Ireland is without doubt one of Europe’s best connected countries by ferry. There are no less than 12 separate ferries to Ireland from the UK, France, and Spain. Sea links to England, Wales, Scotland in the UK are particularly numerous and ever-changing though, so if your head’s spinning already, I can empathise, because researching, writing and updating this guide was quite the challenge!
Anyway, to make it all much easier for you to decipher, I’ve gathered all the essential information here in one place, including routes, tips for snagging the best fares, port-to-port maps, and everything else you need to know before booking.
So consider this your lucky charm, as whether you’re plotting a ferry crossing from England, Wales, Scotland, France or Spain, you’ll find every international ferry route to and from Ireland right here. So pour yourself a pint of Guinness and let’s craic on…
FERRIES TO IRELAND - THE BASICS
IRISH FERRY PORTS
From Ireland you can reach France, Wales, Scotland, England, and Spain by ferry. This international ferry network is served by five ports. Here’s an overview of these ferry ports from north to south:
Northern Ireland
- Larne: Located on the northeast coast, Larne is a gateway to Scotland, with short crossings to Cairnryan.
- Belfast: Belfast offers ferry routes to Scotland (Cairnryan) and England (Liverpool).
Republic of Ireland
- Dublin: The busiest ferry port in Ireland, Dublin offers multiple daily crossings to north Wales (Holyhead) and a longer route to France.
- Rosslare: On Ireland’s southeastern most tip, Rosslare has the highest number of international ferry crossings, with five in total (two each to Wales and France and one to Spain).
- Cork: Cork offers just one route which connects Ireland to Brittany, France.
FERRY ROUTES TO IRELAND MAP
Check out the map ‘wot I dun’ of all the ferry routes to and from Ireland below. I’ve also added each nation’s flags to the relevant areas so you can easily see where each port is located…
WHICH FERRY COMPANY OPERATES EACH ROUTE?
In total there are five different ferry crossings between France and Ireland, encompassing ports in Normandy, Brittany, and Hauts de France:
Rosslare to Cherbourg (Normandy) with Brittany Ferries
Dublin to Cherbourg with Irish Ferries
Due to its location right opposite Ireland on the other side of the Irish Sea, Wales is particularly well served by ferry. There are four different crossings:
Dublin to Holyhead with Irish Ferries
Dublin to Holyhead with Stena Line
There are no ferry routes linking the Irish Republic with Scotland, but there are two crossings between Northern Ireland and Scotland:
There’s one ferry route from Ireland to Spain that operates year round, and that’s Rosslare to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries. Departures on Friday nights (year round) and Wednesday mornings (April to October).
In winter (Nov – March) Brittany Ferries also operate a weekly Rosslare to Santander route, departing Tuesday mornings.
Rather surprisingly, there are no direct ferry routes between the Republic of Ireland and England. Until 2023 P&O operated a Dublin to Liverpool route but that has long since been discontinued. There are services that operate between Ireland and the Isle of Mann, and from there you could change ferries and connect to England.
If that sounds like too much hassle, then just take a direct ferry from England to Northern Ireland instead, on the Liverpool Birkenhead to Belfast route with Stena Line
BOOKING CHEAP FERRY TICKETS TO AND FROM IRELAND
- Book direct: I always recommend booking direct with the ferry company that operates your route. Going straight to Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways, Irish Ferries or Stena Line ensures you not only get good prices, but also top-line customer service in case you need to change your plans.
- Compare prices: While booking directly is always best for service, checking a ferry comparison website like Direct Ferries helps you to quickly compare prices across multiple operators, which is especially useful when your route is offered by more than one company (i.e Dublin/Holyhead).
- Plan ahead: Ferry companies release cheaper fares and cabins early, so the sooner you book, the cheaper your ticket will be.
- Check our special deals section below!
Current Ferry Deals!
Cairnryan – Larne
P&O Ferries are currently offering 25% off your ferry tickets (stays of up to 28 hours) on the Cairnryan – Larne route. The offer is available until January 10th, 2027.
Rosslare – Dunkirk
DFDS Seaways are offering a cracking 15% discount on cabin and vehicle fares until March 2nd 2026, with all meals included in their on-board restaurant too! Offer valid on all ferries from Jan 2nd til Dec 31st. Bloody marvelous value if you ask me!
FERRY TO IRELAND: OUTRO
Taking a ferry to Ireland isn’t just the best choice for slow travelers who prefer to take the scenic route, but also anyone who’d rather avoid using a certain low-cost Irish airline! Whatever your reasons for going green though, there’s no doubt that Ireland is blessed with a comprehensive international ferry network.
Hopefully my guide has helped you to make sense off all the routes available to you, but if you think I’ve missed anything, or if you have any questions then leave a comment below, as I’m always learning too.
I’ve also written guides on some of the places that you can reach by ferry from Ireland, so if you’re headed to Bilbao in Spain, read my post on ferries to Spain, or my guide to nearby Santander.
Bon voyage and enjoy the craic!
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