Holyhead to Dublin Ferry
The main UK-Ireland car ferry route. Both Irish Ferries and Stena Line sail Holyhead to Dublin Port — about three hours fifteen minutes on the conventional ferries, around two hours on the seasonal Dublin Swift fast craft.
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Other ways to get from Holyhead to Dublin
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fly Manchester → Dublin (DUB) | For Dublin and the east of Ireland. The airport is about 10 km from Dublin ferry port. Compare flights → · Car hire at Dublin → |
| Fly Manchester → Cork (ORK) | For Cork and the south-west of Ireland. Compare flights → · Car hire at Cork → |
| Fly Manchester → Ireland West Knock (NOC) | For Mayo, Galway and the west of Ireland. Compare flights → · Car hire at Ireland West Knock → |
Read more: Flights to Dublin from the UK — compareflights.co.uk (our sister site).
Flight times and fares are on the search page; we do not show them here.
The Holyhead to Dublin ferry
Holyhead to Dublin is the main car-ferry route between Britain and the Republic of Ireland. From the port at the end of the A55 on Anglesey, both Irish Ferries and Stena Line sail across the Irish Sea to Dublin Port, right beside the city centre. The conventional cruise ferries — Irish Ferries' giant Ulysses and Stena's superferries — take about three hours fifteen minutes, while the seasonal Irish Ferries Dublin Swift fast craft does it in around two hours. Between the two operators there are four or more sailings a day, day and night, so you can pick a daytime crossing or an overnight one. Holyhead has direct trains from London Euston via Chester, and Dublin Port is a short hop from the M50 and the city. It carries cars, motorhomes, coaches and foot passengers.
- Two operators — Irish Ferries and Stena Line — for choice and competitive fares
- Conventional ferry about 3h15; seasonal Dublin Swift fast craft about 2h
- Dublin Port sits right beside the city centre and the M50
- Direct trains to Holyhead from London Euston via Chester
Holyhead to Dublin ferry fares we have seen
| Fare basket | Fare seen | Seen on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car + driver, single, from (Stena Line route-page headline fare) | £155.00 | 18 October 2026 | Stena Line Holyhead-Dublin route page, 'From £155 single, car and driver' |
| Adult foot passenger, single — Direct Ferries 'from' price | £84.00 | 18 October 2026 | Direct Ferries route page (figures from the last 30 days of searches, updated 16/10/2026, excluding booking fees) |
| Average paid for a crossing with a car — Direct Ferries, last 30 days | £336.00 | 18 October 2026 | Direct Ferries route page (figures from the last 30 days of searches, updated 16/10/2026, excluding booking fees) |
Fares change with date, demand and vehicle; these are figures we saw on the dates shown, not quotes. A booking fee may be added. Check live prices in the search above.
Who sails Holyhead to Dublin
| Operator | Ships | Crossing | Sailings | Foot passengers | Pets | Cabins / seating | Check-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Irish Ferries | Ulysses, James Joyce (route page also mentions Dublin Swift fast ferry, 'just over 2 hours', but it is not in the page's ship list and has no timetable) | 3 h 30 min (cruise ferry) | up to 4 daily each direction | Yes - booking form has an 'On foot or cycling' option; no per-sailing restriction printed | Pets must be pre-booked before check-in. Foot passengers and motorcyclists only if booked into a kennel or the Pet Den (max 5 pets per booking). Kennels listed on Ulysses and Dublin Swift; Pet Den on Ulysses and James Joyce; pet cabins (max 2 pets) on James Joyce only. Irish Ferries pet page says check in at least 60 minutes before departure. | Cabins bookable; Club Class lounge on Ulysses and James Joyce; Pet Den Lounge and Cabins on James Joyce | Route page: 'Easy 30 minute check in'; sailing-updates page: 'Latest check-in time is 30 minutes before departure'. Pet travellers: 60 minutes (Irish Ferries pet page). |
Rules differ by operator and ship; confirm when you book. Sources: irishferries.com. Checked 2026-10-18.
What to know about the Holyhead to Dublin crossing
Check-in
Irish Ferries: latest check-in 30 minutes before departure. Stena Line: cars close 30 minutes before departure, foot passengers close 40 minutes before; late foot passengers are moved to the next sailing. Stena says times are shown on the e-ticket. (stenalinetravel.com)
Foot passengers
Stena Line: foot passengers are taken from the passenger terminal to the ferry by shuttle bus at Holyhead and Dublin. Irish Ferries: booking form offers 'On foot or cycling'; maximum 9 passengers per online booking (call +44 (0)3717 300 400 for more). From 28 September 2026 Stena passengers leaving Dublin, Holyhead, Fishguard or Rosslare must show a valid passport at check-in. (stenaline.ie)
Vehicles
Irish Ferries charges cars, campervans and minibuses by height (up to 1.90m, 2.25m, over 2.25m) and length (over 8m); vans up to 6m long and 2.6m high accepted for non-commercial use. (irishferries.com)
Pets
Irish Ferries: pre-book before check-in; pets go free to Ireland; foot passengers need a kennel or the Pet Den; needs EU pet passport or GB Animal Health Certificate, microchip, rabies vaccine at least 21 days before travel, tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before arrival for dogs entering Ireland. Stena Line: all pets pre-booked, car pets free, free kennels, pet cabins up to 2 pets. (irishferries.freshdesk.com)
Accessibility
Irish Ferries asks for contact at least 2 working days before travel ([email protected]). Dublin Swift has no adapted cabins; Ulysses has adapted cabins and Club Class lounges reachable by lift. (irishferries.com)
Where the ferry leaves from and arrives
Holyhead (Stena Line terminal)
- Address
- Stena House, Station St, Holyhead LL65 1DQ
- Getting there
- End of the A55. Holyhead railway station is reached from Terminal 1. Port stops accepting cash from 1 October 2026.
- Parking
- Short-term car park outside terminal (up to 20 minutes). Two long-term car parks: car park 1 height limit 2.4m, car park 2 height limit 2.1m. EV bays give 2 hours free while charging.
- Facilities
- Tickets, toilets, baby change, passenger lounge, vending, free Wi-Fi, disability assistance, drop-off, EV chargers, Duty Free (06:30-17:00 and 18:30-02:30).
- Onward travel
- Rail from Holyhead station.
Source: stenaline.co.uk, checked 2026-10-18.
Holyhead (Irish Ferries)
- Address
- Anglesey, North Wales; Irish Ferries gives postcode LL65 1DR (no street address printed)
- Getting there
- A55 and A5; about 1 h 40 min from Chester, 2 h from Liverpool, 2 h 20 min from Manchester, 3 h 15 min from Birmingham. Terminal closed 03:00-05:45.
- Parking
- Not stated
- Facilities
- Not stated
- Onward travel
- Rail connections to stations across Britain
Source: irishferries.com, checked 2026-10-18.
Dublin Port (Stena Line, Terminal 2)
- Address
- Terminal 2, Alexandra Rd, Dublin Port, Dublin, D01 WD28
- Getting there
- About 6 km east of the city centre. No direct train; nearest Luas Red Line stop is The Point, about 40 min walk. Taxi rank at terminal.
- Parking
- 30 spaces, card only: €2.00 per hour (min €1.00), €9.00 per 24 hours, €50.00 per 7 days. Alexandra Road closed to port traffic until Autumn 2026; access via Promenade Road.
- Facilities
- Tickets, toilets, baby change, passenger lounge, vending, free Wi-Fi, disability assistance. Open 05:30-02:30.
- Onward travel
- Nolan Coaches bus for every sailing, 30-35 minutes. From terminal 00:10, 05:50, 12:55, 18:40; from Heuston Station 00:40, 06:40, 13:35, 19:20. Single €3 most stops, €4.50 Heuston; infants 0-3 free.
Source: stenaline.co.uk, checked 2026-10-18.
Dublin Ferryport (Irish Ferries)
- Address
- Eircode D01 P3K2 (about 2 miles from the city centre; no street address printed; company registered address Ferryport, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1, D01 W2F5)
- Getting there
- Dublin Port Tunnel to M50 and M1. Alexandra Road closed to port traffic from 19 July 2025 until Autumn 2026; access via Promenade Road.
- Parking
- Not stated
- Facilities
- Not stated
- Onward travel
- Express Bus Transfer by Nolan Coaches 7 days a week; number 53 bus terminus on Talbot Street.
Source: irishferries.com, checked 2026-10-18.
Arriving in Dublin? Book a car in Dublin →
Staying in or around Dublin
Express Bus Transfer by Nolan Coaches 7 days a week; number 53 bus terminus on Talbot Street.
Ports & operators on this route
Holyhead to Dublin ferry — common questions
How long is the Holyhead to Dublin ferry?
About three hours fifteen minutes on the conventional ferries, or roughly two hours on the seasonal Dublin Swift fast craft.
Which companies sail Holyhead to Dublin?
Irish Ferries and Stena Line both operate the route, with several sailings a day between them.
Can I walk on the Holyhead-Dublin ferry?
Yes, foot passengers are carried; the terminals connect with trains at Holyhead and buses at Dublin Port.
How many ferries a day run between Holyhead and Dublin?
Irish Ferries lists up to 4 daily in each direction. Stena Line states 8 crossings daily.
How early must I check in for the Holyhead to Dublin ferry?
Irish Ferries says the latest check-in is 30 minutes before departure. Stena Line closes check-in 30 minutes before for cars and 40 minutes before for foot passengers.
Can foot passengers take the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin?
Yes. Irish Ferries' booking form has an 'On foot or cycling' option, and Stena Line takes foot passengers to the ferry by shuttle bus from the passenger terminal.
Can I take a dog on the Holyhead to Dublin ferry?
Yes, if pre-booked. Irish Ferries says pets go free to Ireland and foot passengers need a kennel or the Pet Den; Stena Line says pets in cars and kennels are free and pet cabins hold up to 2 pets.
Related ferry routes
More Irish Ferries, Stena Line routes
Where these facts come from
Checked by the CheapFerries editorial team on 18 October 2026. Operators change timetables, fares and rules, so confirm details for your sailing when you book.
- irishferries.com www.irishferries.com/uk-en/holyhead-dublin/
- stenaline.co.uk www.stenaline.co.uk/routes/holyhead-dublin/
- stenaline.co.uk stenaline.co.uk/routes/holyhead-dublin/holyhead-port
- irishferries.com www.irishferries.com/uk-en/frequently-asked-questions/our-ports/all-ports-directions/
- stenaline.co.uk stenaline.co.uk/routes/holyhead-dublin/dublin-port
- directferries.co.uk www.directferries.co.uk/holyhead_dublin_ferry.htm
- stenalinetravel.com www.stenalinetravel.com/customer-service/at-the-port/how-long-before-departure-do-i-need-to-check-in
- stenaline.ie www.stenaline.ie/customer-service/at-the-port/how-do-foot-passengers-access-the-ferry
- irishferries.freshdesk.com irishferries.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/80000968962-pet-travel-ireland-britain
- irishferries.com www.irishferries.com/uk-en/frequently-asked-questions/top-10-faqs/