Four routes · All Brittany Ferries
Ferry timetable: UK to Spain sailing times
Live departure and arrival times for all four direct crossings, plus the full published 2026 schedule so you can plan months ahead rather than days.
Timetable for all routes to Spain
The next sailings on all four crossings, in one view. Times shown are local at each port.
Plymouth to Santander ferry timetable
The shortest crossing at 20 hours 30 minutes, and the only one with a single night at sea. Seasonal, running from late March to early November on the Pont-Aven.
Full route detail on the Plymouth to Santander page.
Portsmouth to Santander ferry times
Around 33 hours with two nights on board, running year round on the Salamanca. The only Spanish route that does not pause or reduce heavily over winter.
Full route detail on the Portsmouth to Santander page.
Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry timetable
The longest crossing, 33 to 36 hours with two nights on board, on the Galicia. Two sailings a week from April to November, one a week in winter.
Full route detail on the Portsmouth to Bilbao page.
Rosslare to Bilbao sailing times
The only direct Ireland to Spain crossing, 27 to 31 hours on the Santoña. Two sailings a week from late March to early November.
Full route detail on the Rosslare to Bilbao page.
Full 2026 timetable, April to November
The live tables above show the next few days. This is the underlying weekly pattern Brittany Ferries published for the 2026 season, useful if you are planning further ahead.
Southbound, UK and Ireland to Spain
| Depart | Time | Arrive | Time | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, Portsmouth | 21:30 | Wednesday, Santander | 08:00 | Salamanca |
| Wednesday, Rosslare | 09:00 | Thursday, Bilbao | 13:30 | Santoña |
| Wednesday, Plymouth | 15:45 | Thursday, Santander | 13:00 | Pont-Aven |
| Thursday, Portsmouth | 19:00 | Saturday, Bilbao | 08:00 | Galicia |
| Friday, Portsmouth | 22:00 | Sunday, Santander | 08:00 | Salamanca |
| Friday, Rosslare | 23:59 | Sunday, Bilbao | 08:30 | Santoña |
| Sunday, Plymouth | 16:45 | Monday, Santander | 15:15 | Pont-Aven |
| Sunday, Portsmouth | 22:00 | Tuesday, Bilbao | 08:00 | Galicia |
Northbound, Spain to the UK and Ireland
| Depart | Time | Arrive | Time | Ship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, Santander | 18:15 | Tuesday, Plymouth | 15:00 | Pont-Aven |
| Tuesday, Bilbao | 13:00 | Wednesday, Portsmouth | 20:45 | Galicia |
| Wednesday, Santander | 14:00 | Thursday, Portsmouth | 20:00 | Salamanca |
| Thursday, Santander | 16:00 | Friday, Plymouth | 11:15 | Pont-Aven |
| Thursday, Bilbao | 18:00 | Friday, Rosslare | 20:30 | Santoña |
| Saturday, Bilbao | 13:00 | Sunday, Portsmouth | 17:30 | Galicia |
| Sunday, Bilbao | 11:00 | Monday, Rosslare | 14:30 | Santoña |
| Sunday, Santander | 14:00 | Monday, Portsmouth | 17:30 | Salamanca |
All times are local at each port. Spain runs an hour ahead of the UK and Ireland, which is why some crossings look shorter on paper than they are.
The hour’s time difference hides an hour of your crossing
Leave Portsmouth at 21:30 on Monday and arrive Santander at 08:00 on Wednesday, and the clock says 34 hours 30 minutes. Adjust for Spain being an hour ahead and the real time at sea is 33 hours 30 minutes. Worth knowing when you are comparing routes on published times.
What to check before you book
- Arrival time, not just departure. A later sailing can land you at a more useful hour, which matters if you have a long onward drive.
- The arrival day. On the two-night crossings you arrive two calendar days after you leave, which catches people out on hotel bookings.
- The sailing day. Each route runs twice a week, not daily.
- The season. Plymouth stops entirely in winter; Bilbao routes drop to one sailing a week.
- Check-in. At least 45 minutes before departure, 90 minutes with a pet.
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Check live availability and fares with Brittany Ferries.
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