Portsmouth to France by ferry: routes, crossing times and check-in

Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo, and still publishes a Portsmouth to Le Havre page. Crossings run from an average of 6 hours by day to an average of 11 hours overnight, and its Portsmouth ferries carry both cars and passengers.

This guide covers the Portsmouth end in detail: the crossing time of each route, what to expect at check-in and what to have ready. Other ports, the Dover crossings and the choice of operator are in our ferry to France from the UK guide.

Caen has the shortest crossing out of Portsmouth that publishes a time, at an average of 6 hours on the daily morning sailing. St Malo is the longest, at an average of 11 hours overnight. The way back differs: Cherbourg sails by afternoon and St Malo mostly by day.

Read these as the operator's averages, not a promise for your date. Check the timetable for the day you want to travel before you fix the rest of the trip around a sailing.

Caen

Caen has a daily morning sailing and an overnight one. The morning crossing averages 6 hours and the overnight one 7 to 8 hours, and the way back from Caen is overnight, at an average of 8 hours.

Cherbourg

Cherbourg has the fewest sailings in the table: up to twice a week. Out of Portsmouth the crossing is overnight, around 8 hours, and coming home it leaves by afternoon. Look at the dates on the timetable before you plan a holiday around it.

St Malo

St Malo is the long overnight crossing, an average of 11 hours. Brittany Ferries says the evening departure leaves time for a meal on board and the morning arrival lets you have breakfast in France. Outward sailings run most days throughout the year.

Le Havre

Brittany Ferries still has a Portsmouth to Le Havre page, which describes daily daytime sailings that leave in the late morning to reach France by dinnertime. The route page gives no crossing time. Confirm with the operator that the route runs on your date before you plan around it.

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  Day or night: Caen has both a morning and an overnight crossing; Cherbourg and St Malo leave Portsmouth overnight.
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  Days of the week: Cherbourg sails up to twice a week, so your dates may decide the route for you.
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  The way home: Cherbourg returns by afternoon, St Malo mostly by day and Caen overnight.

There is no single check-in time for every passenger. Brittany Ferries says on its check-in page that check-in times vary with your booking type and are in your e-ticket booking confirmation. We print no cut-off, so go by the time on your own confirmation.

At the port, the operator's Portsmouth guide says it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the ferry terminal from the town centre, and that there is a taxi rank outside the terminal. Left luggage costs £10 per item at the security desk, open from 5:30 to 23:59, for passengers only.

What to have ready

• Your e-ticket booking confirmation
  It carries the check-in time that applies to you.
• A passport for every traveller
  Checked against the two dates in the table below.
• Your pet's documents, if it travels
  Brittany Ferries asks for a pet travel pre-check before you depart.

Every traveller needs a passport that meets the French rules on both dates. GOV.UK sets the rules out in its France travel advice, and the border checks differ slightly from Dover.

If you take your own car, our driving in Europe from the UK guide lists the documents to carry. For other destinations, see entry requirements for British passport holders.

Brittany Ferries offers pet cabins on its Portsmouth ferries to France. Its pet travel advice says you will receive an email about its pet travel pre-check 3 days before you depart, to complete within 96 hours of departure with your pet's travel documents to hand. The rules on the paperwork itself are on GOV.UK.

• How long is the ferry from Portsmouth to France?

  It depends on the route. Brittany Ferries gives an average of 6 hours for the morning crossing to Caen, around 8 hours overnight to Cherbourg and an average of 11 hours overnight to St Malo, on route pages read on 7 November 2026.

• Which Portsmouth ferry to France is the shortest?

  Of the crossings out of Portsmouth that publish a time, Caen is the shortest, at an average of 6 hours on the daily morning sailing, according to Brittany Ferries.

• Is there an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to France?

  Yes. Brittany Ferries lists overnight crossings to Caen (average 7 to 8 hours), Cherbourg (around 8 hours) and St Malo (average 11 hours).

• Is there a ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre?

  Brittany Ferries still has a Portsmouth to Le Havre page that describes daily daytime sailings and gives no crossing time. Confirm with the operator before you plan around it.

• How early do I need to check in at Portsmouth?

  Brittany Ferries says check-in times vary with your booking type and are in your e-ticket booking confirmation, so go by that time.

• Can I take the Portsmouth ferry to France without a car?

  Brittany Ferries says its Portsmouth ferries carry both cars and passengers. Its Portsmouth guide says it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the terminal from the town centre.

• Does the ferry to St Malo run every day?

  Brittany Ferries says sailings operate most days from Portsmouth to St Malo, with outward overnight sailings most days throughout the year.

• Can I take my dog on the Portsmouth ferry?

  Brittany Ferries offers pet cabins on its Portsmouth ferries to France and asks you to complete a pet travel pre-check, within 96 hours of departure, with your pet’s documents to hand.

• What passport do I need for the ferry to France?

  GOV.UK says your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and expire at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.