Ferry to Portugal from the UK
Travel to Portugal by Ferry from the UK
Unfortunately, there is currently no direct ferry crossing from the UK to Portugal. However, there are rumours of a possible direct route from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Porto in the near future.
Via Spain to Portugal
From southern England, ferries from Plymouth and Portsmouth sail to northern Spain. From there, it’s a relatively short drive of 6 to 8 hours to reach Portugal.
Ferry Map: from the UK to Portugal
Use the map to find the crossings to Spain and eventually Portugal. You can zoom in and out and view the routes in the ports. While there are no direct routes to Portugal, you can drive from Bilbao to Porto in about 6 hours.
About this crossing
There are several different routes from the UK to Portugal. If you choose to sail to Spain, all your options are operated by Brittany Ferries.
Travel to Portugal by Ferry from the UK
Portugal is one of the most popular travel destinations for Brits [1]Most popular tourist destinations for UK tourists, Statista. While many tourists choose to fly or drive to Portugal, the indirect ferry route through Spain is becoming a popular alternative for a more comfortable journey.
From the south of England, ferries depart from Plymouth and Portsmouth to northern Spain. From there, it’s a relatively short drive into Portugal. Both Santander and Bilbao are excellent options to consider if you’re looking to travel by ferry to Portugal.
These ferries between the UK and Spain, followed by a drive to Portugal, are typically one- or two-night crossings and offer a relaxed way to start your trip.
Ferry to Santander (Faster Route)
Sailing from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Santander is the quickest option, as Santander is closer to Portugal. Brittany Ferries operates this route with their flagship vessel, the Pont-Aven. This is the fastest ferry crossing from the UK to Spain, taking approximately 20 hours and is a one-night journey. Plymouth is located in south-west England, in Devon.
You can also travel to Bilbao if you’d like to include it in your itinerary along with Portugal. Otherwise, Santander is the more convenient option.
Tickets
Alternative: Travelling Through France
Travelling via France is another option to reach Portugal, though it may be less comfortable. However, if you'd prefer to spend less time on a ferry, this can be a good alternative. There are many ferries departing from the UK to France—at least 20 crossings per day.
When travelling south from the UK to Portugal via France, the most logical choices are:
- Calais-Dover (ideal if you’re on the eastern coast of England)
- Newhaven-Dieppe
- Portsmouth-Caen
- Portsmouth-Le Havre
- Portsmouth-Cherbourg
- Plymouth-Roscoff
Keep in mind that, when travelling through France to reach Portugal, you’ll be on the road for around 15 hours to reach Porto and 17 hours to Lisbon from the Caen and Le Havre area.
From Calais, the drive to Porto is around 18 hours, while Lisbon will take approximately 19 hours.
On board and route maps
Prices and availability for this crossing
You can compare tickets to Spain from the UK easily with the booking module below.
Additional Information
When travelling on crossings between Spain / Portugal 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 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 & Pets
On most ferries, there are no restrictions on the amount of luggage you can reasonably bring. Pets are allowed, but additional fees apply, and they must stay in designated kennels on board. For some destinations, pets must meet specific requirements, such as certain vaccinations and a pet passport. You can find country-specific regulations and company policies in this post.
Fastest Ferry to Portugal
There is no direct ferry crossing to Portugal, but the fastest route to get close is the Plymouth to Santander ferry. This journey takes around 20 hours and is a one-night crossing. On this route, you’ll be sailing on Pont-Aven, the flagship of Brittany Ferries.
If departing from Portsmouth, you can sail to Santander or Bilbao. Both are two-night crossings, with durations ranging from 28 hours and 30 minutes to 33 hours and 30 minutes, and bring you to the northern coast of Spain.
Useful for travellers to Portugal
Tips for ferry travellers
References
| ↑1 | Most popular tourist destinations for UK tourists, Statista |
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Are there any plans for a ferry route from Santander to southern Portugal around Albufeira
Hi Terry,
Thanks for your question, at the moment there is no ferry from Santander to Portugal. There are however trains that will take you from Santander to the Algarve region, or Lissabon and Porto.
When there is news about this we will inform you.
Thank you for this article, very imformative.
Yes very infomative,
Oh i do wish Brittany ferries would do a crossing from Portsmouth to porto.
That would be a lovely little cruise.
I love Portugal, i dont fly but enjoy ferries and train journeys, trains from santander to porto can take a while upto 28hr waiting for connections.
The crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao requires a vehicle if you are traveling with a pet. Even if you book a pet friendly cabin it requires a vehicle. Do you know of any other options if you don’t have a vehicle?
Best,
Catherine
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, it's not possible to travel with a pet on Brittany Ferries without a vehicle. This is confirmed in their official FAQ, which you can find here:
Brittany Ferries Pet Travel FAQ: https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/information/faqs/pet-travel/can-i-take-a-pet-if-i-am-travelling-as-a-foot-passenger
What about other options
Eurostar: Sadly, pets are not allowed on Eurostar trains (except registered assistance animals), so this route wouldn’t work either.
European trains: Once in France, however, most domestic and international trains are pet-friendly and allow animals in carriers or on leads, depending on size.
Pet Shuttle Services
If you’re travelling without a car, you could consider a pet taxi or shuttle service to cross the Channel. For example:
Dover–Calais Pet Travel Shuttle: https://www.dover-sherwantaxis.com/dover-calais-pet-travel/
Irish Ferries: A Foot-Passenger Option
One alternative is Irish Ferries, which does allow pets to travel with foot passengers; provided you can carry your pet in a suitable rigid carrier, and follow their onboard kennel or carrier guidelines.
Irish Ferries Pet Policy: https://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/frequently-asked-questions/pet-travel-all-routes/pets-ireland-britain-routes/
I hope this gives you a useful starting point for planning. Let us know if you’d like help narrowing down a route or figuring out next steps.
Best regards, Jan Willem
PS. Maybe if you reach out by phone to one of the ferry companies they can make an exception? Hopefully?