Four direct crossings · One operator
UK to Spain ferry routes
Three sailings from England, one from Ireland, all across the Bay of Biscay. Real 2026 departure times, crossing lengths and which ship works each route, so you can compare them properly rather than guess.
All four crossings side by side
Brittany Ferries is the only operator running direct sailings between the UK or Ireland and Spain. Each crossing covers between 430 and 565 nautical miles, and the difference between them is mostly one thing: whether you spend one night at sea or two.
| Route | Departures | Crossing | Nights | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth to Santander | Wed 15:45, Sun 16:45 | 20h 30m | 1 | Pont-Aven |
| Portsmouth to Santander | Mon 21:30, Fri 22:00 | ~33 hours | 2 | Salamanca |
| Portsmouth to Bilbao | Thu 19:00, Sun 22:00 | 33 to 36 hours | 2 | Galicia |
| Rosslare to Bilbao | Wed 09:00, Fri 23:59 | 27 to 31 hours | 1 to 2 | Santoña |
Times are the April to November 2026 pattern. Winter schedules are reduced on every route except Portsmouth to Santander, which runs year round, and Plymouth pauses altogether from early November to late March.
Plymouth is 12 hours shorter because of the ship, not the distance
The Pont-Aven cruises at 22 knots. The three newer E-Flexer vessels are slower. That single difference is what turns a 33-hour Portsmouth crossing into a 20-hour-30-minute one, and it is the main reason to choose Plymouth if a second night at sea does not appeal.
What the journey looks like
Whichever route you pick, the shape is the same: drive on at a UK port, spend one or two nights at sea crossing the Bay of Biscay, and drive off in northern Spain. These are from our own crossing.
Our full account of the Plymouth crossing, with what a Commodore Suite gets you and what the ship is like with children, is on the Plymouth to Santander page.
Route map
The four routes
Plymouth to Santander
- The shortest crossing at 20h 30m
- One night at sea, not two
- The Pont-Aven, the only ship with a pool
- Seasonal: late March to early November
- Santander is 10 minutes from the city centre
Portsmouth to Santander
- Runs year round, unlike the others
- Two nights on board
- The LNG-powered Salamanca
- Closest port for London and the South East
- Best for Madrid, Segovia and Portugal
Portsmouth to Bilbao
- The longest crossing, up to 36 hours
- 74,000 passengers last year, up 10 per cent
- The Galicia
- Bilbao is 90 minutes from the French border
- About six hours on to Barcelona
Rosslare to Bilbao
- The only direct Ireland to Spain sailing
- 67,000 passengers last year, up 18 per cent
- The Santoña
- No landbridge through Britain
- One in six passengers start in Spain
Going via France instead
A short Channel crossing plus a long drive is the other way to get a car to Spain. The sea leg is cheaper and far shorter, but you trade it for somewhere between 10 and 16 hours behind the wheel depending on where in Spain you are heading, plus French tolls and probably an overnight stop.
Whether that works out cheaper depends on how many of you are travelling and what your time is worth. Full comparison on the UK to France ferry routes page.
Carrying on to Morocco
Spain is a common staging post for drivers heading to Morocco. Land at Bilbao or Santander, drive south to the Andalusian coast, and the crossing from there takes around an hour. Details on the Spain to Morocco ferries page.
Common questions
Is there a ferry from Rosslare to Santander?
Not currently. Brittany Ferries ran it as a temporary winter service between 7 November 2023 and 22 March 2024, and there has been no timetable for it since. The only Ireland to Spain sailing is Rosslare to Bilbao.
Which is the fastest route?
Plymouth to Santander, at 20 hours 30 minutes. Every other crossing is at least 27 hours.
Can I sail to Spain in winter?
Portsmouth to Santander runs all year. Portsmouth to Bilbao and Rosslare to Bilbao drop to one sailing a week. Plymouth to Santander stops entirely from early November until late March.
Do I need a cabin?
Yes. Every direct crossing is overnight, so accommodation is compulsory. A reserved seat is the minimum, though two nights in a seat is a long stretch on the Portsmouth routes.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, for every passenger including children. Spain also requires your passport to have been issued within the last ten years and to remain valid for at least three months beyond your departure from the EU.
