Ferry routes to, from and within France
Start with where you need to be in France
France has more ferry connections than almost any other country in Europe. In the north, the Channel links it to the UK, from short Dover crossings to overnight sailings to Normandy and Brittany. In the west, ferries cross from Ireland. In the south, Marseille, Toulon and Nice are the ports for Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics, and Marseille and Sète for North Africa.
The useful question is therefore not which ferries go to France? It is which crossing gets you closest to where you actually want to be, with the least driving? A crossing to Calais is quick, but if you are heading for Brittany or the Atlantic coast, a longer sailing to Saint-Malo, Roscoff or Caen often saves you a full day on the road.
Travelling from the UK? Our main guide compares every crossing: ferries to France from the UK. From November 2026 there are nine routes; Portsmouth – Le Havre closed in September 2026 and Poole – Cherbourg ends in November 2026 (what are the alternatives?).
Main ferry routes, by direction
These are the guides we would use first. They carry the route comparisons, maps and onward-travel logic, with the individual crossings linked underneath.
| Direction | Start here | What the guide helps you decide |
|---|---|---|
| UK to France | Ferries to France from the UK | Dover versus Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth, depending on where in France you want to arrive. |
| Ireland to France | Ferries from Ireland to France | Dublin, Rosslare or Cork, and whether Cherbourg, Roscoff, Dunkirk or Boulogne suits your route. |
| France to the UK | Ferry to the UK from France | The same Channel routes in the other direction, compared from the French side. |
| France to Ireland | Ferry to Ireland from France | Direct overnight sailings versus driving through Britain and crossing the Irish Sea. |
| Corsica | Ferry to Corsica | Marseille, Toulon, Nice or Italy, and which Corsican port fits your trip. |
| Sardinia | Ferry to Sardinia | A direct crossing from southern France or via Corsica and Bonifacio. |
| Balearic Islands | Mallorca and Menorca | Sailing from southern France or driving on to Barcelona for more frequent crossings. |
| North Africa | Morocco from France, Algeria, Tunisia | Long overnight crossings from Marseille and Sète that save a very long drive through Spain or Italy. |
Choose by ferry corridor
Dover Strait: Calais and Dunkirk
The fastest way across. Dover – Calais takes about 90 minutes, with P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries, and Dover – Dunkirk is handy for Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Ideal for northern and eastern France and Paris.
- Our Dover – Calais test: P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries and LeShuttle
- Cheapest way to cross the Channel with a car
- Dover queues and the alternatives
Western Channel: Normandy and Brittany
Longer crossings, much less driving. Portsmouth sails to Caen, Cherbourg and Saint-Malo, Plymouth to Roscoff, and Newhaven to Dieppe. The better choice for western France, the Loire and the Atlantic coast.
From Ireland: Cherbourg, Roscoff, Dunkirk and Boulogne
Overnight to France without crossing Britain. Sailings run from Dublin, Rosslare and Cork. Cabins are part of the trip, and you skip two crossings and the drive through England and Wales.
Mediterranean islands
Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics. From Marseille, Toulon and Nice you reach Corsica overnight or in a day crossing, and from there it is a short hop to Sardinia and Elba.
North Africa
Long crossings that replace a long drive. From Marseille and Sète, ferries sail to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Ships are often older, and the cheapest cabins sell out early, so book well ahead.
Within France and the Channel Islands
Short crossings that save time. The Royan – Le Verdon ferry across the Gironde saves a long detour via Bordeaux, and from the Normandy and Brittany coast you can reach the Channel Islands.
First-hand ferry reviews
A route map tells you where a ship goes. It does not tell you how long the queue at Dover is, whether a cabin is worth paying for, or how useful an overnight sailing feels when you still have a long drive ahead. These are the France crossings we have travelled ourselves:
| Crossing | What we tested | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Dover – Calais | P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries and LeShuttle back-to-back. | Full comparison |
| Dunkirk – Dover | DFDS crossing, boarding and onboard facilities. | Our experience |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | Santoña, including boarding, cabin and onboard facilities. | Our crossing |
| Saint-Malo – Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries overnight crossing, with photos. | Our experience |
| Folkestone – Calais | LeShuttle car train as the alternative to the ferry. | LeShuttle review |
| Bonifacio – Lavezzi | Boat trip to the islands off southern Corsica. | Our tips |
Practical planning for France
Once you have chosen the crossing, these guides cover the questions that usually come next.
| Planning topic | Use this guide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Passports and borders | UK – Europe ferry border checklist | Passport validity, EES at the border, vehicle papers and what to have ready at check-in. |
| Visas, EES and ETIAS | EES and ETIAS explained | What the new EU entry system means for UK travellers by ferry. |
| Travelling with a dog | Dog on ferries | Pet cabins, kennels and paperwork differ by operator and route. |
| What it costs | Ferry to France for a family of four | Real return fares from the UK and Ireland, and where the savings are. |
| Cheaper tickets | Cheap ferry tickets to France and Brittany Ferries offers | Fixed-price breaks, off-peak sailings and current discount codes. |
| Cabins and upgrades | Brittany Ferries cabins | On longer crossings the cabin and ticket type matter more than a small difference in sailing time. |
Full France ferry route directory
The curated links above are where we would start. If you already know the exact ports you want, browse all routes to and within France below.
France ferries: frequently asked questions
What is the quickest ferry to France from the UK?
Dover – Calais, at about 90 minutes, with P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries. Dover – Dunkirk takes around two hours. For western France a longer crossing from Portsmouth or Plymouth often saves more time overall, because you drive much less.
Which ferries sail from the UK to France?
From November 2026 there are nine routes, from Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Plymouth to Calais, Dunkirk, Dieppe, Caen, Cherbourg, Saint-Malo and Roscoff. Portsmouth – Le Havre closed in September 2026 and Poole – Cherbourg ends in November 2026.
Are there ferries from Ireland to France?
Yes. Ferries sail from Dublin, Rosslare and Cork to Cherbourg, Roscoff, Dunkirk and Boulogne, mostly overnight.
Which French ports have ferries to Corsica?
Marseille, Toulon and Nice. You can also reach Corsica from Italy, for example from Livorno or Genoa.
Ferry Talk
Questions or experiences? We'd love for you to share them.
You don’t need to book these tickets online! You can just book them while you are there!
Best
We are a group of friends who want to go on holiday to Talais at the end of July.
We have seen that it is best to make a crossing with a boat over the Gironde.
Now we had some questions about this, namely:
1. Do we have to book in advance?
2. How often does a boat make a crossing? Are there several in an hour?
You can also go for this connection:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lamarque+pier/
Seems a little bit easier (in comments)
“A 15-minute boat trip across the Gironde River to Blaye on the opposite bank. Advance reservations are not required, and if you have a car, just wait for your turn in the parking lot in the order of arrival. Tickets are paid on board after boarding. Credit card accepted. not cheap but very comfortable”
It’s a connection people are simply willing to pay that much for, a huge bridge would be the best solution =)