Ferries to France from Plymouth
Ferries from Plymouth to France
Heading to France from Devon or Cornwall? Then the ferries from Plymouth to France are your way to go. For years, travellers have been sailing from Plymouth to Roscoff, and now there’s even a direct connection to Saint-Malo as well. Both routes offer comfortable overnight sailings, and the Roscoff ferry also runs during the day if you prefer to sail with the sun up.
On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about the ferries from Plymouth to France: and we’ll start with a handy map of the routes, so you can see exactly where they go.
Map: ferry routes from Plymouth to France
About the crossings from Plymouth
The ferry routes from Portsmouth to France may be the ones most people know, but for travellers from South West England, the sailings from Plymouth to Roscoff and Plymouth to Saint-Malo are great alternatives. And can actually save you quite a bit of travel time. The Roscoff ferry operates up to eight times a week, while the Saint-Malo ferry sails twice weekly. Both offer overnight crossings, but if you prefer a shorter journey, you can also sail to Roscoff during the day. That said, an overnight sailing is hard to beat for comfort and convenience.
Both routes are operated by Brittany Ferries, known for their comfortable ships and friendly service. The Roscoff ferry sails up to eight times a week and takes around 6 hours by day or 8–9 hours overnight. The Plymouth to Saint-Malo route runs twice weekly and takes about 11 hours overnight on of the modern LNG-hybrid ferries Brittany Ferries operate.
These crossings from Plymouth are ideal for?
Travellers from Devon, Cornwall, or the wider South West of England who prefer to skip the long drive to Portsmouth or Dover. Both routes are perfect for families heading to Brittany or Western France, with plenty of space on board, family cabins, and relaxed overnight sailings.
The Plymouth-Roscoff ferry is ideal if you’re bound for southern Brittany, Finistère, or the west coast of France, while the Plymouth-Saint-Malo route suits anyone travelling further east towards Normandy, the Loire region, or even Paris. If you like a calmer start and finish to your holiday, avoiding busy ports and long motorway stretches, these crossings are a brilliant, time-saving choice.
A visual impression: map, boarding & On-Board the ferries
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- Saint Malo from the ferry
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- Boarding terrain in Saint Malo
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- Boarding cards Brittany Ferries: keep them close, also the cabin key and needed in the restaurant.
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- Ferries to France from Plymouth
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- Boarding in Saint Malo
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- Saint Malo from outside the walls
Our experience on other crossings from Brittany Ferries.
This summer we sailed on two different routes operated by Brittany Ferries. 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. Plymouth Saint Malo is a great alternative for either of these routes if your planning a visit to Normandy or Bretagne in France.
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
Other ferries to France
You can find a full overview of all the ferries to France from the UK on this page.
To the port of Plymouth
The address of the port is:
Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 3EW, United Kingdom
Additional Information
When travelling on crossings between France and the UK, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Bring your passport: Since Brexit, a driver's licence or ID card is no longer sufficient for travel.
- Download entertainment in advance: On longer night crossings, it’s a good idea to download series or movies beforehand, as Wi-Fi on board can be expensive, and roaming in international waters is costly.
- Foot passengers: Not all ferries accept foot passengers, so check ahead of time.
- Travelling with young kids on a night ferry? We’ve got some helpful tips for travelling with kids here.
- Remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road after disembarking. It can be a bit confusing for the first 10 minutes, but you'll adjust quickly.
- Worried about getting seasick? In this article, you’ll find some tips to help prevent it.
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.
Useful for travellers to France
