ballymena Arts & Museum Centre)
The Braid is Ballymena’s central cultural hub, combining a local museum, art gallery, performance space and library. It showcases the town’s industrial and social history, hosts rotating exhibitions of local and regional artists, and runs workshops, talks and community outreach programmes. The Braid is popular because it preserves and promotes local heritage, offers free or low-cost cultural activities, and attracts visitors to town-centre cafés and shops — supporting tourism, creative jobs and lifelong learning in the community.

Slemish Mountain
Slemish is the iconic conical mountain a short drive from Ballymena, famed for its association with St. Patrick and for excellent walking routes with panoramic views over County Antrim. It’s a major draw for hikers, pilgrims and photographers. Slemish’s popularity supports local outdoor tourism (guided walks, accommodation and cafes), boosts awareness of the area’s natural heritage, and encourages healthy outdoor recreation for residents and visitors alike.

Braid Valley Park
Braid Valley Park is a large riverside green space that offers riverside walks, wooded areas, playgrounds and peaceful picnic spots close to the town centre. Locals and families use it daily for leisure, dog walking and community events, while seasonal activities and informal sports make it a focal point for health and social life. The park contributes to quality of life in Ballymena, raises the town’s attractiveness for new residents, and supports small-scale outdoor event activity that benefits nearby businesses.

Galgorm Resort & Spa (near Ballymena)
Galgorm is a high-profile luxury resort on the outskirts of Ballymena, offering spa facilities, fine-dining restaurants, a championship golf course and conference/wedding venues. It attracts domestic and international visitors, high-end events and business tourism, generating significant local employment and supporting suppliers, hospitality staff and ancillary services. The resort’s reputation brings higher-spend visitors to the area, raising the local profile and economic impact beyond the town itself.

Ballymena Town Centre & Markets
Ballymena’s town centre combines national retailers with a strong tradition of independent shops, cafés and market stalls in the Market Square and surrounding streets. Regular markets, small independent boutiques, and a lively high street culture make it a shopping and social destination for locals and visitors. The retail core is vital to the local economy — providing everyday services and employment, supporting artisans and food producers through market trading, and anchoring regeneration and investment in the town.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Ballymena, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- NI Rail (Northern Ireland Railways) - Ballymena railway station provides rail connections linking the town with the Belfast area and other parts of Northern Ireland; station facilities support commuter and regional journeys.
- Translink Ulsterbus and Goldline coaches - Regular local and regional bus services operate from Ballymena to nearby towns and to Belfast, with some inter‑urban express coach options for longer journeys.
- Town centre bus interchange / local bus stops - A central interchange and multiple town stops give access to frequent local routes, making short trips across the town and to nearby villages straightforward.
- Taxis and private-hire vehicles - Local taxi firms and app-based/private-hire options provide flexible point-to-point travel, evening transport and services where public transit is limited.
- Rail/bus combined travel and park-and-ride options - Rail and bus connections can be combined for commuting; several car parks and roadside parking areas close to transit hubs allow park-and-ride style commuting into Belfast and other centres.

Major Highways
- A26 - Primary route through Ballymena connecting the town northwards toward Coleraine and Ballymoney and southwards toward Antrim and onward links to Belfast.
- A36 - Road providing a direct link eastwards toward Larne and the coastal area, useful for access to the port and coastal communities.
- M2 / M22 (motorway access via connecting A roads) - Motorway connections accessible via nearby A roads give relatively quick motorway access to Belfast and the wider motorway network in Northern Ireland.
- A8 - Key arterial route in the region that provides onward access toward Larne port and links into other major regional roads.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Local cycle provision and active travel routes - Ballymena has a mix of on‑street cycle lanes, traffic‑calmed town centre streets, off‑road shared paths/greenways in parts of the borough, and bike parking in central areas; local authority active‑travel initiatives and small scheme upgrades have been implemented to improve cycling safety and connectivity.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Road and junction upgrades - Ongoing local and Department for Infrastructure schemes have delivered carriageway resurfacing, signal and junction improvements, and safety upgrades on key approaches to Ballymena to reduce congestion and improve journey reliability.
- Public-transport accessibility and fleet improvements - Translink and local authorities have invested in improved bus stop accessibility, shelters and newer vehicles on some routes to enhance comfort, accessibility and frequency for commuters.
- Active travel and walking/cycling projects - Recent and planned active travel funding has supported expansion of pedestrian improvements, cycle lanes and greenway links in and around Ballymena to encourage sustainable local travel.
- Station and interchange enhancements - Incremental improvements to the rail station environs and town centre bus interchange (signage, shelters, pedestrian links and lighting) have improved intermodal connections for commuters and visitors.
- Strategic transport planning - Regional and council transport plans continue to study demand, public‑transport service adjustments and targeted infrastructure (e.g., junction or route capacity upgrades) to support economic growth and better connectivity with Belfast and neighbouring towns.

In Ballymena, finding the right furnished rental apartment for short term or long term rental can be challenging - especially with affordable rates all year round in Ballymena. That is where we help companies find the right serviced apartment to stay when working away from home. Our accommodation offers you the perfect self-catering, furnished rental properties in central Ballymena and easy-access locations nearby. Whether it be one week, one month or one year, we have flexible terms to suit you.