Ah, the holiday ferry journey – the excitement of surging out into a still harbour at dawn, or settling down in your bunk as the black inky seas pass by your porthole.
For years, many of the world’s once-romantic ferry routes were in decline, facing the threats of fixed-link bridges and hyper-efficient tunnels – like the crossings over the Pearl River Delta, the Öresund Strait, and the English Channel – not to mention increasingly ubiquitous low-cost air travel.
But now, thank heavens, ferries are back in fashion, as travellers embrace the joys of the journey itself, keen to more deeply experience the places they’re visiting. As a result, new routes – like that planned between Swansea and Devon, and one launched in June from Cyprus to Lebanon – are popping up all over the place, meaning there’s never been a more exciting time to incorporate one into your next trip.
To help inspire you, we’ve selected 10 iconic ferry routes around the world that promise not only safe passage from A to B, but some pretty spectacular views along the way, from striking cityscapes to glistening coastlines.
1. Sorvagur to Mykines, Faroe Islands
One of the most exhilarating ferry journeys for wildlife lovers, this 45-minute trip is peak puffin. Sometimes the seas are heaving between the main Faroese archipelago and Mykines, and sometimes eerily millpond flat. On clear days, sheer cliffs rise dramatically from the sea. You can witness puffins diving en route before the main attraction on the tiny island of Mykines – thousands of these stupidly adorable birds nesting and flopping out of the sky then waddling around like colourful avian clowns.
Where to stay
The grass-roofed Hilton Garden Inn in Torshavn, which has a restaurant serving excellent local roast lamb.
Fly on Atlantic Airways’s twice weekly flights from Edinburgh and London Gatwick to the Faroes.
How to do it
Book this £40 return ferry trip at mykines.fo. A bus drives to the harbour from Torshavn.
2. Lisbon to Cacilhas, Portugal
The ferry from Cais do Sodré over the Tagus to Cacilhas is an absolute must on a Lisbon weekend break. The views of the city and the Golden Gate-lookalike 25 de Abril Bridge are stunning. It’s all over in about 15 minutes, but that’s just the start of a fun day out. Walk the 3km up the hill from Cacilhas Harbour to the Christ The King statue, from the top of which the views back towards Lisbon are even more thrilling.
Where to stay
The Four Seasons Ritz, which is a glorious
modernist marble monument next to Lisbon’s beautiful Edward VII Park.
Fly to Lisbon with TAP from Manchester, London Gatwick and London Heathrow.
How to do it
The TTSL ferry is a turn-up-and-go affair, and costs just under £2 each way.
3. Sydney to Manly, Australia
No need to get involved with silly sightseeing boats in Sydney. Tap your Opal for a cheap and breathtaking ride all the way across the incredible harbour from Circular Quay, passing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House and then Kangaroo Island and the wealthy harbourside enclaves, before skirting the Heads protecting the end of the harbour from the sea and arriving in bohemian Manly. A fair dinkum day out.
Where to stay
Establishment, just a short walk from Circular Quay.
Fly to Sydney with Qantas from London Heathrow.
How to do it
Circular Quay to Manly, £5 with NSW Ferries.
4. Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
The Star Ferry is one of the world’s most famous and celebrated ferries. Take it from the Kowloon Waterfront towards Hong Kong Island and you’ll be making a journey that travellers have taken for centuries. Today, though, the hyper-modern Blade Runner skyline will take your breath away, especially if you do the 15-minute journey at night, enjoying the lights of the harbourside skyscrapers.
Where to stay
The Mira Moon in Kowloon to get views of Central and Hong Kong Island.
Fly to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific from Manchester and London Heathrow.
How to do it
It’ll cost you less than a pound to make this trip. All details on the Star Ferry website. Turn up and pay, or tap your Octopus card.
5. Helsinki, Finland to Tallinn, Estonia
Helsinki and Tallinn are a classic example of a city pair that is closely entwined despite being divided by sea and nationhood – so much so that Tallinn folk actually use this two-hour ferry daily to commute to work in richer Helsinki, just as Britons take a two-hour train into the City of London.
Tallinn’s gorgeous medieval cityscape full of church spires slides out of sight as the ferry begins, and at the end of the voyage you can spot the many beautiful islands just off the coast of Helsinki, including the Unesco-listed Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, before you arrive ready for action in the most charming and design focussed of the Nordic capitals.
Where to stay
The hipster St George in Helsinki and the handsome Burman Hotel in Tallinn’s old town.
Fly Wizz Air direct to Tallinn from London Luton, and Finnair direct to Helsinki from London Heathrow.
How to do it
There are several daily sailings on Tallink’s ferry each way between Tallinn and Helsinki, with tickets ranging from £15 to £45 for foot passengers. The ports in both cities are an easy stroll from the centre.
6. Rio to Niterói, Brazil
A 20-minute trip across the bay from Rio gives you the chance to enjoy the majesty of Brazil’s former capital from the water. As the boat bobs along you can see plenty of old buildings – but plenty of new ones too. Soon Niterói comes into view – only the new capital Brasília has more buildings by the legend Oscar Niemeyer. His chef d’œuvre here is the space ship of the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum from 1996, which sits on a coastal promontory.
Where to stay
The Sheraton Grand Rio with a brilliant beachside setting next to dramatic coastline.
TAP flies to Rio via Lisbon from London Heathrow and Manchester.
How to do it
It costs just £1 to take the voyage across to Niterói, and the ferries are regular. No need to prebook.
7. Copenhagen, Denmark to Oslo, Norway
DFDS’ former ferry from Copenhagen to Norway has been rebranded as Go Nordic Cruiseline, and the journey itself has been marketed as a “minicruise” – though with a deck full of cars and lorries, it is very much a ferry, just an upmarket one. Enjoy the delights of Copenhagen’s buzzing waterfront with open-water swimming and Paper Island’s new attractions before your voyage up to the Oslo Fjord. Oslobukta is the coolest new neighbourhood to check out in the Norwegian capital, with tons of trendy restaurants.
Where to stay
The impressive and design-focussed Park Lane in Copenhagen. In Oslo, try the cool new Hobo Hotel.
Fly to Copenhagen and Oslo from London Heathrow with SAS.
How to do it
There are daily departures in both directions on the 13-hour journey between Copenhagen and Oslo, and you can take a car. One-way foot passenger fares start at £35.
8. Buenos Aires, Argentina to Colonia, Uruguay
A wonderful journey across the mouth of one of the world’s most storied rivers (which gave its name to Argentina’s biggest football team) takes you from the colourful chaos of Argentina to the cool calm of Uruguay. You can marvel at Buenos Aires’ sprawling skyline as you start to cross the River Plate, while birdwatchers are treated to various species en route, like the black skimmer. Pause in Colonia to enjoy Spanish architecture, then continue using the ferry company buses to Montevideo, a hugely rewarding and classy capital city.
Where to stay
The Hotel Montevideo in Montevideo and the Sheraton Buenos Aires.
Fly to Buenos Aires or Montevideo with Iberia via Madrid.
How to do it
Colonia Express offers four or five daily sailings taking around an hour and a half, with fares from £30, but it’s worth noting the Argentine currency is susceptible to wild swings. Prebook on the company’s website.
9. Almirante to Isla Colón, Panama
A once-in-a-lifetime trip to some of the most unspoilt desert islands in the world starts with a ferry from the town of Almirante, over to the main island of Colón and the ferry dock at Palagna – which is itself a stirring voyage. From Colón, you can hire a small boat (for around £30-£50 per day) to take you around the majestic Bocas del Toro archipelago to swim with starfish and walk on islands where you feel like Robinson Crusoe.
Where to stay
Hotel Olas de Madrugada – simple, clean and offers paddleboards and diving equipment, two minutes from the dock in Colón.
Fly Air Panama from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro Isla Colón to simplify the journey and do the ferry one way. Flying United to Panama City via Houston from the UK is often the simplest way to get to Panama.
How to do it
Tickets for the ferry can be bought on the website (which also has up-to-date information), but you can also buy a £2 one-way ticket at the port for the 1hr 40-minute journey.
10. Athens to Santorini, Greece
A classic Greek ferry trip isn’t just a journey, it’s a part of the holiday. After enjoying Athens’ newfound hipster status with buzzing bars, the ferry from the port of Piraeus down to the dream island of Santorini takes in calm, azure seas and numerous islands with views of seabirds and yachts adding to the magic. If you can avoid the tourist hordes, Santorini still offers a stunning setting for a few days in the sun.
Where to stay
The incredible New in Athens with its rooftop Acropolis views and sister resort Nous in Santorini.
Fly easyJet from Bristol, London Gatwick and Manchester to Santorini and Athens.
How to do it
Most routes are run by Blue Star Ferries and SeaJets, but the easiest way to book is on omio.co.uk. Ferries take around 11 hours and fast ferries about five hours. Tickets in the summer start at about £30 for a single fare.