Travel to Spain by ferry from Ireland
Many people are looking for possibilities to travel to Spain in the summer months, one of your options is to travel by ferry to Spain from Ireland. The good news is; there is a direct ferry from Ireland to Spain. Brittanny Ferries only started sailing recently on this tourism-oriented route.[1]Pet-friendly cabins, tapas and boutique shops: Onboard the new ferry from Ireland to Spain, Euronews
There are 2 weekly sailings from Rosslare to Bilbao and vice versa. On this page, you'll find more information on the ferry from Ireland to Spain and the alternatives to consider.
On the map below you can find the crossing from Ireland to Spain, and some alternatives you can consider. For example, travelling to Spain via France.
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Map with ferry routes to Spain from Ireland
There are several ways to travel to Spain from Ireland. It is possible to bring your car by ferry. The connection that we would prefer is the direct ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao – which is pretty straightforward.
The alternatives you can see are in a lighter shade because these crossings are a bit less relevant but still routes to Spain you could choose.
Timetable, availability, and compare prices
Our online booking module makes it easy to find and book your ferry crossing to Spain from Ireland. All you have to do is enter your departure port, destination, and travel dates. The system will show you the best routes and possible alternatives. You can then choose the ferry that best suits your needs and budget. Have a great trip!
Travel tip for trips to Spain: Book early
As there is only a single connection from Ireland to Spain, you won't be surprised that the boats fill up quite fast, especially during peak season the packing decks are sold out fast. Book far in advance and avoid high costs.
Also on this page
Option 1: Ireland to Spain – Rosslare – Bilbao
The ferry from Ireland to Spain is also a good connection for travelers to the South of France.
Ireland ⇔ Spain
Rosslare-Bilbao
Since early November 2022 onwards the ferry from Ireland to Spain and vice versa started sailing sailing. The direct ferry between Bilbao and Rosslare is ideal when you want to travel to Spain and want to bring your own transport or want to enjoy an early start to your vacation. You can either sail with a one-night or two-night crossing from Rosslare to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries. there are 2 crossings back and forth every week on this connection.
Option 2: From Ireland via the UK to Spain
The option above seems to us as the most logical choice but to offer tourists and travelers some alternatives we've looked into other options. There are 3 crossings from the UK to Spain. So you can also decide to travel via the UK to Ireland.
From Portsmouth, two ferries leave for Spain: Portsmouth-Santander and Portsmouth-Bilbao. From Plymouth (Devon) you can also sail to Santander. So if the ferry from Rosslare is overbooked, or you want to sail to Santander, you can opt for one of these routes,
On the map above these alternatives are visible as well.
When you do go sailing from the UK, you first have to find a suitable ferry from Ireland to the UK[2]Ferries from Ireland to the UK, FerryGoGo.com to get to the port of departure.
In case you're wondering about the prices, these are comparable with the crossing from Rosslare to Bilbao.
Ireland ⇔ UK ⇔ Spain
Option 3: From Ireland via France to Spain
This is another alternative you can consider for a trip to Spain from Ireland. Traveling from Ireland first to France by ferry and then from there travel further down to Spain. This could be an ideal scenario if you want to combine France and Spain in your vacation or trip.
Your route would then be either from Cork to Roscoff, Rosslare to Cherbourg, Rosslare to Dunkirk or from Dublin to Cherbourg. So if you would like to incorporate a visit to France into your trip to Spain this would be a reasonable alternative. Or if you just don't want to spend too much time on a ferry.
If you want to save a bit on the ferry costs this could be an option too. But keep in mind that you will pay toll fees on the French roads + extra miles on the meter.
Ireland ⇔ France ⇔ Spain
Travel and to do in Spain
Spain is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe. A lot of tourists travel by plane or car to Spain but the ferry is a comfortable alternative to these options.
From Bilbao and Santander, you can travel further to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, or even Portuguese cities like Porto or Lisbon. There is a small time difference between Ireland and Spain, and driving on the other side of the road.
Travelling by train is also a good option. Driving to Madrid from Bilbao is a good 4 hours trip, heading for Barcelona? Then you should take about 6 hours into account.
With vibrant cities like San Sebastian, Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, and Sevilla there are a lot of things to see and do in this stunning sunny southern European vacation destination. Whether you're looking for beaches, tapas, or siëstas Spain has it all.
FAQ: Ferries to Spain from Ireland
Yes there is, the ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao is a direct crossing from Ireland to Spain. An ideal start of your vacation / trip while enjoying all things on board of the British Ferries vessels.
In summer / peak season you'll probably pay around €550 – €600 for 2 persons and a car on this trip to Spain. So around £470 – £510 for a return trip of 2 persons with a cabin and a car.
This would be the most direct one, so Rosslare – Bilbao. The alternatives, so traveling via either France or the UK to Spain will cost you a bit more time.
Use our ferry guides and maps
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References
| ↑1 | Pet-friendly cabins, tapas and boutique shops: Onboard the new ferry from Ireland to Spain, Euronews |
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| ↑2 | Ferries from Ireland to the UK, FerryGoGo.com |
