DFDS sails from Dover to Calais around the clock with three ships: the Côte des Dunes, the Côte des Flandres and the newest, the Côte d’Opale. The crossing takes about 100 minutes, the route is for vehicles only, and fares start at £114 one way for a car with up to five people.
DFDS Dover to Calais at a glance
| Ships | Côte des Dunes, Côte des Flandres and Côte d’Opale |
| Sailings | Around the clock, in both directions |
| Crossing time | About 100 minutes |
| Check-in | Closes 60 minutes before departure |
| Foot passengers | Not accepted, vehicles only |
| Pets | Stay in your vehicle during the crossing |
| Fares from | £114 one way, car and up to 5 people |
Tickets and prices
DFDS sets its fares per sailing, so the price for the same car changes with demand. What makes the difference:
- Your vehicle. A car is the base fare; a motorhome, a caravan or a high vehicle costs more. Book your real length and height.
- When you sail. Weekends and school holidays are the most expensive; night, early morning and late evening sailings are often cheaper.
- When you book. The earlier you book, the lower the fare usually is.
- Ticket type. Besides the standard fare, DFDS sells Premium, with access to the Premium Lounge on board and more flexible booking conditions.
Want to compare DFDS with the other operators for your date? Our guide to the cheapest ferry to France explains how. Travelling on foot is not possible with DFDS; for that you need P&O Ferries.
⚠️ Check your booking confirmation: you may have to submit Advance Passenger Information up to 24 hours before departure.
Timetable
DFDS sails Dover to Calais around the clock in both directions. Departure times change with the seasons, so instead of a printed table we keep one live overview: see today’s DFDS departures on our timetable page. Delays and cancellations appear on our sailing updates page. Mind the time difference: France is one hour ahead. DFDS also sails from Dover to Dunkirk, a handy back-up on busy days; see our alternative routes.
Check-in with DFDS
1. Check-in
The DFDS booths are clearly signposted above the road in both the port of Dover and the port of Calais. Show your booking reference and the passports of everyone in the car, and you get a boarding card with your lane number to hang on the rear-view mirror. Check-in closes 60 minutes before departure.
2. Border control
Next comes the border control. From Dover the French border police check your passports, so in Calais you drive straight off the ship. From Calais you pass the French exit check and UK Border Force, who also check the UK ETA of travellers without a British or Irish passport. Vehicles can be picked out for a routine search.
3. Boarding
Drive to your lane and wait there until boarding is announced. At the ramp you hand in the tear-off part of your boarding card. Pets stay in the car during the crossing, and the car deck is closed at sea, so take what you need upstairs.
Please note: the check-in times on this page are an indication to help you estimate how much time to allow for your journey. Always follow the official information from the operator you travel with or the company you booked with.
On board DFDS
All three ships have restaurants, a duty-free shop and free WiFi. The Côte d’Opale, in service since 2021, is the newest and largest of the three. In our test DFDS had the best WiFi and coffee on the route, but the least outdoor space; read the full results in our ferry comparison.
- 🍴 Restaurants and café
- 🛒 Duty-free shop
- 📶 Free WiFi
- 🏅 Premium Lounge
- 🧒 Kids corner
- 🎮 Games area
- ℹ️ Reception
- 🚚 Truckers lounge
Photos on board DFDS
These photos are from our test crossing on the Côte des Flandres in May 2024.
Questions about DFDS Dover to Calais
Can I travel as a foot passenger with DFDS from Dover?
No. DFDS only carries vehicles on Dover to Calais. On foot you can cross with P&O Ferries; see our foot passenger page.
Can I take my dog with DFDS?
Yes, if you book your pet in advance. On Dover to Calais pets stay in your vehicle during the crossing; there is no pet lounge on board.
How long is the DFDS crossing from Dover to Calais?
About 100 minutes, a little longer than P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries. Because France is one hour ahead, the arrival time on your ticket is about 2 hours 40 minutes after departure.
What is DFDS Premium?
Premium is the upgraded DFDS fare: you get access to the Premium Lounge on board and more flexible booking conditions. Check the current conditions with DFDS when you book.
Other operators on the route
DFDS is not the only operator on the route: compare all ferries from Dover to Calais, or view the alternatives below.
- Up to 20 sailings a day
- About 90 minutes
- Day returns from £55
- About 90 minutes
- Also takes foot passengers
- Car fares from £63
- 35 minutes, from Folkestone
- Vehicles only
- From £59 (Day Trip)
Book DFDS from Dover
See the departure times and fares of DFDS for your date, or check how the three operators compare.