Ferries to Ireland
In a previous post, I discussed the route I took from Rotterdam to Dublin by bus, train and ferry. But aside from the ferry between Holyhead and Dublin, there are more ways to get to the Republic of Ireland from the UK and elsewhere in Europe. To help you out, I’ve created a comprehensive overview of all ferries to Ireland. Did you know there are even ferry routes from Spain? Scroll down to read more!
Last updated: September 2026
England
- Heysham > Isle of Man > Dublin – Steam Packet Company
- Liverpool > Isle of Man > Dublin – Steam Packet Company
Shockingly, there are currently no direct ferry routes between England and the Republic of Ireland. There used to be an overnight ferry between Liverpool and Dublin, but P&O has stopped operating this route in December 2023. Instead, people from England are now recommended to travel via Wales or Northern Ireland (which can be done affordably with a SailRail deal). Alternatively, embrace slow travel and enjoy a stopover on the Isle of Man by taking two ferries. Both ferries are run by Steam Packet Company, but only in the summer season. The ferries are modern, clean and comfortable, and offer great views of the surrounding countries on a clear day.
Wales
- Holyhead > Dublin – Stena Line or Irish Ferries
- Fishguard > Rosslare – Stena Line
- Pembroke > Rosslare – Irish Ferries
The ferry links between Wales and Ireland take between a mere 2 to 4 hours. The public transport connections to and from Holyhead and Dublin ports are great, so I’d encourage you to try this route. Between Holyhead and Dublin, you can opt for a smaller express ferry (2 hours 15 minutes) or the more entertainment focused ferry that takes an hour longer to arrive. Ferries departing from Holyhead and Fishguard can be booked with Stena line. Irish Ferries operates on the routes departing from Holyhead and Pembroke. Either way, don’t forget to buy your combined train and tickets through a SailRail deal on the Transport for Wales website.
France
- Cherbourg > Dublin – Irish Ferries
- Cherbourg > Rosslare – Brittany Ferries
- Dunkirk > Rosslare – DFDS
- Roscoff > Cork – Brittany Ferries
- Boulogne-sur-Mer > Cork – Hibernia Line
How cool is it that there are 4 ferries to the Republic of Ireland all the way from France?! From Cherbourg you can get to both Rosslare and Dublin (with Irish Ferries, again offering a SailRail discount). DFDS operates another route to Rosslare. This one departs from Dunkirk, which is useful for travellers from Belgium. The last option is a ferry to Cork, which leaves from either Roscoff or Boulogne-sur-Mer. The latter route opened in June 2026 and has been received with lots of enthusiasm.
Spain
- Bilbao > Rosslare – Brittany Ferries
Taking the ferry from Spain to Ireland sounds like a proper flight-free adventure. Therefore I would definitely try this route operated by Brittany Ferries. It takes between 27 and 31 hours from Bilbao, depending on the day of travel. The ferry currently runs twice a week in both directions, so it’s wise to plan your trip around the sailing days. Depending on the day, you can choose to sail during the day or overnight. Also good to know: Brittany ferries offers a 25% discount to people under 25 who can show a ticket for a connecting train.
Most important tips
- Book ferries to Ireland directly via the ferry operator’s website for the best price and automatic discounts
- Always search the ferry operator’s website for additional discounts and SailRail deals
- If you have trouble making a booking or if you’re not sure whether a discount is applied, make the booking via a phone call
- Some ferry operators have a page to browse the lowest fares (similar to SkyScanner)
* This post includes affiliate links. Booking your ferry ticket with DFDS through this link or your SailRail deal through this link helps maintain The Sustainable Travel Guide, as I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I only share affiliate links for brands that I support, consider sustainable, and buy from myself.
