Ferries to Santander

The ferry port of Santander lies in Cantabria on the north coast of Spain. From here you can reach Plymouth, Portsmouth and Rosslare. Together the services add up to as many as 5 departures a day. Crossings take between 21.75 and 31 hours. The port is served by Brittany Ferries.

Getting there and the terminal

The terminal lies in the middle of the city, within walking distance of the shops and the sights. Brittany Ferries gives five to ten minutes on foot for the railway and bus stations; from there, trains and long-distance coaches run to Madrid, Bilbao, Oviedo and Alicante. By car you arrive on the A-67 or the S-10. Follow the signs for Santander, not the yellow ones for the Puerto. After the car dealerships and a tunnel, a bright yellow ferry sign shows the way; beyond the port control, the operator's check-in area is on the left. There are short-stay spaces for dropping people off, and the paid car parks nearby for longer stays. Note the city-wide parking restrictions for vehicles over 1.80 metres high, a point that reliably catches out motorhomes and high vans. Foot passengers reach the first floor of the terminal by escalator or lift; there is no shuttle bus.

Check-in

Brittany Ferries closes check-in 45 minutes before departure. If a pet is travelling with you, you have to be there 90 minutes beforehand. The exact time is on your ticket and takes precedence in case of doubt.