Ferries to Dublin

The ferry is a relaxed alternative to flying, especially if you are travelling with a car, motorhome or dog. You simply drive on board with your luggage and vehicle, and you are mobile in Ireland the moment you land. Dublin Port also sits just three kilometres north-east of the city centre, at the mouth of the River Liffey. This guide covers the routes worth taking, what they cost in 2026, the entry requirements that apply, and how to get from the port into the centre.

Which routes actually run in 2026

Ferry links to Dublin have thinned out noticeably over recent years. Three options matter today, plus a fourth with restrictions:

• Holyhead (Wales) to Dublin – by far the most important route, run by Irish Ferries and Stena Line several times a day. About 2 hours on the fast ferry, around 3 hours 15 to 30 minutes on the conventional ship.
• Cherbourg (France) to Dublin – Irish Ferries' year-round direct link that bypasses Britain altogether, usually six or seven sailings a week, an overnight crossing of around 18 to 20 hours.
• Isle of Man to Dublin – the Isle of Man Steam Packet continues to run the route in 2026, but it is suspended from 23 July to 1 October 2026. Sailings run as normal up to 19 July.
• Liverpool to Dublin – this route no longer exists. P&O Ferries closed it at the end of 2023 (last sailing from Dublin on 21 December 2023). It was a freight-only route without foot passengers in any case.

Older guidebooks and comparison sites often still list Liverpool as an active passenger route. That is simply wrong for 2026, as is the assumption that P&O calls at Dublin at all.

Via Britain – Holyhead to Dublin

If you are driving to Ireland, Holyhead on the north-west Welsh coast is the usual crossing point. Irish Ferries runs up to four sailings a day here: from Holyhead at around 01:15, 07:30, 13:45 and 19:45, and from Dublin at around 01:30, 07:30, 13:15 and 19:30.

Two of these sailings are usually on the fast ferry Dublin Swift (around two hours, roughly 135 minutes port-to-port), and two on the conventional ship Ulysses (just over three hours). One thing worth planning around – the Dublin Swift only runs seasonally. It typically starts around Easter in spring and runs into autumn, coming out of service over winter because it is more exposed to storms than the larger cruise ferries. If you are travelling outside that season, plan for the longer crossing.

Prices vary considerably by day of the week and season:

• Car with two adults, one way – typically £119 to £200. Cheaper on weekdays outside peak season, noticeably more expensive on summer weekends in July and August or when booked late.
• Foot passenger, one way – around £38 to £60 per person.
• Motorhome, camper or car-trailer combination – charged by length, a single crossing usually £155 to £275.

A return ticket is almost always cheaper than two one-way fares, and booking early pays off especially for vehicle crossings in peak season.

Direct from France – Cherbourg to Dublin

If you would rather avoid Britain altogether, take the direct ferry from Cherbourg. Irish Ferries runs the route year-round, usually six to seven times a week, including with the W.B. Yeats. The crossing takes around 18 to 20 hours and is an overnight sailing.

That is exactly why it is worth booking a cabin rather than just a reclining seat. Seat tickets start from around €107, cabins from around €150. Cabins sell out quickly given the overnight sailing, so booking early matters even more in peak season. The big advantage of this route – you skip British passport control entirely, and with it the UK ETA, which makes it appealing for a longer road trip through mainland Europe with a car or motorhome.

UK ETA – what you need to know for the Wales route

As soon as you travel via Holyhead and pass through British passport control, you need a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) as a visa-exempt visitor. Since 8 April 2026 it costs £20 (up from £16). It is valid for two years or until your passport expires, allows multiple entries for stays of up to six months, and is tied to the passport used.

• Applying – online or via the UKVI app. Most decisions come through within minutes; if extra checks are needed, allow up to three working days. The fee is not refunded.
• Exemptions – British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. Visa-exempt nationals legally resident in Ireland also do not need one within the Common Travel Area, provided they can show proof of residence.
• Outbound and return – travelling via Wales means passing through British jurisdiction both ways, so the ETA matters for the whole trip.

For more on passports, customs and a side trip to Northern Ireland, see our guide to entry requirements for Ireland.

Car, motorhome and dog on board

The ferry's biggest advantage over flying is bringing your vehicle, luggage and pet along:

• Car, motorhome and motorbike – no problem at all; for larger vehicles, the price is based on length.
• Bicycle – allowed for a small surcharge on most routes; check-in time is the same as for foot passengers.
• Dog and other pets – dogs, cats and ferrets travel with a microchip, valid rabies vaccination and EU pet passport.

There is one detail about dogs that many travellers miss – Ireland, along with Finland, Norway and Malta, is one of the exception countries. That means veterinary tapeworm treatment with praziquantel is mandatory, given between 24 and 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland, even when travelling from another EU country. Book that vet appointment well in advance. One note on pet passports – they remain valid for entry from the EU, but from 22 April 2026 they will only be valid for pets whose owner is primarily resident in the EU.

On board, the pet fee is around £20 to £50 each way. Depending on the ship, dogs travel in the vehicle, in kennels, in a Pet Den, or, on the James Joyce, in dedicated pet cabins. We have also covered the tapeworm treatment details in our entry requirements guide.

Arrival at Dublin Port and onward travel

Dublin Port sits only about three kilometres north-east of the city centre, but it is not directly connected to the tram or rail network. Foot passengers should plan the onward journey rather than assume it will be easy:

• Bus 53 – runs from Terminal 1 (Irish Ferries) at the standard Dublin bus fare via Connolly Station to its terminus at Talbot Street, a journey of around 15 to 25 minutes. Important – bus 53 does not serve Terminal 2, used by Stena Line.
• FerryLink shuttle (Nolan Coaches) – a dedicated transfer for around €4.50 each way.
• Taxi – the fastest option, and still reasonable for such a short distance, but pricier than the bus or shuttle.

For check-in, Irish Ferries' rule on the Dublin–Holyhead route is that vehicles, foot passengers and cyclists alike should be at the terminal 30 minutes before departure, coaches an hour before. Build in a bit of extra time, especially in peak season.

Is the ferry still worth it?

Honestly, it depends heavily on how you are travelling. The ferry earns its keep when you have your own vehicle or a dog with you. For foot passengers without a car, it is rarely the cheapest or fastest choice.

For comparison, here is what the flying alternative adds up to: budget airlines such as Ryanair fly to Dublin from various European cities, sometimes from as little as €17 to €20 one way, for example from Berlin. A hire car once you are there costs around €215 to €300 a week for an economy model, more like €420 for an automatic, and more again during the peak months of June to August or with extra insurance. So if you are just moving people, flying plus a hire car is often the more flexible option. But if you are travelling with a fully loaded car, a motorhome or a four-legged companion, the ferry remains the obvious, relaxed choice.

If you are planning the rest of your journey, we also have guides to flights to Dublin, Dublin Airport, hiring a car in Ireland and getting around Dublin.