Time to read: 5 minutes
Did you know it’s easy to take the boat from England to Ireland using the Holyhead Ferry? There are daily ferries crossing from Holyhead in Wales to Dublin Port, just ten minutes from the city centre. In this post, I’ll tell you all you need to know about the Holyhead to Dublin ferry.
The fastest ferry from Holyhead to Dublin takes just 3 hours, 15 minutes and costs from as little as £38/€42 for a foot passenger. Click here to book with Direct Ferries.
Reaching Ireland by ferry is one of the best ways to arrive on the island and offers fantastic coastal views of the Republic. There are two ferry services operating between Holyhead and Dublin operated by Stena Line and Irish Ferries.
I took the ferry from England to Ireland last week and found it to be an excellent way to travel between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. If you want to travel to Northern Ireland, check out my article about the Liverpool to Belfast ferry.
Boring stuff: I have visited each of the places I recommend and give you my honest opinion, warts and all. All photos are my own unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced without permission. Affiliate links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Can You Catch Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin?
It’s easy to catch a ferry from Holyhead to Dublin with five to six sailings per day taking just over three hours. You can travel both as a foot passenger or with a vehicle.
If you’re looking to hire a car for your Ireland trip, I recommend our partners at Discover Cars who are one of the top service providers in Europe. Click here to find out more.
How Long is the Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin?
Most of the ferries to Ireland from Holyhead take three hours and fifteen minutes. Irish Ferries has a 10:40 sailing each day on the Dublin Swift which is a fast Catamaran service that takes just two hours and fifteen minutes.
When I did the crossing recently the Irish Ferries 14:10 sailing was 30 minutes late, so bear this in mind when booking onward travel.
Holyhead to Dublin Ferry Cost
Stena Line £38/€44
Irish Ferries £43/€50
Book today with Direct Ferries
Rail and Sail
A ticket from London to Dublin with Rail and Sail costs just £48.80/€57 including both the train and ferry. You can book online via thetrainline and other national rail services, or direct with Stena Line and Irish Ferries.
Why take the Holyhead Dublin Ferry?
- Enjoy a leisurely trip without the stress of flying
- Cheap – tickets from just €38.00
- Amazing views of Dublin Bay
- Discover the Craic in one of Europe’s most fun cities
- Arrive a few minutes from Dublin city centre
There are many reasons to visit the vibrant city of Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland. This city has so much to see and do from enjoying a Guinness in colourful Temple Bar to discovering the many great museums, Trinity College and more.
Book today with Direct Ferries
Holyhead to Dublin Ferry Timetable
Stena Line Holyhead to Dublin Timetable
| Ship | Depart Holyhead | Arrive Dublin | Duration |
| Stena Adventurer | 02:15 | 05:30 | 3h15m |
| Stena Nordica | 09:00 | 12:15 | 3h15m |
| Stena Adventurer | 14:45 | 18:00 | 3h15m |
Irish Ferries Holyhead to Dublin Timetable
| Ship | Depart Holyhead | Arrive Dublin | Duration |
| Dublin Swift | 11:10 | 13:25 | 2h15m |
| Ulysses | 14:10 | 17:25 | 3h15m |
Book today with Direct Ferries
How to buy tickets for the Holyhead to Dublin Ferry
You can purchase tickets at the port in Holyhead, however, as the route sells out it’s best to book in advance and this can be done online through companies like Direct Ferries.
Prices start from as little as €38 one-way for a foot passenger. Prices increase in summer and around holiday periods. Use the widget below to get a quote today:
How to get to the Holyhead Ferry Terminal
The ferry departs from the passenger terminal which adjoins Holyhead railway station. There are daily train services to Holyhead from across England. There is one direct train each day from London Euston at 9:02am, arriving in Holyhead at 12:47.
I did Rail and Sail which meant I had to make changes at Chester and Crewe. If driving from London take the M1, M6, and A55 (North Wales Expressway). If you need a vehicle for your journey, you can rent a car with Discover Cars and pick it up at Holyhead Port. Click here to check prices.
Address: Station St, Holyhead LL65 1DQ, United Kingdom. Click here for directions.
Telephone: +44 (0)1407 606700
Website: holyheadport.co.uk
Port Operating Hours
Monday to Sunday: 6:30am – 5:00pm and 6:30pm – 2:30am
Facilities at the port
- ATM
- Cafe
- Shop
- Toilets
- Wi-Fi
- Irish Ferries ticket office
- Stena Line ticket office
Parking
There is a car park at the port for passengers to use. Prices start from £10 per day up to £99 for 14 days.
Checking In
Check-in opens 2 hours prior to departure. Foot passengers should check in one hour before departure (check-in closes 45 minutes before the sailing).
After presenting your ticket and passport at the counter you’ll then go through security. Bags will be x-rayed and larger baggage should be put in the hold. I was able to keep my 65-litre backpack with me as I had my laptop in there and wanted to work on the crossing.
Shuttle Bus
There is a shuttle bus that takes foot passengers from the port building directly to the ferry. Wait in the passenger lounge after checking in and you will be called to the bus when it’s ready to depart. The journey takes around 5 minutes.
Book today with Direct Ferries
About the Holyhead to Dublin Ferry
There is a range of services making the Holyhead to Dubin crossing. There is one fast crossing at 10:40 each day with Irish Ferries on the Dublin Swift that takes just over two hours. All other services take just over three hours.
You can travel as a foot passenger or with a vehicle on any of the daily sailings from Holyhead to Ireland.
Facilities on Board
- Sun decks
- Restaurants
- Coffee shop
- Cafeteria
- Children’s play area
- Tax-free shop
Food and Drink
There are multiple places to get food and drink on board the sailings from Holyhead to Dublin. There is a cafeteria-style restaurant serving hot meals (breakfast, fish and chips etc) and a cafe selling sandwiches. There is also a pizza restaurant on the Irish Ferries Ulysses. Expect to pay €10 to €15 for a meal, and around €5 for a sandwich or snack.
WiFi
There is limited free WiFi onboard which lasts for 20 minutes. You can also pay to upgrade to a faster connection. Mobile phone data works when near land, but not out at sea.
Book today with Direct Ferries
About the Route – Holyhead to Dublin Ferry Distance
The distance from Holyhead to Dublin is just 73 miles (117 km) and the ferry crosses the Irish Sea. As the route is quite sheltered it’s not usually as rough as open sea voyages.
Getting to Dublin from the Ferry Port
The port in Dublin is just 4 miles (6 km) from the city centre so it’s a piece of cake to get into town. I took a taxi which cost €15 for the ten-minute journey.
Bus service 53 departs from outside the port building and goes to Talbot Street in central Dublin and takes around 30 minutes.
Did you know there’s also a car ferry from Liverpool to Dublin?
Things to See and Do in Dublin
Dublin is an absolutely fantastic destination and somewhere I’ve visited many times over the years. There is tons to do from taking a tour of the Guinness Factory to learning about Ireland’s sometimes troubled history at Kilmainham Gaol and the General Post Office.
One of the best things to do though of course is enjoy the craic and have a few pints in buzzing Temple Bar (The Foggy Dew is an old favourite and I went back there for the first time in years on this visit).
Dublin also makes a great base for exploring the rest of Ireland and there are daily buses around the country and to Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Here are some of the top things to do in Dublin:
- Have a pint in Temple bar
- Cross Ha’Penny Bridge
- Take a tour of the Guinness Factory
- Visit Kilmainham Gaol
- See the library at Trinity College
- Explore the city’s parks and gardens
Holyhead to Dublin FAQs
The ferry from Holyhead to Dublin takes three hours and fifteen minutes. However, the 11:10 sailing with Irish Ferries takes just two hours and 15 minutes.
The ferry from Holyhead to Dublin costs from £38/€44 for a foot passenger. This can be even cheaper if you opt for the Rail and Sail deals with Stena Line and Irish Ferries.
The Holyhead to Dublin route is the shortest crossing from the mainland UK to Ireland and takes from just two hours and 15 minutes.
Don’t Delay, Book Today!
Now you know how to take the Holyhead to Dublin ferry, one of the easiest and most fun ways to travel between England and Ireland.
Avoid the hassle and stress of flying and arrive refreshed at your destination after a relaxing trip across the Irish Sea. Use the form below to get a quote, or click here to book your ticket today.
You might also like my other ferry travel articles:
About the author:
Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.
Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World. See the About page for more info.
Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲