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 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!
England
- Heysham > Isle of Man > Dublin
- Liverpool > Isle of Man > Dublin
Shockingly, there are currently no direct ferry routes between England and 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 Sail & Rail 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.
Wales
- Holyhead > Dublin
- Fishguard > Rosslare
- Pembroke > Rosslare
The ferry links between Wales and Ireland take between a mere 2 to 4 hours. The 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. Don’t forget to opt for a Sail & Rail deal by booking directly from the Irish Ferries website.
France
- Cherbourg > Dublin
- Cherbourg > Rosslare
- Dunkirk > Rosslare
- Roscoff > Cork
How cool is it that there are four ferries to Ireland all the way from France?! From Cherbourg you can get to both Rosslare (with Stena Line or Brittany Ferries) and Dublin (with Irish Ferries, again offering a Sail & Rail discount). Another route to Rosslare starts all the way at Dunkirk (with DFDS), which is potentially also useful for travellers from Belgium. The last option is a ferry to Cork, which leaves from Roscoff (with Brittany Ferries).
Spain
- Bilbao > Rosslare
- Santander > Rosslare
Taking the ferry from Spain to Ireland sounds like an adventure, but it only takes 6 hours from Bilbao (7 from Santander). I definitely want to try one of these routes operated by Brittany Ferries. The ferry between Rosslare and Bilbao/Santander does not run daily, 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. The ferry from Bilboa runs regularly, but the Santander connection seems less reliable. 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 Sail & Rail 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 Stena Line through this link, with Irish Ferries through this link or with DFDS through this link helps maintain The Sustainable Travel Guide, as I receive a small commission. I only share affiliate links for brands I personally use and support.