by ferry to the Olympic Games
These are your options if you want to travel by ferry to the Olympics (Paris)
Most viewed routes
Travelling by ferry to the Olympics from the UK and Ireland
The Olympics are on the horizon once more. Hoards of sports enthusiasts will be making their way to Paris for this grand event. While flying or taking the train are options, the ferry presents itself as a comfortable alternative. Not only can you take your car along, but you can also tack on a holiday in France afterwards.
But which route should you take to reach the Olympic Games in Paris? That largely depends on your starting point in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Southerners have around 10 connections linking England with France. From east to west, you can opt for various ferries departing from Portsmouth to France, as well as from Poole, Dover, Plymouth, and Newhaven.
Alternatively, you can first travel from the UK to the Netherlands, which is convenient if you're based near Harwich, Hull, Newcastle, or even in Scotland. From the Netherlands, Paris is just a 5-hour drive away, bypassing the busiest ferry routes. Which can be ideal instead of crossing half of England by car.
At first glance, the most straightforward routes to the Olympic Games in Paris seem to include Portsmouth to Le Havre and Dover to Calais. As mentioned before, your departure point significantly influences the most convenient ferry for your journey. To help you decide, we've mapped out the various crossings from the UK to the Olympic Games, the ferries directly to France, and the crossings via the Netherlands are both included.
Directly to France or via the Netherlands
As illustrated on the map, if you reside further north in the UK, it may be efficient and prudent to travel via the Netherlands. Regardless, the journey would be more comfortable if you board the ferry in Hull or Newcastle.
Ireland – Paris
If you're travelling from Ireland, you may also want to consider direct ferries to France. While some are listed below, we also have a dedicated page for ferries between Ireland and France. You can depart from either Dublin, Cork, or Rosslare directly to France and continue your journey to Paris from there.
You might also find these ferry guides interesting
- All ferries to France from the UK
From Dover you can sail to either Dunkirk or Calais.
In the map below, you can visually identify the ferries crossing the Strait of Dover. The northernmost one is Dover-Dunkirk, while the southernmost one is Dover-Calais.
