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Getting to Ireland: Ferries, Flights & Car

Getting to Ireland is straightforward from most of Europe and North America — the challenge is choosing the best route for your trip. Whether you fly into Dublin and drive west, roll off a ferry in Rosslare and head straight for County Wexford’s ancient ruins, or arrive by night ferry in Dublin Port ready to explore the capital, each option shapes a different kind of holiday. Here is what you need to know.

Flying to Ireland: Main Airports & Routes

Ireland has four airports that handle international traffic:

Dublin Airport (DUB) — by far the busiest, with direct transatlantic flights from New York (JFK, Newark, Boston), Chicago, Toronto and beyond, plus dense European routes from every major city.
Cork Airport (ORK) — the second-largest, well-served from London, Amsterdam, Munich and several French cities. A solid choice if your plan is to start in the south-west.
Shannon Airport (SNN) — the gateway to the west. Pre-clearance for US customs is available here, saving time on arrival. Ideal if you plan to drive straight to the Wild Atlantic Way or County Clare.
Belfast International (BFS) / George Best Belfast City (BHD) — useful entry points if your trip starts in Northern Ireland or you want to link the Causeway Coast with the Republic.

Booking flights

Book early for summer and bank-holiday weekends. Budget carriers dominate short-haul routes from the UK and continental Europe; prices vary wildly between seasons. Flying into a regional airport (Cork or Shannon) rather than Dublin can save an hour or two of driving time and money.

Ferries to Ireland: The Scenic Alternative

Arriving by ferry is genuinely enjoyable — particularly if you want to bring a car. The main routes:

From the UK

Holyhead → Dublin Port (Irish Ferries, Stena Line): 3 hrs 10 min on fast craft; overnight sailings also available. Most popular crossing.
Holyhead → Dun Laoghaire (Stena Line): useful for the south Dublin coast.
Fishguard → Rosslare (Stena Line): 3 hrs 30 min. Puts you in the south-east, close to Wexford and Kilkenny.
Pembroke → Rosslare (Irish Ferries): overnight option, ~4 hrs.
Cairnryan → Belfast (Larne) (Stena Line, P&O): 2 hrs. Fast, frequent, best for Northern Ireland arrivals.
Liverpool → Dublin / Belfast (P&O, Stena): overnight crossings, well-suited if you’re travelling from the north of England.

From France

Cherbourg → Rosslare (Irish Ferries, Stena Line): roughly 18 hrs, overnight or daytime sailings. A favourite for French and Spanish drivers heading to Kerry or Clare.
Cherbourg → Dublin (Irish Ferries): 19–20 hrs. You wake up in Dublin.
Roscoff → Rosslare (Brittany Ferries): seasonal service, popular in summer.

Booking a cabin on an overnight crossing makes a long ferry feel like part of the holiday rather than a chore.

Arriving by Car via Northern Ireland

If you’re driving from mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel or a Channel ferry, you can continue straight through the UK and take the short Cairnryan–Belfast crossing. From Belfast, the Republic is just an hour’s drive south. There are no border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Once in the country, driving in Ireland is on the left, roads are well maintained on the major routes, and rural lanes deserve respect. A pre-downloaded offline map (Google Maps or Maps.ie) is a sensible backup in areas with patchy mobile signal. For a full journey-planning framework, see our Ireland road trip itinerary guide.

Getting Around After Arrival

Hiring a car

A hire car is by far the most flexible option — essential if you want to explore beyond the main cities. Book through your preferred comparison site well in advance for summer and bank-holiday weekends; automatics are available but at a premium. See our travel insurance, car hire & eSIM guide for tips on the best excess-waiver policies.

Public transport from the airports

From Dublin Airport: Aircoach and Dublin Bus serve the city centre, hotels and south Dublin. A taxi to the city centre runs to around €25–35 depending on traffic.
From Cork Airport: Bus Éireann links to Cork Kent Station; the journey is about 20 minutes.
From Shannon: Buses connect to Limerick and Galway; a hire car from the terminal is practical for reaching the west coast quickly.

When to Book

Book ferry crossings — especially car-inclusive sailings in July and August — as early as January or February. Summer cabins on the France–Ireland route sell out months ahead. Flights to Dublin are often cheapest booked 6–10 weeks out for spring travel, but transatlantic routes reward early booking from October onwards for the following summer.

Check prices & availability

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Choosing Where to Stay on Arrival

Your port of entry often shapes where you spend your first night. Landing in Dublin? Our guide to where to stay in Dublin covers every neighbourhood from Ballsbridge to Stoneybatter. Arriving via Cork or Rosslare? Head straight for where to stay in Cork or plan a night in Kilkenny on your way west. For a full overview of the country’s regions and accommodation styles, start with where to stay in Ireland.

FAQ

Do I need a passport to travel to Ireland from the UK? UK citizens do not need a passport to enter the Republic of Ireland under the Common Travel Area — a valid photo ID is technically sufficient, though airlines usually require a passport. Visitors from the EU and EEA need a valid national ID card or passport; most other nationalities require a passport and should check visa requirements in advance.

Can I take a hire car on the ferry to Ireland? Yes. The major ferry operators — Irish Ferries, Stena Line and Brittany Ferries — all allow hire cars on board, but you must declare this when booking and confirm with your hire company that cross-channel travel is permitted under your rental agreement.

Is getting to Ireland expensive by ferry from France? A return sailing from Cherbourg or Roscoff with a car and two adults can cost anywhere from €200 to over €600 depending on the season, cabin type and how early you book. Booking in January or February for summer travel gives you the best combination of availability and price.