Portsmouth to Caen
Ferries to Caen from Portsmouth
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.
Overnight or day cruise ferry
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: crossings from Portsmouth to Caen + alternatives
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Crossing from Portsmouth to Caen
Ferry Guide Portsmouth to Caen
The Crossing in Brief
- Route: England (Portsmouth) ➜ France (Caen)
- Duration: 6 (day crossing) to 8 hours (night crossing
- Ferry Operators: Brittany Ferries
- Want to book directly ➜ Brittany Ferries.
- Best Alternative: Portsmouth – Le Havre
Crossing in comfort to France
The crossing from Portsmouth to Caen is one of Brittany Ferries' most popular routes between the UK and France. The journey takes about 6 by day or up to 8 hours overnight. It connects Portsmouth, a key port in southern England, with Caen, a gateway to Normandy. The ferry offers a range of facilities, including restaurants, cabins, and entertainment, making it a comfortable option for both passengers and vehicles. This route is ideal for travellers heading to northern France and beyond.
Portsmouth is less than two hours by car from London, and with excellent motorway links and rail connections, Portsmouth is an ideal choice for travelling to the Continent from the Midlands and the south of England.
Caen is the gateway to Normandy in Northern France and is easily accessible by ferry. Brittany Ferries offers multiple crossings on their cruise ferries, allowing you to choose between daytime or overnight sailings.
You can also bring your car on board, making it easy to travel onward to Normandy, Brittany, or even further south into France. For example, Paris is just 139 miles from Caen, and La Rochelle is 260 miles away.
In 2025 the new hybrid cruise ferry: Guillaume de Normandie will start sailing on this route.
There are daily morning and afternoon sailings to Caen, along with an overnight ferry each day. The overnight crossing takes about 8 hours, while the daytime sailings take around 6 hours.
Most of the time, the ferries from Portsmouth leave at, 08:00, 15:00 and 23:00 to Caen:
- 08:00 – 15:00
- 15:00 – 22:00
- 23:00 – 07:30
Please note: there is a one-hour time difference with the Continent.
Portsmouth Port
📍 Portsmouth Brittany Ferries Port Terminal address:
- Wharf Road, Hants, PortsmouthPO2 8RU
United Kingdom
Caen ferry port
📍 Caen ferry terminal address:
- Avenue du Grand Large, Normandy, Ouistreham 14150 France
Caen ferry port, located in Ouistreham, is 15km north of Caen and provides direct access to the autoroute, offering a convenient route for onward travel into France
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