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- Crossing time
- 27–31 hours
- Operator
- 1
Checked against brittany-ferries.ie on 9 November 2026
The Rosslare to Bilbao ferry takes 27–31 hours with Brittany Ferries.
Are you planning a trip to Spain with your car? The Rosslare to Bilbao ferry with Brittany Ferries could be just what you need.
From Rosslare, overnight sailings on Wednesdays take 27 hrs 30 mins, and two-night sailings on Fridays take 31 hrs. Coming back, overnight sailings from Bilbao on Thursdays and Sundays take 27 to 29 hrs.
- Rosslare to Bilbao: overnight sailings on Wednesdays (27 hrs 30 mins)
- Rosslare to Bilbao: two-night sailings on Fridays (31 hrs)
- Bilbao to Rosslare: overnight sailings on Thursdays and Sundays (27 to 29 hrs)
- Brittany Ferries call it the perfect way to get to Spain with your car
At a glance
- Crossing
- 27–31 hours
- Rosslare to Bilbao
- Crossing type
- Overnight
- As Brittany Ferries describes it
- Vehicles
- Cars
- Brittany Ferries
- Arrives
- Bilbao
- Spain
Who sails this route
Photo: James Francis / UnsplashSailing with Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries describe the route from Rosslare to Bilbao as the perfect way to get to Spain with your car.
Heading out from Rosslare, you can choose an overnight sailing on a Wednesday, which takes 27 hrs 30 mins, or a two-night sailing on a Friday, which takes 31 hrs. For the journey home, overnight sailings leave Bilbao on Thursdays and Sundays and take 27 to 29 hrs.
You can compare sailings on Ferryu. Book early for the best choice of sailings, and be sure to check the latest times with the operator before you travel.
Before you travel
Rosslare is just 2 hours and 15 minutes drive from Dublin. Allow plenty of time to reach the port, and be sure to check in good time.
When you arrive in Bilbao
Bilbao and the hills around it seen from abovePhoto: Yves Alarie / Unsplash 
The La Salve bridge and the Guggenheim on the river in BilbaoPhoto: David Vives / Unsplash 
The red Bilbao sign on Mount Artxanda above the cityPhoto: Neil Martin / Unsplash 
Colourful houses beside the railway in BilbaoPhoto: Danielle Suijkerbuijk / Unsplash
Weather in Bilbao
- Warmest month: August, average high 24°C.
- Wettest month: November, about 135 mm of rain.
- Sea at its warmest in August, about 23°C.
Temperature
- Air, average daily low to high (1991–2020)
- Sea surface, monthly average (2023–2024)
Rain
Average total for the month, mm (1991–2020)
Temperature
- Air, average daily low to high (1991–2020)
- Sea surface, monthly average (2023–2024)
Rain
Average total for the month, mm (1991–2020)
Show the numbers
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Sea °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.7 | 7.6 | 111.9 | 13.9 |
| February | 13.2 | 7.4 | 101.1 | 13.3 |
| March | 15.0 | 8.8 | 97.9 | 13.4 |
| April | 16.2 | 10.1 | 96.7 | 14.4 |
| May | 18.9 | 12.7 | 83.7 | 16.5 |
| June | 21.5 | 15.4 | 68.7 | 19.8 |
| July | 23.4 | 17.4 | 60.0 | 21.9 |
| August | 24.3 | 18.0 | 55.0 | 22.8 |
| September | 22.6 | 16.1 | 65.5 | 21.5 |
| October | 20.0 | 13.8 | 96.9 | 19.4 |
| November | 15.7 | 10.5 | 135.2 | 17.2 |
| December | 13.4 | 8.4 | 104.7 | 14.7 |
1991–2020 averages, ERA5 via Open-Meteo, read at the grid point nearest the port (9 km away). Sea surface: 2023–2024 averages from the Open-Meteo Marine Weather API, which has no sea temperatures before late 2022.
Questions answered
How long is the ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao?
27–31 hours, depending on the sailing.
Rosslare to Bilbao overnight sailings on Wednesdays take 27 hrs 30 mins. (Brittany Ferries, brittany-ferries.ie)
Rosslare to Bilbao two-night sailings on Fridays take 31 hrs. (Brittany Ferries, brittany-ferries.ie)
Bilbao to Rosslare overnight sailings on Thursdays and Sundays take 27-29 hrs. (Brittany Ferries, brittany-ferries.ie)
Can I take my car?
Yes.
The route from Rosslare to Bilbao is the perfect way to get to Spain with your car. (Brittany Ferries, brittany-ferries.ie)
Compare routes to Spain
Who sails each route and how long the crossing takes.
| Route | Operator | Crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Rosslare to Bilbao This route | Brittany Ferries | 27–31 hours |
| Plymouth to Santander | Brittany Ferries | 20–22 hours |
| Portsmouth to Bilbao | Brittany Ferries | 29½–36 hours |
| Portsmouth to Santander | Brittany Ferries | 28–33 hours |
| Rosslare to Santander | Brittany Ferries | About 27½ hours |
More ferries to Spain
More ferries from Rosslare
All ferries to Spain · More from Rosslare ferry port · More from Bilbao ferry port
Facts on this page come from: