โœ“ Plan and book your perfect crossing โ€“ simple, fast, and reliable

Dover to Calais ferries

Ferries to Calais from Dover

Dozens of ferries operate daily on the Dover-Calais route. DFDS, P&O Ferries, and Irish Ferries serve this route, offering up to 35 crossings each day. The ferry from Dover to Calais is the quickest and shortest route to France across the English Channel by ferry.

Plenty of choices!

Ferry fully booked? No worries, there are plenty of options and alternatives. You can travel from Calais to Dover with DFDS, P&O Ferries, and Irish Ferries.

Another option is to sail from Dunkirk to Dover. This means a shorter drive and a longer sail.

Ferry Map: crossing the Channel to Calais

Use the interactive map to find the right crossing and ferry company. You can zoom in and out and view the routes in the ports.

The map shows the route for the Dover to Calais crossing and vice versa. This is where ferries sail back and forth between France and the UK. From Dover, you also have the option to sail to Duinkerke/Dunkirk.

The Calais-Dover route is very popular for Brits travelling to mainland Europe. But also the other way around, the UK can welcome many passengers from, among others, France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Crossing from Dover to Calais

Irish Ferries, DFDS & P&O Ferries all sail on the route from Dover to Calais. The best alternative is Dover Dunkirk wich is also listed here.

Popular
dfds seaways ferry

Dover Calais DFDS

DFDS, Irish Ferries, P&O
1h 30 mins.
26 miles
Up to 35 times per day
Car ferry
From: £36.00
Popular
PO ferries

Dover Calais P&O

DFDS, Irish Ferries, P&O
1h 30 mins.
26 miles
Up to 35 times per day
Car ferry
From: £36.00
Popular
Irish Ferries

Dover Calais Irish Ferries

DFDS, Irish Ferries, P&O
1h 30 mins.
26 miles
Up to 35 times per day
Car ferry
From: £36.00

Dover-Dunkirk

DFDS
2 Hours
47 miles
Up to 8 times per day
Car ferry
From: £81.00

The Crossing in Brief

  • Route: England (Dover) โžœ France (Calais)
  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Ferry Operators: DFDS, P&O Ferries, and Irish Ferries
  • Want to compare crossings? โžœ Direct Ferries.
  • Best Alternative: Dunkirk โ€“ Dover (120 minutes)

Fastest Crossing over the Channel

As you likely know, this is the shortest crossing from England to France. The journey, covering approximately 42 kilometres, takes about an hour and a half.

Everything you need to know when taking the ferry to Calais

There are three companies operating on the Dover-Calais and Calais-Dover routes, and their prices for this crossing are quite similar. Each company offers more than 10 daily crossings between the UK and France. However, it's worth noting that with DFDS, you can't book as a foot passenger, whereas you can with P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries.

P&O Ferries and DFDS have prices that are very close, while Irish Ferries may seem slightly more expensive, but the difference is usually just a few pounds. All three companies maintain a busy and regular sailing schedule on these routes, so you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

You can purchase ferry tickets either directly from one of the ferry companies (P&O Ferries, Irish Ferriesย or DFDS) or after customizing your trip in the module below.

What Else Should You Know?

It's always important to arrive well in advance, so plan accordingly. This is a busy route, and all the ferry operators recommend arriving at least 90 minutes before departure, especially during peak season and if you're travelling by car. Check-in typically closes 45 minutes before departure, so be sure to arrive on time. Remember, your reservation is for a specific crossing, so missing your ferry doesn't automatically allow you to board the next one.

Also, keep in mind the time difference between France and England. If you're travelling as a foot passenger, P&O Ferries is likely your best option.

Calais Port

๐Ÿ“ Calais Port Terminal address:

  • P&O: P&O Ferries, 285 Avenue du Mรฉrite Maritime, 62105 Calais, France.
  • DFDS: DFDSโ€ฏ Terminal Car Ferry Gare Maritime Estโ€ฏ 62100 Calais, France.
  • Irish Ferries: Port Boulogne Calais, 62100, Calais, France.

Dover Port

๐Ÿ“ Dover ferry terminal address:

  • Dover Ferry Terminal, Travel Centre,
  • Eastern Docks, Dover, Kent, CT16 1JA UK

Luggage and Pets

A big advantage of travelling by ferry is that it's much easier to bring more luggage and pets compared to travelling by train or plane. Specifically, DFDS allows you to bring up to 50kg of luggage, while P&O Ferries has no luggage limit. Irish Ferries is also quite flexible, with the only condition being that your luggage must fit in your car.

Join the Conversation

Ask questions, share answers, and discover routes and crossings. We and our visitors are here to help you find a suitable crossing.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

All crossings to France

Royan-le Verdon

Gironde
4 miles
30 mins.
Up to 12 times per day
From: £5.00

Santa Teresa-Bonifacio

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Sardinia
Ichnusa Lines, Moby Lines
10 miles
1 Hour, 50 mins.
Up to 4 times per day
No
Car ferry
From: £32.00

Dover-Dunkirk

DFDS
47 miles
2 Hours
Up to 8 times per day
No
Car ferry
From: £81.00

Poole-Cherbourg

Brittany Ferries
77 miles
4h 30 mins.
Up to 1 time per day
From: £105.00

Portsmouth-Caen

Brittany Ferries
112 miles
5h 45 mins.
Up to 3 times per day
From: £59.00

Portsmouth-Saint Malo

Brittany Ferries
156 miles
11 Hours
Once per day
Possible
Cruiseferry
From: £63.00
Fast Ferry
Condor-Ferries-logo

St Malo-Jersey

Condor Ferries
40 Miles
1h 25 mins.
up to 12 times per week
From: £47.00

Portsmouth-Cherbourg

Brittany Ferries
84 miles
6 Hours, 8 hours
Up to 3 times per week
Possible
Cruiseferry
From: £51.00

Poole-Saint Malo

Condor Ferries
143 miles
6h 20 mins
Up to 4 times per week
From: £124.00

Roscoff-Cork

Brittany Ferries
312 miles
14 Hours
Up to 2 times per week
From: £66.00

Cherbourg-Rosslare

Brittany Ferries, Stena Line
274 miles
18 Hours
Up to 4 times per week
From: £189.00

Le Shuttle

Eurotunnel
49 miles
36 minutes
Up to 24 times per day
From: £100.00

Use your mouse to slide the bar or simply swipe with your finger.

Ferrygogo UK
Logo