Top 5 foot passenger ferry trips

Our top 5 ferry journeys in Europe as a foot passenger, with details on how to travel without a vehicle to the top gateway ports in France, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Watch our 3-minute video of what it's like to Rail and Sail to Holland

Ferry travel has had a renaissance in recent years - gone are the days of the pitch-and-roll churn, nowadays you can expect first class dining and comfortable cabins. And with improved rail connections, it's never been easier to travel as a foot passenger to departure ports and, on arrival, to continue the journey by train to destinations throughout Ireland, Holland, France and northern Spain.

Here are our five of our favourite foot passenger ferry trips:

Rail Sail to Holland
Also known as the 'Dutchflyer', this increasingly popular StenaLine ticket offers passengers the chance to travel by train from London across to Harwich, then by ferry to the Hook of Holland plus onward travel to any station in Holland. This means you could be exploring Rotterdam or the Hague in less than an hour once arriving in Holland, with Amsterdam's canals and museums only a little further afield. It's not only the speed that'll impress; the ferry itself is kitted out with bars, restaurants and even a cinema, while the 'Comfort Class' feels more like a hotel than a ferry cabin. Don't believe us? See a video of the trip >> The Dutchflyer service costs from £35 daytime single and from £57 overnight single.

Rail Sail to Ireland
The ideal setting for many a green getaway, it is surprisingly cheap (and easy) to train and ferry your way across to the Emerald Isle. This handy SailRail initiative allows you to buy a ticket from any British train station to a selection of ferry ports including Stranraer, Holyhead and Fishguard, and then onwards to Ireland. You needn't be worried about crossing times either, the catamaran service between Holyhead and Dublin cuts the crossing time down to 3 hours 15 minutes. For more information on getting to Ireland without flying, see How to Travel to Ireland without Flying. Tickets cost from £24 one way (Manchester to Dublin). A single from London to Dublin costs £27.

Ferry from Portsmouth to Santander, Northern Spain
Nothern Spain boasts one of the most picturesque stretches of coastline in Europe, and this fantastic ferry crossing offers the chance to get the full experience without having to fly or drive all the way down through France. Often likened to a mini-cruise, the 24 hour ferry trip is also famous for frequent sightings of whales and dolphins, particularly around the beautiful Bay of Biscay. What's more, Santander's ferry port is only one block from the main train station, so travelling further inland is a piece of cake. Tickets cost from £47 each way, with the trip taking around 24 hours.

Brittany Ferries Cruise & Stay to St Malo
St Malo's stunning coastline is only hours away by ferry to St Malo, northern France
For a limited time only, Brittany Ferries is offering the chance to escape the dreary British Autumn for 2 nights in the sun-drenched port of St Malo, plus a return ferry crossing, all for under £100. Sail overnight from Plymouth in a 2-berth en suite cabin on any Tuesday between the 15th November and 23rd December and spend the next three days exploring the winding streets, quaint shops and traditional restaurants at the heart of the city before boarding a return ferry on Friday. The trip costs from £99 per person, including return sailing from Plymouth to St Malo & 2 nights stay at a choice of hotels (breakfast included). Available between 15th November and 23rd December.

Brittany Ferries Cruise & Stay to Roscoff
Another of Brittany Ferries' fantastic incentives to leave your car at home, this deal lets you escape to the quaint Breton fishing village of Roscoff with a return ferry crossing from Plymouth, plus one night in a luxury hotel, all for as little as £73 per person. Roscoff is reknowned for its 16th century granite houses and old harbour, while a short bus or train trip takes you to Morlaix, with its impressive viaduct and bustling cafés and restaurants. This trip costs from £73 per person, including return sailing from Plymouth to Roscoff & one night stay at a choice of hotels (breakfast included).

>>See our unique foot passenger ferry planner with details of how to travel as a foot passenger on over 30 ferry routes between Britain, Ireland and the continent:
Foot passenger ferry guide