Ferries from Dover to France
Dover is the busiest ferry port for France and usually the quickest way across: 90 minutes to Calais, two hours to Dunkirk, and on a busy day more than 50 departures between three operators. What you give up is comfort and geography: these are short-hop ferries without cabins, and you land in the far north of France with the driving still to do. For Normandy, Brittany or the south, the longer crossings from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth are worth comparing.
Routes
To reach your destination, these are the crossings we recommend.
Our experience
We have sailed Dover–Calais with every operator on the route. P&O Ferries stood out for us: competitive fares, modern ships and plenty of clean, comfortable space inside and out on deck. For most travellers heading to France, it’s usually the quickest and best-value way across.
Ferry services from Dover to France
Three operators serve the Dover-France routes: DFDS, P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries. Together they offer dozens of daily departures to Calais and Dunkirk, making Dover the UK’s main departure port for France. Most crossings take around 90 minutes, and travellers can usually find a departure throughout the day and night.
Map with suggested Dover – France ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from Dover to France, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Onboard experience
Unlike the longer Brittany Ferries routes, the Dover crossings are primarily designed as transport ferries rather than part of the holiday itself. On board you’ll typically find cafés, restaurants, shops and lounges, but most passengers spend only a short time at sea before continuing their journey through France.
Photos from the journey
By car
Dover is often the preferred choice for drivers because of its short crossing times and high frequency. Once in France, you can quickly join the motorway network and continue towards destinations across the country.
| Destination | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | 185 miles | ~3h |
| Rouen | 135 miles | ~2h 15m |
| Le Mans | 245 miles | ~4h |
| Bordeaux | 520 miles | ~8h 15m |
| Toulouse | 560 miles | ~8h 45m |
| Nice | 740 miles | ~11h 30m |
Compare & book
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Still weighing up your options?
We have crossed the Channel to France more times than we can count, on most of the routes and with most of the operators. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.