Ferries to Ireland

From Scotland and England to Northern Ireland

From south-west Scotland, Cairnryan - Belfast with Stena Line takes 2 hours 15 minutes and Cairnryan - Larne with P&O Ferries about 2 hours; both suit journeys from Scotland and the north of England. Liverpool - Belfast with Stena Line saves the drive to Scotland and takes about 8 hours from Birkenhead. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, so there is no border control on these crossings. The Northern Ireland guide compares the three routes and the Belfast terminals.

The guide to ferries from Britain to Ireland compares six Irish Sea routes, with crossing times, terminals and the pet document for Northern Ireland.

Direct sailings between Ireland, France and Spain

From Ireland, the direct ferries to mainland Europe leave from Rosslare, Dublin and Cork. Cherbourg - Rosslare links Normandy with Wexford, Waterford and the south-east, and Cherbourg - Dublin with the capital region. The seasonal Roscoff - Cork route connects Brittany with Cork, Kerry and the south-west.

From Rosslare, Dunkirk - Rosslare sails to Dunkirk in northern France, close to the Belgian border. DFDS carries passengers with vehicles only on this route; a cabin and meals are included in the booking package. How often the ferry sails each week is shown on the route page and in the timetable.

Rosslare also has seasonal sailings to northern Spain: Bilbao - Rosslare has its own route page. Check the operating period for your travel date.

Offers and discounts on ferries to Ireland

Operators price their sailings dynamically: the fuller a ship gets, the more the crossing usually costs. You save most by booking early and travelling outside the summer months. These operator offers and discounts are worth knowing:

• Cheaper or flexible fare: Irish Ferries and Stena Line grade their fares by flexibility. Economy is the cheapest with both, but changes cost a fee and the fare is not refunded if you cancel. With Flexi, you can change your booking without an amendment fee but pay any difference in price. Stena Line lets you choose different fares for the outbound and return sailings; with Irish Ferries, you choose Flexi when you book.
• Promotions on the Irish Sea routes: Stena Line regularly offers time-limited discounts on its Irish routes, for example for caravans and motorhomes or for short breaks by car. They apply to selected sailings only.
• Early booking fare: Brittany Ferries offers its cheapest fare, Early Bird, on Cherbourg - Rosslare, Roscoff - Cork and Bilbao - Rosslare. It can only be booked up to 60 days before the outbound sailing and suits you if your plans are fixed.
• Count what is included: On Dunkirk - Rosslare, DFDS includes a cabin and meals in the price. A higher ticket price can therefore work out cheaper than a route where you add a cabin and food.

The booking window on each route page shows the price for your date. Only compare offers with the same travel dates, vehicle dimensions and cabins; the price guide explains what matters.

How to compare the routes

• Destination in Ireland: For Dublin, sail Holyhead - Dublin from Britain or Cherbourg - Dublin from France. Rosslare is convenient for the south-east, Cork for Cork and Kerry, and for Northern Ireland the Belfast and Larne routes arrive directly.
• Departure in Britain: From Scotland and the north of England, the Cairnryan crossings are the shortest at sea. Liverpool - Belfast saves the drive to south-west Scotland. For Rosslare, choose the Welsh port that fits your road route and leaves a suitable buffer before check-in.
• Vehicle: For a motorhome, measure the length and height including a bike rack, roof box and trailer. Booking the wrong category can affect the fare and whether the vehicle is accepted.
• Dog: Before booking, check whether your specific sailing offers a pet-friendly cabin, kennel or another arrangement. Entry requirements are covered in the guide to taking a dog to Ireland.
• Total cost: Use the price guide to compare the same dates and vehicle configuration, including fuel for the drive to the port.
• Departure: Use the timetable for planning, then confirm the final departure with the operator and in your booking confirmation on the day of travel.

From mainland Europe via Great Britain

From mainland Europe, you can also reach Ireland with two ferries: first across the English Channel or the North Sea, then from Wales. Common combinations use Calais - Dover or Calais - Folkestone; an overnight ferry from Hoek van Holland or Rotterdam reduces the drive through southern England.

Do not plan the two bookings as if they were a guaranteed connection. If the first ferry is delayed or road traffic is slow, the second operator will not normally wait. A generous buffer or an overnight stop before the Irish Sea makes the journey more reliable; for the landbridge, include both ferries, fuel, tolls and any stopover in the total cost. The guide to ferries from Britain to Ireland covers the second crossing in detail.