Portsmouth-Bilbao
This ferry to Spain sails twice a week from Portsmouth to Bilbao. The ferry takes from 31,5 hours to 36 hours to get from the UK to the Spanish mainland. This crossing is operated by Brittany Ferries. From the UK to Spain the crossing takes 2 nights, which is why it is also called a cruise ferry.
Ferry to Bilbao and Portsmouth
The ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao is one of the options when you want to travel by ferry directly from England / UK to Spain. An ideal option when you don't want to drive the whole trip. Portsmouth is in the South of England, and Bilbao is one of the most Northern Cities in Spain. The distance between both cities is 860 km as the crow flies. The ferry takes you about 33 hours to Spain. Another option is to sail from Portsmouth to Santander, Santander is a bit more to the West of Spain.
Bilbao is a popular vacation destination but also a great hub to continue your trip in Spain or even to Portugal. Traveling by ferry to Spain from the UK is a comfortable way of traveling while skipping France on your trip and maybe avoiding being stuck in traffic jams. From Bilbao, the drive to Madrid is a 4-hour drive and to Barcelona, you'll be 6 hours on the road.
On this page, you will find information and tips about this ferry crossing from the UK to Spain from Brittany Ferries
Ferry Bilbao and Portsmouth costs
If you want to travel by ferry to Bilbao or Portsmouth, you can expect the following prices:
- Lowest possible price for one adult: is €290,- for a one-way ticket for one person car, and a cabin.
- 2 persons with 1 car during peak season: €636,- for a one-way ticket 🛈
Ferry prices depend on the season and crowds. View the current prices in the booking engine
Schedule Bilbao and Portsmouth
Brittany Ferries sails 2 times per week between England and Spain from both directions. We have made an overview of the departure times below for the Bilbao – Portsmouth crossing. Please note that these times can always change and accurate information can be found in the booking module and on the website of the ferry company.
Ferry to Bilbao from Portsmouth
The ferries to Bilbao from Portsmouth leave up to 2 times per week, for the actual timetable make sure to double-check before boarding. The ferry takes from 31,5 hours up to 36 hours and is a 2-night ferry crossing
- Every Thursday and Saturday the ferry leaves from Portsmouth around 21.00 – 21.30 to Bilbao for a 2-night crossing.
- You'll arrive on Saturdays or Mondays in the morning at the Bilboa port
In a bit more than 36 hours of sailing, you'll arrive at the port of Bilbao to continue your journey when you're offboarding the ferry.
Ferry to Portsmouth from Bilbao
The ferry from Bilbao to Portsmouth leaves every Tuesday and Saturday from Spain to the UK. This is a 1-day crossing. For the ferry back you'll depart at around 14.00 and will be back in the UK the next day at around 20.30 in Portsmouth.
Bilbao – Portsmouth
- Departure: Tuesday and Saturday around 14.00 – 15.00
- Arrival: Wednesday around 20.45 and Sunday around 17.30
On board the ferry to Bilbao and Portsmouth
The ship Santander of Brittany Ferries, which sails on this route, has a Spanish touch. As the Santander is a cruise ferry suitable for long distances, there is a lot to do on board. On the night sailing, it is possible to book a cabin.
This (and more) can be expected on the ferry:
- Restaurant
- Tapas
- Bar
- Lounge
- Sun deck
- Shop
- Video on demand
- Kids' play area
Port information
To get to the departure port, use the address and follow the signs to the terminal when arrived.
Bilbao
Puerto de Bilbao, Muelle A3, Pais Vasco, Zierbena,48508, Spain
Portsmouth
The Brittany Centre, Wharf Rd, Portsmouth PO2 8RU United Kingdom