Isle of Wight Ferry Ports
Check prices & times »Ferries to the Isle of Wight sail from four mainland ports — Portsmouth, Southampton, Lymington and Southsea — to a handful of island terminals across the Solent. Each mainland port pairs with a particular route and operator.
Because the crossings are short and frequent, your choice of port usually comes down to what's nearest and whether you're taking a car. This guide covers the mainland ports and where each one lands on the island.
Mainland ferry ports
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is Wightlink's main hub, with the car ferry to Fishbourne and the fast FastCat to Ryde Pier. The FastCat terminal sits right by Portsmouth Harbour station, making it excellent for foot passengers heading to the island by rail.
Southampton
Southampton is Red Funnel's base, running the car ferry to East Cowes and the Red Jet catamaran to West Cowes. A free connecting bus links the terminal with Southampton Central for foot passengers arriving by train.
Lymington
Lymington, on the edge of the New Forest, runs Wightlink's car ferry to Yarmouth — the quickest car crossing at around 30 to 40 minutes. The drive to Lymington through the New Forest is scenic, though it can be slow on busy days.
Southsea
Southsea is home to Hovertravel's hovercraft terminal, running the fastest crossing of all to Ryde in around ten minutes. A Hoverbus connects the terminal with Portsmouth's rail and bus network for onward travel.
Island ferry ports
On the island side, the ferries arrive at several terminals:
- Fishbourne: the car ferry arrival for the Portsmouth route, near Ryde
- East Cowes: the car ferry arrival for the Southampton route, on the River Medina
- West Cowes: the Red Jet arrival, right in the centre of Cowes
- Yarmouth: the car ferry arrival for the Lymington route, in West Wight
- Ryde Pier Head: the FastCat and hovercraft arrival, with an Island Line train station on the pier
Which port should you choose?
A quick way to decide:
- Taking a car for West Wight: Lymington to Yarmouth
- Taking a car near Portsmouth: Portsmouth to Fishbourne
- Taking a car from the west: Southampton to East Cowes
- On foot, fastest: Southsea to Ryde by hovercraft
- On foot with rail links: Portsmouth to Ryde by FastCat
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mainland ports have ferries to the Isle of Wight?
Portsmouth, Southampton, Lymington and Southsea, each serving different routes and operators.
Where do Isle of Wight ferries arrive?
At Fishbourne, East Cowes, West Cowes, Yarmouth and Ryde, depending on the route.
Which port is quickest for foot passengers?
Southsea, with the Hovertravel hovercraft to Ryde in around ten minutes.
Which port has the best rail links?
Portsmouth, where the FastCat terminal is beside Portsmouth Harbour station and arrives at Ryde Pier's Island Line station.
Which port is best for taking a car to West Wight?
Lymington, with Wightlink's quick car ferry to Yarmouth.