Dover to Dunkirk Ferry Times
DFDS sails roughly every 2 hours, day and night, in both directions. Below are today’s sailings, the timetable for the coming week and the times check-in closes. Departure times are in the local time of the departure port.
DFDS Dover Dunkirk timetable
Both directions, with the time check-in closes. Times are local to each port.
Sailings today
Live · updated 23:32France +1 h
Dover → Dunkirk
No more sailings today.
Dunkirk → Dover
| Dep | Arr | Check-in by | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04:00 | 05:00 | 03:00 | Next |
| 06:00 | 07:00 | 05:00 | |
| 08:00 | 09:00 | 07:00 | |
| 10:00 | 11:00 | 09:00 | |
| 12:00 | 13:00 | 11:00 | |
| 14:00 | 15:00 | 13:00 | |
| 16:00 | 17:00 | 15:00 | |
| 18:00 | 19:00 | 17:00 | |
| 20:00 | 21:00 | 19:00 | |
| 23:59 | 00:59 | 22:59 |
Dover to Dunkirk timetable for the coming week
Sailings per day with departure times in UK time. On weekdays there are usually 10 or 11; at weekends a few fewer.
| Day | Sailings | Departures, local time |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 4-10 | 7 | 08:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0022:00 |
| Mon 5-10 | 9 | 06:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0022:00 |
| Tue 6-10 | 10 | 02:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0022:00 |
| Wed 7-10 | 10 | 02:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0022:00 |
| Thu 8-10 | 10 | 02:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0022:00 |
| Fri 9-10 | 10 | 02:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0022:00 |
| Sat 10-10 | 8 | 06:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0022:00 |
Dunkirk to Dover timetable for the coming week
Departure times in French time (CEST), 1 hour ahead of the UK.
| Day | Sailings | Departures, local time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 5-10 | 10 | 04:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0023:59 |
| Tue 6-10 | 10 | 04:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0023:59 |
| Wed 7-10 | 10 | 04:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0023:59 |
| Thu 8-10 | 10 | 04:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:0023:59 |
| Fri 9-10 | 9 | 04:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:00 |
| Sat 10-10 | 8 | 04:0006:0008:0010:0012:0014:0016:0020:00 |
| Sun 11-10 | 7 | 06:0010:0012:0014:0016:0018:0020:00 |
Choose another date
Pick a date and the number of days; the times come straight from the timetable. For the price on that day, go to prices and booking.
Dover to Dunkirk
Dunkirk to Dover
How long is the Dover to Dunkirk crossing?
The crossing takes 2 hours in both directions. Because France is 1 hour ahead of the UK, the ticket shows a 3-hour gap on the way out and a 1-hour gap on the way back. Put your watch forward on arrival in France and back on arrival in Dover.
| Direction | Departs (local) | Arrives (local) | Real duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover to Dunkirk | 12:00 (BST) | 15:00 (CEST) | 2 hours |
| Dunkirk to Dover | 14:00 (CEST) | 15:00 (BST) | 2 hours |
Allow about 3 hours from arriving at the port to leaving the port on the other side: 1 hour at the port, 2 hours at sea and 15 to 30 minutes to drive off.
When does check-in close?
Check-in closes 60 minutes before departure. In Dover, French passport control takes place before you board, so allow 60 to 90 minutes outside the holidays and 90 to 120 minutes in the school holidays and on Fridays and Saturdays. In Dunkirk, allow 75 to 90 minutes outside the holidays and 90 to 120 minutes in the school holidays and on Fridays and Saturdays. What happens if you arrive late depends on your ticket type (Economy or Flexi); check the conditions of your booking.
- Follow “Port” to Eastern DocksFrom the A20 or A2, the signs take you straight to the DFDS check-in booths under the cliffs, postcode CT16 1JA.
- Check in at the boothsShow your booking reference or the email. You get a hanger for your mirror with your lane and sailing time.
- Border and customsFrench passport control: the Police aux Frontières registers your entry to the Schengen area, with the Entry/Exit System registration on your first trip. UK Border Force may carry out spot checks. Keep passports and the V5C to hand.
- Wait in your laneDrive to the lane on your hanger. Boarding starts about 30 minutes before departure.
The full walk-through with photos, including the return at Dunkirk, is on check-in step by step; the approach to Eastern Docks is on the Dover port page.
Night sailings and weekends
The 02:00 from Dover and the 23:59 from Dunkirk do not run every day, and some sailings drop out at weekends. The week view above shows which sailings run on each day. Book a night sailing only if it appears in the timetable, and take food and drink for the night: the Dunkirk terminal has no restaurant. Fares differ by sailing; see prices by sailing.
Questions about the ferry times
How often does the ferry sail from Dover to Dunkirk?
Up to 11 times a day, roughly every 2 hours: 02:00, 04:00, 06:00, 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 and 22:00. A few sailings drop out at weekends.
Are the times in UK time?
Departures from Dover are in UK time. Departures from Dunkirk are in French time, one hour ahead. Arrival times are always in the local time of the arrival port.
What are the first and last sailings?
From Dover the first is at 02:00 and the last at 22:00 UK time. From Dunkirk the first is at 04:00 and the last at 23:59 French time, on days those sailings run.
What happens if a sailing is delayed or cancelled?
If DFDS cancels or retimes a sailing, your booking moves to the next sailing with space; you can also ask the company you booked with for a refund or another route. DFDS emails or texts the contact details in the booking. The wind and wave forecast is on the weather page; live notices are on our sailing updates page.