Holyhead

Holyhead is a town in Wales, UK, and a major port serving Ireland. It is also the largest town in the Isle of Anglesey county. On Ferryhopper, you can take a look at available ferry routes from the port of Holyhead, find travel tips for your holiday and book your tickets online in just a few clicks!

Read our suggestions for your stay in Holyhead and find useful information about its port:

• Holyhead ferry port
• Vacation in Holyhead

The Holyhead town and port as seen from Holy Mountain

Holyhead ferry port

The port of Holyhead is a commercial and ferry port in Anglesey, Wales. This busy port in the Irish Sea serves around 2 million passengers every year. It consists of the Inner Harbor, the Outer Harbor and the New Harbor and is sheltered by the Holyhead Breakwater, which is the longest in the UK (2.7 km).

As for the port’s facilities, the ferry terminals have elevators, escalators, as well as toilets and parking spaces for people with disabilities.

Ferries from Holyhead port: schedules and tickets

The port of Holyhead is the main link for crossings from north Wales and central and northern England to Ireland. The ferry companies Stena Line and Irish Ferries sail from Holyhead to Dublin.

Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin

The Holyhead-Dublin ferry route is available with up to 10 daily crossings all year round, operated by conventional ferries. The ferry trip lasts a little more than 3 hours and tickets usually start at €36.

Where is the ferry port in Holyhead?

The port of Holyhead is located on Holy Island (and partly on Salt Island), an island on the western side of the larger Isle of Anglesey, Wales.

How to get to Holyhead port?

You can easily access the port by car via the major roads A5 (known as the London-Holyhead Trunk Road) and A55. The port is located only 100 meters from the end of these roads.

You can also get to the port of Holyhead by train, in 2 hours from Manchester and in 4 hours from London. The Holyhead railway station shares a building with the port. The walk between the train station and the ferry check takes around 2 minutes.

Finally, if you walk from the Holyhead town center, you can get to the port in about 5 minutes via the Celtic Gateway bridge that connects the town and port.

Piers and fuel tanks at the port of Holyhead

Vacation in Holyhead

Most Holyhead visitors usually spend a few hours or just the night there before taking the ferry to Dublin. However, apart from its busy port, the town in Holy Island has several interesting attractions and an incredible natural scenery that are worth a stay for a few days.

How to get to Holyhead

You can drive to the town of Holyhead (Anglesey Isle, Wales) from London via the A5 road, or the A55 connecting Cheshire and north Wales.

You can also reach Holyhead by rail, in 2 hours from Manchester and in 4 hours from London.

What to do in Holyhead

Holyhead is a small town with a population of less than 14.000 inhabitants. However, the Welsh port town has some historical sights and museums that are worth visiting. It is also a great option for outdoor activities and could serve as a departure point for touring the island of Anglesey itself or for visiting Ireland from the UK.

Fact: Holy Island, where Holyhead is located, is an island on the western side of the larger Isle of Anglesey. The two islands are separated by the Cymyran Strait.

Sightseeing and activities in Holyhead

Apart from the majestic South Stack lighthouse, you may not find too many sights in Holyhead itself, but you will enjoy a good extra of sightseeing in the surrounding areas. In the nearby Anglesey, you will find a good number of historic and prehistoric sites that will make you travel back in time.

Some of our favorite Holyhead and Anglesey sights are:

• South Stack lighthouse
• Holyhead Maritime Museum (about shipwrecks, gallant rescues and pirates)
• St Cybi's Church (built on top of a Roman fort)
• Breakwater Country Park
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve
• Trefignath Burial Chamber (neolithic)
• The burial chambers at Barclodiad y Gawres
• Church in the Sea (St Cwyfan Church) at Aberffraw
• Llys Rhosyr site at Newborough (southwest in Anglesey)

Around Holyhead, you will find beautiful beaches as well as excellent fishing, golfing and sailing facilities, where you can have fun and relax. If you feel adventurous, you can also try hiking on the 220-meters high Holyhead Mountain.

If you stay in Holyhead for a few days, we recommend exploring Anglesey, Wales’ largest island and a stronghold of Welsh language and culture. The isle has stunning landscapes, picturesque towns and villages, and a long coastline, most of which has been declared an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Anglesey is a perfect destination for outdoor activities, offering a long coastal path, cycling paths and incredible beaches, suitable for swimming, beautiful walks and watersports, such as surfing.

The breathtaking setting of St Cwyfan's “Church in the sea”

Nightlife in Holyhead

Holyhead is a small town, so, as expected, you won’t find crazy parties there. However, there are several pubs where you can enjoy a drink and a bite, such as Albert Vaults and Chester Inn. 

The town center also offers a number of good places to eat, a theater and a cinema.

Food in Holyhead

Anglesey was once known as the “Bread basket of Wales” thanks to its fertile land and it is always the place to find fresh and quality seafood, as well as the exceptional Halen Môn sea salt. It is definitely worth visiting the isle’s annual seafood and oyster festivals.

In Holyhead, specifically, you will be able to enjoy your meal in a restaurant by the sea, such as The Harbourfront Bistro. Seafood is, of course, the best thing you can try, as well as modern British cuisine. If you are looking for a quick bite, you will also grap some classic “fish and chips” or opt for some international cuisine (Chinese, Italian, Indian etc.).

Useful information about Holyhead

In most cases, travelers visiting Holyhead spend only little time there before catching a ferry to Dublin from its port. If you spend the night or more days in town, there are several accommodation options available, from larger hotels, located close to the A5 and A55 roads, to smaller bed-and-breakfast hotels and caravan parks.

In town, you will find various traveler amenities, such as supermarkets, ATMs, car rental agencies, and a hospital (Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley).

Important phone numbers for your stay in Holyhead

Here are some contacts that could prove useful Holyhead:

• Holyhead Port Authority: +441407606666
• Holyhead Police Station: +448456071002
• Holyhead Town Hall: +4401407764608
• Holyhead Hospital (Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley): +443000850022
• Anglesey airport: +441407741179
• HolyheadTaxi: +447759433633
• European emergency number: 112

Transportation in Holyhead

As Holyhead is a small town, it is very easy to get around on foot. For longer distances, the company Arriva Bus offers bus services in and around Holyhead, and to other Anglesey towns and villages, such as Talwrn and Bangor.

If you wish to stay in Holyhead for a few days and explore Holy Island and Anglesey, we recommend bringing your own vehicle or hiring one from the town’s car rental agencies.

Waves crashing fiercely on the Holyhead Breakwater

Where to book Holyhead ferry tickets online

On Ferryhopper, you can find all about ferry routes from/to Holyhead port in the UK. Compare prices, timetables and companies, and book ferry tickets to Holyhead online at no extra cost.