Ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo
The Portsmouth–Saint-Malo ferry is one of the most enjoyable ways to reach France. Instead of arriving in a busy industrial port, you sail straight into Saint-Malo, Brittany’s famous walled pirate city. It is an overnight crossing of around 11 hours, with comfortable cabins, a good bar and restaurant, so the journey can feel more like the first night of your holiday than a long transfer. We’ve sailed this route ourselves, and what stood out was how much the crossing felt like part of the trip. The arrival into Saint-Malo is particularly memorable, and the city itself is easily worth a day or two before continuing through Brittany or western France.
Routes
Our experience
We sailed from Saint-Malo to Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries as a family, and this day crossing felt much more like part of the holiday than just transport. Saint-Malo is a brilliant place to leave from, the views on departure are beautiful, and there was enough on board to keep the children busy during the crossing. It is not the fastest way to England, but if you are travelling from Brittany or western France, it is a relaxed and very logical route to the UK.
Ferry services from Portsmouth to St Malo
Brittany Ferries operates the Portsmouth–Saint-Malo route, with most sailings taking place overnight. Travellers can bring a car, caravan, motorhome or travel as a foot passenger. For the overnight crossing, we would strongly recommend booking a cabin. Being able to sleep during the 11-hour journey is one of the route’s biggest advantages, allowing you to arrive in Brittany well rested the next morning. On daytime sailings, a cabin can still be a worthwhile upgrade, especially for families with children or anyone wanting a quiet space to relax during the crossing. Cabin prices on day sailings are often lower than on overnight departures, making them a surprisingly affordable way to add a bit more comfort to the journey.
Onboard experience
The Portsmouth–Saint-Malo route is one of Brittany Ferries’ flagship connections between southern England and Brittany. Most departures are overnight sailings, allowing you to leave Portsmouth in the evening and wake up in France the next morning. Cabins, restaurants, bars and lounges make the crossing comfortable, while children have far more freedom to move around than they would on a flight or long drive. Depending on the season, some return sailings from Saint-Malo operate during the day, offering excellent views of the Breton coastline when leaving the harbour.
From Saint-Malo into Brittany and beyond
Saint-Malo is an excellent starting point for exploring Brittany. Popular destinations nearby include Cancale, Dinard and the spectacular Mont Saint-Michel. Rennes is around an hour away by car, while Nantes, the Loire Valley and western France are all within easy reach. Travellers heading to Paris can also continue inland via Rennes. Many visitors choose to spend at least one night in Saint-Malo itself before continuing their journey.
By car
This is one of the best ferry routes for travellers bringing a car. You avoid the long drive across northern France and arrive directly in Brittany, saving both time and motorway mileage. The route works particularly well for holidays in Brittany, Normandy, the Loire region and western France.
By campervan
Portsmouth–Saint-Malo is particularly popular with motorhome and campervan travellers. Arriving directly in Brittany allows you to start exploring immediately without spending a day crossing France. One tip: avoid taking larger motorhomes into Saint-Malo’s historic walled centre (Intra-Muros), where streets can be extremely narrow and parking is limited. Use one of the designated parking areas outside the old town and explore on foot.
Still weighing up your options?
We have crossed the Channel to France more times than we can count, on most of the routes and with most of the operators. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.
Compare & book →