Dublin - Holyhead Ferry Tickets | Prices & Schedules

Dublin - Holyhead: Ferry tickets and sailing schedules

The Dublin - Holyhead ferry route connects the Irish capital with North Wales, providing one of the principal maritime links between Ireland and Great Britain.

Travellers can cross the Irish Sea as foot passengers or bring their own cars, motorcycles and other permitted vehicles.

Two ferry companies operate this connection: Stena Line and Irish Ferries.

Passenger tickets have been recorded from €29.92 in selected promotional listings. This is not a guaranteed fare for every departure.

For passengers travelling with a vehicle, Stena Line advertises combined car-and-driver tickets from €179.50 for a one-way journey.

The fastest crossings take 3 hours and 15 minutes, while other services last 3 hours and 30 minutes or 3 hours and 35 minutes.

Both companies operate daily sailings. Their regular schedules can provide up to four departures per operator each day, equivalent to 56 weekly crossings from Dublin when that frequency is maintained.

Recorded departure times include early-morning services at 01:15 and later Stena Line departures around 22:30, depending on the timetable.

Stena Line operates the Stena Adventurer and Stena Estrid. Irish Ferries uses the Ulysses and James Joyce.

All main services travel directly to Holyhead without intermediate stops.

The ships offer reserved seating, passenger lounges, restaurants, cabins and vehicle garages.

Online booking is available, with check-in procedures and boarding documentation determined by the selected ferry company.

How much are Dublin - Holyhead ferry tickets?

Passenger ticket prices vary with the travel date, ferry operator and accommodation category.

The lowest recorded promotional fares begin from €29.92 for selected crossings.

Higher fares apply to other departures, especially when demand for passenger spaces increases.

Stena Line offers Economy, Flexi and Premium tickets, each with different amendment conditions and included services.

Irish Ferries also provides several fare categories, together with optional accommodation upgrades.

A standard passenger ticket is an economical choice for the short crossing.

Travellers looking for additional comfort can book a private cabin or a premium lounge where available.

Before confirming your booking, check the final price, additional charges and cancellation conditions.

Car and driver ticket prices

The Stena Line and Irish Ferries vessels are equipped with garages for passenger vehicles.

Stena Line advertises a combined one-way fare from €179.50 for a standard car and driver.

This amount includes both the driver and vehicle specified in the offer.

It should not be confused with the price of transporting a car alone.

Additional passengers, cabins and optional services may increase the total cost.

Motorhomes, vans and vehicles with trailers are placed in separate booking categories.

When entering your vehicle details, include its full dimensions.

Roof boxes, bicycle carriers and trailers may change the space required on the vehicle deck.

For family travel, compare the complete booking price rather than individual passenger and car charges separately.

How long is the ferry crossing from Dublin to Holyhead?

The fastest regular crossing takes 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Irish Ferries operates scheduled crossings taking 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Other departures may take 3 hours and 35 minutes.

The ships cross the Irish Sea and arrive at Holyhead on the island of Anglesey, off the coast of North Wales.

Ireland and the United Kingdom use the same local time throughout the year.

There is therefore no time difference to calculate when arriving in Holyhead.

If you are continuing to Manchester, Liverpool or another British city, allow additional time for disembarkation and onward transport.

Daily departures and weekly ferry frequency

Dublin - Holyhead is a year-round ferry connection.

Stena Line and Irish Ferries operate services throughout the day, with departures in the early morning, afternoon and evening.

Stena Line advertises eight daily sailings across both directions on the route.

Irish Ferries offers up to four daily departures from Dublin.

Taken together, the regular schedules can provide up to 56 weekly departures from Dublin to Holyhead.

Actual availability may change because of maintenance, operational adjustments or revised timetables.

Travellers should always check the departures available for their chosen date.

Irish Ferries departure times from Dublin

The published Irish Ferries schedule includes the following crossings:

• 01:15 - 04:45
• 07:30 - 11:00
• 13:45 - 17:15
• 19:45 - 23:15

These times were confirmed for selected departures on 31 October.

Irish Ferries has adjusted several sailings to earlier departure times for operational reasons.

The final departure time shown in the booking confirmation takes priority over a general timetable.

Stena Line operates additional departures from Dublin, offering more options for daytime and overnight travel.

Which ferry companies operate Dublin - Holyhead?

Stena Line is a major European ferry operator serving routes across the Irish Sea, the Baltic Sea and other northern European waters.

On Dublin - Holyhead, the company operates the Stena Adventurer and Stena Estrid.

Irish Ferries also provides direct daily crossings, using the Ulysses and James Joyce.

Both companies carry foot passengers and vehicles.

The onboard services, ticket categories and accommodation options differ between ships.

Further information about operators is available through the ferry companies section of booktickets.gr.

Stena Adventurer, Stena Estrid, Ulysses and James Joyce

The Stena Adventurer provides passenger seating areas, restaurants and vehicle facilities.

The Stena Estrid is an E-Flexer ferry featuring modern passenger lounges and a selection of accommodation options.

Irish Ferries operates the Ulysses, a large passenger and vehicle ferry designed for Irish Sea crossings.

The James Joyce also serves the connection, providing passenger facilities and vehicle transport.

These ships have restaurants, lounges, shops and different seating categories.

Cabins are available on suitably equipped vessels.

The ship assigned to your booking should be checked before departure, particularly if you require specific accessibility or accommodation facilities.

Where do ferries depart from in Dublin?

Ferries leave from Dublin Port, situated east of the city centre.

Stena Line uses Terminal 2, while Irish Ferries operates from Terminal 1.

Google Maps - Dublin Port Ferry Terminals

These terminals are located in different sections of the port.

Check your operator and terminal before travelling.

Passengers reaching the port by public transport should review the available bus connections.

Stena Line provides information about transport between Terminal 2 and Dublin city centre, including connections serving major railway stations.

If you are bringing a car, follow the signs for your ferry company rather than entering through the pedestrian terminal.

How early should I arrive at Dublin Port?

Check-in deadlines differ between ferry operators.

Irish Ferries states that check-in closes 30 minutes before departure on its Dublin - Holyhead services.

Arriving earlier is advisable, especially when travelling with a vehicle or during busy periods.

Stena Line uses its own check-in deadlines, which may differ for foot passengers and vehicles.

Both operators require appropriate travel documents.

Since 28 September, Stena Line has required a valid passport at check-in for passengers using its Dublin and Holyhead services.

Keep your booking details and identification ready before reaching the terminal.

Arrival at Holyhead Ferry Port

Holyhead is located on Anglesey, an island off the northwestern coast of Wales.

The ferry terminal is connected to the town's railway station and road network.

Google Maps - Holyhead Ferry Port

Passengers without vehicles can continue by train towards Bangor, Chester and other destinations.

Rail services also provide connections towards Manchester and other British cities.

For travellers with a car, the A55 offers access to North Wales and the road network towards England.

If you are arriving late at night, check the availability of trains and onward transport before leaving Dublin.

Cabins, reserved seats and passenger lounges

Both ferry operators offer accommodation upgrades on suitably equipped ships.

Stena Line provides several cabin categories, including inside and outside cabins.

There are also premium passenger lounges such as Stena Plus and Hygge on selected vessels.

These spaces offer a quieter environment and additional services.

Irish Ferries provides reserved seating and private cabins on the relevant ships.

For a journey lasting just over three hours, a standard seat may be sufficient.

A cabin can be useful for families, travellers with young children or anyone who wants privacy during the crossing.

Check whether your chosen cabin has a private bathroom and how many passengers it accommodates.

Restaurants, shopping and Wi-Fi onboard

The ferries have restaurants, cafés and passenger lounges.

You can purchase meals, drinks and snacks throughout the journey.

Duty Free shops are also available, subject to the applicable customs and shopping allowances.

Stena Line provides Wi-Fi options on equipped vessels, including services associated with premium lounge access.

Internet performance can change while crossing the Irish Sea.

Power sockets are not guaranteed beside every economy seat.

Shared toilets are maintained by the crew.

Before leaving your car in the garage, collect medication, chargers and other essentials you will need during the voyage.

Child and family ferry discounts

Stena Line offers different passenger fare categories based on age.

Its published fare information includes reduced prices for children and infants travelling with a vehicle booking.

Examples of additional passenger fares include:

• Adults from €42
• Children aged 4 to 15 from €21
• Infants aged 0 to 3 with a basic passenger fare of €0

These prices apply to specific additional-passenger categories within vehicle bookings.

They should not be presented as standard independent foot-passenger fares.

Irish Ferries also provides child and family ticket categories.

For general information, visit ferry ticket discounts for children and infants.

Some offers described on that page relate to Greek ferry routes. For Dublin - Holyhead, only discounts accepted by Stena Line or Irish Ferries apply.

Ferry offers for passengers travelling with a car

Both companies provide different fare categories for journeys with vehicles.

Stena Line offers Economy, Flexi and Premium tickets.

Flexi fares provide more flexibility for eligible reservation changes, although a fare difference may still apply.

Promotional car-and-driver tickets can reduce the cost of travelling on selected dates.

You can also read about ferry offers for passengers with cars.

This page mainly describes offers for Greek ferry routes.

For Ireland - Wales journeys, check the actual promotions accepted by the chosen operator before booking.

Return tickets and ferry promotions

Booking your outward and return crossings together can make planning easier.

Return fares may differ from the total price of two separate one-way tickets.

The final amount depends on the operator, travel dates and available fare categories.

Additional general information is available in the ferry ticket offers and discounts section.

These promotions are not automatically valid on Dublin - Holyhead.

Always review the conditions of the selected offer before completing payment.

How to book Dublin - Holyhead ferry tickets online

On booktickets.gr, choose Dublin as your departure port and Holyhead as your destination.

Enter the travel date and number of passengers.

If you want to bring a car or motorcycle, select the correct vehicle category and provide its dimensions.

Compare the available sailings and choose your preferred accommodation.

Before paying, check the final fare, any eligible discounts and the cancellation conditions.

Your booking confirmation will be sent electronically.

Follow the instructions provided by the ferry operator for check-in and boarding documents.

Find all the routes on booktickets.gr.

Dublin, Holyhead and onward travel connections

Dublin is an important departure point for ferry journeys between Ireland and Great Britain.

The Holyhead connection is particularly convenient for passengers continuing to North Wales or travelling by road towards English cities.

If you are planning a longer European journey, you can explore the travel destinations section for general destination information.

For this specific crossing, use the Dublin - Holyhead ferry tickets and schedules page.

Check the final destination before choosing your sailing, especially when coordinating a ferry with a train journey.

What to visit in Holyhead and North Wales

Holyhead is situated on Holy Island, which is connected to Anglesey in northwestern Wales.

The surrounding area has coastal paths, beaches and scenic viewpoints.

South Stack Lighthouse is one of the best-known attractions near Holyhead.

The coastal landscape also attracts walkers and birdwatchers.

With a car, travellers can explore other parts of Anglesey or continue towards Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia.

North Wales has historic castles, seaside towns and mountainous landscapes.

For passengers travelling further inland, Holyhead provides access to the wider Welsh and English road networks.

Passport and UK entry requirements

Most European Union citizens visiting the United Kingdom need a valid passport.

Many visitors also require an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as an ETA.

Certain travellers with qualifying UK immigration status or rights under the Common Travel Area may be exempt from specific requirements.

Since 28 September, Stena Line has required valid passports at check-in for its Dublin and Holyhead services.

Irish Ferries also advises passengers to carry appropriate travel identification.

Before departure, check the official UK government entry requirements.

If you are driving, bring your driving licence and the necessary vehicle and insurance documents.

Weather conditions in the Irish Sea

The Irish Sea can experience strong winds and rough conditions.

During severe weather, departures may be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled.

Both ferry companies provide service updates when their sailing schedules change.

If you have arranged a train connection or another important journey after arriving in Holyhead, allow enough time for possible delays.

Frequently asked questions about Dublin - Holyhead ferries

Can I travel from Dublin to Holyhead without a car?

Yes. Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries accept foot passengers on this route. Passengers without vehicles must follow the designated terminal and boarding procedures.

Can I take a bicycle on the ferry?

Yes, subject to the selected operator's conditions. Stena Line lists a specific bicycle charge in its fare information, and bicycles may need to be included in the booking.

Are pets allowed onboard?

Yes. Both operators provide pet travel arrangements. Pet-friendly cabins and other facilities are available on selected vessels, subject to booking conditions.

Can I change my travel date after booking?

Changes depend on the fare category and available spaces. Flexible fares provide additional options, while a fare difference or amendment charge may apply.

Are accessible facilities available?

Both operators offer assistance and accessible facilities for passengers with reduced mobility. Inform the selected company about your needs before travelling.

Can I continue by train from Holyhead?

Yes. Holyhead railway station is connected to the ferry terminal and offers onward rail services through North Wales towards other parts of Great Britain.

In brief

The Dublin - Holyhead ferry route connects Ireland with Wales and is operated by Stena Line and Irish Ferries.

The direct crossing takes from 3 hours and 15 minutes to 3 hours and 35 minutes, with daily departures throughout the year.

Passengers can travel on foot or bring cars and motorcycles, with reserved seats, cabins and family accommodation available.

On booktickets.gr, you can compare available departures, check ferry fares and book tickets for your journey across the Irish Sea.

Content edited by: booktickets.gr