Dover to Calais Ferries

Dover to Calais is the shortest and busiest of all the cross channel ferry routes. Both P&O and SeaFrance operate frequent ferry services on this route, with prices that are kept low by the healthy competition.

Ferries from Dover

Dover is the largest ferry port in the UK and faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, the Straits of Dover. From Dover it's only 22 miles to France and despite crossing the busiest shipping lane in the world ferries can reach France faster from Dover than any other port. In addition to car ferries bound for France the port of Dover is also used by cruise ships.

Dover is easy to reach, with good road links - the A20 connects the town to Folkestone, while the A2 leads to Cantebury and beyond. Made famous in song the "White Cliffs of Dover" are distinctive and can easily be seen from France on a clear day.

Ferries to Calais

Calais is closer to England than any other French town and every year hundreds of thousands of British tourists pass through Calais en route to holidays in France and the rest of Europe. Unfortunately, due to heavy bombing during World War II there's little to encourage visitors to stop in Calais on their way through - the vast majority opt to head further South or along the coast as soon as they're off the ferry. However, during recent years the town has enjoyed somewhat of a regeneration and is quite pleasant if you're looking to while away an afternoon waiting for your return ferry home.