Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire
Ferry to Ireland
Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire
Ferry to Ireland
See ferry fares and operators from all over the world in one spot, and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking early is usually the surest way to get a good price and plenty of choice.
Discounts are available with Direct Ferries all year round. If a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied for you automatically once the right age bracket is selected in the passenger options.
Students and recent graduates can claim a 5% saving. Register with our partner Student Beans to verify eligibility, then apply your discount code at checkout.
Resident discounts also apply to a number of Spanish and Italian routes — pick the "Residents" option during search and the fare adjusts automatically. Be ready to show proof of address, such as an ID card or residency certificate, at check-in.
Requirements for travel documents change from route to route, so check what's needed ahead of time. A valid passport is usually required for Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire travel, plus any visa or national ID relevant to your nationality. Since the rules depend on your citizenship and destination, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is the place to check for the latest guidance and avoid delays at check-in.
To book, just add your departure port, arrival port and preferred date, and you'll see every fare and sailing on offer. You can also compare alternative routes and times to find your best match.
Look out for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket options, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that let you make changes down the line. Entering accurate details — passenger count, vehicle specs and so on — keeps the process running smoothly.
As soon as your booking is confirmed, a confirmation email will land in your inbox. What happens next with your boarding pass depends on the operator you've booked.
Some operators issue boarding passes right away, while others need you to check in at the port itself. Where it's supported, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online in advance.
You'll usually find ticket desks close to the ferry terminal. Giving yourself a little extra time before departure means you can collect tickets and check in without any stress.
Bring your confirmation email and valid photo ID, such as a passport or identity card, to check in. Pet owners should have vaccination and insurance documents on hand, and anyone with a resident discount should carry proof of address.
There are a few reasons departures from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire might not show for your chosen date — a schedule change, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal lull are the most likely. Try another date or check alternative routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire ferry well ahead of time generally works in your favour — you'll usually find better fares and a wider choice of departures and cabins.
A few weeks ahead is usually enough notice to catch the best offers, though fares can still fluctuate with the season and remaining space.
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Located on Holy Island, which at one point was connected to Anglesey via the Four Mile Bridge, the town of Holyhead is the largest town, and port, in Anglesey, Wales. A local philanthropist in the mid 19th century, however, funded the building of a causeway, "The Cobb", which to this day carries the main road and railway to and from Holyhead. There are many places in the town centre to eat with all the usual shops and facilities you would expect to find in a town of its size. There is also a cinema and theatre. Holyhead is often used as an overnight stop to, or from, the port and as a result there are many different places to stay that will suit all budgets. Around Holyhead there is excellent fishing, golfing and sailing facilities. Couple this with the wonderful scenery, walks and beaches and you can easily lose yourself and relax for a few days.
The Port of Holyhead is a bustling ferry port which operates services to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire in Ireland. The port is also the main gateway for land transport from northern and central England and Wales to Ireland.
Dun Laoghaire is a popular destination with visitors and is located around 12 km from Dublin city centre. It lies on the south coast of Dublin Bay and is well known for its bright granite harbour and its 820 birth marina. There are many attractions for visitors to enjoy including its historic churches and a wide range of cultural events including year round festivals.
The town's name means " fort of Laoghaire" and refers to Loegaire mac Neill, a 5th century High King of Ireland who chose the site as a sea base from which to carry out raids on Britain and Gaul. Traces of fortifications from that time have been found on the coast, and some of the stone is kept in the Maritime Museum.
There are regular ferry service directly into the port of Dun Laoghaire from Holyhead in North Wales. Sailings run twice daily in each direction subject to season with a crossing time of around 90 minutes.