Ferries to Portsmouth

The ferry port of Portsmouth is on the south coast of England. From here you can reach 9 destinations, including Fishbourne, Caen and Bilbao. Together the connections add up to as many as 29 departures a day. Crossings take between 45 minutes and 31 hours: to the Isle of Wight it's a short hop, while to northern Spain it becomes a sea voyage of two nights. The port is served by Brittany Ferries, DFDS and Wightlink.

Getting there and the terminal

Check which terminal is on your ticket, because there are two. Sailings to France, Spain and the Channel Islands leave from Portsmouth International Port, George Byng Way, Portsmouth PO2 8SP. The M275 takes you right to the door, Portsmouth & Southsea station is about 20 minutes' walk or a five-minute drive away, and coaches stop right at the terminal. Foot passengers check in at the main building. Parking is in the long-stay multi-storey a few minutes' walk away; in front of the terminal there are 20-minute bays for dropping off and picking up. The car ferries to the Isle of Wight, by contrast, sail from Portsmouth Car Ferry Terminal, Gunwharf Road, Portsmouth PO1 2LA, where there are over 200 parking spaces opposite the entrance.

Check-in

With Brittany Ferries you must be checked in as a foot passenger at least 60 minutes before departure. For Wightlink's ferries to the Isle of Wight, the rule is: 30 minutes with a vehicle, 15 minutes on foot before departure.