⛳ The Open 2027 at St Andrews – Travel by Ferry
11–18 July 2027 | Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland
Planning to travel to The Open at St Andrews in 2027? Taking the ferry to Scotland gives golf fans another way to reach one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar. Bring your own car, pack your luggage and turn your visit into a longer Scottish road trip.
Golf’s original championship returns to the Home of Golf for the first time since 2022. St Andrews will host The Open for the 31st time, making 2027 another historic year for the famous Old Course.
Our guide explains how to travel to The Open by ferry, which routes to consider and how to continue your journey towards St Andrews.
The Open 2027 – Key Information
📅 Dates: 11–18 July 2027
⛳ Championship: The 155th Open
📍 Venue: Old Course, St Andrews
🏴 Location: Fife, Scotland
🏆 Event: The Open Championship
The week includes practice days before the Championship rounds begin. Therefore, check which days your tickets cover before booking your ferry crossings and accommodation.
Why Travel to The Open by Ferry?
Depending on where you’re travelling from, flying isn’t your only option for reaching Scotland. For visitors travelling from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and some parts of Europe, ferry travel can form a useful part of the journey.
🚗 Take your own car
Having your own vehicle gives you much more flexibility once you reach Scotland. You can stay outside St Andrews and explore different accommodation options across Fife and the surrounding area.
🧳 Bring more luggage
Planning to make a holiday out of your trip? Travelling with your vehicle gives you plenty of room for luggage without worrying about airline baggage allowances.
⛳ Bring your golf clubs
It would be a shame to visit the Home of Golf without considering a round yourself. Travelling by car and ferry makes taking your own clubs straightforward. Pack them in the vehicle and add some extra golf to your Scottish trip.
🗺️ Turn The Open into a Scottish road trip
Your journey doesn’t have to end at St Andrews. Having your own car gives you the freedom to explore more of Fife, Edinburgh and Scotland before or after the tournament.
Best Ferry Routes for The Open 2027
The best ferry route will depend on where your journey begins. Unlike our Ryder Cup guide, this event is already on the British mainland. Therefore, ferry travel will be most relevant to visitors travelling from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and mainland Europe.
Best for: Golf fans travelling from Northern Ireland.
The Belfast to Cairnryan ferry provides a direct connection between Northern Ireland and Scotland. After arriving at Cairnryan, you can continue across Scotland towards St Andrews by road. Taking your own vehicle gives you plenty of flexibility when choosing where to stay during The Open.
Route: Belfast → Cairnryan → St Andrews
Best for: Another option for visitors travelling from Northern Ireland.
Larne to Cairnryan provides another direct ferry connection between Northern Ireland and Scotland. From Cairnryan, continue towards Fife and St Andrews by road. Compare the available Belfast and Larne crossings before booking to find the journey that works best for your starting point.
Route: Larne → Cairnryan → St Andrews
Best for: Golf fans travelling from the Isle of Man.
Seasonal ferry services can provide connections between the Isle of Man and Scotland. If a suitable Scottish sailing operates around your travel dates, this could provide a useful route for reaching The Open with your own vehicle. Alternatively, other Isle of Man ferry routes may allow you to reach Great Britain before continuing north towards Scotland. Check the available sailing schedule before planning your journey.
Route: Isle of Man → Scotland → St Andrews
Best for: Visitors combining The Open with a longer UK road trip.
Visitors travelling from mainland Europe could also make ferry travel part of a longer journey to St Andrews. Depending on your starting point, you could travel by ferry to England before driving north towards Scotland. This creates a much longer journey. However, it can work particularly well if The Open forms part of a wider UK road trip.
Which Ferry Route Should You Choose?
There isn’t one ferry route that will suit every visitor to The Open.
If you’re travelling from Northern Ireland, a direct crossing to Cairnryan provides the most obvious starting point.
Visitors from the Isle of Man should compare the sailings available around their travel dates.
If you’re travelling from mainland Europe, consider the complete journey rather than simply choosing the shortest ferry crossing.
Think about driving time, sailing times, overnight stops and where you plan to stay in Scotland.
Driving to St Andrews
St Andrews sits on the east coast of Fife. If you arrive at Cairnryan, you’ll need to travel across southern and central Scotland before continuing into Fife. Visitors arriving elsewhere in Great Britain will have a different onward journey depending on their ferry port.
Allow plenty of time during Open week. The Championship attracts huge numbers of spectators, so roads and public transport around St Andrews and Fife are likely to be much busier than normal. Arriving before your first day at The Open can make the journey more relaxed.
Getting to the Old Course During The Open
Your car can be extremely useful for reaching Fife, but don’t assume you’ll be able to drive directly to the Old Course. Major sporting events usually operate dedicated traffic and spectator transport arrangements. The R&A will provide official travel information for The 155th Open, including details for spectators travelling to St Andrews.
Check the latest official guidance before travelling and follow event signs as you approach the area. It may be easier to leave your vehicle at your accommodation or designated parking area and use official transport for the final part of your journey.
Where Should You Stay for The Open?
Accommodation will be an important part of planning your visit. Staying in St Andrews puts you close to the action, but it isn’t your only option. Having your own vehicle allows you to consider a much wider area.
St Andrews
St Andrews provides the ultimate base for The Open. You’ll be surrounded by the atmosphere of Championship week and close to the Old Course. However, demand for accommodation is likely to be extremely high.
Around Fife
Looking elsewhere in Fife can give you more options. Towns around the region may provide useful bases, particularly if you’re travelling with your own car.
Dundee
Dundee provides another potential base north of St Andrews. Staying outside the immediate St Andrews area may give you additional accommodation choices during a particularly busy week.
Edinburgh and beyond
Some visitors may also choose to incorporate Edinburgh or another part of Scotland into their trip. However, consider the journey you’ll need to make on each day you’re attending The Open.
Always check the latest official transport arrangements before choosing accommodation based purely on distance.
Make The Open Part of a Longer Scotland Trip
One of the biggest advantages of travelling by ferry is the opportunity to turn The Open into a longer holiday. Rather than heading straight home after your final day at St Andrews, spend some extra time exploring Scotland. You could discover more of Fife, visit Edinburgh or extend your journey into another part of the country.
Golf fans have another obvious option. Add a few rounds of your own. Scotland offers countless opportunities to turn a visit to The Open into a much bigger golfing trip.
Taking Golf Clubs to Scotland by Ferry
Planning to play golf while you’re in Scotland? Travelling by ferry can make bringing your own clubs much easier, especially if you’re travelling with a vehicle.
Pack your golf clubs securely inside your car before boarding. Remember that you normally won’t have access to the vehicle deck during the crossing. Therefore, take everything you’ll need onboard before leaving your vehicle.
When Should You Book Your Ferry?
The Open is one of the biggest events in world golf. St Andrews makes the 2027 Championship particularly special. Therefore, it makes sense to plan your journey early.
Once you know which days you’re attending, start comparing ferry crossings and accommodation. Popular sailing times and vehicle spaces can become busier around major events. Travelling a little earlier could also give you more time to explore Scotland before the Championship.
⛳ The Open 2027 Schedule
The 155th Open runs from Sunday 11 July to Sunday 18 July 2027. The build-up includes practice days before the Championship begins.
Sunday 11 July – Open week begins
Monday 12 July – Practice Day and Last-Chance Qualifier
Tuesday 13 July – Practice Day and Heroes Classic
Wednesday 14 July – Final Practice Day
Thursday 15 July – Championship Day
Friday 16 July – Championship Day
Saturday 17 July – Championship Day
Sunday 18 July – Final Championship Day
Check your ticket carefully before booking travel, as access will depend on the day and ticket type you hold.
Before You Travel
A little preparation can make travelling to The Open much easier. Before leaving home:
- Check your ferry departure time.
- Confirm the required ferry check-in time.
- Check your vehicle details on the booking.
- Confirm your accommodation.
- Check the latest official spectator travel information.
- Allow extra time around St Andrews and Fife.
- Keep your ferry and event documents somewhere easy to reach.
If you’re unfamiliar with taking a vehicle on a ferry, our Travelling by Ferry with a Vehicle guide explains what to expect at the port.
FAQ
Planning to go to The Open at St Andrews 2027? These answers cover some of the most common questions about reaching St Andrews by ferry.
Travel to The Open 2027 by Ferry
The Open’s return to St Andrews provides the perfect excuse for a Scottish golf trip. Travel by ferry, bring your own car and enjoy the freedom to explore Scotland before or after the Championship.
You can also explore our Golf by Ferry hub for more golf events and ferry travel guides.