Poole - Santander
Ferries to Spain
Poole - Santander
Ferries to Spain
Compare live pricing across ferry operators worldwide and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking sooner rather than later is the simplest way to secure the best fares and the widest choice.
Direct Ferries runs discounts across the calendar year. If your route qualifies for a senior discount, it's applied for you automatically as soon as you choose the correct age bracket in the passenger options when you search.
Students and recent graduates qualify for a 5% saving on their ticket. Register with our partner Student Beans to confirm your eligibility, then apply the discount code you receive at checkout.
A resident discount is also on offer for a number of Spanish and Italian crossings — select the "Residents" option where available and the price will adjust automatically. Make sure you can show proof of address, such as a residency certificate or ID card, when you check in.
Document requirements differ by route, so check what you'll need well before departure. Travelling from Poole to Santander generally calls for a valid passport, plus any visa or national ID your nationality requires. Since rules depend on both your citizenship and your destination's regulations, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is a good place to check the details and avoid delays at check-in.
Getting your tickets is simple — enter your departure port, arrival port, and preferred travel date to see every fare and sailing available. From there, you can compare alternative routes and departure times to land on the best option for your trip.
Watch for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket formats, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that allow later changes or cancellations. Enter your details accurately, including passenger count and vehicle information, to keep your booking process smooth.
A confirmation email lands in your inbox the moment your booking is finalised. How your boarding pass gets issued from there depends on the specific ferry operator.
Certain operators release your boarding pass right after booking; others want you to check in once you reach the port. Where available, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online ahead of time.
Ticket desks sit near the ferry terminal in most cases. Give yourself extra time before departure to collect your tickets and complete check-in without stress.
You'll need to present your confirmation email plus valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — at check-in. Pet owners should bring vaccination and insurance paperwork, and anyone using a resident discount should have proof of address on hand.
A handful of reasons can explain the lack of departures from Poole to Santander on your selected date — timetable adjustments, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal gap are the usual culprits. Try a different date or browse other routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Poole to Santander ferry early usually pays off, both in terms of price and choice — earlier bookings tend to unlock better fares and more departure and cabin options.
A few weeks' notice is generally enough to catch the best deals, though fares can still move depending on the season and remaining availability.
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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.
