Poole - Santander
Ferry to Spain
Poole - Santander
Ferry to Spain
See ferry fares and operators from all over the world in one spot, and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking early is usually the surest way to get a good price and plenty of choice.
Discounts are available with Direct Ferries all year round. If a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied for you automatically once the right age bracket is selected in the passenger options.
Students and recent graduates can claim a 5% saving. Register with our partner Student Beans to verify eligibility, then apply your discount code at checkout.
Resident discounts also apply to a number of Spanish and Italian routes — pick the "Residents" option during search and the fare adjusts automatically. Be ready to show proof of address, such as an ID card or residency certificate, at check-in.
Requirements for travel documents change from route to route, so check what's needed ahead of time. A valid passport is usually required for Poole to Santander travel, plus any visa or national ID relevant to your nationality. Since the rules depend on your citizenship and destination, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is the place to check for the latest guidance and avoid delays at check-in.
To book, just add your departure port, arrival port and preferred date, and you'll see every fare and sailing on offer. You can also compare alternative routes and times to find your best match.
Look out for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket options, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that let you make changes down the line. Entering accurate details — passenger count, vehicle specs and so on — keeps the process running smoothly.
As soon as your booking is confirmed, a confirmation email will land in your inbox. What happens next with your boarding pass depends on the operator you've booked.
Some operators issue boarding passes right away, while others need you to check in at the port itself. Where it's supported, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online in advance.
You'll usually find ticket desks close to the ferry terminal. Giving yourself a little extra time before departure means you can collect tickets and check in without any stress.
Bring your confirmation email and valid photo ID, such as a passport or identity card, to check in. Pet owners should have vaccination and insurance documents on hand, and anyone with a resident discount should carry proof of address.
There are a few reasons departures from Poole to Santander might not show for your chosen date — a schedule change, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal lull are the most likely. Try another date or check alternative routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Poole to Santander ferry well ahead of time generally works in your favour — you'll usually find better fares and a wider choice of departures and cabins.
A few weeks ahead is usually enough notice to catch the best offers, though fares can still fluctuate with the season and remaining space.
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The English town of Pool lies on the English Channel coast in the south of England, in the county of Dorset. The town is around 30 km to the east of Dorchester and 180 km to the south west of London and is located on the eastern shores of Poole Harbour. The busy port, with many shipping movements each day, is also one of the world's largest natural harbours and is full of wildlife, much of which is visible in the marshes and mudflats and on Brownsea island inside the harbour. There is also a pontoon ferry crossing the harbour mouth back and forward all day, allowing easy access to the Purbecks.
The are good facilities inside the ferry terminal at the harbour including a cafe, a bureau de change and left luggage lockers. Ferry services operating from the port depart to Cherbourg in France with a crossing time of roughly 4 hours and 15 minutes. During the summer months, usually between May and September, there is also a fast ferry service to Cherbourg with a crossing time of just over 2 hours. In the summer there are additional services that operate to St Malo in France (4 hours and 30 minutes) and two daily crossings to St Peter Port in Guernsey (2 hours and 30 minutes) and St Helier in Jersey (3 hours).
The modern Spanish city of Santander is located net to the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Sea, and is a popular destination with tourists who are mainly drawn to the city's lovely beaches and in particular those that are located around the resort of El Sardinero. The one stand out beach in this area is the Playa Primera de El Sardinero. Unsurprisingly the most popular time to visit the city tends to be during the warm summer months with many of the visitors making a direct beeline towards one of the many beaches. However, alternative ways of spending time in or around the city include taking a leisurely stroll along the Avenida de la Reina Victoria or along the promenade of Paseo Maritimo or by taking a cruise along the coastline. Santander's busy fishing district, known as Barrio Pesquero, is perhaps the best place to find a good seafood restaurant.
The Port of Santander is host to ferry services to Plymouth and Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. The crossing time for Portsmouth is around 24 hours and to Plymouth, 20 hours.
