Ferry from UK to Spain: Routes, Tickets and Departures

Planning a vacation by ferry from the UK to Spain? Board a ferry in Portsmouth or Plymouth to Spanish towns Bilbao or Santander. On all ferries you can take your vehicle, sleep in a cozy cabin and even bring your furry friend with you.

• Ferry routes from UK to Spain
• Ferry operators for UK to Spain
• Bringing vehicles and pets to Spain
• Offers and discounts for ferry from UK to Spain
• Getting tickets for ferry from UK to Spain

Ferry routes from Spain to the UK

While ferries from the UK to Spain depart all year round from Portsmouth, those from Plymouth start to operate in April and are active until November.

1. Ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao
2. Ferries from Portsmouth to Santander
3. Ferries from Plymouth to Santander

1. Ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao

Ferry from Portsmouth will take you to Bilbao, city in the Northern Spain. Bilbao offers plenty to explore. Visit Guggenheim Museum, eat in a Michelin star restaurant and taste local wines. Since you can board a car and other vehicles on the ferry, Bilbao is also an ideal starting point for your Spanish road trip.

Hop off the ferry from UK to Spain and visit Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Source: iStock

Choose between two ferries that run from Portsmouth to Bilbao all year round. They usually depart on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Trip takes a bit under 33 hours starting from €192 per one way economy ticket. In case you want to have a proper rest, booking a cabin will cost you from €221 to €406.

2. Ferries from Portsmouth to Santander

If you want to get a little bit further into Spain, ferry from Portsmouth will transport you to Santander. Santander will charm you with sandy Playa del Sardinero beach, architecture such as Palacio de la Magdalena and local seafood dishes.
Ferry between Portsmouth and Santander operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Admire Palacio de la Magdalena in Santander, once the royal summer residence of the Spanish monarchy. Source: iStock

Tickets cost a bit more than the ones for Bilbao, the cheapest one-way ticket for assigned seat is €216. Journey lasts a little less, it’s around 32 hours, but your time will pass quickly with onboard facilities like wellness room. Similarly, this ferry boards vehicles and you can stay in a cabin.

3. Ferries from Plymouth to Santander

Along with the departures from Portsmouth, you can hop on the ferry in Plymouth to Spanish Santander. This is a seasonal route, active from April to November, also operating twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays. It’s the shortest ride by ferry from UK to Spain. You’ll be on a sunny beach in Spain in less than a day.

Only 30 minutes away by car from Santander you can find beautiful Playa de Langre. Source: iStock

Since it’s a quite popular route, prices in summer months can reach over €300 for a one-way economy ticket. However, if you plan and book your trip on time, you can catch more reasonable prices. Pont-Aven ferry, that runs on the Plymouth to Santander route, boards vehicles and you can enjoy your journey in a comfortable cabin.

Ferry operators for UK to Spain routes

Brittany Ferries, based in France, has been connecting UK and Spain by ferry for over 50 years. Ferries Galicia, Salamanca and Pont-Aven offer mini cruise experience with comfortable cabins, and plenty of onboard facilities. Passengers can spend their time shopping, working out, and watching movies.

Relax in a private 2-bed suite on Galicia ferry. Source: Brittany Ferries

Salamanca and Port-Aven provide even more possibilities for relaxation and entertainment. On Salamanca ferry you can get a massage, manicure and different facial treatments. Similarly, on Pont-Aven there is a spa, and even a swimming pool for your children to enjoy. All three vessels have spaces dedicated for kids to play, making traveling by ferry an ideal family vacation.

Bringing vehicles and pets to Spain

You can easily bring vehicles on all three routes from the UK to Spain. When going through the booking process, you just need to choose type of vehicle, brand, fuel and specify a size. After all the details are completed, you’ll see a final price for all the passengers and vehicles.

On all three ferries from UK to Spain, there are pet friendly cabins. Source: Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries, which operates on all three routes, welcomes pets to ferries from the UK to Spain. On all three ferries from UK to Spain, there are pet friendly cabins and kennels. However, keep in mind that pets can’t be left in your vehicle during the trip. Also, dogs should be always muzzled. Same rules apply to ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, Portsmouth to Santander and for Plymouth to Santander. For more details on traveling with pets, contact our customer service.

Offers and discounts for ferry from the UK to Spain

Brittany Ferries sometimes has special discounts on early bookings available through Ferryscanner website. To ensure you’re always up to date with the newest promo offers, subscribe to our newsletter or bookmark a Discounts blog category where we regularly publish information on the latest deals.

Except special offers, Brittany Ferries has active discounts for children. If you’re planning a family trip to Spain, you can save 50% on tickets for children from 4 to 15 years old. In case you have a little one under 4, they can travel free of charge. Children discounts will be automatically applied while booking through Ferryscanner.

Getting tickets for ferry from the UK to Spain

Browse departures for your ferry from UK to Spain on Ferryscanner website. Compare prices, choose cabins and board your vehicle in a few easy steps. Brittany Ferries discount for children and seasonal offers are applicable on our website. To make sure you never miss a good deal, subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll keep you updated.

Tickets for the ferry from UK to Spain sell fast and can get higher closer to the date, so book on time. Get your tickets on our website or through Ferryscanner app.