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London
to Dublin for £48.80
London to Dublin from £48.80
Fed up with flying? Discover a well-kept secret: You can buy a cheap SailRail ticket between any rail station in Britain & any rail station in Ireland, train & ferry on one ticket. Swap a stressful flight for a relaxed train ride along the beautiful Welsh coast, then by cruise ferry across the Irish Sea. See the journey in pictures below & watch the video. It reduces your CO2 emission by up to 73%.
All-weather reliability: Flights can be cancelled due to fog, snow & other bad weather, but Irish Ferries say their rock-steady 50,000 ton ship Ulysses has seldom missed a sailing due to weather.
Update 2023: Avanti West Coast have been operating an amended London-Holyhead service, so check train times online.
Recommended departure from London to Dublin
Recommended
departure from Dublin to London
London-Dublin complete timetable
Luggage, bikes, pets, stopovers...
First
class from London to Dublin from £188
London, Bristol & Cardiff to Ireland via Fishguard
Short breaks to Ireland without flying
Train travel in Ireland
Train travel in Ireland, a beginner's guide
Belfast to the Giant's Causeway by train
Day tours from Dublin to the Blarney
Stone, Ring of Kerry, Giant's Causeway
Which route to choose?
If you look at the map below it should be self-explanatory. The route via Holyhead is the traditional route from London to Dublin & most of Ireland including Cork, Limerick, Galway & Sligo. The Fishguard-Rosslare route is good for London to Wexford & Waterford, and also for Bristol or Cardiff to Dublin. However, Rosslare is not well linked to Cork or Limerick so these are best reached via Holyhead & Dublin. You can travel between Scotland & Dublin either via Cairnryan & Belfast, or via Holyhead, it's usually cheaper & easier via Holyhead. For London to Belfast you can go via either Holyhead, Liverpool or Cairnryan, see the Northern Ireland page.
If you use the journey planner at trainsplit.com and it'll work out the most logical route for your journey.
Click here for a detailed map of the UK train network & ferry routes.
London to Dublin, recommended departure
Let's keep it simple. Here's the service I'd recommend for travel between London or Southeast England and Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo & most other Irish destinations. It's the cheapest option, with all-weather rock-steady reliability and it's a classic journey with lots to see on the way, see the journey in pictures & video below. It's not the only option, far from it - see the complete London-Dublin timetable here.
London ► Dublin
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Step 1, travel from London to Holyhead by train in just 3 hours 40 minutes...
You leave London's Euston station at 09:02 on Mondays-Saturdays by air-conditioned 125mph Avanti West Coast Voyager train direct to Holyhead arriving 12:50. On Sundays you leave London at 08:15, change trains at Crewe and arrive Holyhead at 12:43.
It's a lovely and historic journey across England and along the North Wales coast onto Anglesey, see the journey in pictures below. For the best views between London & Holyhead, choose a seat on the right-hand side of the train, ignoring your reserved seats if they are on the wrong side. Refreshments are available from the on board shop. Map of London showing Euston station.
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At Holyhead, the ferry terminal for both Stena Line and Irish Ferries is inside the station at the end of platform 2. Walk straight off the train into the ferry terminal and check in for the ferry at the relevant ferry operator desk. There's a 30 minute check-in for Irish Ferries, 40 minutes for Stena Line. After getting your boarding pass there's a brief and painless X-ray security check, and you then check in your bags so you don't have to carry them round with you on the ferry. Both Stena Line & Irish Ferries ships berth a little way from the terminal building at Holyhead, so after check-in passengers are shuttled to the ferry by courtesy bus.
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Step 2, sail across the Irish Sea from Holyhead to Dublin in just 3 hours 15 minutes...
If you book to Dublin Port Irish Ferries (or to Dublin Ferryport, as different websites use slightly different terms) you sail from Holyhead at 14:10 on Irish Ferries ship Ulysses, arriving Dublin Ferryport at 17:25.
If you book to Dublin Port Stena, you sail from Holyhead at 14:45 on Stena Line's Stena Adventurer arriving at Dublin Ferryport at 18:00.
Both line's ships are excellent and both sail every day, but in my opinion the superb, huge & rock-steady 50,000 ton Ulysses is the most glamorous & comfortable ship. Whichever company you choose, the ferry has free WiFi, bars, cafes, lounges, a restaurant, cinema, children's play area, fast food outlets, shop & open-air deck. You can pay for a private cabin if you like, with toilet, shower & satellite TV, just ask at the ferry's reception desk. Take a virtual tour of the Ulysses.
Tip: Upgrade to Club Class on the ferry... For a small extra charge (£18 or 21) paid on board at the entrance, you can use the Ulysses' Martello Club Lounge on deck 11 above the bridge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee, smoked salmon, cheese and biscuits. The lounge gives a superb forward view of the coast of Ireland and the Bay of Dublin approaching. There's a similar lounge on Stena Line called Stena Plus. which also gives a great forward view. If you want privacy, a nap or a shower, you can pay a small charge for a private day cabin with shower & toilet, just ask at the ferry's reception desk. This is the best way to see Ireland for the first time, not from inside an airport! .
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Step 3, transfer 2 miles into Dublin city centre by bus or taxi, see map of Dublin showing ferry terminals & city centre,
If you arrive on Irish Ferries' Ulysses at 17:25, you'll find a double-decker Nolan's bus waiting outside the terminal to take you to the city centre just 2 miles away. It leaves when the foot passengers have left the ship at around 18:00, arriving at Connolly station (for trains to Belfast, Wicklow, Sligo) in central Dublin around 18:15. Hop on the LUAS tram from Connolly station to Dublin Heuston station if you want trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Tralee. The bus fare is 3, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free. You pay with a debit or credit card, cash not accepted. Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus, you can pay online there too.
If you arrive on the Stena Adventurer at 18:00, a double-deck Nolan's bus will be waiting outside the terminal, leaving at 18:40 and arriving at Connolly station in the city centre (for trains to Belfast, Sligo, Wicklow) at 18:55 and Dublin Heuston station (for trains to Cork, Limerick, Galway) at 19:15. The fare is 3, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free. You pay with a debit or credit card, cash not accepted. Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus, you can pay online there too.
If you'd prefer a taxi, this costs around 20 from the ferry terminal to Connolly Station or any central Dublin hotel or 17 to Dublin's Heuston station, journey time 25 minutes. You'll find plenty of taxis waiting outside the ferry terminal.
A painless and scenic trip from central London, three countries in one day, England, Wales & Ireland!
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Step 4, if you're heading for Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo or Belfast, use the transfer bus from Dublin Ferryport to Dublin Connolly station and (if necessary) the LUAS tram to Dublin Heuston station. Then hop on an Irish Rail inter-city train as follows - You can check these train times at the Irish Railways website www.irishrail.ie.
For Belfast, take the daily 19:00 Enterprise from Dublin Connolly arriving at Belfast Central 21:15.
For Sligo, take the daily 19:05 train from Dublin Connolly station arriving Sligo at 22:05.
For Cork, take the daily 19:00 train from Dublin Heuston station arriving Cork at 21:58.
For Limerick, a train leaves Dublin Heuston station on Mondays-Saturdays at 19:00, change at Limerick Junction, arriving Limerick at 21:28. On Sundays, leave Heuston at 19:05, change at Limerick Junction and arrive Limerick at 21:23.
For Galway, leave Dublin Heuston station on Mondays-Saturdays at 19:15 arriving Galway at 21:50. On Sundays, leave Heuston at 18:45 arriving Galway at 21:25.
For any other destination in Ireland, use the journey planner at www.irishrail.ie to check train times from Dublin. Make sure you allow enough time to interchange in Dublin. If it's not possible to complete your journey the same day (for example, the last train to Tralee leaves Dublin before you get there), SailRail tickets allow you to stay in Dublin overnight and take a train next day. Map of Dublin showing railway stations & city centre.
Dublin ► London
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Step 0, if you're starting your journey in Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo or anywhere else in Ireland, travel up to Dublin by any evening train and stay the night. Find hostel or hotel in Dublin. If your train arrives at Heuston station, take the LUAS tram to Connolly station, this runs every 5-10 minutes and takes 15 minutes, fare 1.70 (not included in through tickets). The tram leaves from right outside the front of the station. Map of Dublin showing city centre, railway stations & ferry terminals.
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Step 1, transfer from Dublin city centre to Dublin Ferryport by bus or taxi...
To connect with the 08:05 Irish Ferries ship Ulysses, a bus leaves Dublin Heuston (Parkgate Street, bus stop 10996) at 06:40, Bachelors Walk (bus stop 102111) at 06:50 and Custom House Quay (bus stop 135271) at 06:55, arriving Dublin Ferryport Terminal 1 at 07:20. The fare is 3 adult, child 4-15 half price, please have exact fare. You pay with a debit or credit card, cash not accepted. Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus, you can pay online there too.
To connect with the 08:15 Stena Line ship Stena Adventurer, a bus leaves Dublin Heuston (Parkgate Street, bus stop 10996) at 06:40, Bachelors Walk (bus stop 102111) at 06:50 and Custom House Quay (bus stop 135271) at 06:55, arriving Dublin Ferryport Terminal 2 at 07:15. The fare is 3 adult, child 4-15 half price. You pay with a debit or credit card, cash not accepted. Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus, you can pay online there too.
Or take a taxi from central Dublin to Dublin Ferryport, this costs around 20 from any central Dublin hotel to the ferry port & takes about 25 minutes. Map of Dublin showing ferry terminals & city centre.
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Step 2, sail from Dublin to Holyhead by ferry...
Irish Ferries' luxury superferry Ulysses sails from Dublin Ferryport terminal 1 at 08:05 every day and arrives at Holyhead at 11:30. The Ulysses was until recently the world's largest car ferry, with excellent on board accommodation including bars, restaurant, cinema, children's play area, free WiFi and even private cabin for an extra charge. At Holyhead, a courtesy bus transfers you to the ferry passenger terminal at the station.
Stena Line's competing Stena Adventurer sails from Dublin Ferryport terminal 2 at 08:15, arriving in Holyhead at 11:50. The Stena Adventurer also has excellent on board accommodation including bars, restaurant, cinema, children's play area, free WiFi and private cabins for an extra charge. At Holyhead, a courtesy bus drives you off the ferry to the ferry passenger terminal at the station.
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Step 3, travel from Holyhead to London by train.
On Mondays to Fridays, you leave Holyhead at 12:46 on a direct Voyager train to London Euston arriving 16:35.
On Saturdays, you leave Holyhead at 12:32, change in Chester (arrive 14:10, depart 14:32) and arrive London Euston 16:35 or there's a direct train leaving Holyhead at 13:53 arriving London Euston 17:35.
On Sundays you leave Holyhead at 12:53 on a direct Voyager train to London, arriving London Euston 16:36, but times may vary.
How much does it cost?
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London to Dublin costs £48.80 if you book by 18:00 the day before travel or £54.90 if you buy your ticket on the day or when the £48.80 rate sells out or is otherwise not available Bought in Ireland, it's around 60.
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London to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Tralee or Killarney costs £73.60 each way if booked by 18:00 the day before travel or £79.60 if bought on the day or when the £73.60 rate has sold out. London to Belfast costs £65.80 each way if booked by 18:00 the day before travel, £71.90 on the day or when the £65.80 rate has sold out.
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Children under 16 travel for half price, under 5's go free, no ticket required just bring them along.
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You can buy a SailRail ticket from any station in Britain to Dublin or any station in Ireland. No break of journey is allowed on SailRail tickets, and no further discount with railcards. See full details of SailRail fares between any British station & any Irish station here. See first class fares here.
How to buy tickets
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Buy SailRail tickets at www.tfwrail.wales (Transport for Wales, the train operator which manages these SailRail fares on behalf of National Rail), with no booking fee.
Tip: Type station code DFP & select Dublin Ferryport to travel on the Ulysses, type DPS & select Dublin Port - Stena to travel with Stena Line.
You collect tickets from the ticket machines at any main British station, or £8.88 next day delivery to any UK address including Northern Ireland.
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You can also buy tickets at trainsplit.com, international credit cards accepted, no booking fee, and it'll let you choose your seat from a seating plan on any Avanti West Coast train. You collect tickets from any main station in Britain.
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You don't have to book way in advance. You can buy these tickets just weeks or days ahead, or even on the day of travel itself. More info.
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IMPORTANT: Tickets can be collected at any British station including London Euston free of charge, but cannot be collected in Ireland. For one-way journeys starting in Dublin with ticket collection at Dublin port, book with irishferries.com as shown here.
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Booking tip: In the Dublin to London direction in summer it can be almost impossible to book the 08:05 Irish Ferries Ulysses from Dublin using the rail industry booking system. That's because it is overtaken in summer by the faster 08:30 Swift and the booking system therefore ignores the 08:05. The solution is to either switch to Stena Line and book from Dublin Port - Stena to London as a one-way and use the 08:15 Stena Line ship instead of Irish Ferries Ulysses, or to book the 08:05 Dublin to London service as a one-way ticket at www.irishferries.com on their SailRail page - the Irish Ferries website allows you to specifically select the 08:05 Ulysses departure and gives you an open ticket for the train, with tickets collected at the Irish Ferries desk in Dublin. By all means take the faster 08:30 Swift if you like, but remember that the Ulysses is £6 cheaper, has more facilities and has all-weather rock-steady all-weather reliability. The Swift is faster but is cancelled as soon as wave height exceeds 1 metre. Full details of fares & how to buy tickets.
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Buy tickets online starting in Ireland: You can also buy SailRail tickets starting in Ireland from Irish Ferries at www.irishferries.com. Select Dublin Port to London (all stations) or any other British station you like, with an 08:00 departure time. Tickets can be collected at the Irish Ferries desk at Dublin Ferryport or sent to any address in Ireland or worldwide by normal post at your own risk. You can add access to the Martello Lounge or a private day cabin to your booking this way, too. Incidentally, yes the site sells SailRail tickets and yes that includes the UK train, but no, it won't tell you the train times, it just gives ferry times and provides an open ticket for the rail part, you can use any suitable train and sit where you like. Full details of prices & how to buy tickets starting in Ireland.
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You don't have to start in London, of course! Simply use the journey planner at trainsplit.com to check times & prices & buy SailRail tickets from Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Cambridge, or any railway station in Britain to or from Dublin Ferryport (to travel with Irish Ferries) or Dublin Port - Stena to travel with Stena Line.
What's the journey like?
Holyhead to Dublin with Irish Ferries
The Ulysses is one of my favourite ships, and a crossing on her is a real treat. At 50,000 tons, the Ulysses was the biggest ferry serving the British Isles until Stena Line's 63,000 ton Stena Hollandica & Stena Britannica entered service on the Harwich-Hoek van Holland route. She's rock steady under most conditions, and in ten years of service she has hardly ever missed a sailing due to weather - more than can be said for the planes! You check in your bags at Holyhead so you don't have to carry them round on the ferry. She has free WiFi, too.
Holyhead to Dublin with Stena Line
Stena's Stena Adventurer is also a great ship, also with free WiFi and with its own premium lounge called Stena Plus. As with Irish Ferries, you check in your bags at Holyhead so you don't have to carry them around on the ferry.
Video guide: London to Dublin
This shows how easy the London to Dublin journey is, and what there is to see on the way. As you enter Euston Station, pay your respects to the statue of Robert Stephenson (1803-1859), the engineer who built the railway to Holyhead including the Britannia Bridge, it's been the civilised way to Dublin since 1850.
London to Dublin complete timetable & fares
Which ferry to choose?
Take a train to Holyhead, then two different ferry operators sail from Holyhead to Dublin, Irish Ferries & Stena Line.
Stena Line or Irish Ferries? Both are great companies, and fares are virtually the same, simply book to Dublin Port Stena for Stena Line or to Dublin Port (Irish Ferries) for Irish Ferries. Through tickets to Galway, Cork, Limerick & so on are usually routed via Stena Line by default, but you can change this when using www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk by clicking More options and entering Dublin Ferryport as a via station. I think the huge 50,000 ton Ulysses is the more glamorous ship, indeed she's a personal favourite of mine, but I like the Stena Adventurer too. Why not go out with one and back with the other?
Ship or fast ferry? Remember that the ships have much more extensive facilities and all-weather reliability, and they're rock-steady. The lightweight Swift is an hour faster but bumps about a bit and is cancelled when wave height exceeds 1 metre, with passengers transferred onto the next sailing of the Ulysses. Bear this in mind when travelling in winter, or with an appointment to keep.
Timetable westbound
Timetable eastbound
Notes for timetable
* = The Swift fast ferry only operates from early March until late October. It does not operate in winter.
** = On Saturday mornings you leave Holyhead 04:25, change Chester, arrive London 09:29. Or take the direct train leaving Holyhead 06:52, London 10:38.
Always check times at www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk, especially at weekends as times can vary due to engineering work.
You can check ferry times at www.stenaline.co.uk or www.irishferries.com.
Direct = This train is a direct 125mph Avanti West Coast Voyager or Pendolino train between London & Holyhead.
Crewe = You must change trains at Crewe. Birmingham = You must change trains at Birmingham New Street.
- = there is no train connection available for this ferry.
At Holyhead the ferry terminal for both Stena Line & Irish Ferries is right next to the station at the end of platform 2. After checking in, passengers for the Ulysses and Stena Adventurer are transferred by free courtesy bus across the port area to the ferry, as the ships berth a little way from the terminal. There is a 30 minute check-in for Irish Ferries or 40 minutes for Stena Line, and your bags are checked in for the crossing. Holyhead town centre is just 5 minutes walk across a footbridge if you have time for a wander.
Dublin Ferryport is 2 miles from Dublin city centre. Transfer buses meet Irish Ferries arrivals and take passengers to central Dublin. The bus costs 3, children half price, you simply pay the driver on the bus with debit or credit card, cash not accepted. Buses also operate from Dublin City centre to meet Irish Ferries departures, you'll find the bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus. Buses also connect with Stena Line arrivals and departures, charging similar prices. A taxi from Dublin port to central Dublin will cost 20 to most central area hotels or Dublin Connolly station, about 17 to Dublin Heuston station, journey time about 25 minutes. Check bus times at www.nolancoaches.ie/services/ferry-shuttle-bus.
Map of Dublin showing ferry terminals, railway stations & city centre. Map of London showing Euston station.
How to find times from other UK cities
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Use the journey planner on trainsplit.com to check train times & buy SailRail tickets from any station in Britain to Dublin.
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Enter any station you like in the 'From' box, such as Birmingham, Cardiff, Newcastle, Norwich, your own local station, whatever...
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Enter 'Dublin Ferryport' or 'Dublin Port - Stena' in the 'To' box depending whether you want to travel with Irish Ferries (Ulysses or Swift fast ferry) or Stena Line ship. Enter your dates of travel and click 'Find trains'.
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When the results appear, it doesn't distinguish between the Ulysses ship and the Swift fast ferry to Dublin Ferryport, it just says 'ferry'. With 'Dublin Port (Irish Ferries)' selected, if the ferry takes 3 hours or more than it's the Ulysses, if it takes 2 hours or less it's the Swift. With Dublin Port (Stena) selected, it will be the Stena Line ship. Click 'fares' to see the fare for that journey.
SailRail fares: Any station in Britain to any station in Ireland
You can buy a SailRail ticket from any station in Britain to any station in Ireland, routed via Holyhead and either Stena Line or Irish Ferries. This covers both the train and the ferry and any onward Irish train too, all on one ticket for one inclusive price. To check the price from any given station in Britain to Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland, look up which UK zone that station falls into using the zone table, then use the fares tables below. All these fares are one way, returns are twice the one-way fare. Booking usually usually opens 9-12 weeks ahead. You can check these fares (but can't buy tickets) using the online fares database at www.brfares.com.
Advance fare = SailRail Advance, limited availability, must be booked before 18:00 on the day before travel. When the SailRail Advance fare sells out you pay the SailRail Single fare instead. Advance fares include a reservation on the ferry and on those trains on the British part of your journey on which seat reservation is possible. You can only travel on the specific trains which have been reserved for you, not on earlier, later or alternative trains, unless a delayed train or ferry means you miss a connection. No stopovers allowed. On local or suburban trains where seat reservation isn't possible you can take any suitable train. Tickets are non-refundable, but changes to date or time can be made for a fee (about £10) in person at British railway stations but not in Ireland or by phone.
Single fare = SailRail Single, this what you pay if you buy a ticket on the day of travel or when the SailRail Advance fare has sold out. Also known as Standby or Walk-up. A reservation is required on the ferry, but seat reservation on trains is optional and you can use any train and any permitted rail route to and from the ferry port. However, no stopovers are allowed except as necessary to make connections. You can buy a Single fare in advance if you like, but it's only valid on the date you book it for, and the only reason you'd want one if the cheaper Advance fare is available is if you wanted the flexibility to take alternative trains or routes on the way to or from the ferry port from those that the system offers you. Refunds are allowed, minus a £10 (approx) admin fee.
About SailRail fares
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What do SailRail fares cover? SailRail fares cover the train to Holyhead and the ferry to Ireland, all on one ticket for one inclusive price. Tickets to Irish destinations beyond Dublin also cover the Irish train. You can check all these SailRail fares at www.brfares.com.
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Making a return journey? There are no return fares, only one-way fares, so a return journey = two one-way fares. If you're not sure when you will return, I recommend only buying your outward ticket, then buying a ticket back from Dublin online at www.irishferries.com when you know the date, collecting this ticket at Dublin Port.
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Children: Children under 5 go free, children under 16 go for half the prices shown above. No railcard discounts. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied children 16-17 years old must have written authority to travel from their parent or guardian. Children under 5 go free, but they need a reservation for the ferry.
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Does the price vary? Can tickets sell out? Booking opens between 9 & 12 weeks in advance. There are two price levels, SailRail Advance (London-Dublin £48.80 by train & ship, £54.90 by train & fast ferry) and SailRail Single (London-Dublin £54.90 by train & ship, £60.90 by train & fast ferry). The Single price is always available even on the day of travel (assuming the quota of ferry places placed on the rail industry reservation system hasn't run out), the SailRail Advance price is usually available if you book in advance, although it's sometimes sold out or unavailable so only the SailRail Single price appears. Note that in practice the rail industry reservation system has a limited quota of ferry places allocated to it, which can sell out at busy times such as around Christmas or Easter, even at the SailRail Single fare, so advance booking is a good idea. Cost of SailRail tickets if bought in euros in Ireland.
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Railcard discounts: As they are so cheap anyway, there is no Railcard discount on SailRail fares.
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Stopovers: Stopovers at stations in Britain are not allowed using any SailRail ticket, other than to make connections. If you want to stop off anywhere, you'll need to buy separate tickets.
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Buses to Dublin city centre: The transfer bus from Dublin Ferryport costs 3 to George's Quay in central Dublin, children aged 4-15 half price, under 4 free. You simply pay on board the bus, with debit or credit card, not cash.
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Better value than flying: When comparing with the cost of a flight, remember that it will cost around £20 one-way or £35 return just for the train ride from central London to or from Heathrow, Luton, Stansted or Gatwick airports, in addition to the air fare. And remember the airline baggage fees, check-in fees, and so on... And these SailRail fares are available at short notice and peak times, too, when flights are expensive!
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First class travel... There are no first class SailRail fares, but if you want first class comfort on your journey to Ireland it's easy to buy an advance-purchase train ticket between London & Holyhead and a separate ferry ticket to Dublin, see the London to Dublin first class section below.
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Other Irish destinations: Ireland's rail stations are zoned 1-3, with Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo all in zone 3, at the prices shown above. Fares to (say) Wicklow or Athlone will be more than to Dublin, less than to Cork.
Luggage, bikes, pets, stopping off...
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Are there any baggage limits or baggage fees? Do I check my bags in? Are there left luggage lockers? There are no baggage weight limits or baggage fees to worry about, as long as you don't take the Mickey. You simply take your bags with you on the train, placing them on the luggage racks above your head or at the end of the coach. You check bags in at the ferry terminal so you're free to use the ferry's facilities without being encumbered with luggage, then you collect your bags again from the carousel at the ferry terminal on the other side of the water. There are left luggage lockers at London Euston (see here for details) and at Dublin Heuston station, but not at Dublin Connolly. There used to be a private left luggage office at Holyhead, but this has reportedly closed.
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Is the ferry affected by bad weather? Can it get rough? I have always found the huge 50,000 ton Ulysses to be rock steady under most conditions, even in the depths of winter. And in ten years of service she has seldom missed a sailing due to weather - or for that matter, volcanic ash, which is more than can be said for the planes. The Ulysses almost always gets through! If you use the smaller, faster Swift SeaCat, this can be cancelled if the weather is poor, especially in winter, when perhaps 5% of sailings are cancelled. If it's cancelled you'll simply be transferred to the next sailing of the Ulysses (if you turn up early for the 08:30 Swift, then if you find it's cancelled, you may get onto the 08:05 sailing of the all-weather Ulysses).
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Can I take my bike? Yes. Bicycles go for £10 each way on Irish Ferries, £10 on Stena Line. Pre-booking is recommended for Irish Ferries, email them at info@irishferries.com for details. Bikes are carried free on trains to Holyhead, but a bike reservation is compulsory on Avanti West Coast as there's a 3-bike limit and recommended for Arriva Trains Wales who have a 2-bike limit.
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Can I take my dog or cat? Dogs go free on British & Irish trains. For the ferry part of the journey, Stena Line & Irish Ferries allow foot passengers to take small dogs or cats if they're in a container which you can carry onto the ferry. The dogs or cats must travel in their container on the car deck or in the kennel area, see www.irishferries.com or www.stenaline.co.uk/faqs for details. On Stena Line, you can also bring a larger dog not in a container, placing your dog in a kennel on the car deck - this is free on the Holyhead-Dublin route, but best to call Stena to check there's a kennel free first. Guide dogs can be taken into the passengers areas, other dogs cannot.
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Can I stop off? You aren't allowed to break your journey (in other words, stop off) with a SailRail ticket, other than to make connections between trains or train and ferry. So if you want to stop off at 'X', you'll need to buy a regular ticket from London to 'X' using www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk, then a SailRail ticket from 'X' to Dublin also using www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk.
How
to buy tickets in
Britain
London Euston station
If you buy SailRail tickets online at www.tfwrail.wales you can collect them from the ticket machines installed at all main British stations. These are the machines at London Euston station. The original credit card is needed to collect your ticket. |
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Buy SailRail tickets online at www.tfwrail.wales.
Transport for Wales (www.tfwrail.wales) manages SailRail fares on behalf of all British train operators. Their website sells SailRail tickets from any station in Britain to Dublin or any station in Ireland, one-way or round trip, with zero booking fee.
If you have any problems using www.tfwrail.wales, buy SailRail tickets at trainsplit.com (also no booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com (small fee, but international credit cards no problem).
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Ticket delivery: You collect tickets from the self-service ticket machines installed at most British stations, including London Euston. You cannot collect tickets in Ireland.
www.tfwrail.wales can send tickets to any UK address with next day special delivery for £8.88.
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You can also buy one-way or round trip tickets starting in Dublin & Ireland using www.tfwrail.wales, but tickets cannot be collected in Ireland, either collect them in Britain before the journey or pay to have them sent by post. If you can't do that, book with Irish Ferries with ticket collection in Dublin as shown in the How to buy tickets in Ireland section below.
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You do not need to book months in advance. You can buy SailRail tickets just a few days ahead and still find these fares available. The SailRail Advance fares can sell out, but you can usually buy SailRail Single fares even on the day of travel.
But don't leave it until the last minute if you don't have to. A finite number of passenger places on each ferry are allocated to the rail industry ticketing system so that train operators can sell SailRail tickets. There are usually enough ferry places for everyone even if you buy on the day, but the allocation of ferry places can run out on the busiest dates in July & August, Easter or Christmas.
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If you're going to or from Dublin, start typing 'Dublin...' as your origin or destination then select Dublin Ferryport for journeys via Irish Ferries or select Dublin Port - Stena for journeys via a Stena Line.
Tip: Save time by typing DFP for Dublin Ferryport or DPS for Dublin Port Stena.
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Important: Going beyond Dublin to Limerick, Cork, Sligo, Galway & other Irish stations?
Sailrail fares to all these places exist, but if TfW have forgotten to input Irish timetables into the British ticketing system or are late doing so, no journeys are found, and if no journeys are found, no tickets can be sold. Got that? Good, now don't waste any more time on it. Just go ahead and use www.tfwrail.wales to book from anywhere in Britain to Dublin Ferryport (DFP) or Dublin Port Stena (DPS), then use the Irish Rail website www.irishrail.ie to book a separate ticket between Dublin and Cork, Limerick, Galway or wherever at www.irishrail.ie. Advance-purchase web fares for Ireland start at just 10 so this is occasionally cheaper. Just allow plenty of time for the ferry-station transfer in Dublin.
Tip: If journeys beyond Dublin are found, the system normally routes you via Stena Line, which is fine. To travel via Irish Ferries superb Ulysses instead, click More options and enter Dublin Ferryport as a via station.
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You can also buy SailRail tickets to Dublin at www.stenaline.co.uk but (a) Stena can only send tickets to UK addresses, they can't be collected at stations or sent to Ireland, and (b) Stena Line can only sell tickets from major cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool to Dublin, not from any station in Britain.
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Buy SailRail tickets by phone: You can buy tickets by phone from the SailRail booking line, 08709 000 773 (UK callers only). Lines are open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-17:00 Saturdays & Sundays. Remember to ask for tickets routed either Stena Line or Irish Ferries depending on which service you want in which direction. You can also buy tickets via Stena Line from Stena themselves, 03443 350 027.
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Buy SailRail tickets in person: You can buy these train+ferry SailRail tickets at most main British railway stations, even on the day of travel. This includes London Euston. But allow plenty of time to buy your ticket, and be aware that small stations (ones without the capability to do seat reservations) may not sell these tickets. It's better to buy tickets a day or two before if you can.
How to buy
tickets in Ireland
Dublin Connolly stationDublin to London SailRail tickets can be bought online or at Connolly station...
You can buy train & ferry tickets to London or anywhere in Britain in person from the ticket office at Dublin Connolly station indicated by the arrow in the picture above, open for SailRail tickets 09:45-12:30 & 14:30-16:30 Mon-Sat, 11:30-15:30 Sundays & holidays.
Or buy online at www.irishferries.com: Tickets can be collected at Dublin port from the Irish Ferries desk at the ferry terminal, pictured above... |
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Buy SailRail tickets online at www.irishferries.com.
For one-way or round trip SailRail tickets starting in Ireland, use www.irishferries.com to book from any rail station in Ireland to any rail station in Britain via Holyhead.
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Ticket delivery...
Tickets can be collected at the Irish Ferries desk at Dublin Port, useful if you're from overseas.
Tickets can be sent by registered post to Irish addresses.
Tickets can be sent to any address worldwide by normal post at your own risk.
Anyone from any country can buy at www.irishferries.com, international credit cards accepted.
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Tips for using www.irishferries.com: For travel to London, select London (all stations). The departure & arrival times it gives you are for the ferry between Dublin & Holyhead, not for your whole journey, as the system isn't programmed with UK train times, only ferry times. So you'll need to look up connecting train times separately, either by looking at the Dublin-London timetables on this page, or by looking up Irish trains at www.irishrail.ie and British trains at www.nationalrail.co.uk. But YES, SailRail tickets do include the UK train, tickets are valid on any suitable connecting train without restriction.
Remember to allow at least 40 minutes check-in for the ferry at Dublin port outward and at Holyhead on the return, plus plenty of time for transfers between Dublin port and Dublin's Connolly or Heuston stations. Obviously, this will only book via Irish Ferries, not via Stena Line.
Top tip: It's well worth the extra 18 to upgrade to Club Class with a special lounge, complimentary tea, coffee, red & white wine and canapιs! You can do this online when you book, or pay the extra on board the ferry.
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Alternatively, buy from www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk: You can buy tickets online at British prices at www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk, tickets must be collected at a British station before you travel but can also be sent overseas to Ireland or elsewhere for a fee.
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Buy SailRail tickets in person at Dublin Connolly station at the main ticket window, which sells SailRail tickets 09:45-12:30 & 14:30-16:30 Mon-Sat, 11:30-15:30 Sundays & holidays (see photo on the right) or at these Irish Rail stations: Athlone, Ballina, Claremorris, Dublin Connolly, Dundalk, Drogheda, Ennis, Galway, Longford, Mallow, Cork, Tralee, Killarney, Waterford, Limerick, Limerick Junction, Sligo, Thurles, Tullamore, Westport. They can sell train & ferry SailRail tickets from any Irish station to any British station. SailRail tickets now cost 6 more if bought on the day of travel.
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Buy SailRail tickets by phone: Call Irish Railways on 0818 366222 (lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) (from outside Ireland call 00 353 818 366222) or call Irish Ferries on 0818 300 400 (lines open 09:00-19:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-16:00 Saturdays, if calling from Northern Ireland or anywhere outside the Republic of Ireland, dial +353 818 300 400) or call Stena Line on (01) 204 7777.
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Buy ticket by e-mail to Irish Rail at sailrail@irishrail.ie or Irish Ferries at sailrail@irishferries.com.
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Cost of SailRail tickets bought in Ireland: Bought at least one day before travel, Dublin to London costs 60, Dublin to Birmingham or Leeds costs 54, Dublin to Liverpool or Manchester costs 53. Cork, Limerick or Galway to London costs 80.
Fares in euros for tickets bought in Ireland can be found using the journey planner at www.irishferries.com. Note that tickets bought in Ireland are all of the walk up type, a reservation is needed (and included) on the ferry, but no seat reservation is required on British trains, you can take any suitable connecting train you like once in Britain, although no stopovers are allowed.
London to Dublin first class: "Ryanair eat my shorts..."
 A first class table for two on a Pendolino. Book a first class ticket to Holyhead on the 09:02 at trainsplit.com.
A cooked breakfast is served at your seat on weekdays, included in the fare... |
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 Complimentary wine & canapιs, tea & coffee in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses as the coast of Ireland approaches... Book the 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin with Club lounge included at www.irishferries.com. |
There are no 1st class SailRail tickets, but you can easily book a first class journey from London to Dublin using separate train and ferry tickets bought direct from Avanti West Coast and Irish ferries. London to Dublin starts at around £188 one-way in first class comfort, with a complimentary cooked breakfast served at your seat on the morning Avanti West Coast train to Holyhead and a seat in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses with complimentary red or white wine and canapιs, with great views of the coast or Ireland slowly approaching.
London ► Dublin first class
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Step 1, travel first class on Avanti West Coast from London to Holyhead, leaving London Euston at 09:02 Monday-Saturday, arriving Holyhead 12:50. This is a modern air-conditioned 125 mph Voyager train.
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In first class you can select an intimate table for two with two armchairs facing each other across a table with table lamp. Or choose a solo seat or table for four. In first class it's quiet, civilised and relaxed - Whenever I've travelled, the first class on this train has been virtually empty, you may have it to yourselves!
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On weekdays a complimentary cooked breakfast is served at your seat by the steward or stewardess, perhaps egg, bacon and sausage or scrambled egg and smoked salmon. There's cereal or even porridge, and toast.
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Step 2, sail from Holyhead to Dublin by luxury superferry, leaving Holyhead at 14:10 daily on Irish Ferries cruise ferry Ulysses across the Irish Sea, arriving Dublin Ferryport at 17:25.
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In the ferry's quiet and relaxed Martello Club lounge located over the ship's bridge, you get a fantastic forward view of the coast of Ireland approaching, while you enjoy complimentary red or white wine, tea, coffee, juice, and canapιs of smoke salmon or cheese and biscuits. There's also free WiFi. Or you can book a private cabin with beds, shower and toilet.
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Transfer from Dublin Ferryport to your Dublin hotel by taxi, this costs around 20.
Dublin ► London first class
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Transfer from your hotel to Dublin Ferryport Terminal 1 by taxi, this costs around 20. Remember to allow for the check-in for the ferry.
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Sail from Dublin Ferryport to Holyhead on Irish Ferries luxurious superferry Ulysses, leaving Dublin Ferryport terminal 1 daily at 08:05 and arriving Holyhead at 11:30. The Ulysses is the world's largest car ferry.
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In the quiet and relaxed Martello Club lounge located over the top of the ship's bridge, you get a fantastic forward view of the Welsh coast approaching, while you enjoy the complimentary red or white wine, tea, coffee, juice, and canapιs of smoke salmon or cheese and biscuits. There's also free WiFi. Or you can book a private cabin with beds, shower and toilet. At Holyhead, a courtesy bus transfers you to the passenger terminal and station.
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Travel by train from Holyhead to London. Complimentary snacks and wine are served in Avanti West Coast first class. On Mondays-Fridays, a direct train leaves Holyhead at 13:58 arriving London Euston at 17:38 (there's in fact an earlier connection, but with a change). On Saturdays, you leave Holyhead at 12:38, change in Chester (arrive 14:14, depart 14:35) and arrive London Euston at 16:38. On Sundays you leave Holyhead at 12:50 on a direct train to London, arriving London Euston at 16:44.
How much does it cost?
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London to Holyhead first class in theory starts at just £58 if you book in advance. However, in reality the cheapest first class Advance fare I have yet found for the 09:02 departure connecting with the ferry is £134, so in fairness I'm taking that as my 'from' price. At weekends it's often cheaper to buy a standard class off-peak ticket from London to Holyhead for £85 at trainsplit.com, then upgrade to first class for £15, paid to the staff on board.
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Holyhead to Dublin by Irish Ferries ship Ulysses costs around £36 plus £18 supplement for access to the Martello Club lounge.
How to buy tickets
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Book the 09:02 Mondays-Saturdays Avanti West Coast train from London Euston to Holyhead at trainsplit.com (no booking fee, and recommended because it let's you select an exact seat from a plan) or www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk (same price, also no booking fee, but ironically won't let you choose your seat), looking for a first class Advance fare.
Booking normally opens 12 weeks ahead, book early for the best fares. If you only see the £230+ Anytime full-price fare, it's possible that reservations haven't opened yet (as the Anytime fare isn't tied to a reservation, but Advance fares are).
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Then book the daily 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and/or the 08:05 ferry from Dublin to Holyhead at www.irishferries.com. Make sure you add a seat in the Martello Club lounge or indeed a private cabin to your booking when prompted.
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Feedback if you travel this way is always appreciated!
A few tips...
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Travel on Mondays-Fridays: First class on a direct Avanti West Coast service between London and Holyhead includes complimentary meals, snacks & drinks on Mondays-Fridays, according to time of day. At weekends there is no cooked food, only a pre-packed breakfast box and complimentary tea & coffee, so make sure you travel on a weekday for the full benefit of first class.
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Take a direct London-Holyhead train: The direct trains between London and Holyhead are operated by Avanti West Coast so have first class complimentary at-seat food and drink service for the whole journey. If you travel between London & Holyhead with a change of trains at (say) Crewe, the train between London and Crewe will be Avanti West Coast with complimentary food & drink, but the train between Crewe and Holyhead will be Arriva Trains Wales who do not provide complimentary food or drink. So take a direct London-Holyhead or Holyhead-London train to get the full benefit of first class. Which is why I don't mention Sundays from London to Holyhead & Dublin in this section, even though you can travel on Sundays.
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In the Dublin to London direction, use an all-weather-reliable ship rather than the Swift fast ferry. The Swift is cancelled if wave height exceeds 1 metre, and an advance-purchase ticket is only valid on the specific train you book from Holyhead, so you don't want to miss the train.
First class in pictures |
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A first class table for two on a Pendolino. Book a first class ticket to Holyhead on the 09:02 at trainsplit.com.
A cooked breakfast is served at your seat on weekdays, included in the fare... |
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Complimentary wine & canapιs, tea & coffee in the Martello Club lounge on the cruise ferry Ulysses as the coast of Ireland approaches... Book the 14:10 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin with Club lounge included at www.irishferries.com. |
London to Ireland via Fishguard
London, Bristol & South Wales to Ireland via Fishguard-Rosslare
There is a regular integrated train & ferry service from London, Bristol & Cardiff to Rosslare in southern Ireland via Fishguard. Rosslare is handy for Wexford & Waterford. Combined train & ferry SailRail tickets are sold from any British railway station to Rosslare Europort via this route, just use the journey planner at www.tfwrail.wales to buy a ticket to Rosslare Europort. If you're heading for Cork, Limerick and so on, you're better off travelling via Holyhead & Dublin, see here. London-Dublin journeys are best made via Holyhead, see here.
Timetable westbound
Important: Trains between London & Fishguard are not direct, you need to change once at either Newport, Cardiff, Swansea or Carmarthen - the booking system at www.tfwrail.wales will tell you where, as it varies.
No service on 25 & 26 December. Always check UK train times for your date of travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.tfwrail.wales as engineering work can affect train times especially at weekends.
Rosslare Europort is linked by train to Wexford, Wicklow & Dublin. They've rather stupidly moved the platform away from the ferry terminal, and it's now a 5 minute walk from the terminal building. Check Irish train times at www.irishrail.ie. Rosslare to Wexford & Dublin buses are operated by Bus Ιireann, check times & fares at www.buseireann.ie.
The Waterford connection: Sadly, the Rosslare-Waterford railway was closed in September 2010, and is now the missing link in the Irish rail network. You unfortunately now need to travel by bus. Please check bus times between Rosslare Europort and Waterford at www.buseireann.ie.
Timetable eastbound
How much does it cost?
Check the fare from any British station to Rosslare Europort using www.tfwrail.wales.
Advance fare = Sail Rail Advance = the fare you would normally want to buy, unless it has sold out and only the Single fare is offered. Tickets must be booked by 18:00 the day before you travel. The fares shown above are not 'starting at...' prices, but are fixed prices that are almost always available at the price shown, even the day before departure, though they sometimes sell out. The ticket includes a reservation on the ferry and on any British trains on which seat reservation is possible. You can only travel on the specific train or trains which have been reserved for you, not on alternative trains or routes, unless a delayed ferry means you miss a scheduled connection. No stopovers allowed. On trains on which seat reservation is not possible, meaning local or suburban trains, you can take any suitable train. Tickets are non-refundable, but changes to date or time can be made for a fee (about £10) in person at British railway stations but not in Ireland or by phone.
Single fare = Sail Rail Single (also known as Standby) = the fare you pay if you buy a ticket on the day of travel or if the Advance fares have sold out. A reservation is required on the ferry, but seat reservation on trains is optional and you can use any train and any permitted rail route to and from the ferry port. However, no stopovers are allowed except as necessary to make connections. You can buy a Single fare in advance if you like, but the only reason you'd want one is if you wanted the flexibility to take alternative trains or routes on the way to or from the ferry port from those that the system offers you. Refunds allowed less a £10 admin fee.
About these SailRail fares
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The fare includes the train to Fishguard and the ferry to Rosslare, all on one ticket for one inclusive price.
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If you book through to Wexford or Dublin or any other Irish station, it also includes the Irish train. SailRail tickets do not cover buses, so if you want to use a bus, for example the Rosslare-Waterford bus, book a SailRail ticket as far as Rosslare and buy a separate ticket for the bus when you get to Rosslare.
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The fares are fixed price, it's the same price whether you buy 90 days in advance or just one day ahead, summer or winter, mid-week or Fridays. These fares are not a limited availability offer, they are always available. However, the Single fare now applies if you buy a ticket on the day of travel. Just remember that in practice the rail industry reservation system has a quota of ferry places allocated to it, which can in theory sell out at busy times, so advance booking is a good idea.
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Return journey = two one-way fares.
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Stopovers are not allowed.
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Railcard holders: There's no further discount for railcard holders, as they're so cheap anyway.
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Children 5 to 15 travel at 50% off these fares, under 5s free.
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Travelling beyond Rosslare? SailRail tickets to Irish stations beyond Rosslare were stopped, but were reinstated in 2013. So you can now book through from any British station via Rosslare to any Irish station. However, check your connection by train is possible, for example there's no train service between Rosslare and Waterford, only buses, and SailRail tickets aren't valid on buses.
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Taking a bicycle? Bikes go for £10 each way on Stena Line, no reservation required. Bikes are carried free on trains to Fishguard, but reservations are recommended as there's a 2 bike limit on Arriva Trains Wales and a 6 bike limit on First Great Western. Call First Great Western to book your bike on the train.
How to buy tickets
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In Britain, buy online at www.tfwrail.wales. This sells combined train & ferry tickets from any other station in Britain to Rosslare harbour.
By phone, call the SailRail booking line 0870 9 000 773 (+44 870 9 000 773 from outside the UK). Lines open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-17:00 Saturdays & Sundays. Or call Stena Line on 03443 350 027, lines open 08:30-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays & 09:00-17:00 on Sundays.
In person at staffed British railway stations.
Onward tickets from Rosslare to Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow or Dublin by bus or train can be bought when you arrive at Rosslare. Rosslare station has no ticket office, but has a ticket machine.
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In Ireland, buy by phone calling (01) 703 1884, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday. Or buy in person at major Irish Rail stations. You can also buy from www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk, although you can't collect tickets in Ireland they'll send overseas by post for a fee.
What's the journey like?
See the video: Crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare
Short breaks to Ireland by train & ferry
All short breaks from the UK to Ireland involve flights, don't they? No they don't! Back in 2008 Railtours Ireland started running short breaks to Ireland using eco-friendly train & ferry to Dublin, with the option to add one-day tours to kiss the Blarney Stone, the Ring of Kerry, or visiting the Giant's causeway out of your Dublin base. No airport hassles, no ugly motorways. They've now been joined by train holiday specialists Railbookers and Tailor Made Rail who also now offer short breaks to Dublin by train & ferry. All three companies come highly recommended.
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Railbookers (www.railbookers.co.uk) can tailor-make a 2-night or 3-night short break from anywhere in Britain to Dublin for you, starting on virtually any day or date you like, with train and ferry travel from anywhere in Britain to Dublin then 2 or 3 nights in the 4-star Ashling Hotel in Dublin. See www.railbookers.co.uk or call 0207 864 4600.
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Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Dublin & Ireland by train & ferry, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking. From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461. Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday. Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/ireland.
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Railtours Ireland (railtoursireland.com) run a tour leave London every weekday from March to October, using the 09:02 Avanti West Coast departure direct from London Euston station to Holyhead via the scenic North Wales coastline. At Holyhead you board the Irish Ferries cruise ferry Ulysses and sail across the Irish Sea to Dublin Ferryport, arriving at 5.25pm, just as I recommend above. It's the scenic & painless way to reach Ireland! See the account of this journey & photos.
The break combines London-Dublin return train+ferry travel plus 2 nights three-star hotel accommodation in Dublin, with the option of extra nights. You can then mix-&-match the London-Dublin tour with one or more 1-day tours (or longer) from Dublin, see the day trips section above.
To book from the UK, call Railtours Ireland free on 0800 328 2899. To book from outside the UK, call +353 1 856 0045.
Or make your own short break to Dublin
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Book a SailRail ticket to Dublin as shown above.
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Add a hotel in Dublin using the hotel search system below.
To
get the most from your visit, you should take a good guidebook.
For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide. Both
series are excellent.
Lonely Planet Dublin -
Lonely
Planet Ireland -
Rough Guide Ireland.
Also consider Ecoescapes Ireland, which lists eco-friendly places to
stay.
Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk
Hotels in Dublin & Ireland
A perfectly-located Dublin favourite: The Gresham Hotel
Perfectly located on Upper O'Connell Street in the heart of central Dublin, 10 minutes walk from Connolly Station, The Gresham is an iconic hotel, a Dublin landmark since 1817. The impressive facade is matched by a marble-floored foyer and bar, and comfortable carpeted lounges. Yet you can find rates from £90 for a double room, 4-star comfort at a remarkably good price. To check room rates & availability click here.
Backpacker hostels:
www.hostelworld.com
If you're on a tight budget, don't forget the hostels. For a dorm bed or an ultra-cheap private room in backpacker hostels in most European cities use www.hostelworld.com.
Travel insurance & VPN
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Always take out travel insurance
You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer. It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit. These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here. Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. There's no need to buy a physical SIM card! Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top. 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 as I write this. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards. And you can get a Curve card for free.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. 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, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I also get some commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone. You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com.
Touring cities? Use hill walking shoes!
One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa. They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities. My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!