Ferries to France from Portsmouth
Ferry from Portsmouth to France
Portsmouth is one of the main departure ports for tourists heading to France.
It’s conveniently located in the south of England, and from this port, there are four ferry crossings to France. From Portsmouth, you can choose between several destinations in Normandy and Brittany. There are regular sailings from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre, and St. Malo.
All of these crossings are operated by Brittany Ferries, and we’ve visualised the routes across the Channel on the map below.
Crossings from Portsmouth to France mapped
About these crossings
The fastest Portsmouth to France Connections
On the four different routes, you can choose to board either a daytime sailing or a night ferry. Whether you're seeking speed or comfort, both options are available. Below, you'll find the crossings and sailings summarized, with a table for the sailing schedule provided after the summary.
Brittany Ferries crossings from Portsmouth to France at a glance:
- Portsmouth to Le Havre: 6 hours | Departure: 11:30 | Arrival: 18:30 | 7 sailings per week
- Portsmouth to Cherbourg:
- Day crossing (Friday) | Departure: 12:30 | Arrival: 19:00 (5h30min crossing)
- Night crossing (Monday & Wednesday) | Departure: 22:00 | Arrival: 08:00 (9-hour crossing) | 3 sailings per week
- Portsmouth to Caen: 6 hours | 3 sailings per day | Departures: 08:00, 15:00, 23:00 | Arrivals: 15:00, 22:00, 06:45
- Portsmouth to St Malo: 11 hours | Night crossing | Departure: 20:15 | Arrival: 08:15 | 6 weekly sailings
Note:
- Caen and St Malo are further inland, making them ideal if you travel to Brittany in France. St Malo is a particularly popular option.
- Cherbourg and Caen are good options if you’re heading to southern France.
- This summer (2025) we've sailed on the route from Saint Malo to Portsmouth and from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. You can read our travel report of the Saint Malo to Portsmouth ferry here.
Timetable sailing schedule Portsmouth to France
Ferries to France from Portsmouth
| Route | Days | Departure time | Arrival | Duration | Sailings per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth to Le Havre | Daily | 11:30 | 18:30 | 6 hours | 7 sailings per week |
| Portsmouth to Cherbourg | Fri, Mon, Wed | 12:30 / 22:00 (night crossing) | 19:00 / 08:00 | 5 hours 30 min - 9 hours | 3 sailings per week |
| Portsmouth to Caen | Daily | 08:00 / 15:00 / 23:00 (night crossing) | 15:00 / 22:00 / 06:45 | 6 hours | 21 sailings per week |
| Portsmouth to St Malo | Daily except Tuesday | 20:15 | 08:15 | 11 hours | 6 night sailings per week |
An overview of all the crossings from Portsmouth to France:
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- From Portsmouth, ferries operate routes to Caen, Le Havre, St Malo, and Cherbourg.
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- Portsmouth Cherbourg
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- Santona ferry from Portsmouth Port
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- Spotting ferries in Portsmouth port
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- Saint Malo from the ferry
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- Boarding terrain in Saint Malo
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- Cabin Santona Ferry – example for St Malo ferry
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- Boarding cards Brittany Ferries: keep them close, also the cabin key and needed in the restaurant.
Our experience on the ferries from Portsmouth to France (and vice versa)
This summer we sailed on two different routes between France and Portsmouth. On the way out we travelled from Saint-Malo to Portsmouth. For the return we had planned Portsmouth to Caen, but a bit of car trouble on board meant a change of plan, so we ended up sailing back from Portsmouth to Cherbourg instead.
Curious about how it all went? Read our travel reports:
Portsmouth to Cherbourg by Ferry: Sailing on the Santona with Brittany Ferries
By ferry from Saint-Malo to Portsmouth: our experience and a visual impression
Tickets
Prices and availability for this crossing
Other ferries from Portsmouth:
There are also ferries from Portsmouth to Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Wight.
To the port of Portsmouth
The address of the port is:
Wharf Road, Hants, Portsmouth, PO2 8RU, United Kingdom
Portsmouth ferry terminal
Most sailings from Portsmouth leave from Portsmouth International Port, the city’s main ferry terminal, just a few minutes from the city centre and well signposted from the M275. Portsmouth International Port has ample parking, and offers facilities such as cafés, a shop, and comfortable waiting areas.
Additional Information
Luggage and Pets
here is no strict maximum limit on luggage, but Brittany Ferries recommends limiting it to two pieces of luggage, each weighing up to 20kg per crossing. Animals are welcome on board, but they must stay in either a kennel or a pet-friendly cabin, with dedicated exercise areas available.
Public Transport
Train services between Portsmouth and London Waterloo take around 85 minutes. There are also connections from London Victoria and Cardiff. Portsmouth has two stations: Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour, both close to the port. Taxis from the train stations to the port cost approximately £5. Be sure to allow plenty of time to reach the port.
Useful for travellers to France
