Everything you need to plan a ferry to France, in one place: which crossing to choose, what it costs, the rules at the border, driving in France, travelling with a dog or on foot, and guides to every port, ferry company and ship. Every guide is checked against the ferry companies and GOV.UK, and dated so you know how fresh it is.
Choosing your crossing
Start with our comparison of every ferry route to France, with the ferry finder, crossing times, sailings and fares side by side.
Cheapest Ferry to France
The lowest fares on every ferry route to France, compared like for like, with day trips, discounts and how to pay less.
Overnight Ferries to France
Every overnight ferry to France: departure and arrival times, how much sleep you'll get, cabins on every ship, fares and which one to choose.
Ferry from Portsmouth to France
Every ferry from Portsmouth to France compared: Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo, sailing times, crossing times, fares, ships, and what happened to Le Havre.
Eurotunnel LeShuttle: Folkestone to Calais Guide
The car train from Folkestone to Calais: tickets and prices, check-in, both terminals, pets and vehicles, and how it compares with the ferry.
Best ferry for where you’re going
Best Ferry to Paris
Every crossing compared for driving to Paris: time from London, time in France, fares, tolls and the Crit'Air rules.
Best Ferry to Brittany
St Malo, Roscoff or Caen? Every crossing compared for Brittany, with driving times to Rennes, Vannes, Quimper and Brest.
Best Ferry to Normandy
Caen, Cherbourg or Dieppe? Every crossing compared for Normandy, with driving times to Bayeux, Honfleur, Mont-Saint-Michel and Rouen.
Best Ferry to the Loire Valley
Caen or St Malo? Every crossing compared for the Loire Valley, with driving times to Tours, Saumur and Nantes.
Best Ferry to the Dordogne
St Malo, Caen or Calais? Every crossing compared for the Dordogne, with driving times to Bergerac, Sarlat and Bordeaux.
Best Ferry to the South of France
Every crossing compared for the south of France, with driving times to Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier and Carcassonne.
Best Ferry to the Alps
Every crossing compared for the French Alps, with driving times to Annecy, Chamonix and Lyon, and the winter tyre rules.
Driving to Disneyland Paris from the UK
Everything about driving to Disneyland Paris from the UK: journey times from your town, the best crossing, the route, tolls, parking and costs.
Or use the ferry finder to compare driving times from every French port to where you’re staying.
Before you go
Travel Rules for France from the UK
Passports, the 90/180 rule, EES border checks at the ferry ports, ETIAS, pets, food, cash and duty-free allowances for France.
Driving in France: Rules, Requirements and Checklist
Everything you need to drive in France from the UK: documents, kit, speed limits, fines, Crit'Air, tolls with real prices, fuel, winter rules and breakdowns.
French Toll Roads: How to Pay, Toll Tags and Costs
How French motorway tolls work for UK drivers: paying at the booth, right-hand-drive tips, toll tags, costs, barrier-free tolls and free motorways.
Taking a Dog on the Ferry to France
Every ferry to France compared for dog owners: where your dog travels, prices, foot passengers with pets, the paperwork and coming home.
Foot Passenger Ferries to France
Which ferries to France take foot passengers, what they cost, and how to get to and from each port without a car.
For every rule of the French road in depth, from speed limits to Crit’Air stickers, visit our sister site, Driving France. First time? Start with your first drive in France.
Ferry ports
Our port guides cover the address, check-in, parking, getting there by car, train and on foot, facilities and pets, for every port with ferries to France: see all ferry ports.
- England: Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth.
- France: Calais, Dunkirk, Dieppe, Caen (Ouistreham), Cherbourg, St Malo and Roscoff.
- Channel Islands: Jersey and Guernsey.
Ferry companies and ships
Ferry Companies to France
Every ferry company sailing to France compared: routes, fares, foot passengers, pets, check-in, lounges and which suits your trip.
Ferries to France: Every Ship Compared
Every ship on the ferry routes to France, compared, with links to full ship guides.
- Brittany Ferries: Portsmouth, Plymouth and Poole to Normandy and Brittany, and the Channel Islands.
- P&O Ferries: Dover to Calais.
- DFDS: Dover to Calais and Dunkirk, Newhaven to Dieppe, and Jersey to St Malo.
- Irish Ferries: Dover to Calais.
Times, fares and rules change, so every guide tells you when it was last checked, and links to live times and prices.