Ferry to Portugal

Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwest Europe, bordering Spain to the north and east. The westernmost nation of mainland Europe, it also encompasses the Azores, Cape Verde and Madeira Island groups in the Atlantic Ocean.

Aged only 900 years, Portugal is the oldest country on the continent with the same land borders and has played an important role in world history. Leading the way for European exploration during the 15th Century, the Portuguese discovered their Atlantic archipelagos, established important sea routes to India and colonised areas in Africa, South America, Asia and Oceania during this so called ‘Age of Discovery’.

Given its rich history, Portugal is unsurprisingly filled with fascinating monuments, ruins and clifftop castles, captivating visitors across the whole country. In fact, there are 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to choose from including the Convent of Christ in Tomar, the beautiful Monastery of the Hieronymites and the Tower of Belem, a district within the capital city of Lisbon. Overall, the finest examples of Portuguese historical architecture can be found in Sintra, Lisbon and Porto, characterised by idyllic medieval town centres and Romanic churches.

The 800km of mainland coastline is adorned with golden beaches, world class surf breaks and rolling green hills, but equally stunning and more remote areas can be found on the numerous Atlantic islands. The Azores, with their emerald calderas and deep blue seas are havens for hikers and whale watchers; Madeira is famed for its namesake wine, pleasant year-round climate and lively port towns; while Cape Verde, also volcanic, lies 500km west of Senegal and is known for its Creole Portuguese-African culture and sublime shorelines.

A land of multiple of island groups, ferries to Portugal span across the Atlantic Ocean. The Azores are interlinked by a series of routes with varying journey times, owing to the sporadic locations of the eight, lush islands. Ferries to Madeira connect Porto Santo with the namesake island, and with numerous sailings every week, it’s a great way of hopping between two of Portugal’s warmest spots. Ferries in Cape Verde primarily depart from the travel hub of Praia, on the southern coast of Santiago Island, offering a network of routes to and from the outlying islets.

Are there ferries from the UK to Portugal?

Currently there are no direct ferries from the UK to Portugal. To travel by ferry to Portugal, take the Portsmouth to Santander route via Spain and from there travel to Portugal via car or public transport.

What is the cheapest ferry to Portugal?

The cheapest prices are typically during off peak times and low seasons. Compare prices with our deal finder to find the cheapest deals.

Which ferries go to Portugal?

Ferries in Portugal sail from The Azore Region in the mid Atlantic. The Azore region is home to 8 small islands with various interlinked ferry routes. The majority of ferry routes depart from Vila da Praia.

Which ferry companies go to Portugal?

There are two popular ferry operators for Portugal. These are the Porto Santo Line and Atlânticoline.

What are the ferry ports in Portugal?

The ferry ports our ferry routes travel to and from in Portugal in the Azore Region include Vila da Praia, Praia da Vitoria, Velas, Horta and Sao Roque.

What Islands have ferries to Portugal?

You can book a ferry in Portugal in the Azore region to or from the islands including Madeira, Porto Santo, Santa Maria, Corvo, Graciosa, Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge, Teceira, Flores and Faial. Porto Santo to Madeira via the Porto Santo Funchal route is popular. With 8 sailings every week, it’s a great way of hopping between two of Portugal’s warmest spots.

How long is the ferry to Portugal?

Ferries we offer to Portugal in the Azore region can take between 30 minutes and 12 hours depending on the route. The quickest ferry crossing is Madelena to Horta, with a duration of approximately 30 minutes on average. Atlânticoline operates this route with 6 daily sailings.