There are no fewer than 12 international ferry routes connecting Ireland with Wales, Scotland, England, France and Spain. The fastest crossings take around two hours, while long-distance routes from continental Europe can last more than a day. In this guide, I’ll compare every ferry route to Ireland, including crossing times, operators, costs and the best options for different types of travellers.
With routes changing over time and new services occasionally appearing, I’ve gathered all the essential information here in one place, including tips for snagging the best fares, port-to-port maps, and everything else you need to know before booking your ferry tickets.
So consider this your lucky charm, pour yourself a pint of Guinness, and let’s craic on with it…
FERRIES TO IRELAND: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Last updated: June 2026
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
To help make sense of Ireland’s surprisingly extensive ferry network, I’ve put together the map below showing all international ferry routes to and from the island. I’ve also added each country’s flag, so you can quickly see where every crossing starts and finishes.
FERRY ROUTES TO IRELAND BY COUNTRY
There are four different ferry crossings between France and Ireland, encompassing ports in Normandy, Brittany, and Hauts de France:
Rosslare to Cherbourg (Normandy) with Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: Around 17–18h
Frequency: 4 weekly sailings
Typical fare range: €90–€250 foot passenger; €300–€800 with a car
Best for: Travellers driving from France to southern Ireland.
The Cherbourg to Rosslare ferry allows travellers to reach Ireland directly from mainland Europe without crossing Great Britain. It is particularly popular with motorhome owners, cyclists and anyone taking extended road trips around Ireland.
Dublin to Cherbourg with Irish Ferries
Crossing time: Around 18–20h
Frequency: Several weekly sailings
Typical fare range: €90–€250 foot passenger; €300–€800 with a car
Best for: Direct access between northern France and Dublin.
The Cherbourg to Dublin route provides a straightforward connection between France and Ireland’s capital. It is often chosen by travellers looking to avoid UK transit requirements while enjoying a direct route into Dublin and Ireland’s east coast.
Rosslare to Dunkirk (Hauts de France) with DFDS
Crossing time: Around 23–24 hours
Frequency: Up to 5 weekly sailings.
Typical fare range: €120–€300+ per passenger; €350–€900+ with a car or motorhome (varies significantly by season, cabin choice and vehicle size)
Best for: Travellers heading to northern Europe who want to avoid the UK en route.
The Rosslare to Dunkirk ferry has become one of Ireland’s most important direct links to continental Europe, as provides easy onward access to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and beyond. Unlike routes to Cherbourg or Roscoff, Dunkirk is strategically positioned close to some of Europe’s busiest transport corridors, making it particularly popular with anyone undertaking long European road trips.
Cork to Roscoff (Brittany) with Brittany Ferries
Crossing time: Around 13–15h
Frequency: Several weekly sailings
Typical fare range: €80–€220 foot passenger; €250–€700 with a car
Best for: Travellers heading directly to southwest Ireland.
The Roscoff to Cork ferry is the go-to option for Irish people wanting to hit France quickly, as well as French travellers visiting counties Cork and Kerry in the opposite direction.
Due to its location right opposite Ireland on the other side of the Irish Sea, Wales is particularly well served by ferry. There are three different routes, operated by four ferry companies:
Holyhead to Dublin with Irish Ferries & Stena Line
Crossing time: 2h 15m–3h 30m
Frequency: Up to 7–8 daily sailings (50+ weekly)
Typical fare range: €30–€80 foot passenger; €120–€300 with a car
Best for: The fastest and most popular route between Great Britain and Ireland.
The Holyhead to Dublin ferry is the busiest ferry route serving Ireland and is the quickest way to reach Dublin and the east coast. With frequent departures from both Irish Ferries and Stena Line, it offers excellent flexibility for both foot passengers and motorists. The route is particularly popular with tourists, business travellers and people taking road trips around Ireland.
Fishguard to Rosslare with Stena Line
Crossing time: Around 3h 30m
Frequency: 1–2 daily sailings (around 13 weekly)
Typical fare range: €35–€90 foot passenger; €130–€320 with a car
Best for: Travellers heading to southern Ireland, including Cork, Waterford and Kerry.
The Fishguard to Rosslare ferry provides one of the most direct links between Wales and Ireland’s south-east coast. It is a convenient option for travellers heading towards Waterford, Cork or the Wild Atlantic Way without needing to drive through Dublin. The route is particularly useful for those travelling from southern England and South Wales.
Pembroke to Rosslare with Irish Ferries
Crossing time: Around 4h
Frequency: Usually 2 daily sailings
Typical fare range: €30–€80 foot passenger; €120–€300 with a car
Best for: Easy access to Ireland’s south-east from South Wales.
The Pembroke to Rosslare ferry is a reliable alternative to the Fishguard route. Travellers heading towards Wexford, Kilkenny or Cork often find this crossing convenient, particularly when travelling with a car, campervan or motorhome.
There are no ferry routes linking the Irish Republic with Scotland, but there are two crossings between Northern Ireland and Scotland:
Cairnryan/Larne with P&O Ferries
Crossing time: Around 2h
Frequency: Up to 7 daily sailings
Typical fare range: €25–€70 foot passenger; €100–€250 with a car
Best for: The quickest ferry crossing between Scotland and the island of Ireland, Cairnryan to Larne is in fact the shortest crossing time of any route between Great Britain and Ireland. Larne’s location makes it a good gateway to Belfast, the Causeway Coastal Route and Northern Ireland’s scenic Antrim coastline.
Cairnryan to Belfast with Stena Line
Crossing time: Around 2h 15m
Frequency: Up to 5–6 daily sailings
Typical fare range: €25–€70 foot passenger; €100–€250 with a car
Best for: Fast access to Belfast and Northern Ireland.
The Cairnryan to Belfast ferry is also one of the fastest sea crossings between Great Britain and Ireland, and frequent sailings throughout the day make it a flexible choice for both leisure and business travellers.
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).
Crossing time: Around 27–30h
Frequency: Usually 2 weekly sailings
Typical fare range: €120–€350 foot passenger; €400–€1,200+ with a car
Best for: Travellers driving between Spain and Ireland without crossing Britain.
The Bilbao to Rosslare ferry is one of Europe’s longest direct ferry routes and is especially popular with motorhome travellers and long-distance road trippers. Although the crossing takes a while, it eliminates the need to drive across France and Britain, thus making it an attractive option for travellers heading between the Iberian Peninsula and Ireland.
In winter (Nov – March) Brittany Ferries also operate a weekly Rosslare to Santander route, departing Tuesday mornings.
Crossing time: Around 27–30h
Frequency: 1 weekly sailing in winter
Typical fare range: €120–€350 foot passenger; €400–€1,200+ with a car
Best for: Travellers travelling between Rosslare and Santander in winter (well, duh!).
Oh, and if you’re planning to travel on this route, then definitely check out my detailed travel guide to Santander.
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.
But if that sounds like too much hassle, then just take a direct ferry from England to Northern Ireland instead:
Liverpool Birkenhead to Belfast route with Stena Line
Crossing time: Around 7–8 hours
Frequency: Usually 2 daily sailings year-round
Typical fare range: From around €40+ for foot passengers; vehicle fares vary significantly by season and vehicle type
Best for: Travellers from northern England who want direct access to Northern Ireland without having to drive all the way up to Scotland.
HOW MUCH DOES A FERRY TO IRELAND COST?
Obviously, the cost of a ferry to Ireland will vary significantly depending on the route, time of year, ferry operator and whether you’re travelling as a foot passenger or with a vehicle.
As a general guide, foot passenger fares on shorter routes between the UK and Ireland often start from around €30–€50 each way, while longer sailings from France and Spain can cost €100 or more. Travelling with a car, campervan or motorhome will increase the cost considerably on all routes, especially during peak travel periods (like school holidays).
Typical Ferry Costs to Ireland
| Traveller Type | Typical One-Way Fare |
|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | €30–€100+ |
| Car + Driver | €120–€350+ |
| Car + Family | €200–€600+ |
| Motorhome | €250–€1,000+ |
| Motorcycle + Rider | €80–€250+ |
To secure the best fares, book as far in advance as possible and avoid travelling during school holidays and peak summer dates. If you’re flexible, midweek sailings are often cheaper than weekend departures.
For more specific pricing information, check the route summaries above, where you’ll find typical fare ranges for each crossing.
TIPS FOR FINDING CHEAP FERRY TICKETS
Alright, let’s get down to the nitty gritty – once you’ve decided which route to take, it’s time to book your tickets. So to get the best value fares, here are my tips:
- Book direct: I always recommend booking direct with the ferry company that operates your route. Going straight to Brittany 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 my special deals section below!
CURRENT FERRY DEALS!
Discounted Ireland to France Fares
Brittany Ferries currently have some brilliant three and five day fares to France, with travel all the way through until November 2nd, 2026. Additionally, if you want to be away for longer, check out this fantastic 7-day fare from just £342 return for a car + 2 people, or £418 for a car, 2 adults and 2 children.
Also check out DFDS Seaways and their Rosslare to Dunkirk route below, as they’re always super competitive on these longer routes.
Discounted Ireland to Spain Fares
Brittany Ferries’ 10-day fares to Spain are available right now for just 250 EUR with a cabin! Click the link below for more details and to book your tickets.
WHICH FERRY ROUTE TO IRELAND SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
The best ferry route to Ireland for you will more often than not depend on where you are travelling from and your final destination. It is helpful though, to summarise what each route and port is good for:
- Choose Holyhead to Dublin if you want the fastest and most frequent route between Great Britain and Ireland.
- Choose Fishguard to Rosslare or Pembroke to Rosslare if you’re English or Welsh and headed to southern Ireland, Cork or Kerry.
- Choose Cairnryan to Belfast or Cairnryan to Larne if you’re travelling from Scotland to Ireland.
- Choose Rosslare to Dunkirk if you are travelling between Ireland and mainland Europe without crossing the UK.
- Choose Cherbourg to Dublin if you want direct access to Ireland’s east coast from France.
- Choose Cork to Roscoff if you want the shortest direct route to France.
- Choose Rosslare to Bilbao if you are travelling between Ireland and Spain year round and you want to avoid a long drive through France.
For most travellers from England and Wales, the Holyhead to Dublin route remains the quickest and most convenient option due to its short crossing time and frequent daily departures.
By the way, if this is your first time travelling by ferry, don’t forget to read my guide to ferry travel requirements and check-in procedures. It covers everything from arrival times and boarding to travel documents, pets, accessibility, luggage and what to expect once you’re onboard.
FERRIES TO IRELAND: OUTRO
Taking a ferry to Ireland isn’t just the best choice for slow travellers who prefer to take the scenic route, but also for anyone who’d rather avoid the stress of airports (or a certain low-cost Irish airline!).
Whatever your reason for travelling by sea, there’s no doubt that Ireland is blessed with an impressive international ferry network, with routes connecting the island to Wales, Scotland, England, France and Spain.
Hopefully this guide has helped you make sense of the various ferry routes to Ireland and find the crossing that’s right for your trip. If you think I’ve missed anything, or if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Ferry routes and schedules change regularly, and I’m always learning too.
You can also check out my other ferry travel articles for further inspiration and ideas. If you’re heading further afield, my guide to ferries to Spain includes plenty of information on routes to Bilbao and Santander, while my wider ferry travel hub covers crossings across Europe and beyond.
Bon voyage, safe sailing and enjoy the craic!
Leave a reply