How to get to Dublin from Bristol

Arriva trains offer train routes from Manchester to Dublin via ferry. A handful of daily departures are spread out conveniently throughout the day, usually starting as early as 9:00 a.m. The main point of origin for this journey is Manchester Oxford road, where an Arriva train will travel to Holyhead, Wales, in just under 3 hours. From here, a changeover takes place, moving passengers from train to ferry. The journey will end with the Ferry docking in Dublin ferry port, with the entire journey from Manchester to Dublin taking between 6 and 8 hours.

This is not only the quickest route, but it can actually work out cheaper to fly depending on the airline and time of departure. Ryanair and Aer Lingus both offer direct flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport. They take one hour and there are about four flights offered per day from early in the morning until the late evening. The morning flights are cheapest with the price increasing as the day goes on. Total travel time, including transport to and from airports as well as check-in and waiting time, is about four hours. When calculating costs, remember to take into account any train or bus fare needed to travel to and from airports.

National Express offers two trips per day, both departing from Bristol Coach Station and connecting with the Holyhead to Dublin ferry. From Dublin port, the bus continues into the city, ending its journey at Wilton Terrace bus stop. The first bus leaves in the afternoon and takes just over 12 hours, while the second departs late evening and takes 14.5 hours. The price varies quite considerably depending on the time you choose and how far in advance you book, so it's best to plan ahead if going by bus. This option is usually only slightly cheaper than taking the train.