Ferry to Ireland from the UK
Discover the best crossings
Travel to Ireland by ferry from the UK
Many ferries to Ireland depart daily from five British ports. This makes it easy to reach both Ireland and Northern Ireland. There are ferries leaving from ports in Wales, England, and Scotland to Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Do you opt for a longer comfortable crossing or that fast catamaran ferry? Check our handy ferry map for crossings from the United Kingdom to Ireland.
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Map with all ferry routes to Ireland from the UK
As you can see in this map above you have a lot of choices when traveling to Ireland by ferry from the UK. Depending on where you live in the UK and where you need to be in Ireland you can make a choice of which crossing will suit you best.
Some perspective: traveling from Rosslare to Dublin will cost you 2 hours on the road. Belfast-Dublin is also about a 2-hour drive. So from Rosslare to Belfast is about 4 hours driving. A combination of a ferry and a (long) drive is, therefore, more attractive to some than booking a longer crossing. Others find the comfort of the ferry a plus.
Timetable, availability, and compare prices
Booking your ferry tickets has never been easier! With our online booking module, you can easily find and book your desired ferry from the UK to Ireland crossing in just a few clicks. Simply enter your travel dates and destination, and the system will show you all available options. You can then choose the one that best suits your needs and budget. It’s that simple!
It’s best to book your ferry ticket as far in advance as possible
The price of ferry tickets increases as more passengers book their spots. So, if you want to save money and secure your desired crossing, booking your tickets as soon as possible is best. That way, you can take advantage of the lower prices and avoid the disappointment of a fully booked ferry.
Ferry from Wales to Ireland
From Wales, you can either travel from Fishguard, Pembroke or Holyhead to Ireland. The fastest crossing is the one from Holyhead to Dublin, which takes you just 2 hours and 15 mins across the Irish Sea.
Wales ⇔ Ireland
Ferry from Liverpool to Ireland
From Liverpool, you can choose to sail to either Belfast or Dublin. Both of these crossings take around 8 hours and can be booked as either a day or a night crossing.
The starting price for P&O ferries is slightly higher than for other ferry services. This is because you cannot board here as a foot passenger. The P&O price is for 1 person with a car.
England ⇔ Ireland
Ferry from Scotland to (Northern) Ireland
From Scotland, you can travel pretty fast to Northern Ireland by ferry. These ferries bring you back and forth between Ireland and Scotland in approximately 2 hours.
Scotland ⇔ Ireland
Frequently Asked Questions
When riding the ferry the fastest connections from the UK to Ireland are the ferries between (1) Cairnryan and Larne – 2 hours, (2) Holyhead – Dublin 2 hours and 15 mins and (3) Cairnryan and Belfast with just 2 hours and 15 minutes sailing.
The cheapest way is to get there by car from Sweden, otherwise, you need to drive towards the north of Denmark. It's easy there to go by ferry to Norway.
The cheapest crossing from the UK to Ireland we found, is the ferry between Holyhead and Dublin. Stena line sails here from £32/€36. This starting price applies to a single journey as a foot passenger. That is slightly cheaper than the (faster) Irish Ferries ferry.
The costs of a crossing usually increase quickly when you take a car with you. This also applies to the routes between Great Britain and Ireland. For example, a longer crossing with 2 people and a car can easily cost around £190/€220.
