UK Ferries to Northern Ireland

When booking a ferry to Northern Ireland, look no further than Direct Ferries. We compare ferry prices to Northern Ireland for all ferry operators on the Irish Sea, giving you the best choice at the times and dates that suit you. You can travel to several different ports, Belfast and Larne. We recommend using our price finder to discover the times and prices to suit your journey.

Where can you travel from to Northern Ireland

There are a number of destinations and operators that offer ferries to Northern Ireland. The most popular ferry route is by P&O Irish Sea with crossings from Scotland via Cairnryan to Larne. This crossing operates 7 sailings a day and takes 2 hours. Stena Line also provide routes between Cairnryan and Belfast operating 5 sailings per day and taking around 2 hours 22 minutes.

You can take a ferry from England to Northern Ireland via Stenaline’s ferry route between Liverpool Birkenhead and Belfast, which offers 11 sailings a week and takes around 8 hours.

You can also travel between Belfast and Douglas in the Isle of Man, where the Isle of Man Steam Packet ferry runs this route once a week and takes around 4 hours 30 minutes.

Northern Ireland Guide

Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four countries that make up Great Britain, and is situated in the north east corner of the island of Ireland.

Considering its size, the variety on offer in Northern Ireland is quite amazing, from undulating countryside and breath taking mountains, intriguing towns and villages to some of the most vibrant, culturally rich and historical cities. Northern Ireland is one of those destinations that not only promises, but delivers.

Northern Ireland's size makes the country simple to navigate too which means it’s easy to visit the country's best attractions. There are of course many must-see places and sites including the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, the historic walled city of Londonderry, and aside from the usual attractions of a country’s capital city, Belfast is also the home of Titanic Belfast, the world's largest Titanic visitor experience.

Northern Ireland features excellent fast ferry links from England and Scotland with ferries sailing to the major ports at Larne and Belfast. If you want to travel from continental Europe to Northern Ireland then you can sail from France to Ireland and drive across the border.

Ferries to Northern Ireland - FAQs

What is the quickest ferry to Northern Ireland?

Cairnryan to Larne is the quickest ferry crossing to the Northern Ireland from Scotland. This route takes approximately 2 hours. P&O Ferries operates this route with 6 daily sailings. The next quickest route is Cairnryan to Belfast, which takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, with 5 daily sailings.

Which ferries go to Northern Ireland?

Ferries to Northern Ireland sail from Cairnryan and Liverpool. P&O Ferries and Stena Line operate these ferry routes with over 50 weekly sailings. Routes travelling from Scotland to Northern Ireland are much quicker and regular than sailing from Liverpool.

What is the cheapest ferry to Northern Ireland?

The cheapest ferry to Northern Ireland with Direct Ferries last month was £25, from Cairnryan to Larne. The cheapest prices are typically during off peak times and low seasons. Compare prices Cairnryan to Larne with our deal finder to find the cheapest deals.