Calais port

Practical information about the port of Calais.

The port of Calais is located approximately 38 kilometers from the British coast. There are more than 40 departures per day. Every year, 10 million passengers board one of three operators: DFDS, P&O Ferries or Irish Ferries.

Address

View the address details of the port below:

285 Avenue du Merite Maritime
CS90283
62105 Calais

Facilities in the port

Do you have to wait a while before you can board? No problem: you can do some shopping in the port, go to the toilet or withdraw money. The facilities at a glance:

Info point

ATMs

Shops

Toilets

WiFi

Restaurant

Photo impression of the harbour

A line of motorcycles, cars, and campers at the check-in gates of Irish Ferries in the port of Calais.

Artistic concrete letters of Port de Calais welcome visitors upon arrival at the harbor, accompanied by an image showcasing the facilities available at the port.

Entrance of the building near the check-in for the Calais to Dover ferries.

The side of the terminal building at the check-in is decorated with an advertisement for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

A row of urinals in one of the terminal buildings in Calais.

Ferry leaving the port of Calais while another ferry is arriving.

Parking at the harbour

Free short-term parking is available at the port of Calais. For example, to do some shopping while waiting. There are also charging stations for electric cars. The parking lot is located at the front of the ferry terminal.

Please note: the port of Calais does not currently offer long-term parking options. View more information and alternative options for parking at the port of Calais.

Departure procedure

1. Checking in

The renovated (highway) road N216 leads you directly to the stabling area for check-in. All ferry companies use the same spot. When it’s busy, you can get something in the nearby store. You will also find toilets here, but there are also toilets on the left side of the canopy of the check-in gates. Once you have checked in, you will receive a paper with the number of the queue you can drive to, but first you will go through customs.

2. Customs

Customs consists of two inspections. You drive your car past a first you pass the customs booth of French Customs, after which you make a turn and receive a similar passport control from British Customs. You do not have to get out of the car, but can simply hand over the passports of all occupants to the customs officer through your open window.

3. Boarding

Once you have passed the checks, you can follow the signs with numbers to drive to the correct waiting lane. Depending on where the ferry docks, this can be quite a drive. The facilities are diverse. There are several terminal buildings throughout the port where you can go to the toilet, or go shopping or have something to eat and drink.

Arrival in Dover

After about an hour and a half you arrive in the port of Dover in England. You no longer have to drive on the right and the maximum speed is again indicated in MPH.