Travel to Portugal by ferry
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Map with all ferry routes to and within Portugal
While Portugal is located on the coast of the Atlantic Sea, there aren't too many ferries to Portugal. You might think that at least there would be ferries from the UK and Ireland directly to Portugal, but these ferries sail to Northern Spain instead of Portugal. From there you can travel relatively easily to Portugal by car, motorhome or public transport.
Timetable, availability, and compare prices
Booking your ferry tickets to and from Portugal has never been easier! With our online booking module, you can easily find and book your desired ferry crossing in just a few clicks. Enter your travel dates and destination; the system will show you all available options. You can then choose the one that best suits your needs and budget. It’s that simple!
You'll often have to sail to Northern Spain first, from where you can travel further to Portugal.
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.
Ferries within Portugal:
Within Portugal, there aren't too many ferries. One of the more popular Portuguese ferries is the ferry from Setubal to Troia and vice versa. Connecting the Troia Peninsula directly to Setubal without dealing with a big detour. It is also a great and convenient way to travel from Lissabon to Troia.
Setúbal-Troia
The ferry from Setubal to Troia and from Troia to Setubal is one of Portugal's most popular ferry routes. With over 40 sailings daily of the ferry and the catamaran combined it has a frequent sailing schedule. This ferry takes you from Setubal to Troia in about 25 minutes.
Ferries to Portugal:
Option 1: Traveling from the UK or Ireland to Portugal via Spain
Ferries from Rosslare, Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander or Bilbao and then to Portugal
You can find more information on our dedicated pages of ferries to Portugal from the UK. Below you'll find the direct connection between Spain and the UK + Ireland.
UK / Ireland ⇔ Spain ⇔ Portugal
Ferry Plymouth – Santander (faster route)
Sailing from Plymouth to Santander is your quickest option. This is the fastest ferry crossing (20 hours) from the UK to Spain and is a one-night crossing. Plymouth is located in South-West England in Devon.
This ship takes you 20 hours to Spain and is a one-night crossing. The costs for two adults + a car in peak season are about €450,- in total.
Option 2: travelling from the UK via France to Portugal
Ferries from the UK to France and then to Portugal
UK ⇔ France ⇔ Portugal
Travelling via France to Portugal
Travelling in France is very pleasant. In combination with the ferry, most people will drive by car further south. Unfortunately, the best roads where you can drive a bit faster are not always accessible.
In France, you travel a lot on toll roads, offering benefits in time and a comfortable ride. Toll roads do not cost much, but the amount can add up considerably over a long drive to the South.
In google maps, a function allows you to avoid toll roads. Maybe that's useful.
Travelling to Portugal and staying in Portugal
Portugal is a popular destination for British tourists. For tourists, there is a lot to see and taste 🙂 Try local delicacies such as the Vinho Verde wine, Pastel de Nata with your morning coffee, or Francesinha for lunch that helps you through the day.
Or visit and see vibrant cities such as Porto, Lisbon, and the Algarve region. These cities and regions offer a lot to see and do for various travellers. Porto and Lisbon are beautiful in that both have a unique historic centre with many terraces, shops, restaurants, and lively squares with many people.
The Algarve region feels more like a big vacation resort with cosy beach restaurants and somewhat smaller historical Portuguese cities.
In this Southern part of Portugal, you can enjoy sun, sea, sand and, of course, Vinho Verde, fresh barbecued fish, and beautiful scenery. Portugal has historically had many British tourists and has a big British Expat community. [2]British migration to Portugal, Wikipedia.org
Frequent Asked Question ferries to Portugal
There is no direct route from the UK to Portugal by ferry. From either Portsmouth and Plymouth you can sail to Northern Spain though and travel further to Portugal from there. Also from Ireland you can travel from Rosslare to Bilbao, and get from Bilbao to Portugal by car or public transport.
The fastest ferry to get close to Portugal is the ferry from Plymouth to Santander. This ferry takes you in around 20 hours to the city of Santander, this is a one-night crossing.
Ferry talk: Share your questions and opinions
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References
| ↑1 | Most famous tourist destinations for UK travellers, Statista |
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| ↑2 | British migration to Portugal, Wikipedia.org |
Is there also a ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo Island? Let me know!
@Portuguese M
Yes there is, we will list this route and guidance for this route in a future update, thanks for the question though, because of the question we found out we missed this one.
Yes there seems to be, thanks for the tip / question. We will add the ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo Island to FerryGoGo shortly.