Alternatives to Dover to Dunkirk
From Dover there are three short crossings: Dunkirk, Calais and the tunnel. From the east coast there are overnight ferries to the Netherlands; from the south coast, longer crossings to Normandy and Brittany. Which one suits depends on where you live and where you are going.
Every route from Britain to the Continent by car
| Route | Operator | Crossing | Arrives | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover to Dunkirk | DFDS | 2 h | Dunkirk, A16 | Belgium, Netherlands, Germany; quiet port |
| Dover to Calais | DFDS, P&O, Irish Ferries | 1 h 30 | Calais, A16 and A26 | Flexibility, foot passengers (P&O), the south via the A26 |
| Folkestone to Calais, tunnel | LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) | 35 min | Coquelles, A16 | Speed, pets, bad weather |
| Harwich to Hook of Holland | Stena Line | 7 h day, 8 h night | Hook, near Rotterdam | East Anglia and the Midlands to the Netherlands |
| Hull to Rotterdam | P&O Ferries | 11 h, overnight | Europoort | The North to the Netherlands and Germany |
| Newcastle to Amsterdam | DFDS | 15 h 30, overnight | IJmuiden | Scotland and the North East |
| Newhaven to Dieppe | DFDS | 4 h | Dieppe, Normandy | Sussex; Normandy and Paris without the M25 |
| Portsmouth to Caen, Le Havre, St Malo | Brittany Ferries | 6 to 11 h | Normandy, Brittany | The south and west of England to western France |
| Dunkirk to Rosslare | DFDS | 24 h | Ireland | A loop through Ireland; see Dunkirk to Rosslare |
Compare all routes to the Continent
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Short crossings: Dunkirk, Calais or the tunnel
The three short routes all depart from Kent within 15 km of each other and arrive on the A16 within 40 km of each other. The difference is the port and the time on board. Dunkirk has one operator and is the closest to Belgium; Calais has the most sailings and the only foot passenger service; the tunnel is the fastest and the most expensive. The full comparison is on Calais or Dunkirk. For the tunnel, with fares and the terminals, see chunnel.co.uk; for the Calais ferries, calais-dover.com.
Overnight from the east coast: Harwich, Hull or Newcastle
From Hull or Newcastle the crossing is overnight in a cabin and you land in the Netherlands in the morning. The fare is higher than a short crossing, but it replaces a hotel night and up to 480 km (300 miles) of driving to Dover.
| From | To Amsterdam via Dunkirk | To Amsterdam via the overnight ship |
|---|---|---|
| London | 125 km to Dover, 2 h at sea, 330 km on | Harwich 130 km, 8 h night, Hook 80 km |
| Birmingham | 310 km to Dover, 2 h at sea, 330 km on | Hull 200 km, 11 h night, Rotterdam 80 km |
| Leeds | 420 km to Dover, 2 h at sea, 330 km on | Hull 95 km, 11 h night, Rotterdam 80 km |
| Edinburgh | 760 km to Dover, 2 h at sea, 330 km on | Newcastle 190 km, 15 h 30 night, IJmuiden 30 km |
Rule of thumb: south of Birmingham via Dover; north of it via Hull or Newcastle for the Netherlands and Germany, and still via Dover for France and the south.
Longer crossings from the south coast
For Normandy, Brittany, the Loire and the west of France, the Portsmouth and Newhaven crossings avoid the drive from Calais. Newhaven to Dieppe takes 4 hours; Dieppe to Paris is about 2 hours. Portsmouth to Caen sails by day and overnight; Portsmouth to St Malo is an overnight crossing. From Kent and London these routes are a detour; from Hampshire, Dorset and the West Country they are shorter.
Train from Dover to Dunkirk?
There is none. No railway links Dover and Dunkirk, and the ferry carries no foot passengers. Without a car, take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Lille, Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam, a coach via Calais, or P&O from Dover to Calais on foot. See foot passengers.
Flying and leaving the car at home
For a city break without a car, the train or a flight avoids parking and city driving. The ferry suits a family with luggage, a dog, bikes or camping gear, and touring outside the cities.
Questions about the alternatives
What is the cheapest way to take a car to the Continent?
Usually a short crossing from Dover, Dunkirk or Calais, outside the holidays and booked weeks ahead. The overnight ships cost more because of the cabin, but save a hotel night and fuel.
Is there still a ferry from Ramsgate or Zeebrugge?
No. Ramsgate to Ostend ended in 2013 and Hull to Zeebrugge in 2021. The Belgian coast is now reached via Dunkirk, 25 km from the border.
Which route is best in a storm?
The tunnel is not affected by sea conditions. Of the ferries, the short crossings are least affected: DFDS usually retimes or combines sailings rather than cancelling a whole day. See weather.
Will there be a ferry from Scotland to France?
Rosyth to Dunkirk is announced but not sailing as of September 2026. Until then, Newcastle to Amsterdam is the shortest route from Scotland. See Rosyth to Dunkirk.