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Getting There by Air
The national airline is Aer Lingus (EI) (website: www.aerlingus.com).
Approximate Flight Times
From London to Dublin is 1 hour 20 minutes, and from New York is 7 hours 30 minutes.
Main Airports
Dublin Airport (DUB) (website: www.dublin-airport.com) is 10km (6 miles) north of the city (journey time - 40 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxis are available into the city centre. An aircoach service runs to and from the airport, 24 hours per day. Citylink runs a service from Galway to Dublin Airport (journey time - 3 hours). Dublin Bus offers many routes throughout Dublin to the airport, including an AirLink Express bus from Heuston and Connolly railway stations. Facilities: Duty-free shop, car hire, bank, bureau de change, bars, restaurants, tourist information centre and chemist.
Shannon Airport (SNN) (website: www.shannonairport.com) is 24km (15 miles) north of Limerick City (journey time – 25 minutes). To/from the airport: Bus services are available to and from both Limerick and Clare. A daily express coach travels between Limerick and Shannon, plus to Ennis bus station. Citylink operates a service from Galway to Shannon Airport (journey time - 1 hour 15 minutes). Taxi services are available, 24 hours, to Limerick City. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, bank, bureau de change, bar, restaurant and tourist information centre.
Cork Airport (ORK) (website: www.corkairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) southwest of the city. To/from the airport: Buses travel between the city centre and airport (journey time – 15 minutes). Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bar and restaurant.
Knock International Airport (NOC) (website: www.knockairport.com) is 11km (7 miles) north of Claremorris (County Mayo) and receives scheduled international flights from the UK only. At other times of the year, chartered flights operate between Knock and a number of European destinations, such as Salzburg, Majorca, Crete and Lisbon. To/from the airport: Taxi services are available to Claremorris, where onward rail and bus connections are available to the rest of the country. Facilities: Duty-free shop, bar, restaurant and car hire (pre-booking advised).
Departure Tax
Shannon Airport (SNN) (website: www.shannonairport.com) is 24km (15 miles) north of Limerick City (journey time – 25 minutes). To/from the airport: Bus services are available to and from both Limerick and Clare. A daily express coach travels between Limerick and Shannon, plus to Ennis bus station. Citylink operates a service from Galway to Shannon Airport (journey time - 1 hour 15 minutes). Taxi services are available, 24 hours, to Limerick City. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, bank, bureau de change, bar, restaurant and tourist information centre.
Cork Airport (ORK) (website: www.corkairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) southwest of the city. To/from the airport: Buses travel between the city centre and airport (journey time – 15 minutes). Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bar and restaurant.
Knock International Airport (NOC) (website: www.knockairport.com) is 11km (7 miles) north of Claremorris (County Mayo) and receives scheduled international flights from the UK only. At other times of the year, chartered flights operate between Knock and a number of European destinations, such as Salzburg, Majorca, Crete and Lisbon. To/from the airport: Taxi services are available to Claremorris, where onward rail and bus connections are available to the rest of the country. Facilities: Duty-free shop, bar, restaurant and car hire (pre-booking advised).
€10 at Knock International Airport only, payable by everyone over 12 years.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Baltimore, Dublin (website: www.dublinport.ie), Galway, Kinsale and Wexford.
In addition to conventional ferry crossings, many ferry companies now offer high-speed services as well as upgraded, state-of-the-art craft on many Irish sea routes. Fares will vary by season and promotional offers are available. Routes from Britain and France include:
From England: Liverpool-Dublin (journey time - 8 hours); Fleetwood-Larne (Northern Ireland, journey time - 8 hours). From the Isle of Man: Douglas-Dublin (journey time - 2 hours 45 minutes, summer only, to 4 hours 45 minutes); Douglas-Belfast (Northern Ireland, journey time - 2 hours 45 minutes).
From Scotland: Cairnryan-Larne (Northern Ireland, journey time - 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes); Stranraer-Belfast (journey time - 1 hour 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes).
From Wales: Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)-Dublin (journey time - 2 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes); Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)-Dun Laoghaire (journey time - 1 hour 40 minutes); Fishguard-Rosslare (journey time - 1 hour 40 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes); Swansea-Cork (seasonal, journey time - 10 hours); Pembroke-Rosslare (journey time - 3 hours 45 minutes).
From France: Irish Ferries operate at least four direct ferry crossings a day between France and Ireland. The routes are Cherbourg-Rosslare (journey time - 19 hours); Roscoff-Rosslare (journey time - 18 hours); Roscoff-Cork (journey time - 13 hours 30 minutes).
For information on routes, fares and reservations, contact one of the following: Brittany Ferries (tel: 0870 907 6103, in the UK; website: www.brittany-ferries.com); Irish Ferries (tel: 0870 517 1717, in the UK, or 0818 300 400, in Ireland; website: www.irishferries.com); Isle of Man Steam Packet (tel: 0871 222 1333; website: www.steam-packet.com); P&O Irish Sea (tel: 0870 242 4777, in the UK; website: www.poirishsea.com); Stena Line (tel: 0870 570 7070, in the UK; website: www.stenaline.co.uk); and Swansea-Cork Ferries (tel: (01792) 456 116, in the UK).
In addition to conventional ferry crossings, many ferry companies now offer high-speed services as well as upgraded, state-of-the-art craft on many Irish sea routes. Fares will vary by season and promotional offers are available. Routes from Britain and France include:
From England: Liverpool-Dublin (journey time - 8 hours); Fleetwood-Larne (Northern Ireland, journey time - 8 hours). From the Isle of Man: Douglas-Dublin (journey time - 2 hours 45 minutes, summer only, to 4 hours 45 minutes); Douglas-Belfast (Northern Ireland, journey time - 2 hours 45 minutes).
From Scotland: Cairnryan-Larne (Northern Ireland, journey time - 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes); Stranraer-Belfast (journey time - 1 hour 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes).
From Wales: Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)-Dublin (journey time - 2 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes); Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)-Dun Laoghaire (journey time - 1 hour 40 minutes); Fishguard-Rosslare (journey time - 1 hour 40 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes); Swansea-Cork (seasonal, journey time - 10 hours); Pembroke-Rosslare (journey time - 3 hours 45 minutes).
From France: Irish Ferries operate at least four direct ferry crossings a day between France and Ireland. The routes are Cherbourg-Rosslare (journey time - 19 hours); Roscoff-Rosslare (journey time - 18 hours); Roscoff-Cork (journey time - 13 hours 30 minutes).
For information on routes, fares and reservations, contact one of the following: Brittany Ferries (tel: 0870 907 6103, in the UK; website: www.brittany-ferries.com); Irish Ferries (tel: 0870 517 1717, in the UK, or 0818 300 400, in Ireland; website: www.irishferries.com); Isle of Man Steam Packet (tel: 0871 222 1333; website: www.steam-packet.com); P&O Irish Sea (tel: 0870 242 4777, in the UK; website: www.poirishsea.com); Stena Line (tel: 0870 570 7070, in the UK; website: www.stenaline.co.uk); and Swansea-Cork Ferries (tel: (01792) 456 116, in the UK).
Getting There by Rail
Rail links serve Ireland from all the above ferry ports, as well as from Northern Ireland.
Rail Passes
InterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 17 European countries. Saver tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26 and offers unlimited second-class train travel. The Eurailpass Flexi allows either 10 or 15 travel days within a two-month period.
The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows four to 10 travel days in a two month period in one of nine regions (usually two or more countries). Children receive a 50% reduction. The passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or the Russian Federation. Available from the Eurail Group (website: www.eurail.com).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 17 European countries. Saver tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26 and offers unlimited second-class train travel. The Eurailpass Flexi allows either 10 or 15 travel days within a two-month period.
The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows four to 10 travel days in a two month period in one of nine regions (usually two or more countries). Children receive a 50% reduction. The passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or the Russian Federation. Available from the Eurail Group (website: www.eurail.com).