Ferry Destinations
Wherever you're heading by sea, this is the place to start. We cover ferry routes across the UK's islands, over to Ireland, and across the Channel and beyond to mainland Europe — with full guides to the routes, operators and ports for each.
Pick a destination below to see how to get there, compare the crossings, and find the route that suits your trip. They're grouped by region to make browsing easy.
In this guide
Continental Europe
- France: the busiest crossings, from Dover–Calais to the western Channel routes. → /ferry-to-france/
- Spain: long Bay of Biscay crossings to Santander and Bilbao with Brittany Ferries. → /ferry-spain/
- Holland: overnight and fast crossings to the Netherlands from the east coast. → /ferry-holland/
- Belgium: no direct ferry — reached via northern France or the Netherlands. → /ferry-belgium/
- Denmark: no direct ferry — reached via the Netherlands and Germany. → /ferry-denmark/
Ireland
- Ireland: crossings from Wales, England and Scotland to the Republic and Northern Ireland. → /ferry-ireland/
Scotland and its islands
- Scotland: the Hebrides, Clyde islands, Orkney and Shetland by ferry. → /ferry-scotland/
UK islands
- Isle of Wight: frequent, short crossings from Portsmouth, Southampton, Lymington and Southsea. → /ferry-isle-wight/
- Isle of Man: sailings to Douglas with the Steam Packet Company. → /ferry-isle-man/
- Channel Islands: crossings to Jersey and Guernsey from the south coast and St Malo. → /ferry-channel-islands/
How to choose a destination
Each destination guide covers the routes, operators and ports for that country or island, so you can compare crossing times, departure ports and prices. For general travel tips — taking your car, pets, or getting through the border — see our ferry guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ferry destinations do you cover?
France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Which destinations have no direct ferry from the UK?
Belgium and Denmark — both are reached indirectly, via northern France or the Netherlands, then driving on.
What's the busiest ferry destination?
France, with the short Dover–Calais and Dover–Dunkirk crossings among the most frequent ferry routes from the UK.
Can I take my car to all these destinations?
To most, yes — car ferries serve France, Spain, Holland, Ireland, Scotland and the UK islands. Check each destination guide for the routes that carry vehicles.
Where do I find travel tips for these routes?
See our ferry guides, covering taking your car, travelling with pets, EU border rules, saving money and more.