Ferries to Portugal - Sea Travel to Portugal
Taking a car ferry from the UK to northern Spain is a leisurely travel option for getting to Portugal albeit an expensive one and there are still around a 1000 km to go to by road to Lisbon, 1300 km to Faro and 800 km to Porto.
Brittany Ferries sail twice weekly from Plymouth making the crossing to Santander in around 22 hours and 30 minutes. There are sailings every Sunday and Tuesday.
Brittany Ferries also sail from Portsmouth (Sunday and Wednesday) to Bilbao in around 24-32 hours, depending on the service, twice weekly with an extra sailing on Tuesdays during summer, autumn and spring.
There are ferry services from Portsmouth to Santander also with Brittany Ferries on Friday and Saturday. The crossing takes 24-32 hours depending on the service.
Tickets are available direct from the ferry companies or at most travel agents and vary according to the season.
Book a ferry from Plymouth to Santander or Bilbao with Direct Ferries.
The nearest sea connections from North Africa are from Morocco to Spain and Tangier to Gibraltar.
There is also a water crossing from Portugal to Spain on a car ferry on the Rio Guadiana from Vila Real de Santo Antonio to Ayamonte.
Ferries Across The River Tagus in Lisbon
Ferries cross the River Tagus in Lisbon with the main route being the quick connection from Cais do Sodre to Cacilhas. The boat journey takes around 10 minutes and ferries make the crossing roughly every 15-20 minutes.
There are also ferries from Cais do Sodre to Montijo and Seixal on the south bank of the Tagus. Other cross-Tagus ferries include Terreiro do Paço to Barreiro, and Belem to Porto Brandão and Trafaria.
Times
The first boat from Cacilhas to Cais do Sodre on weekdays leaves Cacilhas at 5.20 am with the last sailing at 1.20 am.
The first boat from Barreiro to Terreiro do Paço on weekdays leaves Barreiro at 5.15 am with the last sailing at 1.30 am.
The first boat from Seixal to Cais do Sodre on weekdays leaves Seixal at 6.10 am with the last sailing at 10.30 am.
The first boat from Montijo to Cais do Sodre on weekdays leaves Montijo at 6 am with the last sailing at 10.30 am.
The first boat from Porto Brandão to Cais do Sodre on weekdays leaves Porto Brandão at 6.30 am with the last sailing at 9.40 am. There is a reduced service on weekends and public holidays on all cross-Tagus ferry services.
Passengers can use their Viva Viagem cards on the crossings.
See transtejo.transporteslisboa.pt for full fare details and timetables.
Ferries Across The River Sado from Setubal
There are car ferries and passenger catamarans in Setubal 2.5 km across the Sado River to the Tróia Peninsula run by Atlantic Ferries. Ferries leave from Doca do Comércio in Setubal from 7.30 am to 10 pm; catamarans sail from Cais 3 in the center of Setubal from 6.20 am to 4 am.
See www.atlanticferries.pt for further details on departures and fares.
Funchal to Porto Santo Ferries
Ferries connect Funchal in Madeira to the smaller island of Porto Santo. The crossing takes about 2 hours, 15 minutes. The ferry is operated by Porto Santo Line.
Book a ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo with Direct Ferries.
Ferries in the Azores
There are no ferries from continental Portugal to the Azores. You will have to fly. Ferries do connect the various groups of islands in the Azores, however.
Sailings are subject to the weather and the season, being less frequent in winter when the seas can be rough.
The boats are operated by Atlânticoline (atlanticoline.pt).
Car ferries between the eastern group of islands São Miguel and Santa Maria take 3 hours.
Ferries also connect the central group of islands: São Jorge, Graciosa, Pico, Terceira and Faial.
Faial (Horta) to São Jorge (Velas) takes 2 hours; Faial (Horta) to Pico (São Roque) takes 1 hour, 10 minutes; Faial (Horta) to Pico (Madalena) takes 30 minutes; Pico (Madalena) to São Jorge (Velas) takes 1 hour, 20 minutes; Pico (São Roque) to São Jorge (Velas) is 50 minutes.
The western group of islands Flores and Corvo are connected by a small passenger only ferry (40 minutes).
The ferry terminal on Terceira is on the east coast in Praia da Vitoria.
*All journey times are dependent on sea conditions.
Related Ferry Information
Book Budget Air Tickets to Portugal
