There is no ferry to Paris itself: the city lies about 200 km inland. You cross to the French coast and drive or take the train from there. For drivers, the quickest start is the ferry to France from Dover: from Calais it is about 290 km, or roughly three hours, to Paris by motorway.
Dover to Paris by car
The ferry from Dover to Calais takes about 90 minutes, with sailings around the clock from P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries. From the port you follow the A16 and then the A26 and A1 towards Paris, mostly on toll motorway. Count on about four and a half hours from Dover to the Paris ring road, check-in included.
In a hurry? Le Shuttle takes you from Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes, so you save about an hour. Before you set off, read what changes when you drive in France: Paris has a low emission zone, so you need a Crit’Air sticker.
London to Paris without a car
Without a car, the Eurostar ↗ is by far the quickest: from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in about 2 hours 20 minutes, through the Channel Tunnel. The ferry is possible too: P&O takes foot passengers from Dover to Calais, and from Calais you continue to Paris by French train. It takes longer, but can be cheaper and makes a good stop-off.
Ferry routes towards Paris compared
| Ferry route | Crossing | French port to Paris | Good choice if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover to Calais | about 90 minutes | about 290 km | you want the most sailings and the lowest fares |
| Dover to Dunkirk | about 2 hours | about 290 km | you prefer a quieter port |
| Newhaven to Dieppe | about 4 hours | about 200 km | you start in London or Sussex |
| Portsmouth to Caen | about 6 hours | about 240 km | you live in the south or west of England |
Distances are by road and approximate. More routes, including Cherbourg and St Malo, are on our page with alternatives to Dover-Calais.
Heading to Paris by car?
Compare the sailings of P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries for your date, or check how the tunnel compares.