Ferries from Wales to Ireland: routes, operators and our tested tips
Wales to Ireland at a glance
- 3 regular Wales–Ireland routes
- Holyhead–Dublin is the main route for Dublin
- Fishguard–Rosslare and Pembroke–Rosslare work best for southern Ireland
- Irish Ferries and Stena Line
- We tested Holyhead–Dublin on Dublin Swift and returned with Stena Line
Ferries from Wales to Ireland: choose Dublin or Rosslare first
The ferry from Wales to Ireland is still one of the easiest ways to cross the Irish Sea with a car, campervan, dog or more luggage than you would ever want to take on a plane. The important choice is not just the ferry company. It is whether you should aim for Dublin or Rosslare.
There are three regular Wales–Ireland routes to compare: Holyhead–Dublin, Fishguard–Rosslare and Pembroke–Rosslare. Holyhead–Dublin is the main route if your trip is aimed at Dublin, eastern Ireland or Northern Ireland. The Rosslare routes make more sense if you are starting in South Wales or the southwest of England, or if your destination is in the south or southeast of Ireland.
We have tested the most important route in this group ourselves: Holyhead–Dublin. We sailed out on the fast Dublin Swift catamaran with Irish Ferries and returned with Stena Line on a larger regular ferry. That gives us a useful comparison between speed, comfort, stability and the practical port experience.
Our straightforward route picks
- If Dublin is your destination: start with Holyhead–Dublin. It is the main direct Wales to Dublin crossing and gives you the widest choice of ships, operators and sailing times.
- If you want the fastest ferry: compare the Dublin Swift fast ferry. It is quick, but more weather-sensitive and not always the calmest option.
- If you want the steadier crossing: choose a larger cruise ferry from Stena Line or Irish Ferries on Holyhead–Dublin. This is usually the safer choice for seasickness, children and rougher Irish Sea conditions.
- If you are starting in South Wales: compare Fishguard–Rosslare and Pembroke–Rosslare before driving all the way to Holyhead. Rosslare can be a much better arrival point for southern Ireland.
Map: ferry routes from Wales to Ireland
The route map gives you a quick overview of the three regular Wales–Ireland ferry corridors. Holyhead sits in North Wales and connects directly with Dublin. Fishguard and Pembroke are in South Wales and sail to Rosslare, which is better placed for Wexford, Waterford, Cork and much of the south or southeast of Ireland.
Compare the Wales to Ireland ferry routes
Use this as a decision table before checking live fares. Prices, exact ships and sailing frequency change by date, season and operator, so treat the table as route guidance rather than a fixed timetable.
| Route | Operator | Best for | Watch out for | Ferrygogo verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holyhead–Dublin | Irish Ferries and Stena Line | Dublin, eastern Ireland, Northern Ireland, foot passengers and fast crossings | Holyhead is far north if you start in South Wales or the southwest of England | The main option for Dublin and the first route we would compare |
| Fishguard–Rosslare | Stena Line | South Wales, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and southern Ireland | Not ideal if your real destination is Dublin | A strong South Wales route if Rosslare works for your onward drive |
| Pembroke–Rosslare | Irish Ferries | Southwest Wales, family car trips and southern Ireland | Longer crossing than Fishguard–Rosslare, but often useful for timing | Worth comparing with Fishguard by price, departure time and drive to port |
| Fishguard–Dublin | Temporary route only | Historical context during the Holyhead disruption | No longer a regular route | Do not plan around it. Use Holyhead–Dublin for Dublin. |
Ferrygogo tested the main Dublin route
On Holyhead–Dublin we tested the fast Dublin Swift catamaran and returned with Stena Line on a regular ferry. The fast ferry saved time, while the larger ferry felt steadier and more spacious.
Read our Holyhead–Dublin trip report →
Journey from Holyhead to Dublin on the Fast Dublin Swift Catamaran Ferry
What our Holyhead–Dublin crossing taught us
The most useful lesson from our own crossing is that fastest is not always the same as best. The Dublin Swift did exactly what you would hope from a fast ferry: the crossing was short, boarding was straightforward, and the ship felt clean and efficient. We also found the Holyhead terminal practical and compact, with the train station next to the ferry terminal.
But the Dublin Swift is still a fast catamaran on the Irish Sea. It can feel livelier than a large cruise ferry, especially if the weather is less settled. We liked the speed, and the Club Lounge made the short crossing more comfortable, but for families, nervous sailors or anyone prone to seasickness, the larger Stena Line and Irish Ferries cruise ferries are often the calmer choice.
That is why this Wales to Ireland page should not simply push the fastest option. For Dublin, Holyhead is usually the right port. For comfort, compare the larger ferries too. For southern Ireland, the Rosslare routes can be the smarter journey even if the crossing itself is longer.
Holyhead or Rosslare: which arrival port works best?
Choose Dublin via Holyhead if…
- you are heading to Dublin city, the east coast or Northern Ireland
- you want the fastest possible ferry option
- you are travelling as a foot passenger and want a good rail connection at Holyhead
- you want to compare both Irish Ferries and Stena Line on the same route
Choose Rosslare via Fishguard or Pembroke if…
- you are starting in South Wales, Bristol, Devon, Cornwall or parts of southwest England
- your destination is Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kilkenny or southern Ireland
- you would rather save driving time in Britain than insist on arriving in Dublin
- the sailing time or price works better than Holyhead–Dublin on your date
Stena Line or Irish Ferries?
Both operators are worth comparing, but they are not identical choices.
- Stena Line is relevant on Holyhead–Dublin and Fishguard–Rosslare. On our Dublin to Holyhead return crossing, the larger Stena ferry felt steady, practical and spacious.
- Irish Ferries is relevant on Holyhead–Dublin and Pembroke–Rosslare. Its Dublin Swift is the fast option on Holyhead–Dublin, while the larger ferries are better if comfort and stability matter more than speed.
Our advice: choose the route first, then compare the operators. For Dublin, compare Irish Ferries and Stena Line from Holyhead. For Rosslare, compare Stena from Fishguard with Irish Ferries from Pembroke, using your actual drive to port and onward journey in Ireland.
Offers and fares: worth checking, but do not let a deal choose the route
It can be worth checking current Irish Ferries offers and Stena Line discount codes before booking. Irish Sea offers can sometimes include flexible fare upgrades, short-break fares or route-specific promotions. Stena Line offers are often route-specific too, so check whether the deal actually applies to Ireland before basing your choice on it.
For this page, I would keep offers as a small supporting section rather than a big commercial block. A £10 or £20 saving is nice, but the wrong arrival port can easily cost more in fuel, time and stress. First pick Dublin or Rosslare, then check live fares and offers for the routes that genuinely fit your trip.
Prices and availability
Ferry prices between Wales and Ireland depend heavily on route, operator, vehicle type, passengers, pet travel, cabin or lounge upgrades and the season. School holidays, weekends and last-minute bookings can change the fare quickly.
Use the booking tool to compare live availability after you have narrowed the route down. For a fair comparison, check the total journey: drive to the Welsh port, crossing time, check-in, arrival port and the onward drive in Ireland.
Practical tips before booking
- Check live sailing times: frequencies, ships and departure times can change by season and by operator.
- Compare total travel time: the shortest crossing is not always the fastest full journey once you add the drive to Holyhead or Rosslare.
- Think about seasickness: fast ferries can move more. Larger ships are usually steadier. See our guide to the best seats to avoid seasickness.
- Travelling with children: choose the ship and departure time carefully. A larger ferry with space to walk around can be easier than the fastest sailing. See our ferry with children tips.
- Cars, campervans and roof boxes: enter the correct vehicle height and length. Trailers, bike racks and roof boxes can change the fare.
- Pets: rules vary by operator and travel type. Check the pet facilities before booking and see our guide to travelling with pets on ferries.
Useful for travellers to the UK
We are visiting Wales for a few days and would like to also visit Ireland by ferry. We will not have a car. About how much is a R/T per person ticket from the three ports leaving Wales
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your question. There are 3 different options: Fishguard-Rosslare, Holyhead-Dublin and Pembroke-Rosslare. The price really depends on dates and which ferry you'll take. Stena Line has a really helpful low fare calendar. In the booking module of Stena Line just under the dates you can use this option. If it's a short stay, you'll also get a short stay discount. So for example if you will sail from Wales to Ireland on the 18th and sail back on the 20th you'll pay around 107 pound for a return ticket or 2 persons on the Holyhead-Dublin route. Fishguard Rosslare is exactly the same price. Pembroke Rosslare is just a bit more expensive on a short break for 2 persons without a car: 114 pounds. So the routes from Stena Line seem just a bit cheaper on these specific date. But I would recommend to use the low fare calendar and check yourself.
Best regards,
Hi there. I will be coming to Wales in May and I will be on a car. Does your ferry allow for our car to be transported on board as well into Ireland?
Hello Jordan,
We perate as an informative ferry portal, so the ferries themselves are not under our ownership. However, almost all ferries from Wales to Ireland accommodate cars. It's advisable to book in advance to secure a spot on the parking deck.
Let me know if you have any remaining questions.