There are two main gateways to the Island – Isle of Man Sea Terminal located in the capital of Douglas and Ronaldsway Airport in Castletown.
This fact sheet covers the Island’s main ferry and flight connections plus key travel information to get your clients from the chosen port to their accommodation.
Getting to the Island is convenient and part of the experience:-
- High-speed and leisurely ferry services by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company operate from ports in the North-West of England and Ireland's main cities seasonal taking as little as 2 hours 45 minutes. With comfortable enhanced on-board amenities, choice of lounges and entertainment make it a very attractive way to travel by car, vehicle or as a foot passenger.
- Flight times taking as little as 40 minutes to the Island’s airport Ronaldsway which is served by Belfast (BEL), Bristol (BRS), Birmingham (BHX), Manchester (MAN), London City (LON), London Heathrow T2 (LON), Edinburgh (EDI) and Liverpool (LPL) and Jersey (JER) airports.
Sea travel is easy and reliable on board the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry vessels. The journey takes 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes with regular sailings from Heysham and Liverpool and seasonal weekly connections with Belfast and Dublin.
Heysham
Year-round from Heysham a town in Lancashire, England. Passengers board the Ben-my-Chree vessel with 3 hours, 45 minutes journey time. Heysham port connects to the M6 motorway at Junction 34 - made more efficient with The Bay Gateway link road.
See port and travel information for Heysham.
Liverpool
Ferries operate between the Isle of Man and Liverpool (off Nicholas Place, Princes Parade) daily during the summer season (March to October). This route is operated by the fast-craft vessel ‘Manannan’ taking 2 hours and 45 minutes
See port and travel information for Liverpool.
Belfast and Dublin
The fast-craft Manannan also serves Belfast and Dublin 2 to 3 times a week taking 2 hours 55 minutes.
See port and travel information Belfast and Dublin.
On arrival at the Sea Terminal, follow signs to taxi rank directly outside the terminal or the main bus station (3 minutes’ walk). Alternatively the Steam Railway station (15 minutes’ walk via the quayside) or Douglas Bay Horse Tramway in operation seasonally from the Villa Marina (15 minutes’ walk).
In the Sea Terminal is the Isle of Man Welcome Centre, the flagship tourist information centre. Here your clients can collect tourist information, maps and parking discs. If arriving by car or hiring a car be sure to collect a parking disc to display in designated parking zones around the Island’s main towns – this may limit you to 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hour parking depending on the street or zone you park.
Check with individual flight operators for timetables, fares, and bookings or contact the Isle of Man Airport with any enquiries via www.airport.im or telephone +44 (0)1624 821600.
Flights are currently operating as follows:
Isle of Man to Belfast International operated by Easyjet (bookable via www.easyjet.com).
Isle of Man to Birmingham operated by Loganair (bookable via www.loganair.co.uk).
Isle of Man to Bristol operated by Easyjet (bookable via www.easyjet.com).
Isle of Man to Dublin operated by Emerald Airlines (bookable via www.aerlingus.com)
Isle of Man to Edinburgh operated by Loganair (bookable via www.loganair.co.uk).
Isle of Man to Liverpool operated by Easyjet (bookable via www.easyjet.com) and Loganair (bookable via www.loganair.co.uk).
Isle of Man to London Gatwick operated by Easyjet (bookable via www.easyjet.com).
Isle of Man to London City operated by Loganair (bookable via www.loganair.co.uk).
Isle of Man to London Heathrow T2 operated by Loganair (bookable via www.loganair.co.uk).
Isle of Man to Manchester operated by Easyjet (bookable via www.easyjet.com) and Loganair (bookable via www.loganair.co.uk).
A frequent bus service stops outside the airport terminal building travelling south covering Port Erin via Castletown or Port St Mary.
The bus service north to the Douglas arrives at the airport every 20 minutes. Travelling north the Island’s capital, Douglas can be reached in 30 minutes. At the terminus Lord Street which is the main bus station they can get onward connections to all other parts of the Island.
Car hire and taxi services are also available. Journey time by car or coach to Douglas is just 15 – 20 minutes.
If your clients are hiring a car be sure to check they have a parking disc to display in designated parking zones around the Island’s main towns. One can be collected from the information desk at the airport. Disc zone parking may limit them to 30 minutes or 2 hour parking depending on the street or zone they park.
The Steam Railway a walk from the airport to Ballasalla station can take 16 minutes. A walk to the nearest town, Castletown will take 30 minutes on foot.
