Ireland by Ferry: Routes, Ports and Planning a Trip

Sail into Dublin, Rosslare or Cork and you skip the airport queues entirely — here is how the crossings actually work and where to base yourself afterwards.

The main sea routes into Ireland

Britain is the only neighbour with direct passenger ferries, and the choices are narrower than most people expect. Holyhead to Dublin Port is the busiest crossing, roughly 3 hours 15 minutes with Irish Ferries or Stena Line, several sailings daily. Pembroke to Rosslare takes about 4 hours. Fishguard to Rosslare is 3 hours 30 minutes, and Cairnryan to Belfast is just over 2 hours. Longer options include Liverpool to Dublin (around 8 hours, overnight), and the French routes: Cherbourg and Roscoff to Rosslare or Dublin, typically 18 to 20 hours, which suit motorists touring from mainland Europe.

Foot passengers should check timetables carefully, because not every sailing carries them — Dublin Port and Rosslare do, but some seasonal French services are vehicle-only. Book flexible fares if you are driving a long distance to the port; the difference between a saver and a flexi ticket is usually modest compared with the cost of missing a boat. Summer weekends in July and August fill first, so reserve six to eight weeks ahead for a car. If you are arriving late, staying near the port the night before an early sailing removes a lot of stress, particularly at Holyhead where the terminal sits right beside the harbour.

Arriving in Dublin: what to do with the car

Dublin Port empties you onto the north quays, close to Connolly Station and the Luas red line, and the Port Tunnel links straight to the M1 and M50. If you are staying in the city, book a hotel with parking in advance — central properties charge by the night and spaces are limited. Alternatively base yourself outside the centre: Dún Laoghaire, Clontarf and Portmarnock all sit on the DART line, with coastal walks and easier parking. Malahide, 20 minutes north of the port, makes a calm first night and has a castle and marina worth an hour of your time.

From Dublin, the M6 reaches Galway in about 2 hours 30 minutes and the M7 puts you in Cork in roughly 2 hours 45 minutes, so the capital works well as a one-night landing pad rather than a base for the whole trip. If you have three nights or fewer, I would skip the Dublin hotel entirely and drive west the same day, stopping at Maynooth or Athlone for lunch. If you want museums and a proper pint, give Dublin two nights, then move on — hotels in the city centre are the most expensive in the country, and parking is the hidden cost.

Rosslare and Cork: the southern approach

Rosslare Harbour is small and functional, with Wexford town 20 minutes away and Enniscorthy about 35. This corner of the country is quiet and rewarding: the Hook Peninsula, with its lighthouse and strand, and the beaches around Curracloe, which stood in for Normandy in Saving Private Ryan. Waterford city is an hour west, and its Viking Triangle and the Greenway are both worth half a day. Hotels around Wexford town are generally cheaper than Dublin's and make a sensible first or last night.

Cork, served by Ringaskiddy and Cobh from France, splits neatly into city and coast. The city centre around Patrick Street and the English Market is compact and walkable, while Kinsale, 30 minutes south, is a food town with a harbour. West Cork opens from there — Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Schull — and rewards a slow three-day drive along the Wild Atlantic Way. I would book a city hotel for one night, then two nights in Kinsale or Clonakilty. June and September are the sweet spots: long evenings, fewer coaches, and easier parking than August.

Building the itinerary around the crossing

Most ferry-based trips work best as a loop rather than an out-and-back. Arrive at Rosslare, drive the south coast to Cork and Kerry, work north through Galway and Connemara, then return via Dublin Port or Belfast. Allow at least seven nights for that circuit; anything shorter and you spend the holiday driving. The Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula each need a full day, and the Connor Pass is not a road to rush. Book accommodation in Kenmare, Dingle and Westport early — these villages have limited rooms and fill months ahead in summer.

Passengers without a car should think differently. Dublin is the best-connected arrival point: express coaches run from the port to the city, and trains from Heuston serve Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. Belfast is similarly useful, with the Enterprise train from Connolly taking just over two hours. Foot passengers also save money, because car fares are significantly higher than passenger fares even before fuel. My own choice for a first trip would be an overnight Liverpool to Dublin sailing, two nights in Dublin, then a train west — no parking, no tolls, and the arrival morning is free.

Questions, answered

How far in advance should I book a ferry to Ireland?

For July and August, reserve a car and cabin six to eight weeks ahead; overnight and French routes sell out first. Spring and autumn sailings are easier, and booking two to three weeks out is usually enough outside school holidays.

Can I travel to Ireland by ferry without a car?

Yes on the main routes — Holyhead to Dublin, Pembroke and Fishguard to Rosslare, and Cairnryan to Belfast take foot passengers, with shuttle buses or short walks to the terminal. Check each sailing individually, as some seasonal French services carry vehicles only.

Which Irish port is best for a touring holiday?

Rosslare suits the south and west, putting Wexford, Cork and Kerry first. Dublin Port is best for the east and midlands, with fast motorway links. Belfast opens up the north coast and the Causeway route, so pick the port that matches your first three days.

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