Getting from Dublin to Glasgow (and return)
Glasgow is the biggest city in Scotland , a cultural and arts hub in the region. Many travelers who visit Ireland also plan to cross the Irish Sea and enjoy the sights in the UK. Whether you travel from Dublin to Glasgow to enjoy the city or Glasgow is just a stop on your vacation, then you should know the cheapest and fastest way to travel between the two cities.
Quick summary
The cheapest and fastest way to get between Dublin and Glasgow is by plane. Low cost carrier Ryanair services the route and the fares start around €20* one way for an adult (and you’ll get between the two cities in less than an hour).
If you want to travel at a slow pace, maybe making stops along the way, then you can choose to travel by by bus and ferry. Do keep in mind that you’ll be on the road for about 9 hours and pay about double the price of the flight.
Flight from Dublin (airport code: DUB) to Glasgow
Glasgow is serviced by two airports. Glasgow International Airport is located 8 km from the city center and is the second busiest airport in Scotland. It is a hub for Loganair. Direct flights from Dublin are run only by Aer Lingus.
The second airport serving the city is Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which receives direct flights from Dublin run by the low cost carrier, Ryanair.
During the shoulder season (November 2011), single adult fares start at €18 if you choose a Ryanair flight into Prestwick Airport. The flight time is 50 minutes. Should you plan to fly over the winter holidays, expect to pay from €21 for an adult, one way, on the same carrier. While if you want to fly during the summer (June 2012), fares start at €60 per person, one way on Aer Lingus (but keep in mind that low cost carriers don’t allow bookings that far in advance).
>>read more about Airfare to Dublin
Trains, ferries and buses from Dublin to Glasgow
It is possible to travel between Dublin and Glasgow overland, by using a combination of trains and ferry.
Step 1: Get on the train and travel from Dublin to Belfast. The travel time is about 2 hours. There are 8 departures a day and the first train leaves at 6:50 a.m. The single web fare starts at £8.99 (the price depends on the time of departure). You can buy tickets here.
>>read more about Getting from Dublin to Belfast
Step 2: Take the ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan. This route is serviced by Stena Line . The single flexi fare is £28.00 for an adult. There are six crossings per day and the travel time is 2h 20 min.
Step 3: Take the bus from the Cairnryan Ferry Terminal to Glasgow. The Scottish City Link operates buses between the ferry terminal and Glasgow. The travel time is 2h 10 min and the single standard fare is £16.70. There are two departures per day.
Buses and ferries from Dublin to Glasgow
It is possible to travel between Dublin and Glasgow by a combination of buses and ferry.
Step 1 Take the bus from Dublin to Belfast. This route is serviced by Ulsterbus (operated by Translink). There are hourly departures every day and the travel time is 2 ½ hours.
Step 2 Take the bus from Belfast to Glasgow . The Scottish City Link operates buses on this route and they go via the Belfast- Cairnryan ferry crossing. The ferry ticket is included in the bus ticket and the total journey time is 5h 45 min. There are two departures per day from Belfast, at 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Driving from Dublin to Glasgow
If you prefer to travel at your own pace and not depend on schedules, then rent a car and drive from Dublin to Glasgow. The only route available is via M1 and Larne – Troon ferry crossing. It’s 371 km and can be covered in about 6 hours (including the ferry crossing).
Please consider that you’ll be driving on toll roads and that you’ll have to pay a fee to cross the Irish Sea by ferry. P&O ferries operate on the Larne – Troon ferry crossing . There are six departures per day . The fare for 1 passenger and 1 compact car is £109.00 one way.
Note: * prices are correct at the time the article was written