Ferries to Northern Ireland
to Northern Ireland from the UK
In total, you will find 4 major ferry crossings to Northern Ireland. The ferries depart from:
- Cairnryan (Scotland) (2)
- Liverpool (England)
- Douglas (Isle of Man)
In addition to the larger ferry lines, you can also take a small passenger ferry from the Scottish Hebrides to Northern Ireland.
Via Ireland
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Map with all direct ferry routes to Northern Irelan
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If you want to travel to Northern Ireland from England, you can sail from Liverpool to Belfast. From Scotland, you can take the ferry from Cairnryan to either Larne or Belfast. These are the shortest crossings, but if you take these routes, you'll need to drive a considerable distance to reach the departure port. It may be more comfortable to choose the ferry departing from Liverpool.
Crossings to Northern Ireland
Ferry Guide: ferry to Northern Ireland
Ferry to Northern Ireland from England (Liverpool)
If you're travelling from England, you can take the direct ferry from Liverpool Birkenhead to Belfast. The Liverpool-Belfast ferry takes around 8 hours.
You can make this crossing both during the day and at night. One advantage of the night option is that you can save on hotel accommodations.
Ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland
If you're travelling from Scotland, you can take a ferry from Cairnryan to either Belfast or Larne. These crossings take around 2 hours. The ferry from Cairnryan to Larne is operated by P&O Ferries, while the Cairnryan to Belfast route is operated by Stena Line.
Alternative Routes by Ferry to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland can also be reached via Ireland. Ferries depart from Wales and arrive in Cork, Rosslare, and Dublin. From these ports, you can easily drive further north to reach Northern Ireland.
Ferry from France to Northern Ireland
There is no direct ferry from France to Northern Ireland. However, you can sail to Dublin, Rosslare, or Cork in Ireland and then drive further north to reach Northern Ireland. The ferry journey to Ireland takes 14 to 19 hours.
There are 3 direct ferry crossings to Northern Ireland. From Liverpool, you can sail to Belfast with Stena Line. From Cairnryan, you can sail to either Belfast (Stena Line) or Larne (P&O Ferries).
The fastest ferries to Northern Ireland are the crossings from Scotland (Cairnryan) to Northern Ireland. These ferries take you in just 2 hours over the Irish Sea to Belfast or Larne in Northern Ireland. From Liverpool to Belfast you cross the Irish Sea in about 8 hours.
Cairnryan-Larne is the shortest crossing. The ferry covers a distance of 40 miles / 65 km on this route. Cairnryan Belfast is approximately 44 miles / 71 km and the longest crossing is from Belfast to Liverpool. This crossing is 135 miles / 218 km.
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All crossings to Northern Ireland
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Delighted foot passengers are welcome and you are open for travel again.
Thanks Rosemary =)
Indeed foot passengers are allowed on this route!