Dublin to Holyhead Ferry: Times, Prices & Port Guide
Two operators, up to eight sailings a day and a crossing from 2 h 15 m. Everything you need before booking — schedules, real costs, which terminal you actually need, and the exact bus routes that get you to each one.
The Dublin–Holyhead crossing is the busiest sea link between Ireland and Britain, and for most travellers it is the practical alternative to flying: you keep your car, luggage limits disappear, and you arrive in the centre of things rather than at an out-of-town airport. Irish Ferries and Stena Line both run the route year-round.
The single most useful thing to know before you travel: the two operators leave from different terminals in Dublin Port, and they are not next door to each other. Getting that wrong is the most common way people miss a sailing. Each terminal also has its own bus route — both covered below.
Sailings and operators
Departures run right through the day and night. Irish Ferries sails from Dublin at 01:15, 07:30, 13:45 and 19:45; Stena Line runs its own schedule from Terminal 2.
| Operator | Dublin terminal | Ships | Crossing | Sailings | Bus to the terminal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Ferries | Terminal 1 Terminal Road South |
Ulysses, James Joyce Dublin Swift |
3 h 30 m 2 h 15 m on the Swift |
4 each way daily, year-round |
Bus 53 to Dublin Ferryport |
| Stena Line | Terminal 2 | Stena Adventurer Stena Estrid |
3 h 15 m | 8 daily on the route |
Bus 853 from Ferry Terminal 2 |
Frequencies are typical year-round patterns; individual sailings vary by season and day of the week.
Irish Ferries timetable — Dublin to Holyhead
| Departs Dublin | Arrives Holyhead | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01:15 overnight | 04:45 | 3 h 30 m | Cheapest fares; arriving in Wales at dawn |
| 07:30 | 11:00 | 3 h 30 m | Connecting to midday trains from Holyhead |
| 13:45 | 17:15 | 3 h 30 m | A relaxed start; the family sailing |
| 19:45 | 23:15 | 3 h 30 m | A full day in Dublin before you leave |
Irish Ferries timetable — Holyhead to Dublin
| Departs Holyhead | Arrives Dublin | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01:30 overnight | 05:00 | 3 h 30 m | Landing before the Dublin rush hour |
| 07:30 | 11:00 | 3 h 30 m | A full day in Dublin on arrival |
| 13:15 | 16:45 | 3 h 30 m | Morning train up from London or Chester |
| 19:30 | 23:00 | 3 h 30 m | Travelling after a working day |
Scheduled times published by Irish Ferries for the Ulysses and James Joyce. The fast craft Dublin Swift operates selected departures in just over 2 hours. Stena Line runs its own schedule from Terminal 2 — see below. Times vary seasonally: confirm your specific sailing when booking.
Times change with the season and the weather. Check the operator before you travel:
Prices: what you will actually pay
Fares on this route move a lot with season, day of the week and how far ahead you book. Use these as planning baselines.
| Travelling as | Typical fare | What it includes | How to pay less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foot passenger | from ~€27 one way | Your seat and access to all public decks | Book early and take an overnight sailing — the cheapest fares go first |
| Car + driver | from €179.50 single Stena Line published fare |
The vehicle and its driver; extra passengers are added on top | Fill the car — the vehicle fare is fixed, so cost per person drops sharply |
| Cyclist | Close to foot-passenger fares | You and the bicycle | Check each operator’s bike policy; spaces can be limited |
| Foot passenger + train SailRail |
Single combined ticket | Ferry crossing plus the onward UK train leg | Usually cheaper than buying ferry and train separately |
| Fare tiers Irish Ferries |
Economy · Flexi · Flexi+ | Higher tiers allow changes and cancellations | Take Economy if your dates are certain; the flexibility premium is rarely worth it otherwise |
Prices move with the date and demand. Get a live quote and book direct:
Route map
The crossing runs almost due east from Dublin Bay across the Irish Sea to Anglesey — roughly 90 km of open water. Tap either port for details.
The two ports — and the mistake to avoid
Dublin Port
About 6 km east of Dublin city centre — close, but not walkable with luggage.
- Terminal 1 = Irish Ferries. Reached by Dublin Bus route 53 from Talbot Street, which terminates right at the Ferryport.
- Terminal 2 = Stena Line. The 53 does not stop here — but route 853 links Ferry Terminal 2 with Parkgate Street. Stena also runs its own connecting coach, bookable with the ticket.
- Walking between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 takes roughly 10–12 minutes.
- Both terminals have free Wi-Fi and EV charging; Terminal 1 also has food outlets.
Holyhead Port
On Anglesey, north-west Wales — unusually convenient for onward travel.
- The ferry terminal and the railway station are the same building — about a two-minute walk to the platform.
- Avanti West Coast runs direct to London Euston in around 3 hours; Transport for Wales serves Chester, Crewe and the North Wales coast.
- Combined SailRail tickets cover ferry and train on one booking.
- Ramp access throughout the terminal and station concourse.
Getting to the ferry without a car
Crossing as a foot passenger works well — provided you plan the last mile at each end.
- City centre → Terminal 1 (Irish Ferries): take the 53 from Talbot Street East to Dublin Ferryport — it runs directly into the port.
- Terminal 2 (Stena Line): the 853 connects Ferry Terminal 2 with Parkgate Street on the west side of the city.
- Arriving into Dublin late? Check the last departure of your connecting bus before assuming one will be waiting — the overnight sailings land outside normal service hours.
- Onward from Holyhead: walk two minutes to the station inside the terminal; no transfer needed.
- Continuing across Ireland: Dublin is the hub for national coach and rail — browse every Dublin bus and rail route to plan the next leg.
Which crossing should you pick?
Take the fast crossing if…
- You are travelling with children and want the sea time short.
- You have a connecting train from Holyhead the same day.
- You are prone to seasickness — less time afloat is the simplest remedy.
Take the standard crossing if…
- Price is the priority — longer sailings are usually cheaper.
- You want space to eat, work or sleep on board.
- You are travelling overnight and treating the crossing as rest.