You’re considering taking a ferry to Spain from UK, and you want information about what routes to take, who operates the ferries and what there is to do in and around each destination? Well, I must be psychic, cos welcome to our guide to the ultimate in European slow travel – a ferry from England to Spain! These super long and contemplative journeys across the English channel and the Bay of Biscay hark back to an almost bygone era. It’s impossible not to appreciate the distances involved when slowing chugging across the ocean down to the Costa Verde in Northern Spain. Despite their rather limiting name, Brittany Ferries don’t just operate ferries to France, oh no, mi amigo, for they also offer three ferry routes to Spain, all of which are well worth your consideration. I took the ferry loads as a kid, and I absolutely loved the excitement of it, so grab your life jacket, because, as part of our ferry routes from the UK series, we’re about to cover all there is to know about the different UK to Spain ferries, including the routes, ports, timetables, and what there is to do in and around both Bilbao and Santander.
UK to Spain Ferries: What are the available ferry routes to Spain?
There are just three different ferry routes to Spain from England, and all of them are operated by Brittany Ferries, from either Portsmouth or Plymouth, on the south coast of England. Plymouth, is located in Devon in the far south west of England, and Portsmouth is in Hampshire, around one hour south west of London (by road). Despite what many people mistakenly believe, there is no UK to San Sebastian ferry, nor is there a Dover to Spain ferry service available. There are however ferries to Spain from Ireland, and we’ll be covering those in another post soon.
Ferry to Spain from UK #1: Portsmouth to Santander
From Portsmouth on the south central coast of England, you can take a ferry to Northern Spain with Brittany Ferries, arriving in Santander – the capital of the Cantabria region. Between April until the beginning of November, the Portsmouth to Santander ferry route departs from Portsmouth every Thursday and Friday on the good ships ‘Salamanca’ and ‘Santoña’. Each journey involves two nights on-board and takes a mere 33 hrs, although this is always dependent on the sea conditions, and could take a little more or a little less. Well, I did say this is a slow travel blog! Return ferry crossings from Santander to Portsmouth leave on Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes – full details of 2024 sailing times below:
Portsmouth to Santander 2024 Timetable
| Day | Depart Portsmouth | Arrive Santander |
|---|---|---|
|
Thursday |
19:00 |
08:00 (+2) |
|
Friday |
22:30 |
08:00 (+2) |
| Day | Depart Santander | Arrive Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|
|
Saturday |
13:00 |
17:30 (+1) |
|
Sunday |
14:00 |
19:00 (+1) |
places to visit in & around Santander
Santander is the gateway city to both Cantabria and Asturias, with its magnificent Picos de Europa national park spanning both regions. As well as the hiking and adrenaline fueled activities of the Picos de Europa, Cantabria and Asturias also have some of the best surfing spots in Spain, making it a great base for outdoor activities buffs, as well as those interested in visiting Spain’s less well known northern cities like Oviedo, Gijon and Santander itself. The local cuisine focuses heavily on cheese and cider (so what’s not to love?!) and there are ancient caves and fishing villages scattered all along the criminally underrated and ruggedly beautiful Costa Verde (the green coast). And certainly don’t sleep on Santander as a destination itself (apart from on the journey there in your ferry cabin!). We’ve also prepared a full guide on what to do during a Santander city break here for those of you considering stopping at the ferry port to check out what the city has to offer.
England to Spain Ferry #2: Plymouth to Santander
From mid-March until early November Brittany Ferries sail the ‘Pont Aven‘ ferry from Plymouth to Santander every Wednesday and Sunday. Being a little further west compared with Portsmouth, the Plymouth to Santander ferry crossing takes less time, typically around 22 hours. Return ferry crossings from Santander to Plymouth depart on Mondays and Thursdays and get you back to Plymouth for a very civilised pre and post lunchtime arrival the following day (full details of the sailing times below).
Plymouth to Santander 2024 Timetable
| Day | Depart Plymouth | Arrive Santander |
|---|---|---|
|
Wednesday |
15:45 |
13:15 (+1) |
|
Sunday |
17:45 |
15:30 (+1) |
| Day | Depart Santander | Arrive Plymouth |
|---|---|---|
|
Monday |
18:30 |
15:30 (+1) |
|
Thursday |
16:00 |
11:00 (+1) |
activities and tours in Cantabria & Asturias
To help you decide which of the available ferry routes to Spain from the UK suit you best, let’s also consider some of the places to visit and things to do in Asturias and Cantabria…
- Picos de Europa National Park: Hike or drive through the stunning Picos de Europa National Park, known for its rugged landscapes and diverse flora and fauna.
- Llanes: Visit the picturesque coastal town of Llanes, known for its stunning beaches, cliffs, and historic architecture, it is also home to the Asturian School of Surf, where you can paddle board or learn to surf in various locations close by.
- Paddle down the Sella River in Cangas de Onís: Discover Cangas de Onís, a town with a Roman bridge and the iconic Church of Santa María. This is ground zero for outdoor activities enthusiasts who want to explore the Picos de Europa region.
- Cuisine: Get stuck into in the local cuisine, including seafood, Asturian cider, and traditional dishes like “fabada” (Asturian bean stew) or “cocido montañés” (Cantabrian mountain stew).
- Get a taster of the Camino de Santiago: one of the world’s most famous pilgrimage routes passes right through both Cantabria and Asturias, and anyone visiting this region will see many of the yellow shells marking the path for tens of thousands of walkers on their way to Galicia’s Santiago de Compostella each year.
Ferry to Spain from UK #3: Portsmouth to Bilbao
From April until early November Brittany Ferries sail its ‘Salamanca’ & ‘Galicia‘ ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao on Tuesday and Sunday nights. Scheduled arrival time is the following morning in Bilbao, but as always this depends on sea conditions. Brittany Ferries themselves say that their journeys can take anything between 20-36 hours.
Portsmouth to Santander 2024 Timetable
| Day | Depart Portsmouth | Arrive Bilbao |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuesday |
22:30 |
08:00 (+2) |
|
Sunday |
21:45 |
08:00 (+2) |
| Day | Depart Bilbao | Arrive Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuesdays |
13:00 |
17:30 (+1) |
|
Thursday |
16:30 |
19:00 (+1) |
what to do in bilbao
Bilbao is the ferry gateway city to Spain’s Basque Country, located on Spain’s northeast coast. ‘El Pais Vasco‘ or ‘Euskadi‘ in its own Basque language, has its own fiercely protected identity, rather separate from the rest of Spain (don’t tell Catalonia I said that). While somewhat industrial itself, Bilbao has a lovely old town, and its surrounding areas offer several highlights, not least the amazing cuisine that has led to 40 Michelin stars being awarded, thus making the Basque Country one of the world’s undisputed fine dining regions. The beautiful San Sebastian close to the French border, and the historic capital Vitoria Gasteiz impress too, so while there is no UK to San Sebastian ferry, Bilbao is still pretty close by.
activities and tours in Bilbao & the Basque Country
What does the Basque Country and its largest city Bilbao have to offer visitors? Well, quite a bit…
- Bilbao: explore Bilbao’s old town and the Guggenheim. If art is your thing then visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum, known for its striking architecture and ‘contemporary’ (uh-oh!) art collection. If not then just gorge yourself on amazing delicate little tapas bites (or Pinxtos as they’re known locally) in the city’s old town bars and restaurants.
- San Sebastian: chill out on La Concha Beach, one of the most famous urban beaches in Europe, and eat pinxtos in San Sebastian’s beautiful old town. Alternatively, go visit a cider maker to sample the rich tradition of Basque cider making and cuisine with lunch. If you’ve got the energy, you could also hike to the top of Monte Urgull for panoramic views of the city and the bay.
- Vitoria-Gasteiz Old Town: Discover the medieval Old Town of Vitoria-Gasteiz, with its historic buildings and lively atmosphere.
- Go hiking in the Basque country’s interior: We’re big fans of outdoor activities and hiking tours, so check out this highly rated hiking tour if you like that sort of thing too!
- Txakoli Wineries: Visit a txakoli winery to taste the famous local sparkling white wine produced in the Basque Country.
- Just eat! Enjoy the renowned Basque cuisine, including pintxos (small tapas-like snacks) and traditional dishes like bacalao (salted cod) and marmitako (fisherman’s stew). It can get pretty experimental round these parts too, but just go with it and dive in!
- Basque Festivals: To get underneath the Basque culture better check the calendar for local festivals such as Semana Grande in San Sebastian or the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival.
UK to Spain Ferries - Conclusion
A ferry from England to Spain offers you the chance to begin your holidays there or in Portugal, much earlier by just relaxing and enjoying the journey out on deck and in your cabin. It’s how we used to travel long distances and explore the world, and it’s bloody great! Brittany Ferries’ Santander and Bilbao routes have something for everyone, be it sun-soaked Spanish beaches, cute fishing villages, world-class cuisine, rugged coastline, or the historic charm of Bilbao or San Sebastian’s old towns. So, set your course, jump on a ferry to Spain from England and get ready for a proper voyage filled with a bit of good old fashioned unhurried contemplation. Buen Viaje!
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