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Ferries to Northern Ireland

to Northern Ireland from the UK

In total, you will findย 4 major ferry crossings to Northern Ireland. The ferries depart from:

  • Cairnryan (Scotland) (2)
  • Liverpool (England)
  • Douglas (Isle of Man)

Inย addition to the larger ferry lines, you can also takeย a small passenger ferry from theย Scottish Hebridesย to Northern Ireland.

Via Ireland

Northern Ireland can also be reached via Ireland. This is an option to consider if you are travelling from Southern England or France. Ferries leave from various Welsh ports to Ireland from where Northern Ireland is within driving distance.

You can use the booking module and select Northern Ireland as your destination to find all the crossings to Ireland and Northern Ireland

Map with all direct ferry routes to Northern Irelan

Use the interactive map to find the right crossing and ferry company. You can zoom in and out and view the routes in the ports.

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

Fast Ferry
kintyre express

Ballycastle-Port Ellen

Kintyre Express
29 miles
1 Hour
Up to 5 times per week
From: £60.00

Liverpool-Belfast

Stena Line
136 miles
8 hours
Up to 2 times per day
From: £40.00

Cairnryan-Belfast

Stena Line
44 miles
2h 15 mins.
Up to 6 times per day
From: £115.00

Belfast-Douglas

Steam Packet Co.
92 miles
2h 45 mins.
Up to 2 times per week
From: £23.00

Cairnryan-Larne

P&O
40 Miles
2 Hours
Up to 6 times per day
From: £100.00
Fast Ferry
kintyre express

Ballycastle-Campbeltown

Kintyre Express
31 miles
1h 30 mins.
Up to 5 times per week
From: £80.00

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.

1 stenaline ferry
From: £40.00
Read our guide

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.

1 stenaline ferry
From: £115.00
Read our guide
2 PO ferries
From: £100.00
Read our guide

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.

Fishguard-Rosslare

Wales โ‡” Ireland
3h 30mins
Up to 2 times per day
From: £40.00

Pembroke-Rosslare

Wales โ‡” Ireland
4 Hours
Up to 2 times per day
From: £45.00
Fast Ferry
Irish Ferries

Holyhead-Dublin Irish

Wales โ‡” Ireland
2h 15 mins.
Up to 10 times per day
From: £36.00

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.

Roscoff-Cork

France โ‡” Ireland
14 Hours
Up to 2 times per week
From: £140.00

Cherbourg-Rosslare

France โ‡” Ireland
18 Hours
Up to 4 times per week
From: £113.00

Cherbourg-Dublin

France โ‡” Ireland
19 Hours
Up to 5 times per week
From: £156.00

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).ย 

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.

Join the Conversation

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2 Comments
  1. Reply
    Rosemary Stevenson July 20, 2023 at 7:36 am

    Delighted foot passengers are welcome and you are open for travel again.

  2. Thanks Rosemary =)

    Indeed foot passengers are allowed on this route!

Leave a reply

All crossings to Northern Ireland

Fast Ferry
kintyre express

Ballycastle-Port Ellen

Kintyre Express
29 miles
1 Hour
Up to 5 times per week
From: £60.00

Liverpool-Belfast

Stena Line
136 miles
8 hours
Up to 2 times per day
From: £40.00

Cairnryan-Belfast

Stena Line
44 miles
2h 15 mins.
Up to 6 times per day
From: £115.00

Belfast-Douglas

Steam Packet Co.
92 miles
2h 45 mins.
Up to 2 times per week
From: £23.00

Cairnryan-Larne

P&O
40 Miles
2 Hours
Up to 6 times per day
From: £100.00
Fast Ferry
kintyre express

Ballycastle-Campbeltown

Kintyre Express
31 miles
1h 30 mins.
Up to 5 times per week
From: £80.00

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