Both ports put you on Spain's north coast, but the crossings, the ships and the ports themselves are quite different. Here's how the five routes I list compare, from Brittany Ferries' own pages.
If you're taking the car to Spain by sea, you'll end up choosing between Bilbao and Santander. Brittany Ferries sails to both, from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Rosslare.
Everything below comes from Brittany Ferries' own pages, and I checked it on 10 November 2026.
The routes side by side
| Route | Ships named by Brittany Ferries | Sailings out | Crossing out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth to Bilbao | Galicia and Salamanca | Up to two a week, all year | 33–36 hrs, arriving 08:00 |
| Portsmouth to Santander | Santoña and Salamanca | Two a week most of the year, one in winter | 2 nights (33 hrs) |
| Plymouth to Santander | Pont-Aven | Sundays and Wednesdays, no winter sailings | As little as 20 hrs 15 mins |
| Rosslare to Bilbao | Not named on the route page | Wednesdays (overnight) and Fridays (two nights) | 27 hrs 30 mins or 31 hrs |
| Rosslare to Santander | Not named on the route page | Tuesdays, winter only | 27 hrs 30 mins |
The quickest crossing is Plymouth to Santander, which Brittany Ferries calls its most direct route to Spain. It doesn't run in winter, though, so in winter the English options are the two Portsmouth routes.
Rosslare to Santander has sailings most weeks from November 2026 to mid-March 2027, with no return sailings. Brittany Ferries says to come back from Bilbao to Rosslare instead.
Coming home
Return crossings are shorter than the outward ones. From Bilbao to Portsmouth it's 29 hrs 30 mins to 32 hrs 45 mins, and from Santander to Portsmouth it's a one-night crossing of 28 to 32 hrs.
Santander to Portsmouth has two sailings a week all year. In the winter months, Brittany Ferries says to sail from Santander to Portsmouth rather than from Bilbao. From Bilbao to Rosslare, there are overnight sailings on Thursdays and Sundays (27 to 29 hrs).
Where the ports are
Santander's ferry port is in the city itself, while Bilbao's is at Zierbena, 21km from the city.
Brittany Ferries says Santander port is in the heart of the city, within easy walking distance of its shops and attractions, and is the gateway to the Picos de Europa. It also describes Santander as a tourist destination in its own right, with three sandy beaches.
Brittany Ferries says Bilbao ferry port is at Zierbena, 21km from Bilbao city, in the Basque Country. Brittany Ferries describes Bilbao as having an exciting blend of modern and historical attractions.
If you're travelling on foot, that difference matters. At Santander you're already in the city; at Bilbao you still have 21km to go.
Santander's ferry port is in the city itself, while Bilbao's is at Zierbena, 21km from the city.
The ships
Brittany Ferries' Portsmouth routes use its Spanish-themed ships. Its Bilbao page names Galicia and Salamanca, and its Santander page names Santoña and Salamanca. Santoña is the third of its new ships designed especially for its routes to Spain.
On these ships you'll find Spanish food in the main restaurant, La Taberna for light meals and snacks, a sundeck with sports equipment and a children's play area, and Video On Demand throughout the ship and on the cabin TVs. Brittany Ferries says their cabins have the largest and most comfortable beds in the fleet.
Plymouth to Santander uses Pont-Aven, Brittany Ferries' flagship and the largest ship in its fleet, carrying up to 2,400 passengers and 650 cars. On the Plymouth route Brittany Ferries mentions a choice of restaurants, a cinema and a pool.
Cabins
Brittany Ferries says all its cabins are en suite and air-conditioned, with bed linen, towels and toiletries provided. Galicia, Salamanca, Santoña and Pont-Aven all offer reserved lounge seats as well as cabins.
On Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña, the CClub Lounge is free with Commodore and Club cabins on sailings to Spain. Anyone else can pay for entry at the Information Desk or book in advance online.
I couldn't find a clear statement on Brittany Ferries' site about whether a cabin is compulsory on its Spain sailings, so check when you book.
Travelling with a pet
All four ships named on these routes (Galicia, Salamanca, Santoña and Pont-Aven) have pet-friendly 4-berth cabins, inside and outside, with laminate flooring and space for a standard-size animal bed. Brittany Ferries says these cabins sell out fast, and that space for pets is always very limited, especially in summer.
Brittany Ferries advertises pet travel from £50 to Spain.
Your dog must wear a muzzle in all areas of the ship when it's outside your vehicle or the kennel/pet-friendly cabin. At the ports in Bilbao and Santander, muzzled dogs on a lead are allowed in all areas. With a pet, you must arrive at least 90 minutes before departure.
Driving on
These are Brittany Ferries' own driving distances from each port:
| To | From Bilbao, miles (km) | From Santander, miles (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Biarritz | 91 (147) | 150 (246) |
| Leon | 196 (315) | 173 (279) |
| Madrid | 245 (395) | 243 (399) |
| Salamanca | 247 (398) | 226 (364) |
| Vigo | 435 (700) | 314 (505) |
| Barcelona | 376 (605) | 443 (709) |
| Alicante | 496 (799) | 517 (832) |
Bilbao is the closer port for Biarritz and Barcelona; Santander is closer for Leon, Salamanca and Vigo. For Madrid, it's 245 miles from Bilbao and 243 from Santander. Brittany Ferries says Madrid is only a 4-hour drive from Bilbao, and Barcelona around 6 hours away.
Which should you choose?
- Heading for the city on foot: Santander, because the port is in the heart of the city.
- Heading east, to the Basque Country, Barcelona or south-west France: Bilbao is the closer port on Brittany Ferries' distance table.
- Heading west, to Leon, Salamanca or Vigo: Santander is the closer port on the same table.
- Starting in the West Country or Wales, outside winter: Plymouth to Santander, the shortest crossing.
- Starting in Ireland: Rosslare to Bilbao, or Rosslare to Santander in winter.
Whichever you pick, check the route page for the sailings on your dates, then book with Brittany Ferries.
