Calais - Dover
Ferry to England
Calais - Dover
Ferry to England
Fares for the Calais to Dover crossing usually range somewhere between $48* and $698*. Most travellers pay around $355* for a Calais Dover ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $48*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $146* on average. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $334*.
Fares vary according to passenger count, vehicle type, the route itself and what time you sail. Figures come from fares searched in the previous 30 days, don't include service fees, and were last checked August 26.
There's a quick way to stack up ferry fares and operators from around the world side by side, so you can pick the crossing that best suits you. Getting in early tends to open up the widest choice of prices and sailing times.
Direct Ferries has discounts running throughout the year. Where a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied the moment you pick the matching age bracket in the passenger section of your search.
If you're a student or recent graduate, a 5% discount is up for grabs. Head to our partner Student Beans to confirm your status and you'll receive a code to enter at checkout.
A handful of Spanish and Italian ferry routes also offer a resident discount — choose the "Residents" option if it appears during your search and the lower fare is applied straight away. You'll usually need to show proof of address, like a residency card or certificate, when you check in.
Sailings on the Calais Dover route generally kick off from Calais at around 00:10, and the last departure of the day is usually around 23:00.
You certainly can — with a short crossing and sailings running daily, Calais to Dover is an easy day trip. Taking a vehicle, where possible, gives you the freedom to explore a bit further once you land.
Yes, Irish Ferries & P&O Ferries carries vehicles on the Calais to Dover route. Check our Deal Finder for up-to-date car ferry pricing on this crossing.
Whether a caravan or campervan is welcome on board the Calais to Dover ferry comes down to the ship and operator running the sailing. Pop your travel details into our Deal Finder, and we'll check the operators on this route for you.
Yes, Irish Ferries & P&O Ferries takes bicycles on the Calais to Dover crossing. Most operators are happy to carry bikes, but it's always worth confirming their exact policy before you turn up at the terminal.
Yes, P&O Ferries carries foot passengers between Calais and Dover.
Pet owners are in luck — Irish Ferries & P&O Ferries allows pets on board between Calais and Dover. Travelling with a pet on this crossing costs an average of $494.
Fares reflect searches from the last 30 days, exclude service fees, and were last checked August 26.
Before you bring a pet on board, it helps to have the following sorted:
It depends on which operator you're sailing with — some ferries keep pets in your vehicle for the whole trip, while others have dedicated pet areas, kennels, or even pet-friendly cabins. Our Deal Finder lays out the options so you can pick the crossing that works for your pet.
There's a bit to know before travelling with a guide or assistance dog. Let our customer service team know in advance, or mention it to the ferry operator when you book, so everything's arranged ahead of time.
Carry any certification or documentation your dog needs, since you could be asked to show it at boarding or partway through the crossing.
Rules for guide dogs and assistance dogs can differ from general pet policy, even on sailings where pets aren't otherwise allowed. Reach out to our customer service team to check what applies to your sailing, or visit our Special Assistance Help page for more detail.
Whether the Calais to Dover route has an overnight sailing depends on a mix of factors. Search with your travel dates, and we'll show you whether an overnight option exists, plus current timetables, crossing times and daytime alternatives.
Note that overnight sailings can occasionally take a bit longer than daytime crossings.
What you'll need to travel varies by route, so it pays to check ahead of your sailing. A valid passport is typically required for the Calais to Dover crossing, along with any visa or national ID required for your nationality. As rules depend on both where you're from and where you're headed, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is worth a read to avoid any hold-ups at check-in.
Booking couldn't be simpler — select your departure port, arrival port and travel date to see everything on offer. From there, you can weigh up alternative routes and departure times to land on the best fit.
Look for early-booking deals and flexible fare types, like upgrades or flexi-tickets, which give you room to change plans later. Double-check details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specs as you go, to keep the booking process painless.
You'll get a confirmation email the moment your booking goes through. From there, how your boarding pass turns up depends on the operator.
Some operators send the boarding pass straight away, while others want you to check in at the port. Where it's on offer, online check-in through the Direct Ferries app can save you time at the terminal.
Ticket desks tend to sit right by the ferry terminal. Building in some extra time before you sail means you won't be rushed collecting tickets and getting checked in.
Have your confirmation email and valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — ready at check-in. If a pet's travelling with you, bring their vaccination and insurance papers, and hold onto proof of address if you booked with a resident discount.
A gap in sailings from Calais to Dover on your chosen date usually comes down to something like a timetable adjustment, limited space, or a seasonal dip in service. Try a different date, or browse other options with our Route & Port finder.
Generally speaking, booking your Calais to Dover ferry sooner rather than later pays off — earlier bookings usually mean lower fares and more choice of departure times and cabins.
A few weeks' lead time is usually enough to catch a good deal, though fares can still move around depending on the season and what's left available.
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| Calais - Dover Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $146 | |
| Average Price with Car | $334 | |
| Average Price with Motorbike | $171 | |
| Average Campervan Price | $489 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $502 | |
| Calais - Dover Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Destination | England |
| No. of Operators | 3 |
| Operators | Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries & DFDS Seaways |
| Average Price | $355 |
| Average Pet Price | $494 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 25 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 172 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1 h 40 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 1 h 30 m |
| First Ferry | 00:10 |
| Last Ferry | 23:00 |
| Distance | 33 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 August 2026.
The French town and major sea port of Calais is located in northern France and lies on the English Channel coast, around 21 miles across the English Channel from the English Port of Dover. On a clear day it is possible to see the White Cliffs of Dover, across the Strait of Dover. Calais' old town, known as Calais-Nord, is surrounded by canals and harbours and lies on an artificial island. The more modern part of Calais, known as St-Pierre, is located to the south of the old town.
Visitors to the town can take in the Tour du Guet which is situated in the Place d'Armes in the old town. Built in the 13th century, the structure was originally a water tower which was subsequently used as a lighthouse until 1848.
The port of Calais is well known to many visitors from the UK and is the 4th largest port in France, by passenger numbers. It is the main gateway into France for many UK visitors and is less than 3 hours by car from Paris, Brussels and London and is connected to several motorways. On average a ship departs from Calais every 30 minutes, with around 50 departures to Dover each day, with a crossing time of about 75 minutes.
The town and port of Dover is located on the south east coast of England, in the county of Kent. The major ferry port lies on the English Channel coast, at its narrowest point between England and France. Dover is the world's busiest passenger port with roughly 16 million travellers, 2 million lorries, nearly 3 million cars and motorcycles and 86,000 coaches passing through it each year. Providing an iconic backdrop to the town are its white chalk cliffs and are an impressive sight when entering the port by ferry.
A popular tourist attraction in the town is the 12th century Dover Castle which stands guard over the town. The medieval castle has been described as the "Key to England" because of its defensive importance over the centuries, and is also England's largest castle. Today, the castle is a designated Scheduled Monument which means that it is a nationally important historic building and archaeological site that is protected against unauthorised change. It is also a Grade I listed building and an internationally recognised important structure. The castle, its secret tunnels and surrounding land are all now owned by English Heritage.
