How to get to Dublin from Birmingham

How to travel from Birmingham to Dublin?

While Birmingham is not far from Dublin geographically, it does cross a sea as well as a country border. Your two main options for travelling from Birmingham to Dublin are by plane, or by train to Holyhead combined with a ferry crossing of the Irish Sea. Dublin is a popular city to visit for visitors from the United Kingdom, owing to their close ties and distance which makes a short trip easy. Known as the birthplace of Guinness, Dublin is famous for its pubs, as well as the warmth and friendliness of its people. It takes just over an hour to travel from Birmingham to Dublin by plane, and flights are available every day and all direct. By train, it takes between 3h and 20min and just under 4h to reach Holyhead from Birmingham, then around another 3h and 15min for the ferry crossing to Dublin.

What is the cheapest to get from Birmingham to Dublin?

The most economical way to travel from Birmingham to Dublin is almost always with a flight, which is also always the fastest way to travel. Book tickets in advance to save money, as the price of a flight can vary significantly depending on when you book, usually becoming more expensive the closer you book to the date of departure, or peak days like Friday. Direct flights take around 1h and are offered by Ryanair, which is the sole provider of this route. Ryanair has at least 2 flights a day, every day of the week. All flights depart from Birmingham International Airport (BHX) and arrive at Dublin Airport (DUB).

What is the fastest way to travel from Birmingham to Dublin?

The quickest way to travel from Birmingham to Dublin is indubitably by flying, which also happens to be the cheapest way to travel. A direct flight from Birmingham to Dublin only takes 1h approximately, while a train will take at least around 3h and 20min to reach the coast and requires another 3h and 15min for the ferry crossing Even after accounting for an early arrival at the airport by the recommended 2h- to account for check in, flying is still significantly faster than travelling by train. As the only provider of direct flights, Ryanair offers the shortest flight time, alternating between journey times of 1h and 1h and 5min. All flights depart from Birmingham International Airport (BHX) and arrive at Dublin Airport (DUB).

Find the best tickets from Birmingham to Dublin and book with Omio

Omio, a booking platform that compares various different modes of transport with a single search, will let you choose the best way to travel from Birmingham to Dublin. Many major companies work with Omio, which allows you to scan all your travel options at a glance and conveniently select from them. Omio provides booking and customer service in your language. Prefer using your phone? Omio has mobile tickets. Our Omio magazine also has useful tips to help you discover how to travel.

Dublin Campanile. Source: Shutterstock

Trains from Birmingham to Dublin

Travelling by train from Birmingham to Dublin is friendlier to the environment, and being on a train is a lot more spacious and comfortable than in a plane. To travel by train to Dublin, you first take an Arriva Trains Wales train from Birmingham New Street station to Holyhead Railway Station, before taking a ferry across the sea. Birmingham New Street station is the largest and busiest railway station in Birmingham and is located right in the city centre. Once you arrive at Holyhead Railway Station, it is a short 8 min walk to the Holyhead Ferry Terminal. Arriva Trains Wales has 1 train every day of the week, departing from Birmingham New Street at 9:25 a.m. from Monday to Saturday, and arriving at Holyhead at 1:24 p.m., or 1:16 p.m. on Saturday. On Sundays the train departs a little later at 10:20 a.m., and arrives at 1:40 p.m.

Train travel from Birmingham to Dublin with Arriva Trains Wales

All of Arriva Trains Wales’ trains now have free Wi-Fi onboard. Sandwiches, cakes, snacks, hot drinks, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available to be served to you at your seat, and Business Class passengers will have chefs at their service to cook a complimentary meal from fresh local produce.

Ferries from Birmingham to Dublin

Once you arrive at Holyhead by train, you will have to take a ferry to complete the rest of the journey From Holyhead Railway Station, it is a short 8 min walk to the Holyhead Ferry Terminal. There are 2 ferry operators for the Holyhead to Dublin route- Irish Ferries which has 3 sailings daily, and Stena Line which has 4 sailings daily. This means there are 7 sailings daily in total, and 8 from Monday to Saturday, spaced throughout the day from 2:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., but each of both ferry operators’ departures are less than 45min from the other’s. The journey to Dublin Port takes around 3h and 15min, and once arrived, Dublin Port is only minutes from the Dublin city centre. There are regular public bus services to the city center.

Flights from Birmingham to Dublin

Flying is both the quickest and most economical way to travel from Birmingham to Dublin. Ryanair has daily connections departing from Birmingham International Airport (BHX) and arriving at Dublin Airport (DUB), taking roughly 1h. Dublin Airport is located in Collinstown, around 4.4 miles (7 km) north of Dublin city. To reach the city centre without driving, you have the option of using a taxi, public bus, or dedicated express coach. Taxis take around 20min in light traffic and are fairly economical when there are 2 or more passengers; coaches from Airlink and Aircoach can be cheaper and are still fairly quick and comfortable; while public buses are the cheapest and slowest option.

Dublin Bridge. Source: Shutterstock

Flying from Birmingham to Dublin with Ryanair

Ryanair offers affordable airfares and a no frills service. There are meals and snacks available for purchase at extra cost. Priority passengers are allowed 1 hand luggage plus a larger cabin bag in the overhead compartment.

Traveling by ferry from Birmingham to Dublin with Irish Ferries and Stena Line

All of Irish Ferries’ ferries feature a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars, and entertainment zones including TV lounges. They have 3 sailings a day from Holyhead to Dublin from 2:40 a.m. to 8:15 p.m 7 days a week, and 4 sailings from Monday to Saturday. Stena Line ferries provides reserved seating, and have restaurants, cafes, bars, and shopping areas on board. They have 4 sailings a day from Holyhead to Dublin from 2:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m every day of the week.

To Dublin by train and flight—travel tips

As Ireland's capital city and the contemporary and historical centre for Irish culture and arts, Dublin attracts millions of visitors every year. The Dublin Castle, which dates back to Viking times, is one of the most popular historical attractions, having been founded after the Norman Conquest in 1204. The other source of Dublin’s fame is the Guinness Storehouse, the former fermentation plant for the Guinness Brewery that has been turned into a museum, where a pint of Guinness is included in the price of admission.

The immersive brand experience explains the history of beer as well as Guinness, and features an atrium in the shape of a Guinness glass, as well as a rooftop bar. Other popular attractions include the Mansion House, Anna Livia Monument, Molly Malone statue, and Christ Church Cathedral.