Ferry from Scotland to Ireland
Ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland
To reach Ireland by car ferry from Scotland, sail from Cairnryan to Belfast with Stena Line or to Larne with P&O Ferries. Both routes arrive in Northern Ireland. If you are heading to Dublin or elsewhere in the Republic of Ireland, you continue your journey by road.
The crossings are short: around 2 hours to Larne and 2 hours 15 minutes to Belfast. That small difference is rarely what decides it. Your drive to Cairnryan, the departure time and where you are heading after arrival matter more.
Below, we compare the two routes, explain how to continue towards Dublin and cover the return journey from Ireland to Scotland. If you are still choosing between departure ports in Scotland and England, start with our Northern Ireland ferry guide.
Looking for a discount on this crossing? Before you book, check the current Stena Line discount and offer codes and P&O Ferries discount codes and offers. We check every offer against the operator’s own website.
Scotland to Ireland ferry map
The two main car ferry routes start in Cairnryan, on Scotland’s south-west coast. Belfast is the most convenient arrival point for a stay in the city, while Larne is worth considering if you are heading towards the Antrim coast. For a journey farther south or west, compare the onward drive from both ports.
Look at your departure port and final destination together: the shortest crossing does not always give you the shortest overall journey.
Cairnryan to Belfast or Larne: which route should you choose?
Both routes carry cars and foot passengers. Larne has the shorter crossing, but Belfast may put you closer to where you want to be. Compare the sailing time and full ticket price alongside your onward journey, rather than choosing on crossing time alone.
| Route | Operator | Crossing time | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairnryan to Belfast | Stena Line | Around 2 hours 15 minutes | For a Belfast stay or onward travel through the city. Also worth comparing if you are driving south towards Dublin. |
| Cairnryan to Larne | P&O Ferries | Around 2 hours | For the Antrim coast, or when the departure time and total fare fit your journey better. |
Our advice: check both routes for your dates before booking. Neither is always cheaper. Use the same passengers, vehicle dimensions and ticket conditions for a fair comparison. If you are travelling on foot, check your transport to and from each terminal too.
Cairnryan to Larne with P&O Ferries
The Cairnryan-Larne ferry takes around 2 hours. It is a useful choice if your trip starts along the Antrim coast: you arrive north of Belfast and can continue towards the coastal route without first driving out of the city.
If you are heading towards Belfast, Dublin or farther west, compare the onward drive with an arrival in Belfast before booking. Larne can still suit your trip if the fare or departure time works better.
Check your departure terminal: P&O Ferries and Stena Line use separate terminals in Cairnryan. Follow the address in your booking confirmation, and allow time for check-in as well as the drive to the port.
Cairnryan to Belfast with Stena Line
Stena Line’s Cairnryan-Belfast crossing takes around 2 hours 15 minutes. It is the natural choice if you are staying in Belfast, and worth comparing with Larne if you are continuing south towards Dublin.
You arrive at the ferry terminal outside Belfast city centre. With a car, you can join the main road network for your onward journey. On foot, plan your transfer from the terminal before booking a train or coach: arriving in Belfast does not mean stepping straight off the ship into the city centre.
For more on arriving in the city and the alternative crossing from Liverpool, see our guide to ferries to Belfast.
Scotland to Dublin: ferry to Belfast or Larne, then continue south
There is no direct ferry from Scotland to Dublin. If you are taking your car, the straightforward option is to sail from Cairnryan to Belfast or Larne and drive south from there.
Driving to Dublin
From Belfast, head south towards Dublin via the A1 and M1. From Larne, you first drive towards Belfast before joining the route south. Belfast generally gives you the shorter onward drive, although a better departure time or fare can still make Larne worth choosing.
Allow for disembarkation, traffic and a break when planning your arrival. If you have a flight, event or accommodation check-in to reach, leave a buffer rather than relying on the quickest driving estimate.
Continuing without a car
Compare the whole journey before booking: getting to Cairnryan, the ferry crossing, the transfer from your arrival terminal and the connection to Dublin. From Belfast, you can continue by train or coach, but you will need to travel from the ferry terminal to the relevant departure point.
Taking a hire car? Tell the rental company that you plan to take it on a ferry and drive between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Check permission, insurance and any cross-border charges before booking.
If your journey starts farther south in Britain, compare routes through Wales too. Our Ireland ferry guide helps you choose between the wider range of departure and arrival ports.
On this page, you can find all the ferries to Ireland from the UK. Which you can find too in the map below:
Scotland to Dublin: ferry to Belfast or Larne, then continue south
There is no direct ferry from Scotland to Dublin. If you are taking your car, the straightforward option is to sail from Cairnryan to Belfast or Larne and drive south from there.
Driving to Dublin
From Belfast, head south towards Dublin via the A1 and M1. From Larne, you first drive towards Belfast before joining the route south. Belfast generally gives you the shorter onward drive, although a better departure time or fare can still make Larne worth choosing.
Allow for disembarkation, traffic and a break when planning your arrival. If you have a flight, event or accommodation check-in to reach, leave a buffer rather than relying on the quickest driving estimate.
Continuing without a car
Compare the whole journey before booking: getting to Cairnryan, the ferry crossing, the transfer from your arrival terminal and the connection to Dublin. From Belfast, you can continue by train or coach, but you will need to travel from the ferry terminal to the relevant departure point.
Taking a hire car? Tell the rental company that you plan to take it on a ferry and drive between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Check permission, insurance and any cross-border charges before booking.
If your journey starts farther south in Britain, compare routes through Wales too. Our Ireland ferry guide helps you choose between the wider range of departure and arrival ports.
Is there a Belfast to Glasgow ferry?
There is no direct ferry from Belfast to Glasgow. You sail to Cairnryan, on Scotland’s south-west coast, and continue to Glasgow overland. The same applies in reverse if you are travelling from Glasgow to Belfast.
With a car: book the Belfast-Cairnryan crossing and plan the drive from Cairnryan to Glasgow separately. Include disembarkation and road travel when working out your arrival time; the ferry crossing is only one part of the journey.
Without a car: compare a combined coach-and-ferry ticket with separate ferry and onward transport bookings. Check which connections serve your sailing before paying. Cairnryan has no railway station at either ferry terminal, so a rail journey also involves a road transfer.
If you see a Belfast-Glasgow travel ticket advertised, check what it includes: it is a combined overland and ferry journey, rather than a ferry arriving in Glasgow.
What happened to the ferries from Stranraer and Troon?
If you remember sailing from Stranraer, you now need to head to Cairnryan instead. Stena Line moved its Belfast service from Stranraer to Cairnryan in November 2011. Stranraer can still feature in a journey by public transport, but it is no longer the ferry departure point for Belfast.
P&O Ferries closed its seasonal Troon-Larne service in 2016. For the main car ferry routes to Northern Ireland, book from Cairnryan and use the terminal address supplied by your operator.
Maps of the crossings to Ireland and Scotland.
Prices and availability for these crossings
Find and compare availability and prices for travel to Ireland from Scotland (and vice versa) with our booking module, which will guide you through the entire booking process.
Practical information for your Scotland-Ireland journey
Identification and the September 2026 passport change
The Cairnryan-Belfast and Cairnryan-Larne crossings are domestic UK journeys, but you should still bring the identification required by your ferry operator. Check the rules for your nationality and for any children travelling with you. Do not assume that Stena Line and P&O Ferries accept exactly the same documents.
Travelling via Wales and the Republic of Ireland? From 28 September 2026, Stena Line requires valid passports at check-in on its Holyhead-Dublin and Fishguard-Rosslare routes. This announcement does not apply to its Cairnryan-Belfast service. If your trip includes a crossing through Wales, read our Wales-Ireland passport update and check your operator’s requirements.
Do you need a UK ETA?
British and Irish citizens do not need a UK ETA. Travelling between Scotland and Northern Ireland does not itself require a new ETA, as both are part of the UK.
If you are an overseas visitor travelling from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland, check whether you need a UK ETA or visa before crossing the border. This also matters if you drive from Dublin to Belfast or Larne to catch a ferry to Scotland: you enter the UK when you enter Northern Ireland.
An exemption applies to qualifying legal residents of Ireland arriving from Ireland, but visiting Ireland as a tourist does not give you that exemption. Check the official UK ETA guidance and its exemptions for your circumstances.
Connections, luggage and pets
- Public transport: check terminal transfers alongside your sailing. Use Translink for onward journeys in Northern Ireland, and allow a buffer before separately booked trains or coaches.
- Luggage: check your operator’s allowance and boarding arrangements, particularly when travelling on foot. You may need to handle your bags during terminal transfers.
- Pets: arrange your pet’s place when booking and check the documents required for your full itinerary. A trip continuing into the Republic of Ireland can involve different requirements from a journey ending in Northern Ireland.
Still comparing departure ports? Our Northern Ireland ferry hub covers the wider choice, including Liverpool-Belfast and other connections.
Useful for travellers to Ireland
Can you take a campervan on the ferry from scotland to Ireland? How often do they run and what would be the price for 2 adults and one campervan approximately 6 meters long. Thank You
Hi Noeline, Yes you can! We did a test booking for you and the total price was £359. The price will be more a less the same depending on the season / type of ticket. etc.