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Travel Routes & Destinations: Your Portsmouth to St Malo Location Guide for 2027
Planning your journey to or from the Portsmouth ferry? This complete location guide covers all major departure points and destinations. Find detailed guides for travelling from London (around 1 hr 30–1 hr 50 by train), Southampton (around 45–50 mins by train) and Portsmouth itself, connecting to Paris via St Malo, plus comprehensive destination guides for St Malo, Brittany exploration, and Mont Saint-Michel.
Whether you’re travelling from a specific UK city to France, or exploring Brittany destinations after arriving in St Malo, our location-specific guides provide exact journey details, transport options, timings, costs, and insider tips for every route.
Last updated: October 2026 | All pricing and routes verified
🗺️ Complete Location Coverage
3
UK Departure
Guides
8+
Brittany
Destinations
10+
Complete Route
Guides
08:45
Arrive St Malo
(French time)
Why Location-Specific Guides Matter
Every journey to the Portsmouth ferry is different depending on where you start and where you’re going.
WHAT MAKES EACH LOCATION UNIQUE:
Departure Point Differences:
Distance to Portsmouth – Ranges from 20 miles (Southampton) to 75 miles (London)
Transport options – Train frequency, bus routes, driving times vary dramatically
Journey costs – £8 from Southampton vs £35 from London
Timing considerations – Some locations need 4 hours prep, others just 2 hours
Local advantages – Each location has unique benefits
Destination Differences:
What’s possible from St Malo – Day trips, Mont Saint-Michel, Brittany touring
Onward travel options – Train networks, car rental, taxi availability
Journey duration – St Malo exploration vs Rennes vs coastal touring
Cost implications – Local transport, accommodation needs
Timing requirements – What you can accomplish in different timeframes
❌ Why Generic Guides Fail
Assume everyone starts same place
Assume same transport options
Assume same time/budget
Assume same destination
✅ Our Location Approach
Exact details for YOUR start point
Transport options available to YOU
Realistic timings for YOUR journey
Accurate costs for YOUR route
Specific advice for YOUR destination
UK Departure Points & Paris Connection
Detailed guides for travelling to Portsmouth International Port from major UK cities, things to do in Portsmouth before you sail, plus the Paris connection via St Malo. Fares below are one-way from prices for a foot passenger — the cabin on the overnight sailing (from £70+) is extra.
Distance: 75 miles to Portsmouth Journey time: around 15 hours door to door (overnight ferry) Best transport: Train from London Waterloo (1 hr 30–1 hr 50, £25-50) Total cost: from £78 foot passenger + train, plus cabin
Complete guide covering train (fastest), coach (cheapest), and driving options from London to Portsmouth, plus overnight ferry details. Perfect for Londoners heading to Brittany or Mont Saint-Michel. Wake up in France!
Distance: 20 miles to Portsmouth Journey time: around 14 hours door to door (overnight ferry) Best transport: Direct train to Portsmouth Harbour (around 45–50 mins, £8-15) Total cost: from £61 foot passenger + train, plus cabin
Closest major city to Portsmouth! Under an hour by direct train. Perfect for Southampton residents – Portsmouth is your nearest ferry port to Brittany. Complete guide covering all transport options and overnight ferry strategy.
Route: Portsmouth → St Malo → Paris Journey time: around 15–16 hours total (sleep onboard!) Train to Paris: around 2.5 hours TGV from St Malo Total cost: £90-270 (vs Eurostar £80-300)
Budget-friendly Portsmouth to Paris! Take the overnight ferry to St Malo, wake refreshed, then a TGV of around 2.5 hours to Paris Montparnasse. Complete guide with timings, costs, and why this route offers adventure AND value vs Eurostar.
Where: Your UK departure port Ferry departs: 20:15 from Portsmouth International Port Perfect for: A day or an afternoon before you sail Must-see: Historic Dockyard, Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays
With an evening departure, there’s plenty of time to explore Portsmouth before you board. Our city guide covers the best things to do, where to eat and how to fit it all around your ferry check-in.
After arriving in St Malo, explore these fantastic Brittany and Normandy destinations. See our day trips from St Malo hub for every guide in one place.
Distance: 0 miles (you’re here!) Time needed: 6-12 hours minimum Perfect for: City breaks, coastal walks Must-see: Walled city, ramparts, beaches
Complete St Malo city guide: historic walled city (Intra-Muros), rampart walks with stunning views, corsair history, beautiful beaches, best restaurants, where to stay, and why St Malo is Brittany’s maritime jewel.
Distance: 35 miles (57km) from St Malo Journey time: around 50 mins–1 hour by car or coach Total from St Malo: Perfect day trip Cost: €13 abbey entry, £16-23 bus
UNESCO World Heritage site – the iconic tidal island with medieval abbey, and one of France’s most visited attractions. Complete guide to visiting Mont Saint-Michel from St Malo: bus times, tide schedules, abbey tours, and why this is THE must-see day trip from the Portsmouth-St Malo ferry.
Distance: Just across the Rance estuary (8 miles / 13km by road) Journey time: 10 minutes by sea-bus, 15–20 minutes by bus/car Total from St Malo: Perfect half-day or day trip — easy to reach the morning you arrive Cost: ~£10 boat, £3-4 bus
Dinard is villas and promenades: the resort where 19th-century British and American aristocracy came to play, and where the architecture and striped beach tents have barely changed since. Over 400 protected Belle Époque villas, the iconic Promenade du Clair de Lune, four sandy beaches, and views back across the estuary to St Malo’s ramparts.
40 miles from St Malo (around 1 hour by train)
Brittany’s vibrant capital. Medieval centre, Saturday market, excellent museums, university city buzz. Easy train day trip.
20 miles (32km) from St Malo (25–30 mins drive)
Medieval hilltop town. Ramparts, half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, riverside port. One of Brittany’s prettiest towns.
West along the Emerald Coast
Dramatic 70-metre sea cliffs, seabird colonies and a clifftop medieval castle. One of the finest coastal days out from St Malo.
Weekend (2-3 days) → St Malo + Mont Saint-Michel or Dinard
Week (5-7 days) → Full Brittany coastal tour
2+ weeks → Brittany + Normandy + Loire Valley
STEP 3: PLAN YOUR ROUTE
Once you know start point and destination:
Read relevant location guide (links above)
Check transport options for your route
Book your ferry and cabin as early as you can — 6–12 months ahead for summer (a cabin is compulsory on the overnight sailing)
Arrange UK transport around ferry time (20:15 evening departure)
Plan French onward travel (car rental recommended for Brittany)
Location-Specific Tips
💡 UK Departure Tips
Book ferry BEFORE UK transport
Ferry departs 20:15 — foot passenger check-in closes 19:15, so aim to arrive by 18:15
Off-peak trains much cheaper (avoid peak hours)
The port is around a 30-min walk or short taxi ride from either Portsmouth station
Book cabin when booking ferry (compulsory overnight)
🗺️ Brittany Destination Tips
St Malo perfect base for Brittany
Mont Saint-Michel MUST-SEE (around an hour away)
Car rental ideal for exploring Brittany
Rennes easy by train (no car needed)
Dinard just a 10-min sea-bus ride!
⏰ Timing Tips
Overnight ferry arrives in St Malo at 08:45 French time
Full day ahead of you in France!
Mont Saint-Michel works as a day trip; 2–3 days lets you add St Malo and the coast
Week ideal for Brittany coast exploration
Overnight ferry saves hotel night
Location Guide FAQs
How long does it take to get from London to Portsmouth for the St Malo ferry?
Direct trains from London Waterloo take around 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 50 minutes. Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour stations are each around a 30-minute walk or a short taxi ride from the ferry terminal. With a 20:15 departure, aim to be at the port by 18:15 if you’re a foot passenger.
How long is the train from Southampton to Portsmouth?
Direct trains from Southampton Central to Portsmouth Harbour take around 45–50 minutes. Some services involve a change and take a little longer, so check before you travel.
What time does the Portsmouth ferry arrive in St Malo?
The overnight sailing leaves Portsmouth at 20:15 and arrives in St Malo at 08:45 French time, giving you a full day in Brittany from the moment you land.
Can you get from Portsmouth to Paris via St Malo?
Yes. Take the overnight ferry to St Malo, then a TGV of around 2.5 hours to Paris Montparnasse. Door to door it takes around 15–16 hours, but you sleep through most of it in your cabin. Our Portsmouth to Paris guide covers the full route.
What are the best day trips from St Malo?
The most popular are Mont Saint-Michel (35 miles, around an hour away), Dinard (a 10-minute sea-bus across the Rance), Dinan (20 miles), Cancale for its oysters (9 miles), Cap Fréhel and Fort La Latte, and the GR34 coastal path, which starts right at St Malo’s ramparts.
Ready to Plan Your Journey?
Choose your location guide above, then book your ferry
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