The UK’s longest ferry trip that docks in Spain and lasts for 30 hours

This is the incredible ferry trip from the UK that docks in Spain and lasts for a mammoth 30 hours.

The ferry travels from Portsmouth to Bilbao, crossing 431 nautical miles through the English Channel and past the west coast of France.

Brittany Ferries operates two journeys a week throughout most of the year, taking foot passengers, cars, motorhomes, vans, motorbikes, and bikes on its ships.

These journeys take between 27 and 33 hours. From the UK, evening departures take two nights to arrive at Bilbao at 8am. From Spain, leaving in the afternoon brings you back to the UK by the next evening.

The “green” ferries are Spanish-themed, allowing passengers to “cruise in comfort and style” with restaurants, accommodation and onboard facilities.

There are two restaurants and a bar, a club lounge, a sundeck, a play area, a boutique and more on board for travellers between the UK and Spain.

The ship travels Portsmouth in southern England, passing Guernsey and Jersey before turning past Brest in northwest France. 

It then follows the French coast, past Nantes and Bordeaux before docking in Bilbao, in northern Spain, 80 miles from the French border.

Portsmouth is just two hours drive from London and has easy access to the M27 for fast connections to the Midlands and the south of England.

Portsmouth and Bilbao both offer excellent road links with access to motorways from the ports for an easy, fast onward journey. 

Bilbao is in the Basque region of Spain and has “an exciting blend of modern and historical attractions” to explore. It is an ideal entry point to Spain, with Madrid only a four-hour drive and Barcelona around six hours away.

The city has a historic old town with a maze of medieval streets, gothic buildings and impressive monuments. It has also enjoyed investment in recent years and has many modern attractions, including the Guggenheim Museum and Santiago Cathedral.

According to Direct Ferries, the cheapest ticket prices start from £97. The average roundtrip price for a foot passenger is £262. The average price for a car is £546.