This page explains how to travel by train & ferry from Dublin & Ireland to Paris, Brussels and other European cities.  Click here to for journeys starting in another city.  Information current for 2023.  Suggested hotels in Dublin.

I want to go from Dublin to...

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?".  Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.

European train travel FAQ

Train travel in Ireland

• See the Train travel in Ireland page.

• The Irish Railways website is www.irishrail.ie.

Dublin to Belfast from €13.99

• The Enterprise links Dublin Connolly with Belfast every couple of hours, taking around 2 hours.  It's jointly run by Irish Railways & Northern Ireland Railways (part of Translink).  It has standard class, first class (also known as Enterprise Plus class) and a cafe-bar.

  Reservation isn't essential, you can always just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train from Dublin Connolly station to Belfast.  But you may find some cheap advance-purchase fares from as low as €13.99 if you book in advance.

  Incidentally, Belfast Central was named after the Belfast Central Railway, not because of its location!  It was renamed Belfast Lanyon Place in September 2018.

• Buy one-way or round-trip tickets starting in Dublin at www.irishrail.ie, you must collect hard-copy tickets from Irish Rail ticket machines in Dublin.

• Buy one-way or round-trip tickets starting in Belfast at www.translink.co.uk, you must exchange the confirmation email for a hard-copy ticket at Belfast Central station or another staffed NIR station.

• Tip 1:  Belfast's Great Victoria Street station is in the city centre and more convenient than Belfast Lanyon Place as it's next to the main bus station and the excellent Europa Hotel, across the road from the equally excellent National Trust-owned Crown Bar.  If you hold a ticket for the Enterprise train between Belfast Lanyon Place & Dublin, you are entitled to a free transfer by regular local train between Belfast Lanyon Place and Belfast Great Victoria Street at no extra charge.

  Tip 2:  On the Enterprise, find a seat on the right hand side going north to Belfast, for the sea views.

An Enterprise train arrived at Belfast...		Standard class on the Enterprise.  Larger photo.

First class on the Enterprise.  Larger photo.		Buffet car on the Enterprise.  Larger photo.

Dublin to London or anywhere in Britain for €60...

• See the London to Ireland page for how to travel by Sail & Rail from Dublin to London or anywhere in Britain.

• You can buy cheap SailRail tickets for train & ferry travel from any rail station in Ireland to any rail station in Britain at www.irishferries.com.  Dublin to London costs €60.  Cork, Limerick, Galway or Sligo to London costs €80.  Any day, any time.  Full details on the London to Ireland page or www.irishferries.com.

Irish Ferries' Ulysses at Holyhead...

On board the luxurious Ulysses there are lounges, bars, restaurants, cinemas, kids' play areas & a shop...		Tip:  Pay a bit extra for the Martello Club Lounge, with complimentary wine & canapés...

Crossing the Irish Sea...

Dublin to Paris...

Option 1, Dublin to Paris using a direct ferry from Dublin or Rosslare to Cherbourg - several times a week...

• Step 1, sail from Dublin or Rosslare to Cherbourg by ferry...

  Irish Ferries (www.irishferries.com) sail from Dublin to Cherbourg every 2-3 days all year.  The ferry typically sails at 16:00 and arrives 11:30 next morning.  Fares from around €51 + mandatory private cabin.  Cabins start from around €74 for a 4-berth with shower & toilet.

  This is the easiest route to use, their luxurious new superferry WB Yeats carries foot passengers on this route, a wonderful cruise with bars, restaurants & cosy private cabins.  Their smaller ferry Epsilon doesn't carry foot passengers.  Check schedules at www.irishferries.com.

  Stena Line (www.stenaline.co.uk) sail every few days from Rosslare to Cherbourg, foot passengers carried.  Sailings are overnight, times vary.  A range of comfy private cabins is available.  Trains link Dublin Connolly, Wicklow, Wexford & Rosslare Harbour, see www.irishrail.ie.

  In Cherbourg, it's a 3.2 km 10-minute taxi ride or a 2.9 km 37-minute walk from the ferry terminal to the station, see walking map.

• Step 2, take a train from Cherbourg to Paris...

  If you arrive in Cherbourg at 11:30 with Irish Ferries you should book a train after 13:00, there's usually one leaving Cherbourg around 14:40, arriving Paris St Lazare around 18:00.

  Fares start from €20 if you book ahead and commit to a specific train, or costs around €55 if you turn up and buy on the day.

  Check train times & prices from Cherbourg to Paris at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly).  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Step 1, sail from Dublin to Cherbourg aboard Irish Ferries' WB Yeats.  WB Yeats photos courtesy of Irish Ferries.

Club cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet.		Deluxe cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet...

Step 2, take a double-deck TER train from Cherbourg to Paris, seen here at Paris St Lazare. Courtesy of Nicholas A Milligan.

1st class seats on the Train Nomad TER trains, upper deck.		2nd class seats on the Train Nomad TER trains, upper deck.

Option 2, Dublin to Paris by Sail & Rail to London then Eurostar - across the UK, with daily departures... 

• First, buy a SailRail ticket from Dublin or anywhere in Ireland to London at www.irishferries.com from €60.

  See the complete Dublin to London Sail & Rail timetable here.  See full details of how to buy tickets here.

  I recommend using the all-weather-reliable ships when connecting for destinations beyond the UK, not the Swift fast ferry as this is cancelled when wave height exceeds 1 metre.

• Then buy a Eurostar ticket from London to Paris from £52 one-way, £78 return at www.eurostar.com, allowing plenty of time to change trains and stations in London in case of any delay, or stay overnight if necessary. 

• For example, take the 08:05 ferry from Dublin Ferryport to Holyhead, connecting with a train to London arriving 17:37 Monday-Friday, 16:37 Saturdays, 17:40 Sundays.  You arrive at London Euston station, you can walk (10 minutes) along to St Pancras station where Eurostar departs.  You should have no trouble getting the 20:01 Eurostar arriving Paris 23:27.

• For detailed times, fares and how to buy tickets from London to Italy, Spain, Switzerland or anywhere in Europe, see the relevant country page, selected here.

A Eurostar e320 at London St Pancras...		Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

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Dublin to Brussels...

Option 1, Dublin to Brussels using Sail & Rail to London & Eurostar to Brussels... 

• First, buy a SailRail ticket from Dublin or anywhere in Ireland to London at www.irishferries.com from €60.

  See the complete Dublin to London Sail & Rail timetable here.  See full details of how to buy tickets here.

  I recommend using the all-weather-reliable ships when connecting for destinations beyond the UK, not the Swift fast ferry as this is cancelled when wave height exceeds 1 metre.

• Then buy a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels from £52 one-way, £78 return at www.eurostar.com, allowing plenty of time to change trains and stations in London in case of any delay, or stay overnight if necessary. 

• For example:

  Take the 08:05 ferry from Dublin Ferryport to Holyhead, connecting with a train to London arriving 17:37 Monday-Friday, 16:37 Saturdays, 17:40 Sundays.  You arrive at London Euston station, you can walk (10 minutes) along to London St Pancras where Eurostar departs. 

  Then travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar leaving London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi 22:38.

A Eurostar e320 at London St Pancras...		Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Dublin to Brussels using a ferry from Ireland to Cherbourg - by-passing the UK.... 

• Step 1, sail from Dublin or Rosslare to Cherbourg by ferry...

  Irish Ferries (www.irishferries.com) sail from Dublin to Cherbourg every 2-3 days all year.  The ferry typically sails at 16:00 and arrives 11:30 next morning.  Fares from around €51 + mandatory private cabin.  Cabins start from around €74 for a 4-berth with shower & toilet.

  This is the easiest route to use, their luxurious new superferry WB Yeats carries foot passengers on this route, a wonderful cruise with bars, restaurants & cosy private cabins.  Their smaller ferry Epsilon doesn't carry foot passengers.  Check schedules at www.irishferries.com.

  Stena Line (www.stenaline.co.uk) sail every few days from Rosslare to Cherbourg, foot passengers carried.  Sailings are overnight, times vary.  A range of comfy private cabins is available.  Trains link Dublin Connolly, Wicklow, Wexford & Rosslare Harbour, see www.irishrail.ie.

  In Cherbourg, it's a 3.2 km 10-minute taxi ride or a 2.9 km 37-minute walk from the ferry terminal to the station, see walking map.

• Step 2, take a train from Cherbourg to Paris...

  If you arrive in Cherbourg at 11:30 with Irish Ferries you should book a train after 13:00, there's usually one leaving Cherbourg around 14:40, arriving Paris St Lazare around 18:00.

  Fares start from €20 if you book ahead and commit to a specific train, or costs around €55 if you turn up and buy on the day.

  Check train times & prices from Cherbourg to Paris at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly).  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare St Lazare to the Gare du Nord. 

• Step 3, take a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1h22, they leave every hour or so.

  Allow at least one hour between trains in Paris.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly).  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Step 1, sail from Dublin to Cherbourg aboard Irish Ferries' WB Yeats.  WB Yeats photos courtesy of Irish Ferries.

Club cabin on the WB Yeats.		Deluxe cabin on the WB Yeats..

Step 2, take a double-deck TER train from Cherbourg to Paris, seen here at Paris St Lazare. Courtesy of Nicholas A Milligan.

1st class seats on the Train Nomad TER trains, upper deck.		2nd class seats on the Train Nomad TER trains, upper deck.

Step 3, travel from Paris to Brussels by Thalys.  See 360º photos inside a Thalys.  More information about Thalys.

Comfort & Premium seats, 2+1 across the car.  Larger photo.		Standard seats, 2+2 across.  Larger photo.

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Dublin to Amsterdam...

Option 1, Dublin to Amsterdam using Sail & Rail to London then Eurostar to Amsterdam...

• Step 1, take the 08:05 ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, connecting with a train arriving at London Euston around 17:40, for €60.  Book online at www.irishferries.com.  See full details of this journey here.

  In London it's a 10 minute walk from London Euston to London St Pancras.

• Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Step 2, travel from London St Pancras to Amsterdam by Eurostar, see the timetable here & buy tickets as shown.

Option 2, Dublin to Amsterdam using Sail & Rail to London, then overnight Sail & Rail to Amsterdam...

• Step 1, take the 08:05 ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, connecting with a train arriving at London Euston around 17:40, for €60.  Book online at www.irishferries.com.  See full details of this journey here.

  Take the Underground or a taxi from Euston station to Liverpool Street station.

  Tip:  When you arrive at London Liverpool Street, a peaceful place to wait with a coffee, beer or light meal is the Eastway Brasserie (eastwaybrasserie.co.uk) or 1901 Wine Lounge, both part of the Andaz London Liverpool Street Hotel, formerly the historic Great Eastern Hotel.  Go up the big escalators opposite platforms 1-4, exit the station and turn left along the station facade.

• Step 2, now travel overnight from London to Amsterdam by Stena Line Rail & Sail using train & overnight ferry from £55 with private cabin from £35, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

Option 3, Dublin to Amsterdam via Paris - by-passing the UK, several departures a week...

• Day 1, travel from Dublin to Paris as shown above, sailing from Dublin late afternoon, sleeping in a cosy private cabin to Cherbourg and arriving Paris St Lazare by train at around 18:00 on Day 2.

  Transfer from Paris St Lazare to Paris Gare du Nord by taxi or metro.  Always make sure you have at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam by Thalys train, one usually leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 19:25 arriving Amsterdam Centraal 22:44.

Dublin to all other European destinations...

There are three approaches:  Sail & Rail to London, then Eurostar to Paris or Brussels, then onward trains;  Sail & Rail to London, then Sail & Rail to Amsterdam then onward trains;  Or by-pass the UK, taking a direct ferry from Dublin or Rosslare to Cherbourg and train to Paris, then onward trains from Paris.

...via London & Eurostar to Paris or Brussels...

• Step 1, take the 08:05 SailRail service to London Euston as shown on the Britain-Ireland page, booked at www.irishferries.com for €60.

• Stay overnight in London (unless your chosen onward journey involves an evening Eurostar to Paris and overnight there).

• Step 2, travel from London St Pancras to any European destination using Eurostar to Paris or Brussels, as shown when you select your destination country here.

• For example, you can travel from Dublin to London on Day 1, stay overnight, then travel from London to Barcelona, Milan, Geneva, Zurich or Munich on Day 2.

  Or you can travel from Dublin to London on Day 1 and take an evening Eurostar to Paris.  Stay overnight, then travel from Paris to Barcelona, Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen, Warsaw (Mon-Fri only), Madrid on Day 2.  I'd allow at least 2 hours between trains in London, to include the 10-minute walk from Euston station to St Pancras station and the Eurostar check-in.

...via London & ferry to Hoek van Holland

• Step 1, take the 08:05 SailRail service to London Euston as shown on the Ireland page, booked at www.irishferries.com for €60.

• Step 2, take the overnight train & ferry service from London Liverpool Street to Amsterdam, sleeping in a private cabin on the Stena Line superferry with shower, toilet, satellite TV & WiFi, booked as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page from £55 plus private cabin from around £35.  Spend a day exploring Amsterdam.

• Step 3, take an onwards train from Amsterdam as shown on the international trains from Amsterdam page.

  There are direct daytime trains from Amsterdam to Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin.  There are sleeper trains from Amsterdam to Basel, Zurich, Munich, Innsbruck & Vienna.

...via a direct ferry from Ireland to France...

• Step 1, travel by ferry direct from Ireland to France & on to Paris as shown above.  Allow plenty of time between trains in Paris.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to your mainland European destination as shown on the Trains from Paris page.

• For example, you could sail from Dublin at 16:00 on Day 1, reaching Paris around 16:00 on Day 2.

  You could catch an onward train to Lyon, Marseille, Cologne, Frankfurt or Geneva the same day, arriving late evening on Day 2.

  If you took a sleeper, you could be in Munich, Salzburg or Vienna in the morning of Day 3.

  If you stayed in Paris overnight, you could travel on to Nice, Cannes, Barcelona, Milan & Italy or Prague on Day 3.

Hotels in Dublin & Ireland

Other hotel sites worth trying...

• www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels...

• www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & VPN...

Always take out travel insurance...

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & covers you even if the FCDO advises against non-essential travel.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com.

You can use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

A Curve card saves foreign transaction fees...

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank...

With so much now held on your mobile phone (tickets, reservations, vaccination records, etc) I recommend carrying an Anker powerbank.  This can recharge your phone several times over if you're on the move and can't get to a power outlet.  I never travel without one.

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