Dover to Dunkirk + Alternatives
Dover to Dunkirk ferry
The DFDS ferry from Dover to Dunkirk sails up to 12 times per day, making it a frequent option. The crossing takes just 2 hours, making it one of the shortest return trips to France, alongside the Dover to Calais routes. It's an ideal choice for those looking to travel between France and England.
The Best Alternative to Calais
Dunkirk is located in northern France, just over the border with Belgium on the English Channel. From Dover, several ferries sail daily to France, allowing you to bring your car, camper, or caravan on board. The crossing takes about half an hour longer, but the drive is slightly shorter if you're heading towards Northwestern Europe.
Ferry Map: Channel crossings to Dunkirk & 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.
Crossing from Dover to Dunkirk
Ferry Guide Dover Dunkirk
The crossing from Dover to Dunkirk is an excellent route for travelling from England to Northwestern Europe across the Channel:
The Crossing in Brief
- Route: England (Dover) ➜ France (Dunkirk)
- Duration: 2 hours
- Ferry Operator: DFDS
- Best Alternative: Calais – Dover (90 minutes)
The DFDS ferry from England to Dunkirk operates 12 times a day, taking just 2 hours to reach the other side.
This makes it one of the shortest crossings to and from France, along with the Dover to Calais routes.
The major advantage of taking the ferry is that you can easily bring your own vehicle, whether it's a camper or a car. It's an ideal crossing for those wishing to travel between France and England.
The ferry from Dover to Dunkirk is much less known than its counterpart on the Calais to Dover route. This is surprising, as Dunkirk is often a more practical route for those heading to Northwestern Europe. While the crossing takes about half an hour longer, you save time with a shorter drive.
DFDS sails from Dover to Dunkirk in just 2 hours.
Timetable to Dover and Dunkirk
DFDS has a daily schedule with 12 back-and-forth crossings between France and the UK for the crossing to Dover and Dunkirk. A ferry leaves from both sites every 2 hours.
Departures from Dover to Dunkirk: Every 2 hours, a ship leaves for Dunkirk in Dover. From Dover to Dunkirk, it leaves at 02.00, 04.00, 06.00, and so on, as shown in the timetable below. The schedule the other way around is almost the same. Only the first ship leaves later, and the last boat leaves later because of the time difference.
Dover Dunkirk Timetable
| Check in closes | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | 2:00 | 5:00 |
| 3:15 | 4:00 | 7:00 |
| 5:15 | 6:00 | 9:00 |
| 7:15 | 8:00 | 11:00 |
| 9:15 | 10:00 | 13:00 |
| 11:15 | 12:00 | 15:00 |
| 13:15 | 14:00 | 17:00 |
| 15:15 | 16:00 | 19:00 |
| 17:15 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
| 19:15 | 20:00 | 23:00 |
| 21:15 | 22:00 | 1:00 |
Departure, sailing time & arrival
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.
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