Ferries in France: Timetables & Tickets

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French Ferry Routes – Book Cheap Ferries to France with Omio

Ferry Routes in France
Ferry Companies
Book Cheap Tickets
FAQs

France is the world’s most popular tourist destination. It welcomes tens of millions of international travelers every year through global flight connections and European train connections. However, an increasing number of those tourists are taking the scenic route, with ferries to France growing in popularity and connecting ports across the country.

Some of the most popular ferries to France include the Dover to Calais ferry, Ashford to Calais ferry, Dover to Lille ferry, Portsmouth to Ouistreham ferry, and Algiers to Marseille ferry, but these are just a few of the options that can bring you into this historic, culturally-rich country. All popular ferries to France are available to book through the Omio platform, with rapid booking and cheap tickets available across the board.

The City of Paris

Paris is inland, so there are no direct ferries, but you can get to the city by train, car, or bus once you arrive in the country. From there, there is a world of culture to explore—it is the world’s most-visited city, after all.

The Home of Film

The city of Cannes is perhaps best known for its film festival, but it’s also one of the most attractive cities in France and has much more to offer.

A Medieval Escape

France is steeped in Medieval history, and you can explore some of it with a visit to the historic city of Lille.

See Nice at Night

Nice is the ultimate luxury destination, but it’s more affordable and accessible than many people realize. So, if you fancy some affordable luxury, book a trip to the nicest city in France!

A Cool Coastal Retreat in Rennes, Brittany

The rugged coastlines of Brittany serve as the perfect summer coastal retreat, one that incorporates centuries of history, including towering castles and forts. There is a lot to see and do in this north-western region, including towns such as Rennes, which makes for a culturally-rich and yet quaint city break.

Book Ferries to France on Omio

Regardless of where you goin the country and how long you stay, you can book a cheap ferry to France using Omio. Our intuitive platform facilitates a smooth and hassle-free booking process, allowing you to focus on the things that matter—planning your vacation!

Get started by using the search feature at the top of this page. Simply enter your preferred departure and arrival ports and then search! The Omio software will quickly show you a list of all available French ferry routes. We partner with a number of companies offering ferries to France, making it easy to compare all available options.

When you find a suitable route for your ferry to France, get your payment details ready (we accept a number of payment options in many currencies) and book through the Omio platform. Your French ferry tickets will then be stored in your Omio account—there’s no need to print them out or waste time waiting to receive your tickets through the mail.

Download the Omio app to book and organize your cheap French ferry tickets.

Ferry Routes France: Getting Into the Country

The aforementioned Dover to Calais ferry, as well as the route back (see our Calais to Dover ferry page) is one of the most popular routes. It takes passengers between the UK and France and runs daily. It’s a short journey that usually takes just an hour and a half, and it is operated by major ferry companies like DFDS.

There are many other ferries to France, though, and these stop at ports all along the country’s extensive coastline:

Ferry Routes France: Getting Out of the Country

If you’re looking for ferries out of France and into surrounding countries, you have multiple options, with French ferry routes taking you over the Channel, down to Spain, and even further south to ports in North Africa.

Popular routes away from the mainland include ferries to Corsica, a French Island that sits above the Italian island of Sardinia and is popular with both domestic and international tourists. These routes include the Marseille to Bastia ferry and the Marseille to Ajaccio ferry, which take around 6 hours and run several routes per day.

The Sete to Barcelona ferry is another short route from the southeastern coast of France to the northeastern coast of Spain, and there are also numerous connections via ferries from Italy.

Ferry Companies Traveling From and to France

There are numerous ferry companies operating in France. These include small and regional-specific operators like Corsica Ferries, Brittany Ferries, and Condor Ferries, as well as the following major operators:

  • DFDS: Although it is based in Denmark and runs ferry routes across Scandinavia, DFDS is also a major operator in France and the United Kingdom, with routes that connect both of these countries and other European destinations.
  • P&O Ferries: A cruise and ferry operator with routes in and out of France and the UK, as well as ports across other European nations.
  • Irish Ferries: This Irish ferry company connects cities like Dublin and Belfast with Holyhead in Wales, Liverpool in England, and destinations along the French coastline.

Ferry Ports in France

If you’re booking a cheap ferry to France or departing these shores for Spain, North Africa, Ireland, or the United Kingdom, you will likely connect through one of these major ports:

  • Calais: The first stop for many passengers coming into France from the United Kingdom, Calais is a busy port in the north of the country. It is only the fourth largest in France in terms of total area size, but it is the biggest based on passenger numbers.
  • Cherbourg: A ferry and cruise terminal in the Normandy region.
  • Caen-Ouistreham: An inland port that connects to the sea via 15km of canals. It welcomes over a dozen luxury cruise liners every year and also serves ferry routes from the United Kingdom.
  • Dieppe: Provides a cross-channel connection between Dieppe and Newhaven, with several DFDS ferries running this route every day.
  • Dunkirk: A major port that benefits from a close connection with the United Kingdom, as well as proximity to Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Le Harve: A major port that is one of the biggest in France with regard to total tonnage. It is also the largest container port in the country.

Ferry to France

Many major international ports connect to France, and you can get a cheap ferry to France from Spain, Morocco, Italy, the United Kingdom, and more.

You can take the ferry to France from several destinations in the United Kingdom, with these routes hopping the Channel in a couple of hours. They include:

Other popular international ferries to France include the Mallorca to Toulon ferry.

Take the Ferry to the UK: Cross-Channel Ferries from France

Need to travel in the opposite direction? Whether you’re leaving from Calais or another French port, there are several ways to cross the Channel and get into the UK:

Take the Ferry to France from North Africa

There are a few ways to get into France from North Africa. You can book a cheap ferry to France on the Tangier to Montpellier route, for instance, which is one of the most popular.

Ferries in France: FAQs

What's the fastest ferry to France?
The fastest ferries in France are the ones that connect the country to the United Kingdom, as it takes just a few hours on average for modern ships to cross the Channel. These services run several times a day across a number of routes, with the Calais/Dover connection being the most active.

What is the cheapest ferry to France?
You can get a cheap ferry ticket to France any time of year with Omio. The actual price varies based on the route and the season, but if you use our platform to plan your route and compare ferry providers, you are guaranteed the most competitive price every time. To save even more money, try to book your cheap ferry tickets as soon as your plans have been made, as you will typically save a lot of money using early bookings.

Can I bring my car on the ferry to France?
Yes, most ships have space for cars, and many ferry crossings specialize in taking vehicles and their owners. However, there may be limited space on the ship, so if you’re planning on taking a vehicle, make sure you book early and tick the option to include a car. It will ensure you get one of the limited spaces available and are not disappointed closer to your travel date.

Are ferries to France expensive?
No. In fact, French ferries have some of the most competitive rates of European ferry routes. There are dozens of routes every day and these are managed by numerous ferry and cruise operators, so competition is very high and this helps to keep the prices low. You can save even more money by booking your French ferry tickets through Omio as early as you can.

What facilities are there on board ferries to France?
It depends on the ferry, but most modern ships are stacked with a range of amenities, including toilets and refreshments. If you’re embarking on a longer journey, you can also opt for a cabin, with a variety of options available to cover all price points. Most big ships also have restaurants, arcades/casinos, and shops.

Other ferries journeys you might be interested in

Ferry ticket to Corsica (Island)
HomeBook Cheap Ferry Tickets to and From France with Omio

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