Holyhead to Ireland – a quick guide to the ferry service

Holyhead is the most important town on Holy Island, Anglesey. It is a major port serving Ireland and is visited or passed through by thousands of travellers each year.

How to get to Holyhead

The A55 North Wales Expressway crosses from Anglesey onto Holy Island, and the A5 runs parallel to it across the Cymyran Strait. These crossings are further north of the Four Mile Bridge, which takes you into the southern reaches of Holy Island.

The A55 ends at Holyhead just shy of the port itself. You can also catch a train to Holyhead Station and complete the journey on foot, which takes around 10 minutes.

Where do ferries go to from Holyhead?

Ferries cross the Irish Sea to Dublin every day. Over the course of a week, 63 sailings are available to book tickets for.

Which ferry companies serve this route?

You can book to sail with two ferry companies if travelling to Ireland from Holyhead:

• Irish Ferries
• Stena Line

A one-way journey via Stena Line is available up to four times daily, taking around three hours 15 minutes to complete the journey. You can get there faster via the Irish Ferries service, which completes the same journey in around two hours. They provide sailings up to five times each day.

Book well in advance to be sure of getting tickets

This is a popular route throughout the year, so advance booking is essential. This can be done online, with prices given for single and return journeys.

More about the Port of Holyhead

The Port of Holyhead is close to the railway station and major roads leading into the town. The postcode for satnav users is LL65 1DJ.

While you can take your car on the ferry, there is an option to use one of two car parks provided if you intend to travel as a foot passenger. Turkeyshore Road has a long-stay car park within walking distance of Terminal 1, although they do offer a park and ride service at no charge.

More about the Port of Dublin

The Port of Dublin is at North Dock. There are several terminals, with Irish Ferries from Holyhead coming into Terminal 1. Stena Line operates from Terminal 2. Terminal Road South then leads you out of the Port by car and into the heart of the city. It is also possible to hop on a bus or to catch a taxi directly from the port into the city.