Ferries from Dover to France
Dover remains the busiest ferry port for travellers heading to France. The crossing is short, departures are frequent (sometimes 50+ per day!) and travellers can choose between several operators. While other ports may offer longer sailings with cabins and more onboard facilities, Dover is often the quickest and most flexible option (cheap and fast).
Routes
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.
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.