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.