Where to stay

Rosslare Strand

Rosslare Strand has been a holiday resort for more than a hundred years, and its Blue Flag beach is the reason to stay here. The village is about 4 km north-west of Rosslare Europort and about 12 km south-east of Wexford town, so it suits both a beach weekend and a night before a sailing.

Rosslare Strand station is on the Dublin Connolly to Rosslare line. It has no staff, a ticket machine and an APCOA car park with 16 spaces. At the beach itself there is a free car park. There is more on the beach in our guide to beaches.

Rosslare Harbour, the night before you sail

Rosslare Harbour is the village at the end of the N25, beside the ferry terminal. Staying here keeps the morning short, which matters most for the check-in deadlines:

• With a car: at least one hour before departure.
• On foot: at least 30 minutes before departure.
• DFDS to Dunkerque: at the port at least two hours before departure.

The terminal is open from 06:30 to 21:30 and has no ATM; the nearest is the Bank of Ireland in the village. There is a taxi rank in front of the terminal. If you are driving down on the day instead, it takes about 2 hours 15 minutes from Dublin, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Kilkenny and about 3 hours from Cork. Routes, parking and the terminal are covered on the Rosslare Europort page.

Wexford town

Wexford town is the base for the sights. Johnstown Castle is about 15 minutes away on bus 390 from Redmond Square or Trinity Street, and the Irish National Heritage Park is at Ferrycarrig, a short taxi or bus ride from Wexford O’Hanrahan station. The National Opera House is on High Street, and the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve is on the North Slob.

By car, Wexford is about 2 hours from Dublin and about an hour from Kilkenny and Waterford. The drive to Rosslare Europort takes about 20 minutes.

Kilmore Quay

Kilmore Quay is a fishing village with white thatched cottages and a Blue Flag marina. Stay here if you are booked on a boat to the Saltee Islands: Saltee Ferry sails from 1 April to 31 August, leaving from the yellow gate beside the slipway. Landing on Great Saltee depends on the weather and is not guaranteed.

Without a car

The railway runs from Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort, with up to five trains a day in each direction. Wexford O’Hanrahan and Rosslare Strand are stations on the same line. Bus Éireann runs from Wexford bus station to the port, Wexford Bus connects Wexford with Waterford, Carlow, Dublin city and Dublin Airport, and Local Link covers local routes. Buses stop in front of the ferry terminal.

Compare places to stay

The accommodation map below shows places to stay in and around Rosslare and Wexford. Prices and availability depend on your travel dates. You book with the provider linked from each listing.