Travel to Spain by ferry from the UK
Spain is one of the most popular vacation destinations for Brits with over 18 million travelers in a normal year[1]Number of Residents in the UK who traveled to Spain – Statista.com. and there are various ways to travel to Spain. While a lot of tourists drive up to Spain or choose the airplane to get to their location of choice, the ferry is a growing and great alternative to make your way up to Spain.
From the Southern UK cities, Plymouth and Portsmouth ferries are leaving two times a week to the Northern Spanish cities, Bilbao and to Santander.
These ferries between the UK and Spain are either one or two-night crossings and are a comfortable way of starting of your vacation to Spain.
From Santander or Bilbao, you can travel further into Spain.
The ferries that make the crossing leave 2 times per week from Portsmouth to Santander, 2 times per week from Portsmouth to Bilbao, and 2 times per week from Plymouth to Santander. The sailing time differs from 20 hours (Plymouth) to Santander up to 36 hours from Portsmouth to Bilbao.
You may also like:
Map with all travel / ferry routes from the UK to Spain
There are three routes from the UK to Spain – all operated by Brittany Ferries.
Depending on where you live and where you want to travel you can choose which is the most suitable crossing for you, the routes and ships are not that different. So it doesn't really matter which ship you take.
It’s best to book your ferry ticket as far in advance as possible
The price of ferry tickets increases as more passengers book their spots. So, if you want to save money and secure your desired crossing, booking your tickets as soon as possible is best. That way, you can take advantage of the lower prices and avoid the disappointment of a fully booked ferry.
Option 1: travelling from Portsmouth to Spain
Ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao and Santander
Option 2: travelling from Plymouth to Spain
Ferry Plymouth – Santander
Your second option is the ferry from Plymouth to Santander. On this route, Brittany Ferries sails with their flagship Pont Aven. This is the fastest ferry crossing from the UK to Spain. Plymouth is located in South-West England in Devon. This ship takes you 20 hours to Spain and is a one-night crossing. Costs 2 adults + a car in peak season are about €450,- in total.
UK ⇔ Spain
Frequent Asked Question ferries to Spain from UK
If you want to travel by ferry to Spain you have 6 weekly choices. Brittany Ferries sails on these crossing from the ports of Plymouth and Portsmouth to either Santander or Bilbao.
The ferry from Plymouth takes you 20 hours to the city of Santander, this is a one-night crossing. On this crossing, you'll be sailing with the flagship of Brittany Ferries the Pont-Aven. If you're sailing from Portsmouth you can either sail to Santander or Bilbao. Both ferries are 2-night crossings and depending on which ferry you board these trips take you from 28 hours and 30 minutes to 33 hours and 30 mins to the Northern coast of Spain.
Ferry talk: Share your questions and opinions
Ask, answer, and explore ferry routes with the community's expertise!
References
| ↑1 | Number of Residents in the UK who traveled to Spain – Statista.com |
|---|
Do the ferries run after the first week in November ?
Looking to travel around the 17th November
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your question. For now it seems like the last ferries to Spain from the UK will sail in the first week of November (5th of November). And then this particular crossing will have a winter break and will start up again in early 2024.
Best,
Can you take a trailer on the ferry’s from England to Spain.
Hi Wendy,
Yes you actually can take the ferry from England to Spain with a trailer, but you can book this only by phone at Brittany Ferries directly.
Happy travels!
Which have dog friendly overnight cabins and price please
Hi Sharon,
If you sail by ferry to Spain from the UK you'll be sailing with Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries does have pet friendly cabins on the Galicia, Salamanca, Pont-Aven and Normandie vessels. Spain with your pet aboard Brittany Ferries for just £29 to France and £45 to Spain each way.
Hope this answers your question.
I never knew its was possible to go by ferry, I wish Palama de Mellorca was an option. This island is beautiful, but recently the cost for flights is very expensive especially if you are like me and like to go for a short weekend. Is there a ferry to here that i have missed?
Hi Shaunu,
Thanks for your question, if you want to Palma de Mallorca from the UK you have to first get to Spain (Various ways to do this, I would go through Calais-Dover and drive). Then you need to travel to Barcelona, and from there pickup a ferry to Mallorca. Keep in mind though these ferries are over-booked and a bit expensive: Be early with your booking.
Here you can see the complete map and guide for ferries to Mallorca from Barcelona.
~ Jochem
We would like to travel with our cat but having issues with finding any availability.
Does joining the ferry club help with this or is it a case of having to book a year in advance? Not practical for us oldies.
We travel to Spain and return to uk twice every year, following the 90 day rules.
What advantages if any would be gained by joining the club?
Hi Dianne,
Thank you for getting in touch. We're not Brittany Ferries, but we strive to provide a comprehensive overview of available routes and considerations. You can find all the information regarding Club Voyage on this page at Brittany Ferries. Club Voyage Benefits.
We couldn't find any information about prioritized arrangements for bringing your cat onboard as part of the Club Voyage membership.
You probably found the information on pet friendly cabins already, but if not you can find it here:
Have a good trip!