Ferry crossings to Calais: the complete guide to choosing your crossing

Ferry crossings to Calais connect Dover to northern France in around 90 to 100 minutes, with P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries serving the Dover–Calais route. LeShuttle (formerly Eurotunnel) provides a separate 35-minute Channel Tunnel crossing from Folkestone to Coquelles, near Calais. Once you know the routes and the timings, one offer changes the whole trip: pre-order €300 or more at Calais Vins or Olivier Vins and you may qualify for a free return ferry crossing with P&O Ferries, subject to the offer's booking conditions and availability. This guide walks through every step, from booking to the shop shelf.

Dover to Calais: understanding your ferry crossing options

Three operators, one short sea crossing

Three ferry operators run scheduled sailings on the Dover to Calais route: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries. P&O Ferries generally completes the crossing in around 1 hour 30 minutes. DFDS crossings typically take around 100 minutes. Irish Ferries also serves the route. Sailing frequencies, vessels, fares and ticket conditions vary by date, season and availability, so check each operator's current timetable and prices before booking.

Comparing sailing frequency and duration

Crossing times on the Dover to Calais ferry route generally range from around 90 to 100 minutes, depending on the operator and sailing. Folkestone to Coquelles via LeShuttle takes approximately 35 minutes. Get the best fares by booking early and comparing operators rather than relying on a single site. Published starting prices and daily departure numbers can change throughout the year.

What to check before booking

• Check-in times vary by operator and by mode of transport.
• Every traveller needs a valid travel document meeting the applicable entry requirements.
• Ticket flexibility affects the price and the conditions for changes or refunds.

Formalities at the border

1. Arrive within the check-in window stated on your ticket.
2. Present your passport or other accepted travel document at the relevant border controls.
3. Complete any applicable EU Entry/Exit System (EES) checks as directed by border staff.

The Port of Dover is one of the UK's busiest passenger and freight ports, with frequent departures to Calais throughout the day.

Once the crossing is booked, the real decision starts on French soil. Filling the boot at a supermarket shelf is one option. Stopping at an independent wine merchant, with proper advice and a far wider range than any onboard shop, is another.

The free ferry crossing that changes the maths

How the €300 pre-order offer works

Thanks to a partnership between Calais Vins, Olivier Vins et Compagnie and P&O Ferries, an online pre-order of €300 or more can qualify for a free same day return ferry crossing from Dover, subject to the current promotion's terms, booking procedure and availability. You place your order at wine-calais.co.uk, arrange your crossing according to the offer conditions, and collect your bottles in store on arrival. Check the offer page for any deposit or booking requirements before travelling.

Why British shoppers are booking again

Demand for this kind of daytrip has picked up sharply. Calais Vins recorded a 57% increase in British customers in 2023 compared with 2022, a rise linked to a 9.6% jump in alcohol prices in the UK over the same period. Co-founder Jérôme Pont sums up what draws shoppers back across the Channel.

Our British clientele understands the value of purchasing wine from us. They seek more than just cheap booze; they recognise that, by coming here, they can find top quality wines ranging from €10 to €25.

What you need to do to qualify

• Pre-order online at wine-calais.co.uk from our range of over 4,000 references.
• Reach the €300 threshold and check the current conditions to qualify for the free crossing.
• Collect your order in store on arrival and claim the 15% VAT refund on eligible purchases, following the required customs validation procedure.

A quick word on duty free at sea

The onboard shop still has its place, with familiar brands sold at a discount on UK high street prices. But its shelves stay generalist. The real selection, and the advice to go with it, is waiting once you dock in Calais. For a full breakdown of how port and onboard duty free pricing compares to Calais Vins on wine, this independent comparison guide walks through every option in detail.

More than a crossing: the shopping stop you shouldn't skip in Calais

Your duty free allowance after Brexit

Under the UK rules effective from 1 October 2026, each eligible traveller aged 17 or over returning to Great Britain can bring back 18 litres of still and sparkling wine combined, including Champagne and Crémant. This is equivalent to 24 standard 75cl bottles in total, not 24 bottles of still wine plus a separate Champagne allowance. Travellers also have a separate allowance of 42 litres of beer and cider combined. For other alcoholic drinks, the allowances are 9 litres of drinks up to 22% ABV, such as fortified wine, or 4 litres of spirits and other drinks over 22% ABV. These last two allowances can be split proportionally, for example 4.5 litres of fortified wine and 2 litres of spirits. Individual allowances cannot be pooled between travellers, and different rules apply to Northern Ireland.

• Still and sparkling wine combined, including Champagne: 18 litres (24 standard 75cl bottles)
• Beer and cider combined: 42 litres
• Fortified wine and other qualifying drinks up to 22% ABV: 9 litres
• Spirits and other drinks over 22% ABV: 4 litres
• The 9 litre and 4 litre allowances can be split proportionally

For the latest information, see the official UK government guidance on bringing goods into Great Britain. If you exceed an applicable allowance, you must declare the goods and may have to pay UK taxes and duties on the entire relevant category.

Two shops, one warm welcome

We run two shops for this exact moment in your journey. Calais Vins sits on Rue Gutenberg, 62100 Calais, right off the A16 at junction 44, Calais St Pierre, just minutes from the port and the Eurotunnel terminal. Olivier Vins et Compagnie is on the CD215 at 62185 Fréthun, off the A16 at junction 40, Gare TGV, equally close to both the Eurotunnel and the port. Both shops open daily from 9am to 7pm, and from 10am to 6pm on Sundays and French bank holidays, with free and easy parking right outside.

What you will find on our shelves

• Over 4,000 references across wine, beer, champagne and spirits.
• English speaking sommeliers, trained under Éric Dugardin, Vice-Meilleur Sommelier de France.
• A dedicated PerfectDraft keg range, priced well below the £5.01 average pub pint recorded by the British Beer and Pub Association.

Growth we are proud of

In Q1 2025, our duty free transactions processed through Global Blue grew by 49% year on year at Calais Vins, with 99% of them made by British customers. Olivier Vins recorded 36% growth in tax free transaction volumes over the same period.

We help eligible customers claim a 15% VAT refund through our tax-free shopping partners, Global Blue and Skiptax, subject to the applicable conditions and customs validation before leaving France.

1. Collect your Tax Free Form in store, or use the Skiptax app according to the relevant procedure.
2. Validate your tax-free form at the designated customs facility at the port or Eurotunnel terminal before leaving France.
3. Receive your eligible 15% VAT refund through the chosen provider after successful validation and processing.

Pre-order online at wine-calais.co.uk before you travel, and your bottles will be waiting when you walk through our door. For the full step-by-step process, see our dedicated guide on claiming the VAT back.

Making the most of your ferry crossings to Calais

Ferry crossings to Calais offer plenty of choice, from P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries sailings out of Dover to the 35-minute LeShuttle crossing from Folkestone. But the detail that actually pays off is the €300 pre-order that can qualify you for a free return ferry crossing with Calais Vins and Olivier Vins, subject to the promotion's current conditions. Add duty free allowances of 42 litres of beer and cider combined and 18 litres of still and sparkling wine combined, plus a 15% VAT refund on eligible purchases through Global Blue or Skiptax, and the real value of the journey becomes clear before you even reach the port.