Ferries to Northern Ireland: choose your route
The main ferries to Northern Ireland sail from Cairnryan in Scotland to Belfast or Larne, and from Liverpool (Birkenhead) to Belfast. The Cairnryan crossings take about 2 hours to Larne or 2 hours 15 minutes to Belfast. Liverpool-Belfast takes around 8 hours, with day and overnight sailings.
Start with the journey to your departure port. A short crossing from Scotland can work well from northern Britain, while Liverpool may avoid a long drive north. From Wales or southern England, also compare sailing to Dublin and driving into Northern Ireland. There are separate connections from the Isle of Man and seasonal passenger services to Ballycastle.
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.
Which ferry suits your starting point?
| Starting from | Routes to compare | How to choose | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Cairnryan to Belfast or Larne | Compare your onward drive and departure time. Both are short crossings. | Compare the Scottish routes |
| Northern England | Cairnryan or Liverpool-Belfast | Weigh the drive to Scotland against a longer crossing from Merseyside. | Compare Belfast crossings |
| Midlands and southern England | Liverpool-Belfast or via Dublin | Compare total driving, check-in and sailing time, including any cabin. | Explore the Ireland routes |
| Wales | Holyhead-Dublin, then drive north | An indirect option for Northern Ireland, particularly if you also want to visit Dublin. | Compare routes to Ireland |
| Isle of Man | Douglas-Larne | Check the operating day before arranging accommodation or connections. | See the Isle of Man connection |
These are starting points for comparison. Your final destination, sailing time and vehicle fare can change which route makes most sense.
The main routes from Great Britain
From Scotland: Cairnryan
Stena Line sails to Belfast in about 2 hours 15 minutes. P&O Ferries sails to Larne in about 2 hours. Both carry cars and foot passengers.
Choose between them using the full journey: where you will arrive, your onward transport and the sailing that fits your day. A 15-minute difference at sea is rarely the deciding factor.
For departure-port advice, onward travel towards Dublin and the return journey, use our Scotland to Ireland ferry guide.
From England: Liverpool-Belfast
Stena Line’s route departs from Birkenhead, on the opposite side of the Mersey from Liverpool city centre. Allow around 8 hours at sea.
An overnight sailing can break up a longer journey. Compare the fare including a cabin with the cost and effort of driving to Cairnryan. On a daytime crossing, the time on board becomes a substantial part of your travel day.
Our guide to ferries to Belfast compares the two departure ports and explains the Belfast arrival options.
Belfast or Larne?
Choose Belfast for the city
Belfast is the natural starting point for a city stay or onward travel using Belfast’s transport network. It is also the arrival port for the Liverpool route.
The ferry terminals are outside the city centre. If you are travelling without a car, plan the terminal transfer before booking your onward train or coach.
Choose Larne for the Antrim coast
Larne is worth comparing if your trip starts along the Antrim coast or in the north-east of Northern Ireland. You can begin your coastal drive without first arriving in Belfast.
For destinations farther west or south, compare the actual road journey from both ports. A convenient sailing or a better fare may matter more than the port name.
Reaching Northern Ireland via Dublin
You can also sail to the Republic of Ireland and continue north by road. Holyhead-Dublin is worth comparing from Wales and parts of England, especially for a trip that combines Dublin with Northern Ireland.
This is an indirect route: include the drive from Dublin, traffic and any breaks in your comparison. Rosslare routes can suit a wider Irish road trip, but leave a much longer journey north.
Use our Ireland ferry hub to compare arrival ports in the Republic. If you are considering Holyhead, our first-hand Dublin Swift crossing guide explains the fast-ferry experience.
Isle of Man and seasonal Ballycastle connections
Isle of Man to Larne
Steam Packet now operates a year-round Douglas-Larne service. This is a separate option for travellers starting on the Isle of Man, rather than one of the three main crossings from Great Britain. Check the sailing date, ship and duration in the current Steam Packet timetable.
Passenger ferries to Ballycastle
Kintyre Express offers seasonal passenger connections linking Ballycastle with Campbeltown and Port Ellen on Islay. These small passenger services do not carry cars, so they serve a different kind of trip from the Cairnryan routes.
Check operating dates and availability with Kintyre Express before planning a journey around them.
Before you book
| Check | What matters |
|---|---|
| Travelling without a car | Check foot-passenger availability, terminal transfers and the last onward bus or train. Compare a through-ticket where offered with separate bookings. |
| Car, campervan or trailer | Enter the correct vehicle dimensions, including any roof load or trailer. Compare the same passengers, vehicle and dates on each route. |
| Day or night crossing | For Liverpool-Belfast, include your chosen cabin or seat in the total fare and think about the arrival time. |
| Check-in and connections | Use the check-in deadline in your booking confirmation. Leave a buffer before separately booked onward transport. |
| Pets | Check the operator’s accommodation, booking and travel-document requirements before paying. |
Identification and travel documents
Check the identification accepted by your operator for everyone in your booking. Requirements depend on the route, nationality and passenger’s circumstances; do not assume that every Irish Sea crossing has the same rules.
If you travel via the Republic, check that route separately. Stena Line states that valid passports are required at check-in on its Holyhead-Dublin and Fishguard-Rosslare routes from 28 September 2026. Our Wales-Ireland passport update explains this change. It should not be read as the rule for every direct Northern Ireland sailing.
Continue planning your journey
- Scotland to Ireland ferry guide: Cairnryan options, onward travel and the reverse journey.
- ferries to Belfast: choose between arriving from Scotland and England.
- Belfast to Scotland ferry guide: plan a return crossing towards Cairnryan.
- Ireland ferry routes: compare alternatives through the Republic.
Compare the three main crossings
Use the route cards to check fares for your dates. Prices depend on the sailing, passengers, vehicle and any accommodation you add.
Check sailing times and fares
Select your departure and arrival ports, dates, passengers and vehicle to compare available crossings.
Ferry Talk
Questions or experiences? We'd love for you to share them.
Delighted foot passengers are welcome and you are open for travel again.
Thanks Rosemary =)
Indeed foot passengers are allowed on this route!