What is the best ferry route to Brittany?

EASTERN BRITTANY

Best for Saint-Malo, Dinan and nearby

Portsmouth–Saint-Malo has the major advantage of delivering you directly to the north-east Brittany coast. For Saint-Malo itself the onward drive disappears; Dinan is close by.

Its overnight character also means a large part of the crossing can be spent asleep rather than driving. The trade-off is a longer scheduled sea crossing and the likely cost of a cabin if you want a proper night’s rest.

WESTERN BRITTANY

Best for Roscoff and Finistère

Plymouth–Roscoff is the obvious direct route for much of western Brittany. Travellers based in South West England can benefit at both ends: a shorter UK drive and arrival directly in Finistère.

Selected daytime sailings are relatively quick, while overnight services offer a different balance of sleep and travel.

SOUTHERN BRITTANY

Best for Vannes, Carnac and the Gulf of Morbihan

This is where simple rules become less reliable. Saint-Malo gives a direct Brittany arrival but still leaves an onward drive south. Roscoff can work well for some western origins. A frequent Normandy crossing may beat both depending on where you live and the sailing available on your date.

Use door-to-door time rather than ferry duration alone. That is particularly important if one option involves several extra hours on British motorways before you even board.

HOW WE RANK ROUTES

What “best” means on Brittany.co.uk

Our Route Finder combines road routing, check-in allowance, scheduled ferry information where available and onward driving. It also recognises that overnight sleep time is different from active driving time.

You can favour fastest, least driving, overnight or family-friendly travel. The result is a recommendation for your trip rather than a generic ranking of ferry routes.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions