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With Ferry.ie you can find Ferries from Ireland sailing to all the main Ferry Ports as well as some of the less well known ports in Ireland!

When you search for your Ferry ticket with Ferry.ie you’ll have the choice of 14 routes of Ferries from Ireland sailing to around 10 destination ports.

For more information on Ferries from Ireland, see below or alternatively if you’d like to get a price now then simply choose a preferred route from the menu!

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7 fantastic ferry trips in Ireland

Look out for lighthouses, seabirds and lunar landscapes on these brilliant boat rides

Ferry trips around Ireland don't just get you from A to B. Keep your eyes peeled for iconic lighthouses, colonies of seabirds and lunar landscapes on these brilliant boat rides

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Carlingford Lough Ferry, County Louth

Greenore-Greencastle

Route: Dublin to Belfast

Detour off the motorway between two cities for breathtaking scenery around Carlingford Lough. The ferry trip is essentially a bridge between Greenore on the Cooley Peninsula, and Greencastle in County Down, a gateway to the Mourne Mountains . Both areas offer an abundance of walking trails and outdoor activities to try, not to mention sites of mythological and historical significance to explore. Depending on the tide, you may see oyster and mussel farms along the shores, and you can sample these tasty morsels in Carlingford’s restaurants.

Practical information: Sailing year round, from 7am-9.30pm in peak season. Journey takes 15 minutes.

Strangford to Portaferry Ferry, County Down

Portaferry-Strangford

Keep your wheels spinning towards the Mourne Coastal Route as you head for Strangford Lough and this 400-year-old ferry route, which crosses the inlet at its narrowest point. The lough is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with over 2,000 marine species, and it buzzes with all kinds of activities before you hop on board the ferry. Try a canoe trail, sailing, kayaking, bird-watching, or head indoors to learn about the wildlife at Exploris Aquarium .

Practical information: Sailing from 7.30am-10.45pm in peak season. Card payments only accepted in the terminal. Journey takes eight minutes.

Killimer to Tarbert Car Ferry, County Clare

Tarbert-Killimer

Route: Galway to Tralee

Take advantage of this shortcut from Clare to Kerry  if you’re following the Wild Atlantic Way . The ferry route crosses the Shannon Estuary, taking you from Clare with its lunar-like landscape at the Burren  and hair-raising views at the Kilkee cliffs, over to the cosy pubs of quaint Kerry towns, such as Listowel, Ballybunion and Tralee, or to the lovely surrounds of County Limerick , with its foodie heritage, and the original source of the Irish coffee at Foynes. Look out for the bottlenose dolphins that regularly join the crossing.

Practical information: Sailing from 7am-9.30pm in peak season. Journey takes 20 minutes.

Stroove Lighthouse, Greencastle, County Donegal

Greencastle-Magilligan Point

Route: Belfast to Donegal

Travel from the shadows of Binevenagh mountain in Northern Ireland to Greencastle in County Donegal on the Wild Atlantic Way. This wildly scenic ferry trip marries two dramatic journeys (the Causeway Coastal Route  and the Wild Atlantic Way) in one 15-minute crossing. Once in Greencastle, film and TV buffs can head for Ireland’s most northerly point, Malin Head, a Star Wars filming location. On Magilligan side, you’re just an hour’s drive from the walled city of Derry~Londonderry , with its lively pubs, tasty food scene and collection of fascinating museums.

Practical information: Sailing April to September between 9am-8.15pm. Payment is by cash only (euro or sterling). Journey takes 15 minutes.

Devenish Island, Lough Erne, County Fermanagh

Trory Jetty to Devenish Island

Route: Enniskillen to Derry~Londonderry

One of no fewer than 154 islands on the River Erne, Devenish Island's monastic site was established by St Molaise back in the 6th century. The island is only accessible by boat but you almost feel you can reach out and touch it from tiny Trory Jetty, it’s so close. Raided by Vikings, the monastery burned and flourished over time and what remains is well worth a visit – the old monastery, two churches, an oratory, and the iconic round tower. Marvel at untouched landscapes, beautiful wildlife and learn the island’s rich folklore, with an amazing view wherever you sit.

Practical information: Sailing June to November. Journey takes two minutes.

Valentia Island Ferry, County Kerry

Reenard Point to Knightstown

Route: Ring of Kerry to Valentia Island

Delivering spectacular views from Bray Head to the Skellig Islands – a key filming location for Star Wars  – this short little trip takes you from the mainland to Valentia Island. Here, you can follow the incredible fossilised amphibian footprints along the 350-million-year-old Tetrapod Trackway – one of only four in the world; stop off at the lighthouse at Cromwell Fort; or if you’re feeling adventurous, take a guided hike up the stunning Geokaun Mountain. On the island, you can try out a range of watersports, including diving and kayaking or just indulge in some Valentia Island Farmhouse ice cream and local seafood. Well worth the short ferry journey, even though there is an alternative landbridge, too!

Practical information: Sailing April to October, the ferry runs from 7.45am-10pm in peak season. Journey takes 10 minutes.

Rathlin Island Ferry, County Antrim

Ballycastle to Rathlin island

Route: Belfast to Derry~Londonderry

A great way to extend your Causeway Coastal Route experience is to take the ferry from the pretty harbour town of Ballycastle and head over to Rathlin Island for the day or even overnight. The island is a delight. Take a guided walking tour, then head to the Seabird Centre where Northern Ireland’s largest colony of seabirds, including puffins, gather in their thousands. Explore Rathlin’s unique "upside down" lighthouse and learn about the island’s history, people and mythology at the Boathouse Visitor Centre at the harbour, where you can examine artifacts and photographs from Rathlin’s past.

Practical information: Sailing from 8am-6.30pm in peak season. Book at least one week in advance. Journey takes 25 minutes via the Rathlin Express fast ferry and 40 minutes via the Spirit of Rathlin vehicle ferry.

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Travel to Scotland from Ireland

Find everything you need to plan your trip to Scotland from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

P&O Ferry

Ferries and Flights from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Travelling to Scotland from Ireland is a breeze - with frequent sailings and flights between major ferry ports and airports, you can board a boat or plane and be here in just a few hours.

P&O Ferry, Loch Ryan

FERRIES TO SCOTLAND FROM NORTHERN IRELAND

Choose one of the regular sailings from the major ports of Belfast and Larne and you'll arrive in Cairnryan in Dumfries & Galloway, around 80 miles south of Glasgow. The port enjoys good road, rail and bus links with Glasgow.

For those looking to come on two feet (or even two wheels), there are seasonal passenger ferries from Ballycastle to the beautiful island of Islay and the port at Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll.

• Belfast to Cairnryan with  Stena Line
• Larne to Cairnryan with  P&O Ferries
• Ballycastle to Port Ellen with  Kintyre Express  - take a passenger ferry to the island of Islay in Argyll. Details of timetable to be announced
• Ballycastle to Campbeltown with  Kintyre Express  - reach Campbeltown on Argyll's Kintyre Peninsula by passenger ferry

All crossings are between one and two hours, depending on the route and service - so you could even come for a day trip, but we reckon you won't want to leave so soon. Find more routes and ways to travel at  Omio.co.uk .

Edinburgh airport

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FLIGHTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND TO SCOTLAND

To edinburgh.

• Belfast International to Edinburgh with  EasyJet  
• Dublin to Edinburgh with  Ryanair  and  Aer Lingus
• Derry to Edinburgh with  Ryanair
• Belfast International to Glasgow with  EasyJet
• Derry to Glasgow with  Loganair
• Donegal to Glasgow with  Loganair
• Dublin to Glasgow with  Ryanair  and  Aer Lingus
• Belfast City to Glasgow with  Loganair  (Currently unavailable)

TO INVERNESS

• Belfast City to Inverness with  Loganair

TO ABERDEEN

• Belfast City to Aberdeen with  Loganair
• Dublin to Aberdeen with  Loganair

Stena Line Ferry, Loch Ryan

ONWARD TRAVEL

• Buying a ferry ticket combined with onward rail or coach travel with  Stena Line  can be cheaper than getting separate tickets for each stage of your journey, and helps to make your travel connections smoother when you get to Scotland.
• Scotland's airports and ferry terminals have great links to public transport, as well as taxi and car hire services nearby.

Find out more about travelling around Scotland

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Popular Ferry Operators for Ireland

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Ferry to ireland.

Ferries to and from Ireland have direct ferry connections with France, Spain, Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales and England.

Ireland Ferry Schedules & Timetables

There are approximately 30 daily sailings to Ireland. 5 ferry companies offer sailings to and from Ireland. Ferry Timetables can change throughout the year, use our deal finder for the most up to date sailing times. The fastest ferry to Ireland is via the Cairnryan to Larne ferry route.

Ireland Ferry Companies

• P&O Ferries
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Ferry from Scotland to Ireland

• Cairnryan to Larne
• Cairnryan to Belfast

Ferry from England to Ireland

• Liverpool to Dublin
• Liverpool Birkenhead to Belfast

Most popular questions

Which ferries travel to ireland, what is the fastest ferry to ireland, what is the cheapest ferry to ireland, what are the ferry ports in ireland.

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Ireland ferry map and routes, ferries within ireland, aran islands to ireland.

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Aran Islands to Ireland page.

France to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from France to Ireland page.

Wales to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Wales to Ireland page.

Scotland to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Scotland to Ireland page.

England to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from England to Ireland page.

Spain to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Spain to Ireland page.

Isle of Man to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Isle of Man to Ireland page.

Onboard the ferries

Find out what it's like onboard the ferries before you travel.

Download the Direct Ferries app or manage your booking online through My Account

Visit our customer service page to find useful information on travelling by ferry, our FAQs, and how to contact us for help with your booking

Ferry to Dublin and Holyhead

Travel by ferry to Dublin and Holyhead and get away the easy way to Ireland and Wales. Enjoy the best travel experience on the Irish Sea onboard the Stena Adventurer or Stena Estrid Superferries travelling 8 times daily between Dublin and Holyhead in only 3 hours 15 minutes.

Holyhead to Dublin – travel in style

Pack up the car and travel by ferry to the heart of Dublin. Sit back and relax onboard, enjoy a great meal, a drink at the bar or if you want to treat yourself why not pick up a bargain in our Duty Free Shop?  Ireland's capital, Dublin is one of the most exciting cities in Europe. The culture is electric and the city is renowned for its poets and playwrights, artists and musicians.

Things to do in Dublin

Where do you start? With its many museums, stunning sights and great shopping a short break to Dublin by ferry is an ideal break away.  Explore the Guinness Storehouse and enjoy a pint of the famous “Black Stuff” or if whiskey is your preference visit the famous Jameson Distillery.  Enjoy the craic in Temple Bar, stroll through St. Stephen's Green and immerse yourself in history in the world-famous Trinity College and its stunning libraries.

Dublin to Holyhead – it’s easy by car

Travel to Holyhead by car and bring all you need to go hiking, biking or sightseeing around North Wales and beyond. The Island of Anglesey is renowned for its amazing coastline and the cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Chester and Birmingham are all within easy reach.

Things to do in and around Holyhead

Kayaking, powerboating and beachcombing are all part of the appeal of Holyhead and North Wales. Enjoy some top class restaurants, beautiful towns and villages and a warm and friendly welcome.

With no baggage charges taking the ferry to Dublin and Holyhead is easy so pack it all in and enjoy a car-cation with Stena Line today.

New! Duty Free shopping at the port

If you’re travelling by car, not only can you look forward to great savings onboard but you can also buy in bulk in our Duty Free port shops in Holyhead and Fishguard! Find special bulk deals only available in these shops – simply park your car, buy your Duty Free allowance and let your car do the heavy work. Happy shopping! 

Travel by ferry to Dublin and Holyhead and get away the easy way to Ireland and Wales. Enjoy the best travel experience on the Irish Sea onboard the Stena Adventurer or Stena Estrid Superferries travelling 8 times daily between Dublin...

Sail on Stena Adventurer & Stena Estrid

Dublin & Holyhead

From €149.0 single, car & driver

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Ferry to Holyhead and Dublin

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Ferry to Ireland

Find ferry tickets, compare sailing times and prices for all ferry routes to Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Dun Laoghaire, Larne or Rosslare. We compare all the major operators like Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, Stena Line, Brittany Ferries and DFDS Seaways:

Find your ferry to Ireland

Compare cheap ferry crossings to Ireland

An easy way to hop over to Ireland from the United Kingdom is traveling by ferry. If you are starting from mainland Europe there are two different routes to Ireland. One route brings you from France or Spain directly to Ireland, the other one takes you from the continent (Holland or France) to the United Kingdom and from there further to Ireland (the so-called landbridge ferry). Below you find an overview of all the ferry routes to Ireland.

To travel to Ireland by ferry with your own car might take some time depending from where you start, but it might be cheaper than the combination of booking a flight and renting a car.

Tip: If you really want to save money you should – especially during holiday season – book the ferry in advance.

Ferry connections to Ireland

You can either take a direct ferry to and from Ireland to reach mainland Europe (seabridge connection) or sail to the UK first and have a second crossing to Ireland (landbridge connection).

Direct ferry to Ireland

Direct ferry routes to and from Ireland connecting Ireland to the UK, France and Spain.

Direct ferries from the UK to Ireland

Direct ferries from france to ireland, direct ferries from spain to ireland, landbridge ferry services to ireland.

The landbridge route to Ireland will include to ferry crossings. You have to sail from mainland Europe over the Channel to the UK and then over the Irish Sea over to Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Landbridge ferry – from Holland to the UK

Landbridge ferry: from france to the uk.

All information supplied without guarantee.

How to Get from Ireland to Scotland (And Back)

Planning a trip to both Scotland and Ireland means you’ll have to figure out how many of the wonderful sights in both countries you can take in during your trip. Of course, it also means you have the challenge of getting between the two countries. However, it’s actually pretty straightforward, doesn’t take long, and you have quite a few options to choose from. 

The quickest way to get between the two countries is to fly, which can take less than an hour, depending on which cities you are flying between. The ferry is the other option, with the quickest crossings taking just over 2 hours. Within the ferry option, you have the choice to take a car , bus, or train for your onward journey. 

There’s no direct train, tunnel, bridge, or otherwise, so you have to either fly or use the ferry (unless you fancy a swim, which I wouldn’t recommend!).

How Close is Ireland to Scotland?

The closest points between Ireland and Scotland are only 12 miles apart, meaning you can see across the water to the other country on a clear day. 

In terms of travel, your journey will be a bit longer than 12 miles, but it shouldn’t take long. In fact, you can even take a day trip between the two (but there’s a lot to see in both countries, so it’s not highly recommended unless you’re really short on time!). 

The distance between Edinburgh and Belfast is about 180-190 miles, while Dublin is about 300 miles from Edinburgh. 

The ferry crossing between Cairnryan in Scotland and Belfast is about 50 miles. 

Option 1: Ferry

Taking the ferry is a quick and enjoyable way to travel between Ireland and Scotland, and you’ll be ready to embark on your onward journey quickly upon arrival.

Ferry Routes Between Ireland And Scotland

There are two ferry ports in Northern Ireland: Belfast and Larne (about 25 miles north of Belfast). Both run ferries across to Cairnryan on the west coast of Scotland regularly—there are about 13 sailings every day in both directions, so you’ll never have to wait too long to catch a ferry.

The first crossing is at 03:30, while the last is at 23:59, and they run every few hours or a regular schedule.

How Long Is The Ferry Ride From Ireland To Scotland?

The ferry ride doesn’t take long; from Belfast to Cairnryan is 2 hours 15 minutes, and from Larne to Cairnryan is slightly quicker, at just 2 hours.

There is currently no ferry route between the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

What Is The Fastest Ferry From Ireland To Scotland?

The fastest route is between Larne and Cairnryan, at 2 hours. However, if you are planning to stay in Belfast, the journey to Belfast Port instead is only 15 minutes longer. Driving from Larne to Belfast will take about 40 minutes, so it’s usually better to get the slightly longer ferry and avoid the drive.

How Much Does The Ireland To Scotland Ferry Cost? 

The cost can vary considerably depending on how far in advance you book your tickets and whether you are travelling with a car or on foot.

As a rough guide, a single passenger with no car, one way, costs around £35 from Belfast to Cairnryan. 

For the same journey with a standard-sized car, the price goes up to around £129. 

If you’d rather sail from Larne to Cairnryan, a single passenger with no car, one way, costs around £25. The same route with a car costs about £134. For all routes, the price increases further if you are travelling with a larger vehicle or towing a caravan. 

Travelling To And From Ferry Ports

If you’re taking your car on the ferry, your journey to and from the port should be straightforward. Your navigation system will show you exactly where to go. If you’re on foot and require public transport, things get a bit more difficult. 

There are no train stations at either Belfast or Cairnryan ferry terminals. To get to these ports by train, the nearest stations are: 

• Belfast: Great Victoria Street (one of Belfast’s two main stations)
• Cairnryan: Stranraer 

From there, you’ll need to take a taxi to the ferry terminal. If you’re travelling into or out of Larne, there’s a train station at the port, which makes it a slightly more convenient option for those without a car. 

You can also reach the ferry terminals by bus. In Belfast Port, look for Translink Metro Bus 96. From there, the journey into the city centre takes about 20 minutes. For Cairnryan, Stagecoach buses 358 and 360 stop at the port. 

Renting a car is another option, if you didn’t travel with your own. Unfortunately, there’s nowhere at Cairnryan Port to rent a car, but Ayr is not too far away and has a few options. There aren’t car rental facilities at Belfast Port either, but again you can find a few options in the city centre or nearby Belfast City Airport. The town of Larne is also home to a couple of car rental companies if you’re sailing to or from there.

Option 2: Fly

Flying between Ireland and Scotland can be a bit more convenient, especially if you are travelling without a car. It’s quick and generally quite cheap, too. And, you also have the option to fly directly into various cities in the Republic of Ireland. 

Flight Routes Between Ireland And Scotland

There are quite a few direct flight routes between Scotland and both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland:

• Belfast – Aberdeen (1h 10m)
• Belfast – Edinburgh (50m)
• Belfast – Glasgow (45m)
• Belfast – Inverness (1h 15m)
• Cork – Edinburgh (1h 20m)
• Dublin – Aberdeen (1h 35m)
• Dublin – Edinburgh (1h 15m)
• Dublin – Glasgow (1h 10m) 
• Dublin – Inverness (1h 30m)

The cost varies depending on the route, time, and day you fly, but generally tickets are quite cheap. Ryanair is known for its low cost fares, and operates on many of the routes listed above. You might strike lucky and find a one-way ticket from Belfast to Edinburgh for just £13! 

Flights to Inverness and Aberdeen are generally operated by Loganair, and will cost considerably more. Other airlines to look at for cheap flights include Aer Lingus and easyJet. 

Onwards Travel From Airports

As with the ferry ports, there are a few options for onwards travel from the airports in both Ireland and Scotland. 

From Edinburgh Airport, you can either take a tram or a bus to the city centre directly from the airport, or hire a car (although you won’t really need a car if you’re staying within Edinburgh). 

Aberdeen Airport is well-served by buses, and is a short 2-mile taxi ride from the nearest train station, Dyce. Aberdeen Airport also has a few car rental companies to choose from for you to explore the Highlands.

Inverness Airport is also very easy to get to, with both buses and trains serving the airport directly. Car rental is available here, too.

Glasgow has two airports, Prestwick and Glasgow. However, there are currently no flights from Ireland to Prestwick. 

For Glasgow Airport, you can travel by bus directly to the airport, or take a train to Paisley Gilmour Street and get a bus or taxi from there. Again, there are a few car hire options although, like Edinburgh, it’s not really needed if you’ll be staying in the city. Glasgow now has a Low Emissions Zone in the city centre, meaning cars that don’t meet emissions standards cannot be driven in the city centre. So, it’s much easier to stick to public transport if you’re planning to explore Glasgow.

In Ireland, Dublin Airport is extremely well-served by buses, with over 1000 arrivals a day! There’s no train station, but buses can take you from Connolly and Heuston train stations to the airport. Cork Airport also has plenty of bus services, including from the nearest railway station (Kent). 

Belfast is home to Belfast International and Belfast City (George Best) airports. Belfast International flies to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness, and Belfast City operates flights to Aberdeen as well as the other three Scottish airports. I’d recommend flying to or from Belfast City if you can—it’s a very small airport so it’s an absolute breeze to get through. 

For Belfast City, the nearest train station is Sydenham rail halt, while the best bus is the dedicated Airport Express 600. The airport is just minutes away from the city centre; you can actually walk in, although the route is near a busy dual carriageway, so do take care if arriving at the airport on foot.

Belfast International has plenty of bus routes, and there is an optional add-on (known as Airlink) to take you to the airport by bus when you already hold a train ticket. 

All of the Irish airports mentioned above have plenty of car rental options for you to collect or return a hire car. 

Is It Better To Fly Or Take A Ferry From Ireland To Scotland?

There’s no one better way to travel, as it depends on your personal preferences, where you are going, and how you are going to travel around when you get there.

Here’s a quick table to help you compare the pros and cons of ferry travel and flights between Ireland and Scotland: 

Documents Required to Travel Between Scotland and Ireland

Some routes between Scotland and Ireland require a passport , while others require photo ID but not necessarily a passport. 

Can You Travel From Ireland To Scotland Without A Passport?

It depends on how you are travelling and where you are from. 

If you are travelling between Northern Ireland (Belfast or Larne) and Scotland, you will not need a passport if you’re a British or Irish citizen. However, adults will need some photo ID whether flying or taking the ferry, although children under 16 generally do not. Children can use a birth certificate if ID is requested. 

Non UK or Irish citizens will require a valid passport and a visa where applicable to cross the border by ferry. Passports are not required when flying, but it might be better to carry it just in case.

Anyone flying from the Republic of Ireland (Cork or Dublin) into Scotland will require a passport, even British and Irish nationals. 

Can You Fly Scotland To Dublin Without A Passport?

No, Dublin is not part of the UK, so you will need a passport to fly there from Scotland. 

Can I Travel From Belfast To Glasgow Without A Passport?

Yes, you can travel between Belfast and Glasgow without a passport, even if you are flying, as both cities are in the UK. In this case, you will need a form of photo ID, but it doesn’t have to be a passport. It can be an ID card or driving licence, or even a recently-expired passport. 

Booking Your Journey

It’s easiest to book your flight or ferry tickets online. Booking in advance will generally get you the best rates, and also consider flexible dates as sometimes flight prices can jump up dramatically from one day to the next. 

If you can travel without a car on the ferry, you’ll save around £100 each way in most cases, so this is worth considering if you’re on a budget. However, getting around with public transport could prove difficult, depending on where you’re planning to visit. 

You can compare ferry prices with Direct Ferries , and use Google Flights to find the best flight times and direct routes.

When is the Best Time to Travel Between Scotland and Ireland?

It’s likely that ferries and flights will be busier during the summer months (June to August). This is a popular time to visit, because the weather is likely to be better (but nothing is guaranteed!). 

You might find better deals when travelling in spring (April to May) or autumn (September to Ocotber), and outwith school holidays. These are both still excellent times to visit Scotland and Ireland, as attractions are generally still open and there are still (sometimes) some pleasantly warm days to enjoy the great outdoors.

Example Routes From Ireland To Scotland And Back

To help you plan a trip, let’s look at a few routes you might be interested in taking between the two countries:

How To Get From Dublin, Ireland To Edinburgh, Scotland

The quickest and easiest way to get from Dublin to Edinburgh is by flying; it takes just over an hour.

• Catch the bus from Dublin city centre to the airport. Depending on where in Dublin you’re starting out, you’ll have different options. Dublin Express operates three routes from key city centre locations to the airport. Single tickets cost €8 and the journey takes about 25 minutes.
• Take the flight from Dublin to Edinburgh. Ryanair and Aer Lingus operate direct flights between the two cities. Both airlines operate around four daily flights and two others on certain days only.
• At Edinburgh Airport, take a tram or bus directly from the airport to the city centre. Trams depart every 10 minutes or less between 06:18 and 22:48. Single tickets cost £7.50. Buses Airlink 100 and Skylink 200 and 400 run 24/7 between the airport and the city centre. Skylink services are every 30 minutes, and Airlink are every 10 minutes in peak times, and every 30 minutes at non-peak times. Single tickets cost £5.50.

How To Get From Belfast, Ireland To Glasgow, Scotland

You can either fly or take the ferry between Belfast and Glasgow.

To take the ferry:

• Take the bus to Belfast Port from the city centre. Translink operates a bus from Upper Queen Street to the terminal daily in time for ferry departures. The return service from the terminal drops you off at Donegall Place in Belfast City Centre. Journey time is just over 20 minutes and costs £2.20. Note, if you’re getting a very early or late ferry, you’ll have to get a taxi to the port as the buses don’t run all night.
• Board the ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan. Crossings are operated by Stena Line and run six times daily, starting at 03:30 and finishing at 23:30, every 4 hours. 
• From Cairnryan, you can get a taxi to Stranraer train station, then a train into Glasgow from there. Most trains require a change at Ayr, but some direct trains are also available. The journey takes about 2.5 hours, costs £25 or so, and you can buy tickets on the Trainline app . Trains run every couple of hours.
• Catch the bus from Belfast city centre to Belfast City Airport. The Airport Express 600 bus takes you there from the Europa Buscentre in just 10 minutes, and services run every half hour. Tickets are £2.20 one way.
• Take the flight from Belfast City to Glasgow. easyJet and Aer Lingus operate direct flights between the two cities. Aer Lingus operates two daily flights, while easyJet flies from Belfast to Glasgow on four days a week.
• At Glasgow Airport, take a bus directly from the airport to the city centre. The Glasgow Airport Express 500 bus operates 24/7 and can get you to the city in just 15 minutes. Tickets cost £10 on the bus, or you can buy on your mobile in advance.

Things to Remember When Going Between The Two Countries

Both Northern Ireland and Scotland are part of the UK, so there shouldn’t be many noticeable differences when travelling between the two. 

However, the Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK, so there is one important thing to keep in mind if travelling from there to Scotland. This is the currency : ROI uses the Euro (€), while Scotland uses the Pound Sterling (£). Don’t try to use the wrong currency in either country! Both use three-pin plugs, so no adapters are needed.

A Last Word…

Travelling between Ireland and Scotland is fairly simple with a little bit of planning. The journey won’t take more than 2.5 hours, and can take just under an hour, depending on where you’re travelling between. 

While the ferry offers a relaxing journey and the option to take your own car to explore the ‘other side’ at your leisure, flying between the two is often quicker and cheaper. 

At the end of the day, it’s up to you and your travel plans as to which is the better option. 

Can you get a train from Ireland to Scotland?

You cannot take a train directly between Ireland and Scotland, as there is no tunnel or bridge between the two. You can take a train from near both countries’ ferry ports onwards to your destination, but there aren’t train stations at the port on either side. So, you’ll also need a taxi to get there.

How do people get from Ireland to Scotland?

Many people take both ferries and flights between the two countries. There are dozens of flights and ferries running between Scotland and Ireland every day on a number of different routes. 

Can you fly from Belfast to Scotland without a passport?

Yes, as Belfast and Scotland are both part of the UK, you can fly between the two without a passport.

Is there a ferry route between the Republic of Ireland and Scotland?

No, the only ferries between the Republic of Ireland and the UK are Dublin – Liverpool (England), Dublin – Holyhead (Wales), Dublin – Douglas (Isle of Man), and Rosslare – Pembroke or Fishguard (both Wales).  

What is the cheapest flight from Scotland to Ireland?

The cheapest flights from Scotland to Ireland are usually those operated by Ryanair, which can cost under £15 one way. Prices vary depending on the day and time of travel, and there will be additional costs to reserve a certain seat and to carry luggage in the hold.

Can I rent a car at Edinburgh Airport?

Yes, Edinburgh Airport has eight car rental companies on-site. You can book your hire car from the airport on their official website.

Are there direct flights from Belfast to Inverness?

Yes, Loganair flies from Belfast to Inverness a few times per week. Schedules change regularly, and flights generally cost more than from Edinburgh or Glasgow.

How far are Dublin and Glasgow from each other?

Dublin and Glasgow are just 1 hour and 10 minutes apart by air. 

Are there any travel restrictions or quarantine rules for travelling between the two countries? 

Owner and author at Scotland in a Week, born and bred in Scotland. Emily has travelled extensively across the country and is eager to share her knowledge with everyone planning a trip to this magical country.

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How to Travel From London to Dublin by Plane, Train, Bus, and Car

TripSavvy / Julie Bang

London , the capital of England, and Dublin , the capital of the Republic of Ireland, are two of the most visited cities in the United Kingdom and Europe respectively. London and Dublin are 288 miles (463 kilometers) apart as the bird flies. Dublin offers a smaller and more intimate city experience, while London brims with activity day and night.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are separated by the Irish Sea so flying between the two capitals is the only direct option for travel between London and Dublin. Any route that involves a car, bus, or train, will also require a journey by ferry, which slows the travel time down significantly. Ferries leave four times a day from Holyhead in Wales, and the journey takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. There are several low cost European and UK airlines that fly from London to Dublin so ticket prices can be relatively affordable. Of course, the prices will vary greatly depending on the time of year, time of day, London airport used, and how far in advance the tickets are purchased.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get From London to Dublin?

Taking the bus is the cheapest, as well as the longest, way to travel between the two cities. The full trip by bus and ferry from London to Dublin takes 12 hours and 30 minutes. Prices start as low as $20 depending on the time of year and how far in advance the tickets are booked. Buses bound for the ferry which will ultimately transport passengers towards Dublin leave from Victoria Station in central London. The buses leave in the evening (usually around 6 p.m.) and cross England towards Holyhead. After stopping in Luton, Milton Keyes, and Birmingham, the overnight coach takes passengers to Holyhead, Wales to board the ferry to Ireland. From there, bus travelers can disembark at the Dublin port or keep going to the central bus station known as Busáras . The service is operated by National Express , and booking a ticket guarantees you a seat on their modern coaches which are all equipped with Wi-Fi. If you don’t want to browse digital entertainment, you can even sleep during the journey.

What Is the Fastest Way to Get From London to Dublin?

Flying is by far the easiest and fastest way to travel between London and Dublin. The journey takes around 90 minutes, not including the time it takes to get to the airport, clear security, and collect your luggage. London has five major airports that offer flights to Dublin Airport. The best fares between the two capital cities will depend on the carrier and the time of year. Ryanair, EasyJet, Aer Lingus, and British Airways are a few of the airlines which fly the route multiple times per day. Rates can vary dramatically depending on the time of year and what is included (e.g. hand luggage only or checked baggage, and the flexibility to change bookings in the future), but can be found for as low as $50.

How Long Does It Take to Drive?

Departing from London, the journey by car to Holyhead takes about 5 hours and 10 minutes. Once you arrive in Holyhead, you will need to find a spot on the car ferry and purchase tickets for the crossing, which takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. This is the most flexible way to travel between London and Dublin. If you are planning to rent a car, you should first check to ensure that the contract allows you to travel across borders with the vehicle or if you need additional international insurance. Take the M40 to the M6, eventually continuing to the A5 which marks the point where you will cross from England into Wales. Remember that England, Wales, and Ireland, you will have to drive on the left-hand side. For more, here is a complete guide to driving in Ireland.

How Long Is the Train Ride?

The journey from London to Holyhead takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes, though this can be longer on the weekends or on holidays. The ferry ride from Holyhead to Dublin takes between 2 hours and 15 minutes and 3 hours, depending on the schedule. The first step in getting from London to Dublin by train requires a stop in Holyhead. Trains depart from London Euston Station bound for Holyhead approximately every four hours. Trains are operated by Avanti West Coast and tickets from London to Holyhead start around $100. The Holyhead port and the Holyhead train station are in the same building so travelers do not need to worry about walking a long distance to the ferry. Once in Holyhead, switch to the ferry to complete the journey from the United Kingdom to Dublin. However, you will need to purchase a separate ferry ticket from one of the two ferry companies which make the crossing. These tickets cost an additional $35 or so.

When Is the Best Time to Vist Dublin?

The best time to visit Dublin is in April or May when the spring weather arrives, but the crowds stay manageable, or in October before the truly cold temperatures return. Ireland experiences a fair amount of rain all year but, save some rather cold weather in January and February, the city is fairly pleasant to visit all year. Summer sees Dublin at its most crowded, but the weather is nicest. Certain holidays, such as St. Patrick’s Day (March 17 th ) and the weeks leading up to Christmas (December 25 th ), are also great times to be in the Irish capital in order to experience a festive atmosphere.

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Dublin?

Travelers from the U.K., E.U. and Switzerland do not need a visa to enter Dublin. Travelers from other countries may need to apply for a visa depending on the duration and type of stay. For more information, visit the Irish Department of Justice and Equality website .

Can I Use Public Transportation to Travel From the Airport?

Dublin Airport is 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) south of the Dublin City Centre. A variety of different bus services pick up from Dublin Airport Bus Park and take passengers around Dublin and the rest of Ireland. To get to central Dublin, take the Dublin Bus 16 and get off stop #1279 on Trinity Street. The journey will take approximately 50 minutes and will cost 3.30 euros.

What Is There to Do in Dublin?

From theater to literature, to art and eateries, Dublin is a wonderful place to start any trip to Ireland. The city of just over 1 million people is easy to explore on foot and has a blend of historic and modern sites to be discovered. For ideas to begin planning your trip, see our complete guide to Dublin, which includes everything from where to eat, a breakdown of the best museums and sites, plus where to stay.

Flying is by far the easiest and fastest way to travel between London and Dublin. The journey takes around 90 minutes, not including the time it takes to get to the airport, clear security, and collect your luggage.

Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel between the two cities. Prices start as low as $20 depending on the time of year and how far in advance the tickets are booked.

Yes, you can take a train from London to Dublin, but it will also require a journey by ferry, which slows the travel time down significantly.

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How I learned to love the slow route home to Ireland

Journeys are about so much more than getting from A to B, as our writer found when he ditched flying for the train and ferry between Dublin and London

T here’s always a moment in the journey from Dublin to London – which I make every month or two, taking the land-and-sea route via Holyhead instead of flying – when I stop what I’m doing – reading or writing or chatting to the person next to me – and think: you don’t get to enjoy this from 40,000ft.

Sometimes it’s at the Britannia Bridge in north Wales. As the train crosses the Menai Strait from Anglesey I can see, off to my right, a concrete statue of Lord Nelson keeping a lonely watch from the shore, and further upriver the grounds of Plas Newydd country house sweeping down to the water. To the left, on a tiny island with a curved jetty, stand two handsome whitewashed houses that will one day disappear beneath the rising sea levels but for now are holding out against the elements.

I’ll pause again as the train trundles past Conwy, with its hulking medieval castle and absurdly pretty waterfront, home to the smallest house in Britain, and later still as we move along the coast beyond Colwyn Bay, and legions of offshore wind turbines can be glimpsed through the haze.

On the return journey, as the ferry heads into Dublin Bay, I’ll cast an eye at Howth Head as it rises up to greet us, followed by the crimson lighthouse at the end of the Great South Wall and the looming red and white chimneys beyond – the unmistakable sign that we’re about to dock in the Irish capital.

People often ask me why I choose to travel between Dublin and London by ferry and rail instead of flying, which is considerably less time-consuming. I’ll respond by talking about the price, or the breezy check-in process with minimal luggage restrictions, or the direct connection into central London, or the carbon emissions, which by one estimate are about 95% lower than going by plane . But the little details – the things you see, the people you meet and the reveries you enter as the journey’s lulling rhythms take hold – matter to me almost more.

When I moved to London in 2002, the idea of taking the slow route home to Dublin didn’t occur to me. Going by air was quick: you can fly city to city in under 90 minutes, though of course you have to factor in the time it takes to get to the airport, clear security, wander through duty-free, wait to board, wait to take off, and go through the associated rigmarole on the other side. And it’s cheap.

Then, about 15 years ago, a friend tipped me off about SailRail, a package that bundled train and Irish Sea ferry tickets into a single fare – connecting not only to London but to any town across Britain with a station. I was dubious about the duration but the price was keen – these days it’s £102.20 return, but back then it was about half that – so I decided to give it a try.

I’ll be honest: I didn’t love SailRailing straight away. Train travel is one of life’s great pleasures but in Britain it can curdle to frustration in the face of delays, cancellations and broken-up routes. It took me a while to work out how to time my journey so I didn’t have to change trains in Crewe and again, 20 minutes later, in Chester. And Holyhead, for all the surrounding beauty of Anglesey, is not a town that makes the heart leap – not, at least, the stretch between the terminal and the ferry dock, which on even the sunniest afternoon feels oppressively grey.

The ships – Irish Ferries and Stena are the two options on the Holyhead-to-Dublin route – can feel dated and a bit tacky, and if you strike out from Dublin on a match day, you have the choice of watching football supporters getting stuck into cooked breakfasts and pints at 8am or joining them. The crossing can be rough, though it would take a serious gale to unsettle one of the bigger boats when its stabilisers are out. (In that kind of weather, I’d rather take my chances on a 50,000-tonne ferry than a dinky commuter plane.)

If you travel with Irish Ferries, which I tend to do, this unfolds within a literary theme park of unparalleled incongruity. The flagship Ulysses is riddled with allusions to James Joyce’s masterwork: you can eat reheated pizza slices (but not pork kidneys) at Boylan’s Brasserie, drink tequila slammers at the Leopold Bloom bar or engage in soft play at the Cyclops family entertainment centre. (The faster ferry, often cancelled if the wind picks up, is ingeniously named the Jonathan Swift.)

Despite – or perhaps because of – these idiosyncrasies, I kept returning for more. For years, I’d SailRail to Dublin and fly back; the journey out of London Euston tends to be smoother, especially if you catch the direct train to Holyhead departing about 9am. But since moving back to Dublin in 2020, I’ve ditched the air option and now actively look forward to my day meandering across the Irish Sea and down through Wales and England. The journey takes eight or nine hours, but without internet to distract me I usually get a solid day’s work done, or at least have time to read and think.

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Some distractions are welcome. When the Icelandic volcano eruption grounded European air travel in 2010, I got chatting to two fellow SailRailers on the train out of London. One, delightfully, was the actor who played Gestapo agent Herr Flick in the sitcom ’Allo ’Allo!. The other became a really good friend – and I often thank the ash clouds of Eyjafjallajökull for introducing us.

More recently I’ve fallen into conversation with touring graffiti artists, septuagenarian world travellers and a woman who found God after getting lost in the middle of the Sahara (she prayed for help and a crow appeared to guide her back to safety). Last autumn, when my partner and I took our whippet-saluki over on a morning sailing (pet-friendly cabins are available on Stena) he was lavished with attention by an elderly Traveller couple who told us about similar dogs they’d loved over the years.

The Traveller community uses the ferries a lot, following a route that Irish people with UK connections have taken for centuries. You’ll also encounter plenty of truckers, as well as students, backpackers and people who are averse to flying. What you don’t get a huge number of, among the SailRail contingent, are British tourists. When I mention the package to friends and colleagues in London, few of them have heard of it. And when I tell them the fare, which doesn’t shoot up for last-minute bookings, they’re astonished: £51.10 from London to Holyhead and then on to Dublin by boat? You’re joking, right?

Still, I rarely recommend SailRail without a string of caveats. It isn’t to everyone’s taste. And it could be so much better than it currently is – the rail connections are unreliable and foot passengers on ferries are often treated as afterthoughts. But despite its foibles I’ve come to enjoy the easy pace of the journey and offbeat crowd it throws together. I’ve even developed a fondness for those Joyce allusions.

And I love that long, slow train ride along the north Wales coast, past castles and wind turbines and island houses doomed to vanish beneath the waves. A journey is so much richer and stranger when you travel close to the ground.

SailRail tickets from London Euston to Dublin Ferryport from £ 102.20 return (+ booking fee) via trainline.com

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See more, do more by ferry to Ireland!

Where a warm welcome awaits…

Known as the "Emerald Isle", explore one of Europe’s most prized jewels when you travel to Ireland. A country packed with history and legends. Whatever pace you like to enjoy life at, Ireland has something for everyone. Discover the bustling cosmopolitan cities of Dublin and Galway and learn about some of literary and music’s most influential characters, whilst enjoying the famous warm Irish hospitality.

Dublin, the capital city of Ireland is a mecca of activity and culture. Discover the famous Temple Bar area, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Packed with quirky shops, cafes, and traditional bars, this area is a must-see for all visitors.

Treat yourself to a pint of the black stuff and enjoy a tour of the world-famous Guinness Storehouse. Learn the history of Guinness before enjoying a pint in the Gravity Bar which has a 360 ° view of the city. Rumour has it, Guinness tastes even better on Irish soil, and how about going one step further and enjoying a pint with your own selfie printed on top of the head? Now, that’s a memory!

For literary lovers, why not pop into Trinity College Dublin, and see the famous Book of Kells Exhibition. The 9th-century manuscript that documents the four gospels of the life of Jesus Christ, The Book of Kells is Ireland's greatest cultural treasure and the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. The exhibition also includes access to the Long Room, which is one of the world’s most beautiful libraries - home to 200,000 of Trinity College’s oldest books!

Leave behind the hustle and bustle of Dublin, travel further afield and discover the green fields of Ireland that stretch for miles. Make amazing memories in County Clare and take in the breath-taking views of the Cliffs of Moher, enjoy the refreshing spray of the Wild Atlantic Way and the views of the Aran Islands. 

Throw on your crown because the one thing that Ireland has no shortage of, is castles. Take in the majestic sights of King John’s Castle in Limerick, Kilkenny Castle and try your hand at falconry at Ashford Castle and fly a hawk like a pro! Visit Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone which will bestow you the “gift of the gab” – it might be useful!

Visit Belfast in Northern Ireland and learn the history of the world’s most famous ship when you visit Titanic Belfast or jump into a black taxi for a tour of the city before satisfying yourself with a delicious meal from one of the many restaurants that it has to offer.  How about packing up the car and taking an epic road trip along the Causeway Coast and seeing how many locations you can spot from ‘Games of Thrones? Or if you’re feeling really brave, why not venture across the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge, spanning 30 metres above the rocks below which is not for the faint-hearted! 

Not only is Ireland loaded with culture, history, and beautiful sights to behold, there is a wealth of dining experiences to enjoy. Whatever your palate desires, there is a multitude of restaurants and cafés to satisfy your tastebuds.

And the shopping! From high street chains to independent boutiques, there are plenty of gems to be picked up, save your spending money and take advantage of the great savings in Kildare Village which is packed with designer brands at fantastic prices. 

The perfect country to visit at any time of the year, visit Ireland for an unforgettable holiday, packed with memories and lots of new places to explore.

Known as the "Emerald Isle", explore one of Europe’s most prized jewels when you travel to Ireland. A country packed with history and legends. Whatever pace you like to enjoy life at, Ireland has...

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Port Locations

Belfast Port (VT4) is conveniently located close to the motorway network off Junction 1 of the M2 motorway offering easy access to and from Belfast city centre and the rest of Ireland.

Belfast Port (VT2) is conveniently located close to the motorway network off Junction 1 of the M2 motorway (Fortwilliam roundabout) making is easy to get to and from all parts of Ireland.

Dublin Port is a purpose built facility for Stena Line’s Superferries. Stena Line’s Ferry Terminal at Dublin is located 6km (4 miles) east of Dublin city centre. Extensive signage on all main roads leading to the port give clear directions.

Rosslare Europort is situated at the end of the N25 in Rosslare Harbour and is clearly signposted on all road signs leading to the port. The port is 20 minutes from Wexford , 1 hour 20 minutes from Waterford , 1 hour 45 minutes from Kilkenny , 2 hours 15 minutes from Dublin and 3 hours from Cork.

Rosslare is a small village with a supermarket, bank, hotels, guesthouses, pubs and restaurants.

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• Ferry from Liverpool to Dublin

Tickets, Prices & Schedules

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Ferry Schedules

Is there a ferry from liverpool to dublin.

The Liverpool - Dublin ferry route is available with 1-2 daily crossings all year round . The route is operated by the ferry company P&O Ferries.

Tip : please note that the ferry timetable for the route from Liverpool to Dublin is subject to change . You can check real-time schedules and ferry ticket prices for the crossing on Ferryhopper.

What’s the ferry schedule from Liverpool to Dublin?

As of now, the earliest ferry from Liverpool departs at 09:30 and arrives in Dublin at 17:30. The latest ferry departs at 21:00 , arriving in Dublin at 05:30.

Ferry Tickets, Offers & Discounts

How much is the ferry from liverpool to dublin.

The ferry ticket price from Liverpool to Dublin starts at around €113 for a single ticket. The final ticket cost depends on vehicle selection, discounts, offers, and seat type.

On Ferryhopper, you can find all available offers for the Liverpool-Dublin ferry route. Find the lowest prices and best offers, and book your ferry tickets on Ferryhopper at no extra cost .

Ferry Route Info

How long is the ferry ride from liverpool to dublin.

The ferry trip from Liverpool to Dublin lasts from 8 to 9 hr .

Is there a high-speed ferry from Liverpool to Dublin?

The connections from Liverpool to Dublin are usually operated by conventional ferries . The fastest ferry to Dublin reaches the port in about 8 hr.

What’s the distance between Liverpool to Dublin?

The distance between Liverpool and Dublin is 178 nautical miles (around 330 km). 

Ferry Trip Tips

Useful tips for your ferry trip to dublin from liverpool.

Take a look at some useful tips for your ferry trip to Dublin:

• In the busy months from May to September, we recommend arriving at the port of Liverpool well in advance to avoid delays. The same applies to ferry trips on weekends. 
• Due to unforeseen circumstances, the ferry schedules from Dublin to Liverpool may change . Make sure to confirm your ferry’s departure time. You can also track your ferry in real time on the Ferryhopper app !
• Keep in mind that P&O Ferries don't accommodate foot passengers on this journey. You can get to Ireland on foot via the Cairnryan to Larne ferry route instead. 
• Read our Dublin travel guide to find travel tips and information about ferry schedules, local delicacies, and sightseeing for the best vacation in Ireland!

Where to take the ferry from Liverpool to Dublin

Ferries to Dublin depart from the port of Liverpool (Birkenhead), which is easily accessible by car, train, or bus from the city center.

The P&O Ferries terminal is in Bootle , about 7 km out of Liverpool city center. Follow the A565 north up the coast from the city center to reach the port. It will take you approximately 20 min . Also, the nearest train station to the port is Seaforth & Litherland.

Am I allowed to travel from Liverpool to Dublin?

Yes, it is possible to travel from Liverpool to Dublin. Before planning your trip, take a look at the latest updates on Covid-19 and ferry travel in Ireland , including all the documents required for your journey.

Can I travel on the ferry from Liverpool to Dublin with a car?

Yes, ferries traveling from Liverpool to Dublin have car decks, so you can embark your vehicle .

Ferry luggage

On P&O Ferries, there are no specific limits on ferry luggage.

Ferries traveling from Liverpool to Dublin have many types of cabins available, from simple ones to premium options.

Pet travel 

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed to travel on the Liverpool-Dublin ferry route without special permission, except for guide dogs.

Where can I book cheap ferry tickets from Liverpool to Dublin?

Currently, there are no available tickets online on Ferryhopper. However, you can find more information about the ferry from Liverpool to Dublin on our Map of ferries , compare prices and schedules, and plan your trip to the Republic of Ireland easily and quickly !

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Ferry to ireland.

Book a ferry crossing to Ireland and experience the magic of Connemara National Park or check out the Irish Whiskey Museum. Direct Ferries helps you find the cheapest ferry to Ireland by displaying numerous ferry routes to Ireland, with connections from France , Wales , Scotland , Isle of Man, England and Spain throughout the year.

There are 3 ports in Ireland. Dublin port and Rosslare port are located on the east coast and Cork port is located on the south coast of Ireland. Dublin port is the most popular in Ireland, with 11 daily sailings and ferry connections from Liverpool, Holyhead, Douglas and Cherbourg.

Irish Ferries , Stena Line , P&O Ferries and Brittany Ferries offer connections with the ferry to Ireland between these destinations, arriving at Dublin , Rosslare , Belfast and many more.

One of the most popular routes of the ferry to Ireland is the ferry from Ireland to Holyhead, taking roughly 2 hours 15 minutes when choosing between 4 sailings daily with Irish Ferries. This short duration makes day trips to Ireland from Holyhead very popular among tourists.

Can you travel by high-speed ferry to Ireland

Yes, you can take a fast ferry from and to Ireland. Fast ferry duration ranges between 3 hours and 4 hours depending on where in the UK you are traveling from. Stena Line and Irish Ferries are popular ferry operators offering fast ferries to Ireland.

How to get to Ireland by ferry from the UK

Direct Ferries covers the most popular ferry routes to Ireland such as the ferry to Ireland from Holyhead to Dublin, Fishguard to Rosslare, Pembroke to Rosslare or Liverpool to Dublin. In general, there is a wide range of daily crossings available with the ferry to Ireland from UK throughout the year. The duration of a ferry to Ireland from UK ranges from 2 hours 30 minutes from Fishguard to Rosslare to 8 hours from Liverpool to Dublin and a journey by ferry from Scotland to Ireland takes approximately 7 hours .

Driving to Ireland from UK

All ferry routes between England to Ireland allow passengers to bring their vehicles onboard. For example, you could get the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and then drive 3 hours southwest until you reach Cork. Whatever you plan to do in Ireland, car ferries make your journey that much easier as you no longer have to worry about public transport.

Ireland Ferry Prices

Prices for the ferry to Ireland might change depending on the season you want to travel. Cheap ferry tickets are usually available during off peak, outside of the high season. Please visit our special offers page to find all the latest ferry discounts.

Car ferry to Ireland

Exploring the Emerald Isle could be made amazingly simple with your own vehicle. However, do not worry if you are going as a foot passenger since there are plenty of tickets for the ferry to Ireland, crossings and ferry routes to Ireland available to suit you when using a car ferry to Ireland.

Ferries to Ireland – FAQs

What is the quickest ferry to ireland.

Fishguard to Rosslare is the quickest ferry crossing to Ireland from Great Britain. This route takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes. Stena Line operates this route with 14 weekly sailings. The next quickest route is Pembroke to Rosslare, which takes approximately 3 hours, with 16 weekly sailings.

Which ferries go to Ireland?

Ferries to Ireland sail from Holyhead, Pembroke, Fishguard and Liverpool. Stena Line, P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries are popular ferry operators who sail to Ireland from Britain. Ferries from Scotland to Northern Ireland including Cairnryan to Larne and Cairnryan to Belfast are good alternatives for crossing the Irish sea.

What is the cheapest ferry to Ireland?

The cheapest ferry to Ireland with Direct Ferries last month was £35, from Holyhead to Dublin. The cheapest prices are typically during off peak times and low seasons. Compare prices from Holyhead to Dublin with our deal finder to find the cheapest deals.

Most popular questions

Which ferries travel to ireland, what is the fastest ferry to ireland, what are the ferry ports in ireland.

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Ireland reviews

"Birkenhead to Belfast"

Very pleasent trip.

"very good"

I was very happy with my recent travel with your company I found everybody very helpful and polite, it was a bit confusing at first as i have never been on a boat but when i asked people they were extremely helpful. as to regards on board the food was great and the cabins were ideal.

"Homewardbound"

After a long drive through England,I arrived at the terminal tired and hungry. I was very disappointed to find ther was no facilities for having a hot meal in the terminal. There were only two vending machines. One for soft drinks and the other for hot drinks .Unfortunately the Hot drinks machine would not operate. The power saving mode stayed on and I was disappointed to find it would not work at all.I spent five hours before being allowed on board the ferry. I ordered a burger with cheese and bacon from the Barissta and found the prices to be a real rip off.£1.95 for a mug of hot water and a with a tea bag thrown in. The burger price was a rip off,I got little change from £10! The trip itself was pleasant and I was most impressed with the value and service in the onboard restaurant next morning. For £8.95 I received a fresh cooked breakfast with toast and orange juice. I was also able to have as much tea as I wanted. In almost 40 yrs of using this route, this was a very pleasant surprise. Disembarking in the morning was very efficient, the staff very helpful and pleasant. All in all a very enjoyable trip home despite the disappointment of the Barrista Bar experience!

"Cairnryan/Larne"

Just back from a few days in Ireland having crossed with P@O where the staff were very friendly and helpful. Will be using them again in the future.

Ireland Ferry Map and Routes

Ferries within ireland, aran islands to ireland.

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Aran Islands to Ireland page.

France to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from France to Ireland page.

Wales to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Wales to Ireland page.

Scotland to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Scotland to Ireland page.

England to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from England to Ireland page.

Spain to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Spain to Ireland page.

Isle of Man to Ireland

• For more information, please visit our Ferries from Isle of Man to Ireland page.

Onboard the ferries

Find out what it's like onboard the ferries before you travel.

Ferry Routes to Ireland

• Holyhead - Dublin
• Fishguard - Rosslare
• Cherbourg - Rosslare
• Pembroke - Rosslare
• Liverpool - Dublin
• Cherbourg - Dublin
• Roscoff - Cork
• Bilbao - Rosslare
• Le Havre - Rosslare
• Douglas - Dublin

Ferry Routes from Ireland

• Dublin - Holyhead
• Rosslare - Fishguard
• Rosslare - Cherbourg
• Rosslare - Pembroke
• Dublin - Liverpool
• Dublin - Cherbourg
• Cork - Roscoff
• Rosslare - Bilbao
• Rosslare - Le Havre
• Dublin - Douglas

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Dublin holyhead, dublin / holyhead.

• Dublin / Holyhead Ireland / Britain
• Rosslare / Pembroke Ireland / Britain
• Dublin / Cherbourg Ireland / France
• Dover Calais Britain France

Wheelchairs

We accept bookings for vans used for non-commercial purposes up to 6m long and 2.6m high. Any van or vehicle, regardless of size, carrying goods or equipment for commercial purposes, should book through our Freight Commercial Team. In the event of an incorrect disclosure, Irish Ferries reserve the right to re-price the booking and collect any excess, including VAT, at check-in.

Vehicle height and length (including roof load)

Please reduce your total passenger count, please increase your total passenger count, enjoy the ease of travelling between ireland and britain on our dublin/holyhead route.

• Easy 30 minute check in
• Up to 4 sailings daily
• Cruise at your leisure across the Irish Sea
• Holyhead to Dublin
• DUBLIN TO HOLYHEAD

Ferry to Dublin & Holyhead

Taking the ferry to Ireland has never been easier. The Dublin-Holyhead route offers a direct connection between Ireland and the UK, allowing passengers to experience comfortable travel across the Irish Sea.

Bring the car aboard and enjoy the freedom of travel between Ireland and Wales. Bring the whole family including your pets.

The Dublin-Holyhead ferry is one of Irish Ferries’ most popular routes, with up to 4 sailings each day. Ferry travel offers more flexibility in terms of luggage, timing, and comfort.

Our Ferries on the Dublin Holyhead Route

Irish Ferries currently have 3 ferries on the Dublin Holyhead route. If you’re looking to travel to Ireland or the UK in style, consider booking passage aboard the  Ulysses . With two cinema screens, bars, shopping, and world-class dining, you’ll almost be sorry that the voyage is only 3 and a half hours long! Cross the Irish Sea in just over 2 hours on the “ Dublin Swift ”, the only Fast Ferry on the route. There is plenty onboard to keep you and your family entertained. See what our  Club Class  lounge has to offer. 

Ships on this route

• Dublin Swift
• Oscar Wilde

Cruise in style across the Irish Sea 

Bigger doesn’t always mean better but with the “Ulysses”, it does. With plenty to do onboard, including 2 cinema screens, bars, shops and lots of dining options, you’re sure to have a good trip. See what our Club Class lounge has to offer, where you can relax, dine and enjoy a panoramic sea view, or book a cabin for your trip.

What's onboard

• Welcome reception
• Volta Picture Theatre
• Play area for little ones 
• Club Class lounge 
• Onboard shopping
• Boylans Brasserie
• New Click & Collect
• Free Wifi ( T&C's apply)
• Outdoor deck space 

Dublin Swift services will return spring 2024.

Cross the Irish Sea in just over 2 hours on the “Dublin Swift”, the only Fast Ferry on the route. There is plenty onboard to keep you and your family entertained. See what our Club Class lounge has to offer. 

• Trinity Club Class lounge 
• Cafe Lafayette
• New Click & Collect 
• Free Wifi 

Introducing Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is our newest cruise ferry. Onboard you’ll find numerous facilities to keep you occupied including a choice of restaurants, a large shopping area, children’s play area, a Freight Driver’s Club, an exclusive Club Class lounge, cabin accommodation and much more.

• Onboard Shopping
• Spacious outdoor decks
• Choice of cabins
• Kids Play Area

Dublin Port

Dublin ferryport is situated 2 miles from the centre of ireland's vibrant capital city..

It’s also positioned at the heart of Ireland’s road and rail network. Dublin Port Tunnel is situated within the port complex & provides quick access to the M50 & M1 motorways, the main routes to the North and South of the country.

A public bus service operates from the terminal building to the main bus station in Dublin City Centre.

Dublin Port Directions

The GPS co-ordinates for Dublin are: 53.3479, -6.1954

Holyhead Port

Holyhead is situated in anglesey in north wales and is served by the a55 and a5 road networks..

It is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes from Chester, 2 hours from Liverpool, 2 hours and 20 minutes from Manchester and 3 hours and 15 minutes from Birmingham by car. Holyhead also has an excellent rail service providing connections to rail stations throughout Britain.

Holyhead Port Directions

The GPS co-ordinates for Holyhead are: GPS: 53.308, -4.631

Holyhead Terminal is closed between the hours of 0300 & 0545.

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Traveling to Ireland? This is the best ferry route

From the Netherlands and Belgium: most common ferry routes to Ireland

From france: directly by boat to ireland, the shortest ferry route or travel through the tunnel, road trip through ireland: set you own pace, tips for a driving holiday to (northern) ireland.

Do you want to travel to Ireland from mainland Europe (The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium or France)? And do you travel with your own transport? Great, then you have the pleasure of taking a ferry. Most people travel via Great Britain, but there are some other routes. Which ferry route to Ireland do you choose?

There are many ways to travel to Ireland by car. The route you choose depends on the location where you want to start your journey in (Northern) Ireland. In this blog we give some tips to help you plan your car trip to (Northern) Ireland.

Depending on your destination in Ireland , you choose a favourable travel route. For example, if you want to go to Northern Ireland, you often travel via Scotland. If you want to go to Dublin, you can take the ferry from Liverpool. These are the most common routes:

Destination NORTHERN IRELAND – via Scotland:

• Ferry to England / Scotland: IJmuiden – Newcastle and then take:
• Ferry to Northern Ireland: Cairnryan – Larne or Cairnryan – Belfast

Destination IRELAND / DUBLIN – via Liverpool:

• Ferry to England: Rotterdam – Hull and then take:
• Ferry to Ireland: Liverpool – Dublin or Holyhead – Dublin

Destination SOUTHEAST IRELAND – via Wales:

• Ferry to England: Hoek van Holland – Harwich (or from France: Dunkirk – Dover and Calais – Dover ) and then take:
• Ferry to (southeast) Ireland: Fishguard – Rosslare

Did you know that you can travel directly from France to Ireland by ferry? Quite a good option! You only book 1 ferry (instead of 2) and avoid a long car journey in England. It is a long crossing, but you sail at night, so you can spend the trip sleeping in your private cabin.

• Sail from Dunkirk (North of France) to Rosslare (southeast Ireland) in 24 hours
• Sail from Cherbourg (France) to Rosslare (southeast Ireland) in 19 hours
• Sail from Roscoff (France) to Cork (south of Ireland) in 14 hours

Are you not a big fan of boats? Board the Eurotunnel car train in France and skip the first ferry crossing to the UK. Unfortunately, there is no bridge or tunnel connection between Great Britain and Ireland. But you can choose the shortest ferry route ; the narrowest part of the Irish Sea is between Cairnryan in Scotland and Larne in Northern Ireland . This crossing only takes 2 hours!

How do you avoid seasickness on the ferry?

The swell of the sea can make you quite nauseous. Modern and large boats are very stable, but nevertheless seasickness is an obstacle for many people to travel by ferry. Fortunately, there is something that can be done about it. Be well prepared and take medication for motion sickness.

A road trip through Ireland is a relaxing holiday. At the same time it is a big country and it has so much to offer that you won't get bored. From beautiful nature to historic monasteries and castles . And of course you end the day with a Guinness in a nice pub.

What could be better than traveling around Ireland in your own car? The fact that you can take your own car (and caravan or camper) with you is the biggest advantage of traveling by ferry! When driving in Ireland, keep the following in mind:

• In Ireland you drive on the left-hand side
• In Ireland speed is indicated in kilometres per hour and the traffic signs in Northern Ireland use miles and miles per hour
• Ireland has several toll roads . Check the Transport Infrastructure Ireland site for all toll roads and current rates

Use our ferry guides and maps

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Island hopping Saint Martin: Saba, St. Eustatius, St Barts & Anguilla

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If I am right, there are only 22 sailings from Liverpool’s port a week. So I was surprised to see it listed as going to Ireland. I guess this is a short trip, so it makes sense. I don’t suppose they are very frequent, though.

Hi Stanley,

If you look at the port of Liverpool: There are about 10 – ferry departures per day leaving port for Ireland. The biggest routes are at this moment: Liverpool-Belfast and Liverpool-Dublin.

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Soaking up the Mersey Beat on a trip to Liverpool, where music seeps from every corner

From the beatles to scouse stew to living works of art, liverpool offers many attractions with a pop culture twist.

Beatles statue by Andrew Edwards in Liverpool: The Cavern Club was closed in 1973 and today’s club has been recreated on some, but not all, of the original footprint.

Whether it has been on your travel radar or not, no one could accuse Liverpool of being unsung. Music echoes through the streets and haunts the docks. It even plays on the ferry across the Mersey. Many visit with The Beatles in mind, but even, heaven forbid, had the Fab Four never existed, the list of Merseyside stars is one to marvel at. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, OMD, The La’s, Echo and the Bunnymen… I’m halfway to being lost in music at The British Music Experience, marvelling at how tiny some of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust costumes were, when a blast of The Spice Girls brings me back to earth.

Housed in part of the Cunard Building, the Music Experience (Spice Girls interruptions notwithstanding) is a devotee’s paradise. Not limited to Liverpool natives, it tracks the story of sound, from jazz and skiffle, to today’s megastars and manufactured pop. There are booths where you can have a go at drums, guitars and keyboards, and even teach yourself to dance. With a plethora of memorabilia, it also has moments of the surreal, such as when a hologram of Boy George pops up and gives us a blast of Do You Really Want to Hurt Me. But then, pausing at a display of stars on stages around the world, something of that huge energy-to-glory charisma, which enables someone to hold the attention of tens of thousands, catches me by surprise and leaves me breathless.

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Replica Cavern Club at The Beatles Story Liverpool: The band played there 292 times and Cilla Black was a hat-check girl.

The Cunard Building is one of Liverpool’s Three Graces, a trio of iconic edifices built at the turn of the last millennium to demonstrate the city’s wealth and power back when it was one of the world’s biggest ports. We inveigle our way into the part that isn’t given over to the Music Experience for a peek at the former ticket offices of the world-famous cruise line. Today you go there to register your new Liverpudlian babies. Speak to people of a certain age, and they’ll have tales of The Beatles and the Cavern Club, but I get chatting to George McAleavey, on a break from his work as a cleaner. He tells me that his grandfather, Thomas, survived the sinking of the Lusitania by swimming 14 miles to shore.

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“He was a fireman, and had come up on deck for a smoke. He had a scar on his forehead from being hit on the head with an oar trying to get into a lifeboat,” George says wonderingly. “I wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t made it.” Liverpool is an incredibly friendly city. Perhaps it’s the Irish connection. Today, 75 per cent of the population claim Irish ancestry, and the unique “Scouse” accent is said to be a combination of influences from Irish, Welsh and Scandinavian sailors. There is also a great pride in the city evident and no wonder: it’s a place with many pleasures.

‘My wife wants another child, but I would be in my 80s when they go to college’

‘I learned to hide my Irish accent, or at least to feel deeply ashamed of it’

Home of the Year winner revealed: restored 1920s redbrick ‘full of style and bold design’ lands the big prize

‘When my grandad arrived he was illiterate, and now his grandson is earning this country an Oscar nomination’

Peter Blake's dazzle ship, the ferry across the Mersey: The original dazzle ships had wild designs that made them harder to target at war.

We take a tour to the top of another of the Graces, the Royal Liver Building, where a lift whisks us up, to where a short video plays inside the clock tower. Out on the rooftop itself, we have a view of the two famous Liver Birds, Bertie and Bella. At 18-feet high, it is said that one of the mythical creatures gazes out to sea to make sure the sailors come home safe, and the other into the city to ascertain that the pubs haven’t shut yet.

The Three Graces miraculously survived the onslaught of the second World War’s bombing raids, and newbuilds dot the city, making the original Georgian and Victorian structures seem all the more precious. The city’s two cathedrals, rather joyfully at either end of Hope Street, are – relatively speaking – new, while even the famous Cavern Club isn’t actually original.

You can see a replica Cavern as part of the interesting but definitely sanitised Beatles Story experience, where friends and family of the band have recorded audio memories. The Cavern itself was originally a tropical fruit warehouse, and it is said that the smell had so permeated the walls it clung to fans, who could later be identified by their “Cavern Perfume”. The Beatles played there 292 times, and Cilla Black was a hat-check girl. Beatles merch and tat is everywhere. Later, at Albert Dock, I will marvel at a portrait of the band made out of thousands of jelly beans in a sweet shop window.

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The Cavern Club was closed in 1973 for a British Rail underground project that never happened, and today’s club has been recreated on some, but not all, of the original footprint. While the underground was never built, Liverpool is a very walkable city, and there is an excellent public transport system, with local trains to the likes of Birkenhead Park – a model for New York’s Central Park; and Port Sunlight, which was built by the original soap-making Lever family (founders of what would ultimately morph into global mega brand Unilever). A new exhibition exploring the history of landscapes by women artists opens at the Lady Lever Art Gallery on April 20th and runs until August 18th.

Royal Albert Dock: Liverpool is an incredibly friendly city. Perhaps it’s the Irish connection.

Liverpool is actually very well-stocked with art galleries, although Tate Liverpool is closed for refurbishment until next year. On my recent visit, a citywide museum strike had closed other museums, including the Walker Art Gallery, but it is due to end on April 14th. A train ride of just over half an hour will get you to Crosby Beach, where artist Antony Gormley’s Another Place includes 100 cast iron life-sized figures, spread out across the foreshore, and almost a kilometre out to sea.

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The Mersey Ferry tour takes place on a living art work, as Sir Peter Blake, famed for designing The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover (with Jann Haworth) was commissioned to create a dazzle ship design for the ferry as part of the first World War Centenary Art Commissions in 2015. The original dazzle ships had wild designs that made them harder to target, as I discover through information panels on board.

Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium: The collective value of the players on the team exceeds £800 million.

We walk back to Stanley Dock through streets that seem oddly familiar. This is partly due to Liverpool having stood in for cities including New York, London, Moscow and Chicago in films and TV programmes including Fantastic Beasts, Harry Potter, Peaky Blinders and The Batman. The Titanic Hotel is sister to the one in Belfast, the ill-fated ship having been registered in Liverpool. The hotel is housed in a former rum warehouse, and the docks outside have seen Captain United States in action, as well as Taylor Swift in her video for I Can See You. The spa in the basement makes me feel like a movie star myself.

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This celebrity whiff is made all the more fabulous by the discovery that the hotel is homebase for Liverpool FC on match nights. Jurgen Klopp is a god in these parts, and, as we’re staying the night before the team hammer Sparta Prague 6-1, we keep our eyes peeled. Vaguely handsome men are in the lobby swinging sports shoes, but as they are clearly not on the squad, they’re either physios or opportunists hoping the adjacency might rub off. I look up the collective value of the players on the team, and learn it is more than £800 million. Every human life is precious, but seriously? You could buy the recently sold Shelbourne Hotel three times over for that. No wonder there’s a bouncer on the door this evening. We fly home before kick-off, but as there is so much to see and do in this fascinating city, and it is less than an hour from Dublin by plane, it’s definitely worth coming back for more – and soon.

Titanic Hotel: It is housed in a former rum warehouse.

How to get there : Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Emerald Airlines has daily return flights to Liverpool, from €29.99 each way as part of a round trip. Since Brexit, you also get Duty Free. aerlingus.com

Where to stay : The Titanic Hotel Liverpool has large rooms in a very atmospheric former rum warehouse, close to the new Everton Stadium, and approximately 20 minutes walk from the city centre. From £99 (approx €115) per room, titanichotelliverpool.com. The Municipal Hotel : have a cocktail in the lavish Palm Court surroundings of one of the city’s newest hotels, in one of its oldest buildings. The former Local Authority Offices have had a swish makeover, including furniture from west Cork’s O’Donnell Design. Rooms from approx €115, municipalhotelliverpool.com.

Where to eat : Ma Boyles : You can’t go to Liverpool and not try Scouse. A stew so quintessentially Liverpudlian, it gave its name to the local accent. Think Irish stew with a Scandinavian twist – it comes with pickled red cabbage or beetroot. Delicious at Ma Boyles, which dates back to 1860. Classic Scouse, £11. maboyles.co.uk Maray : Delicious Middle-Eastern-inflected plates, waterside at people-watching spot Albert Dock. Don’t miss the Disco Cauliflower. Dishes from £5 to £15. maray.co.uk Nord : Daniel Heffy’s stylish restaurant in the commercial part of town is based on a tasty package of locally sourced ingredients, northern hospitality and Scandi influences. Dishes in the region of €20. nordrestaurant.co.uk The Art School : Chef Paul Askew is aiming for Liverpool’s first Michelin star with delicious feasts that start with incredible cocktails, and take you through a series of locally sourced taste sensations in gorgeous surroundings in the city’s Georgian Quarter. The Menu Excellence menu is £89 per person. theartschoolrestaurant.co.uk

Where to go and what to do : The Mersey Ferry River Explorer Cruise takes approximately one hour and costs £8 / £12, merseyferries.co.uk . Advance booking prices at the British Music Experience are £10.50 / £17, britishmusicexperience.com . Admission to The Beatles Story is £11 / £20, beatlestory.com . Anfield Tours start from £14 / £23, liverpoolfc.com . The Royal Liver Building 360 Tour is £11 / £16, rlb360.com . For more see visitliverpool.com

Gemma Tipton travelled as a guest of Aer Lingus Regional and Marketing Liverpool

Maya Blue Spa at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool

Gemma Tipton

Gemma Tipton contributes to The Irish Times on art, architecture and other aspects of culture

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