Caen

Ferry sailings from Portsmouth dock at the port of Ouistreham, a 15-minute drive (or by shuttle bus) from the city of Caen. This is an area of Normandy offering huge variety – from the D-Day beaches of World War II to William the Conqueror’s castle, from café society to seaside picnics. Caen can be a hive of activity and worth a stop on your journey into Normandy, to Paris, or further afield. The region is steeped in history and has a vibrant modern cultural life too.

Find out more at caen-tourisme.fr/en

Cherbourg

Enjoy a leisurely ferry trip to Cherbourg and visit the top of Roule Mountain with wonderful views of historic architecture. Look out for Cherbourg ferries sailing in and out. As well as welcoming holidaymakers, Cherbourg Ferry Port has a pedigree of prestigious sailing events including round-the-world yacht races. It has also played host to the Tall Ships Race, with beautiful fully rigged three-masted vessels.

Find out more at encotentin.fr/cherbourg

Le Havre

Sailing into Le Havre on a ferry crossing from Portsmouth International Port, you are likely to be struck by two sights – the soaring Pont de Normandie bridge and the rigid blocks of modernist architecture that line the quaysides. Close at hand are Le Havre’s beaches, just five minutes from the city centre and stretching for more than a mile. The beautiful historic port of Honfleur is half an hour away, a fantastic venue for crèpes (pancakes) or moules et frites (mussels and chips).

Find out more at en.normandie-tourisme.fr

St Malo

Travel by ferry to Brittany’s most visited town. With the highest concentration of seafood restaurants in Europe, St. Malo and the nearby Cancale are famous for oysters.  As your ferry from Portsmouth approaches the harbour at St Malo, the view of the impressive ramparts of the ancient walled city confirms this as the most beautiful Channel port in France. The Breton capital Rennes is just 45 minutes away. Mont St Michel is 34 miles along the coast with wonderful views on the way.

Find out more at saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk

Bilbao

The capital of Biscay province in the autonomous Basque region of northern Spain, Bilbao is a vibrantly cultural city with its own language and traditions.  Taking your car by ferry to Bilbao allows you to explore the Basque country at will, have your pick of beautiful nearby beaches and enjoy easy onward travel throughout Spain.

Find out more at bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/en/tourists

Santander

In addition to 11 scenic beaches, Santander is a cultural city renowned for its seafood, shopping and idyllic gardens. Santander is a great gateway to the rest of Spain, whether you’re heading for Barcelona in the east, the southern Costas or the wild coast of Galicia to the west. Sail into Santander on a car ferry from Portsmouth and the whole country opens up before you.

Find out more at spain.info/en/destination/santander/

Guernsey

A ferry to Guernsey takes you to St Peter Port, the island’s capital, which boasts a picturesque mix of Georgian and Regency styles, with terraces and tiered gardens linked by steps and hidden alleyways. Shopping in St Peter Port includes low-duty buys such as jewellery, electronics, perfume, wines and spirits, while the Old Quarter is home to attractive individual boutiques and bustling bistros.

Find out more at visitguernsey.com

Jersey

Jersey is an island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle the coast and feed the land. An island that’s small in size, but big on personality, where country lanes open to cliff top views and the sea is never more than 10 minutes away. It’s a place that can’t be defined by a single experience – it’s not a city break, or a country break, or a beach break. Jersey is all of these things and more.

Find out more jersey.com

Isle of Wight

With a relaxed pace of life and a sunny climate, the Isle of Wight offers luxury hotels, fine restaurants and a major music festival.

Wightlink operate their car ferry service from their dedicated terminal in Old Portsmouth, which is located separately from Portsmouth International Port. They also offer a catamaran service from Portsmouth Harbour station, and Hovertravel have a hovercraft service from Southsea.

Find out more at visitisleofwight.co.uk

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the Great Waterfront City – packed with world-class attractions, fantastic things to do and a year-round programme of events. On your approach to the port, On the approach to dock, you’ll see the Spinnaker Tower, which  represents the pinnacle of the bustling shops and restaurants of Gunwharf Quays. Escape to the UK’s only island city, to explore miles of coastline and centuries of history.

Find out more at visitportsmouth.co.uk