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Biscay

Portsmouth to Bilbao, into the Basque country.

The same two nights as the Santander boat, landing an hour further east. The crossing runs 33 to 36 hours depending on which of the two weekly sailings you take, and the port is at Zierbena rather than in Bilbao itself.

BritainFrancePlymouthSantanderPortsmouthBilbao

Timetables checked August 2026, and how they are checked

36 hat sea2sailings a week2nights aboardYear roundBrittany Ferries

The crossing

The same two nights as the Santander boat, an hour further east.

Operator
Brittany Ferries
Sailings
2 sailings a week in summer, 1 a week November to March; cabin or seat compulsory
Crossing
About 36 hTwo nights aboard on the usual schedule.
Accommodation
Cabin or reclining seat, compulsoryTwo nights aboard southbound. Some northbound sailings run a night shorter.
Check-in
45 minutes minimum with a vehicle, 90 with pets. Allow more at Portsmouth in August.
Gas bottles
Up to three butane or propane cylinders, 47 kg between them, with no limit on any one bottle. Caravans and campervans only, and for the vehicle's own lighting, heating and cooking. Secured against the movement of the ship, kept away from heat, and shut off at the cylinder for the sailing.
Pets
Pet cabins and kennels, £50 each way, with an outdoor exercise area on the kennel deck. Pets can't stay in the van on the Spain sailings.Paperwork: an EU pet passport or a GB Animal Health Certificate, a microchip, and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old. A dog also needs a vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before it comes back into Great Britain. An Animal Health Certificate has to come from an official vet within ten days of travel, so it's booked well before the crossing is.
Book with
Brittany Ferries (opens in a new tab)Fares and availability live with the operator, not here.

Seasons, weather and operators all move these, so confirm with the operator before you book.

Getting there

London is 1 h 50 away, Newcastle upon Tyne 6 h.

Typical driving hours to Portsmouth with light traffic
Starting fromDriving hours
London1 h 50
Bristol2 h
Birmingham2 h 50
Manchester4 h 30
Liverpool4 h 30
Leeds4 h 50
Newcastle upon Tyne6 h

Ashore

You land at Zierbena, twenty minutes out, on the motorway rather than in a city.

You land at Zierbena, about 21 km west of Bilbao, on the motorway rather than in a city. The Basque coast runs east from the ramp, San Sebastián is under two hours, and the Picos are a little over two the other way.

Still asked

Not reliably cheaper than Santander, and the port is 21 km out.

Not reliably. The two routes trade places depending on season and how early you book, and at the time of writing Bilbao is the dearer of the two. Price both for your dates rather than assuming either.

About 21 km, and roughly 20 minutes by road on the operator's own figure. The terminal is at Zierbena on the west side of the estuary, so you're on the motorway immediately rather than in city traffic.

No. The vehicle deck is sealed once the ship sails. Take what you need for the crossing up with you, including anything the fridge is keeping cold, because there's no going back down for it.

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