Ferry to San Sebastián from the UK and Ireland
Can you get to San Sebastián by ferry?
Not directly. No ferry calls at San Sebastián, but Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Rosslare to two ports nearby: Bilbao, about an hour’s drive along the motorway, and Santander, about two and a quarter hours. For most people from the UK and Ireland that beats two days on French motorways, and you arrive rested after a night or two at sea.
On this page: which port to aim for, the sailing times per route, what the crossing is actually like (we sailed Plymouth to Santander with three young children in July 2026) and the practical side of booking.
Map: ferry routes to San Sebastián from the UK and Ireland
Which crossing gets you closest to San Sebastián?
Three routes from England and two from Ireland, all with Brittany Ferries:
| Route | Sailing time | Nights on board | Drive to San Sebastián |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth to Santander | about 20 hours | 1 | about 2 h 15, 205 km |
| Portsmouth to Santander | 28 to 32 hours, depending on the ship | 2 | about 2 h 15, 205 km |
| Portsmouth to Bilbao | about 31 hours | 2 | about 1 h, 100 km |
| Rosslare to Bilbao | about 28 hours | 1 to 2 | about 1 h, 100 km |
| Rosslare to Santander | about 32 hours | 2 | about 2 h 15, 205 km |
Our rule of thumb. From London and the south-east, Portsmouth to Bilbao gives the shortest drive at the far end. From the west of England and from Wales, Plymouth to Santander is the quickest way across, and the extra hour on Spanish motorway afterwards is easy. From Ireland, Bilbao is the port to choose; Santander only if the fare is clearly better. Both sail from Rosslare.
Two details that catch people out. The Bilbao ferry docks at Zierbena, twenty minutes west of the city, and the AP-8 motorway from there to San Sebastián is a toll road (the N-634 is the free, slower alternative). Santander’s terminal is right in the city centre, and San Sebastián is 205 km east along the same A-8 and AP-8.
Booking: early, and look at the fixed-price breaks
The Spain crossings sell out in the school holidays, vehicle decks first. Book months ahead for July, August and Easter; foot passengers have more room to leave it late. Prices rise as the ship fills, so a January booking for July is normally the cheapest you will see.
Brittany Ferries also sells fixed-price breaks to Spain, such as a 10-day return with a car from £597, and the odd sale. We keep the current ones on our Brittany Ferries offers page.
On board and on the map
-
- Ferries to Spain from Ireland
What the crossing is like: our family trip on Pont-Aven
In July 2026 Jochem, one of FerryGoGo’s co-founders, sailed Plymouth to Santander with his partner and three young children, at the end of a week in Cornwall. A few things from that crossing that matter if you are planning the same trip:
- Check-in at Plymouth was followed by a long wait in the car before boarding. Keep drinks, snacks and something to do within reach, not in the boot.
- Pack an overnight bag before you leave the car. You cannot go back down to the vehicle deck during the crossing.
- They booked a four-berth Commodore cabin with a balcony and used a cot for the youngest. For five people and a car it came to around €1,000 one way in high season: not a target price, but a real one.
- The indoor pool was the hit of the trip; the children went back the next morning. Pool opening depends on the sailing and the sea, so do not promise it to them.
- Dinner at Le Flora, the à la carte restaurant, was one of the best evenings of the holiday, even with three small children testing the staff’s patience.
- Biscay was flat that day. It is not always. A cabin low down and midships is the safer choice if anyone is prone to seasickness.
- Allow time for the passport checks in Santander before you set off east.
The full story, with the price breakdown and the Plymouth versus Portsmouth comparison, is in our Plymouth to Santander review. The two-night Portsmouth sailings use the newer Salamanca and Santoña; we have sailed Santoña on the Cherbourg route and describe the ships in our Portsmouth to Santander guide.
From Ireland
Both Irish sailings leave from Rosslare. Bilbao is the one for San Sebastián: about 28 hours at sea and an hour’s drive at the other end. Santander adds four hours on the ship and over an hour on the road, so choose it only when it is clearly cheaper or the dates fit better. Our guide to ferries from Ireland to Spain has both routes in detail.
Prices and availability
Enter your dates in the module below to compare the sailings to Bilbao and Santander. Fares are per crossing for the vehicle plus passengers, and on-board accommodation, a cabin or a reserved seat, is compulsory on every Spain route, so compare the total rather than the headline fare.
Good to know
- Passports: a valid passport is needed for Spain. UK travellers covered by the EU Entry/Exit System register at the Spanish port on arrival; our EES and ETIAS explainer sets out what to expect.
- Driving: you leave the port on the right-hand side of the road. The AP-8 towards San Sebastián is tolled; allow about €10 from Bilbao.
- Foot passengers: welcome on all five routes. From Bilbao there are direct coaches to San Sebastián in about an hour and a quarter; from Santander the coach takes around two and a half hours.
- Children: a night ferry with small children is easier than it sounds if you prepare the cabin and the overnight bag well. Our tips for families on the ferry and the review above cover the details.
- Seasickness: Biscay can be lively outside summer. Choose a cabin low and midships and bring tablets just in case; more in our guide to avoiding seasickness.
- Dogs: Brittany Ferries has pet-friendly cabins and kennels on the Spain routes, and Spain needs the EU paperwork. Details in our dog on ferries guide.
Useful for travellers to Spain
Is a Family of five allowed to book a 4 berth cabin
Hi Mary,
It depends a bit on the ages of the family. If there’s an infant, it will probably work.
Another option is to book a cabin plus a reserved seat and then see if you can make it work between you, but in general, the cabins are designed for four people.
To be safe, you could bring an inflatable mattress in case it’s a tight squeeze. And if you’re unsure, it might be worth giving Brittany Ferries a quick call to confirm what they’ll allow for your specific sailing.
Kind regards,