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.
Ferry Guide Dover to Calais
The Crossing in Brief
- Route: England (Dover) ➜ France (Calais)
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Ferry Operators: DFDS, P&O Ferries, and Irish Ferries
- Want to compare crossings? ➜ Direct Ferries.
- Best Alternative: Dunkirk – 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 Ferries 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
📍 Calais Port Terminal address:
- P&O: P&O Ferries, 285 Avenue du Mérite Maritime, 62105 Calais, France.
- DFDS: DFDS Terminal Car Ferry Gare Maritime Est 62100 Calais, France.
- Irish Ferries: Port Boulogne Calais, 62100, Calais, France.
Dover Port
📍 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.
Timetable Dover – Calais – P&O Ferries Dover to Calais
| Operator | Departure | Arrival | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| P&O | 3:10 | 5:40 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, SUn |
| P&O | 6:00 | 8:30 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 8:25 | 10:55 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 10:05 | 12:35 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 12:05 | 14:35 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 13:45 | 16:15 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 15:25 | 17:55 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 17:25 | 19:55 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 19:05 | 21:35 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 20:45 | 23:15 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| P&O | 22:40 | 1:10 | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
Timetable Dover – Calais – DFDS ferries Dover to Calais
| Operator | Departure | Arrival | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFDS | 0:10 | 2:40 | Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 1:40 | 4:10 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat |
| DFDS | 4:40 | 7:10 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat |
| DFDS | 7:40 | 10:10 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 9:10 | 11:40 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 10:40 | 13:10 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 12:55 | 15:25 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 14:25 | 16:55 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 15:55 | 18:25 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 18:10 | 20:40 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 19:40 | 22:20 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| DFDS | 21:10 | 2:40 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sun |
Timetable Dover – Calais – Irish Ferries Dover to Calais
| Operator | Departure | Arrival | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Ferries | 1:25 | 3:55 | Mon, Tue, We, Thuu, Fri, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 2:55 | 5:25 | Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 4:40 | 7:10 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat |
| Irish Ferries | 6:15 | 8:45 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 7:50 | 10:20 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 9:30 | 12:00 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 11:05 | 13:35 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 12:45 | 15:15 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 14:25 | 16:55 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 16:00 | 18:30 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 17:35 | 20:05 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 19:10 | 21:40 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 20:45 | 23:15 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 22:15 | 0:45 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
| Irish Ferries | 23:50 | 2:20 | Mon, Tue, We, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
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