Alternatives to Dover to Dunkirk
Dunkirk is not the only way across. From Dover there is Calais and the tunnel; from further up the east coast the overnight ships to Holland; from the south coast the longer crossings to Normandy and Brittany. Which one fits depends on where you live and where on the Continent you are going. All of them side by side, with the reason to choose or skip each.
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 |
Short crossings: Dunkirk, Calais or the tunnel
The three short routes all leave Kent from 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 is the quietest and the closest to Belgium; Calais has the most sailings and the only foot passenger service; the tunnel is fastest and dearest. 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
If you live north of the M25, the drive to Dover is the expensive part. From Hull or Newcastle you sleep in a cabin and wake up in the Netherlands, with the Dutch, German and Scandinavian motorways ahead of you and no Kent traffic behind. The fare is higher than the short crossing, but it replaces a hotel night and 300 miles of driving.
| 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 ships cut out the whole drive from Calais. Newhaven to Dieppe is four hours and lands you two hours from Paris. Portsmouth to Caen runs by day and overnight; Portsmouth to St Malo puts you in Brittany at breakfast. From Kent and London these are a detour; from Hampshire, Dorset and the West Country they are the obvious choice.
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 the train or a flight beats every ferry: no car in Paris or Amsterdam, no parking. The ferry wins with a family and luggage, a dog, bikes or camping gear, and on any tour outside the big cities. From about two weeks touring, the car is nearly always cheaper than flights plus a hire car.
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, which does not sail. Of the ferries, the short crossing is least affected: two hours pass quickly, and DFDS retimes a sailing rather than cancelling a 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.