Calais city and Opal Coast in northern France

France → United Kingdom

Calais to Dover Ferry

Plan your ferry from Calais to Dover, including P&O foot check-in, vehicle options with three operators and the transfer from Dover’s Eastern Docks.

Calais → DoverAbout 90–100 minutes

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Check Calais to Dover ferry prices & availability

Choose France as your place of departure, then select Calais - Dover. If the ports are grouped under an island or region, choose that place of departure or “Show all routes”. Enter your dates and confirm the direction shown before booking. Search all ferry routes.

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Route guide

Leave Calais with the right ticket and terminal connection

The Calais–Dover crossing links the French Channel coast with Dover’s Eastern Docks. P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries advertise around 90 minutes at sea, while DFDS publishes 100 minutes. This is a short crossing, but reaching the terminal and completing border formalities still take time.

If you arrive in Calais by train, identify whether your service uses Calais Ville or Calais-Fréthun and plan the separate journey to the port. P&O foot passengers check in at the ferry terminal on Avenue du Mérite Maritime; they use a shuttle for border controls and boarding.

Drivers can compare three operators, but foot travel is offered through P&O on eligible departures. Booked bicycles are accepted by P&O and DFDS under their cycling procedures. Pets need the selected operator’s approved arrangement; a foot ticket is not a substitute for a pet-and-vehicle booking.

Dover is normally one hour behind Calais. Use the UK arrival time for your onward journey, then allow for unloading and leaving the Eastern Docks. A collection at Dover Priory station needs a separate transfer from the ferry terminal.

Comparing foot, bicycle and car fares from Calais

If you arrive by train, search for a foot-passenger place on P&O before buying your rail connection. DFDS accepts separately booked bicycles, while Irish Ferries excludes both walk-on passengers and passengers boarding by bicycle on this route. Irish Ferries’ route rules.

For drivers, DFDS’s UK page showed a one-way starting price of £114 on 31 October 2026 for a standard car with up to five people, including the emissions charge. Search your date with the same party and vehicle across all three operators. Check the final total and the conditions for changing your departure. DFDS Calais to Dover fares.

Travelling the other way? Read the Dover to Calais ferry guide.

Check Ferry Fares Compare ferry operators

Make the right crossing choice

Calais to Dover: practical ferry planning

For Calais to Dover, build the journey backwards from the French check-in deadline. Calais town, its railway stations and the ferry terminal are separate stops. Compare P&O, DFDS and Irish Ferries for your vehicle, or choose an eligible P&O foot sailing and arrange the terminal transfer.

Operators, passengers and sailing choices

Compare operators and sailing choices
Operator	Crossing or service	Passengers and vehicles	Planning detail
P&O Ferries	About 90 minutes	Vehicles; bicycles; eligible foot bookings	Foot passengers report at Avenue du Mérite Maritime at least 90 minutes before sailing.
DFDS	About 100 minutes	Vehicles and booked bicycles; no foot passengers	Check-in normally closes 60 minutes before sailing; use Calais departure details.
Irish Ferries	About 90 minutes	Motorists and motorcyclists	Border processing follows check-in at Calais; allow time for both stages.

Calais to Dover ferry prices: what to compare

Price the Calais–Dover leg for the passengers and vehicle actually returning, including roof loads, cycle racks and trailers. A different vehicle length, pet arrangement or ticket flexibility can change the total, even when the crossing time looks similar.

Foot travellers should compare the ferry with the complete station-to-terminal connection in France and the transfer from Dover port. Choose the correct return date and local departure time before paying, particularly if a missed connection would require another hotel night.

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Calais departure and Dover arrival

Calais: before boarding

Follow the Calais car-ferry signs for your operator. P&O foot passengers report to the terminal at 285 Avenue du Mérite Maritime, separate from both Calais railway stations.
The port specifies at least 90 minutes for foot check-in and recommends 120 minutes in busy periods. Follow the reporting time on your booking; Irish Ferries notes that border controls come after its Calais check-in.
Check local transport for your actual departure day. The port’s Baladin shuttle does not run on Sundays or French public holidays, so a taxi or another arrangement may be needed.

Read the Calais port guide

Dover: after arrival

The ferry arrives at Dover’s Eastern Docks. Use the operator’s disembarkation procedure; foot passengers leave by terminal shuttle rather than walking through vehicle loading lanes.
Allow extra time before a pickup or train. P&O advises foot disembarkation around 30 minutes after docking, and Dover Priory is a separate journey from the port.
Use UK local time for your next connection. Drivers should plan the road journey from the Eastern Docks and account for traffic leaving Dover.

Read the Dover port guide

Which option fits your trip?

Coming from Belgium or the Netherlands?

Dunkirk’s Loon-Plage terminal may suit your approach to the coast. Compare the extra sea time with the road journey to Calais.

Compare Dunkirk to Dover

Starting in Normandy?

Dieppe–Newhaven lands in Sussex and accepts foot passengers. Compare it when your British destination is closer to Brighton or the south coast.

Compare Dieppe to Newhaven

Need the outward crossing too?

Read the Dover departure guide for Eastern Docks access and UK-side reporting arrangements.

Plan Dover to Calais

Sources and service review

Travel guidance checked 19 October 2026 using published information from P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries, Port Boulogne Calais, Port of Dover. This guide explains the journey; the dated booking result and operator confirmation determine your sailing, fare and reporting time.

How FerryEU checks its guides · Report a route-information correction

Official route and travel information:

Ferry companies

Ferry operators on the Calais–Dover route

Compare the operators and departures offered for your dates. The sailing result confirms the carrier, vessel and travel options for that journey.

P&O Ferries

P&O Ferries is listed in FerryEU’s guide to this crossing. Search the Calais to Dover direction to see which departures and ticket types are offered for your date.

Check the vessel, boarding arrangements at Calais, baggage allowance and any vehicle or accommodation options in the selected sailing. The return leg can have a different schedule or ship.

Cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and caravans
Foot passengers on selected sailings
Foot tickets should be booked online in advance

Compare Ferry Prices P&O Ferries guide

DFDS

DFDS is listed in FerryEU’s guide to this crossing. Search the Calais to Dover direction to see which departures and ticket types are offered for your date.

Check the vessel, boarding arrangements at Calais, baggage allowance and any vehicle or accommodation options in the selected sailing. The return leg can have a different schedule or ship.

Cars, motorcycles, bicycles and larger vehicles
Pets can travel when booked with a vehicle

Compare Ferry Prices DFDS guide

Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries is listed in FerryEU’s guide to this crossing. Search the Calais to Dover direction to see which departures and ticket types are offered for your date.

Check the vessel, boarding arrangements at Calais, baggage allowance and any vehicle or accommodation options in the selected sailing. The return leg can have a different schedule or ship.

Cars and motorcycles with flexible fare options
Pet arrangements for motorists and motorcyclists
Club Class and onboard food, drink and shopping

Compare Ferry Prices Irish Ferries guide

Departure and arrival ports

Departing Calais and arriving in Dover

Departure · France

Calais Ferry Port

Calais ferry terminal is on the eastern side of the city. The large passenger and vehicle complex is separate from Calais town centre and its railway stations. Follow the signs for the operator on your ticket.

For your Calais to Dover sailing, arrange your journey to Calais around the check-in deadline. The ferry may use a different entrance or terminal from other services at the same harbour. Check the boarding instructions before booking a connecting train, bus or taxi.

Foot-passenger travel is currently available through P&O Ferries and should be booked online in advance

Explore Calais port and destination guide

White Cliffs of Dover, castle and English Channel coast in Kent

Arrival · United Kingdom

Dover Ferry Port

Cross-Channel ferries arrive at the Eastern Docks in Dover, below the White Cliffs and east of the town centre. Plan the next leg of your journey from the ferry terminal; Dover Priory station is a separate connection.

After the ferry reaches Dover, allow time for disembarkation before a collection or onward connection. Check where passengers leave the terminal and whether your next stop is within walking distance or requires a transfer.

Passenger facilities include food outlets, toilets and free Wi-Fi
Pet exercise areas are available within the ferry terminal
The Port of Dover advises that there is no public long-stay parking inside the port; use an appropriate off-site provider if leaving a vehicle

Explore Dover port and destination guide

On board

Your Calais–Dover crossing

Use the facilities listed for the ship on your departure. Vessel assignments and onboard services can change.

Lounges & seating

Standard seating is included, while premium or Club-style lounge options are available on selected ships and fares.

Wi-Fi & family space

Wi-Fi and children’s facilities are available on many vessels. Check the assigned ship if a specific facility matters to your journey.

Check-in and disembarkation

These short crossings offer passenger seating and optional lounge upgrades. Foot travellers should also allow for the terminal shuttle and P&O’s later disembarkation after docking.

Food and drink

Catering depends on the vessel and departure time. Check the ship’s facilities if you are relying on a meal during the crossing.

Before departure

Prepare for check-in at Calais

The Calais to Dover journey crosses between France and United Kingdom. Check the current entry and travel-document requirements for your nationality and itinerary, together with the operator’s boarding instructions.

Your departure terminal

Use the terminal named on the Calais booking confirmation. Plan the route to check-in, including any parking or drop-off arrangements, before departure.

Passenger and vehicle details

Check names and travel details before you arrive. If taking a vehicle, enter its full dimensions and include trailers, roof loads or rear-mounted equipment where required.

Travel documents

Use current official guidance for documents, entry permissions and any vehicle or pet requirements that apply to your journey. Requirements depend on your circumstances and can change.

After arriving

Continue your journey from Dover

Dover’s main attractions are spread between the town, castle and cliffs, with rail connections making London and the wider Kent coast easy to reach.

Central Dover and the marina are walkable, although the castle and cliffs involve steeper routes.

Direct and connecting rail services link Dover with London and other Kent destinations.

A car is ideal for combining the ferry with Deal, Canterbury, Folkestone or a wider south-east England road trip.

For an onward connection from Dover, include time to leave the ship and terminal. Check local transport for the actual arrival day, especially if the ferry arrives early in the morning or late at night. A nearby hotel or a later connection may give more flexibility if the crossing is delayed.

Explore Dover

Other ferry options

Compare routes for your Calais to Dover journey

Search nearby dates and compare the complete journey when considering another crossing. Different ports can change your transfer time, onward drive or overnight plans.

Boulogne-sur-Mer → DoverAnother crossing arriving in Dover. Compare the port access and sailing dates.View route Dunkirk → DoverAnother crossing arriving in Dover. Compare the port access and sailing dates.View route

Return journey: Dover to Calais · Browse all ferry routes

Common planning questions

Calais to Dover ferry FAQs

How long does Calais to Dover take?

Allow about 90–100 minutes at sea, depending on the operator. The displayed arrival can look unusually early because the UK is normally one hour behind France. Add the French terminal approach, check-in, border controls and disembarkation to your journey.

Where do foot passengers check in at Calais?

P&O foot passengers use the ferry terminal at 285 Avenue du Mérite Maritime. The terminal is separate from Calais Ville and Calais-Fréthun stations. P&O provides the onward shuttle through border controls to the vessel after check-in.

Which operators accept foot passengers from Calais?

The Port of Calais names P&O as the foot-passenger operator. Book an eligible departure in advance. DFDS accepts vehicles and booked bicycles but no ordinary walk-on passengers on Calais–Dover. Check your passenger category before comparing tickets.

How early should I reach Calais ferry terminal?

On foot, allow at least 90 minutes at Calais, increasing to 120 minutes in busy periods according to the port. For example, a 12:00 departure means 10:30 at the terminal, or 10:00 in a busy period. Irish Ferries sets a one-hour check-in deadline for a car and 90 minutes for pet travel. Border checks at Calais follow Irish Ferries check-in. Port of Calais foot-passenger guide and Irish Ferries’ check-in times.

Is there a bus from Calais town to the ferry?

The port advertises a free Baladin connection from the town centre and railway station, but not on Sundays or French public holidays. Check the current local timetable for your date and allow time at the terminal before the ferry reporting deadline.

Can I take a car, bicycle or pet to Dover?

Cars and motorcycles are carried by the three operators. P&O and DFDS accept booked bicycles. Pet conditions differ: P&O foot passengers cannot bring ordinary pets, while vehicle travellers must book the operator’s approved pet arrangement and meet the destination’s entry requirements.

How do I compare Calais to Dover fares?

Compare the same passengers, vehicle dimensions, pet space and flexibility on each offer. For foot travel, include transfers to and from both ports. Check the full price for the exact Calais departure; a headline fare for another date or direction may not apply.

Can I connect directly to a train at Dover?

Dover Priory is separate from the Eastern Docks. Allow time to disembark, reach the Passenger Terminal and transfer to the station. P&O advises that foot disembarkation begins about 30 minutes after docking, so a tight train connection is unwise.

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