Ferry to France from Ireland
4 Direct Crossings to France from Ireland
Looking for a ferry from Ireland to France? You have several options. Ferries depart from the Irish cities of Cork, Rosslare, and Dublin, arriving in Cherbourg, Roscoff, and Dunkirk.
Routes Available:
- Cork to Roscoff
- Rosslare to Cherbourg
- Rosslare to Dunkirk
- Dublin to Cherbourg
To Cherbourg, Dunkirk, or Roscoff
- Use our ferry map to explore and compare routes.
- Some ferries are faster, while others are more affordable.
- Combining two different routes could save you a significant amount of money.
Map: ferry routes to France from Ireland
From the South of Ireland, you can sail from Cork or Rosslare to Cherbourg, Dunkirk and Roscoff, but sailing from Dublin to Cherbourg is also possible, this is the second longest crossing (19 hours), while Dunkirk Rosslare is the longest (24 hours). Roscoff-Cork is the fastest connection taking you from Ireland to France with a night crossing in just 14 hours.
About this crossing
Getting to France from Ireland
The ferries to France from Ireland are especially popular during the holiday season. A lot of tourists choose to start their vacation by ferry from Ireland directly to France.
You also have the option to first sail to the UK and from there to France and/or other European countries, but there are some good ferry routes between France and Ireland.
- Cherbourg – Dublin
- Roscoff – Cork
- Cherbourg – Rosslare
- Rosslare – Dunkirk
From the South of Ireland, you can sail from Cork or Rosslare to Cherbourg, Dunkirk and Roscoff, but sailing from Dublin to Cherbourg is also possible, this is the second longest crossing (19 hours), while Dunkirk Rosslare is the longest (24 hours). Roscoff-Cork is the fastest connection taking you from Ireland to France with a night crossing in just 14 hours.
Taking the ferry to the European mainland is a comfortable way of starting your vacation, and it's also handy if you want to take your car along on vacation.
Cherbourg – Dublin
Irish Ferries takes you on this crossing from Dublin to Cherbourg (Normandy, France) in about 19 hours. The ferry sails back and forth between France and Ireland up to 5 times per week and when you book well in advance you can often find a nice discount.
Roscoff – Cork
The Roscoff-Cork ferry takes you from Ireland to French Bretagne (Roscoff) in 14 to 15 hours. This crossing is operated by Brittany Ferries and departs twice a week. It is a night crossing that is often sold out, so book well in advance.
Cherbourg – Rosslare
With both Stena Line and Brittany Ferries you can make the crossing from and to Rosslare and Cherbourg in French Normandy. There is a direct ferry connection between Rosslare and Cherbourg. If you’re travelling to our from Dublin this is only a 2 hour drive away. With 4 sailings per week there is enough choice to make it fit your travel schedule.
Rosslare-Dunkirk
The ferry service connecting Dunkirk, France, and Rosslare, Ireland, is a fairly new ferry connection connecting continental Europe with Ireland. (There used to be cargo ships on this route) There is only one operator active on this connection, and that is DFDS.
Ferries from Dublin to Paris, France.
Dublin to Cherbourg is a good crossing for those wo want to travel from Dublin to Paris and/or France. On this route you'll be sailing with Irish Ferries from Dublin to France.
Once arrived in Cherbourg it's a 4 hours drive to Paris.
Alternatives are to depart more from the south of Ireland to Roscoff from Cork, but then the drive is close to 6 hours to Paris.
The ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg is a ferry with a night crossing taking you around 19 hours to the French shore.
On board & ferry maps
Prices and availability for this crossing
By using the booking module, you can:
- Consult the ferry schedule/timetable for crossings from Ireland to France.
- Discover the best options tailored to your travel needs.
- View possible alternatives to optimise your trip, considering time, cost, and convenience.
This tool ensures you find the most suitable ferry route for your journey from Ireland to France!
Additional Information
When travelling on crossings between France and the UK, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Download entertainment in advance: On longer night crossings, it’s a good idea to download series or movies beforehand, as Wi-Fi on board can be expensive, and roaming in international waters is costly.
- Travelling with young kids on a night ferry? We’ve got some helpful tips for travelling with kids here.
- Remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road after disembarking. It can be a bit confusing for the first 10 minutes, but you'll adjust quickly.
- Worried about getting seasick? In this article, you’ll find some tips to help prevent it.
Luggage & Pets
On most ferries, there are no restrictions on the amount of luggage you can reasonably bring. Pets are allowed, but additional fees apply, and they must stay in designated kennels on board. For some destinations, pets need to meet specific requirements, such as certain vaccinations and a pet passport. You can find country-specific regulations and company policies in this post.
Useful for travellers to France
Is it one dog per traveller, or one in total, they weigh 4,5kg each
Hi Des Casey,
Depends a bit per ferry company but in general you can bring up to 2 dogs. If you bring more dogs you need to book a kennel instead of a dog-friendly cabin. If you want to know more about bringing your dog onboard the ferry we have this comprehensive guide for you: https://ferrygogo.co.uk/travelling-with-pet-dog-on-ferries/ . Be sure to also doublecheck with the ferry company to see if they have any specific rules.
Hope to have helped you a bit further.
Best regards,
Jan Willem