4 direct crossings to France from Ireland
Looking for a ferry from Ireland to France? Then you have some choice. Ferries are leaving to France from the Irish cities Cork, Rosslare, and Dublin to Cherbourg, Roscoff and Dunkirk.
You can conveniently use our handy ferry map for this. Comparing the different ferry crossings can be interesting as some boats sail much faster and others are cheaper. Also, can a combination of 2 different routes save you easily a lot of money?
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Travel tip: book early especially for peak season
The ferries fill up pretty quickly when peak season approaches. Make sure to book well in advance to guarantee your crossing and find a nice quote for your trip.
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Ferries to France from Ireland
The ferries to France from Ireland are especially popular during the holiday season. A lot of tourists choose to start their vacation by ferry from Ireland directly to France.
You also have the option to first sail to the UK and from there to France and or other European countries, but there are some good ferry routes between France and Ireland.
From the South of Ireland, you can sail from Cork or Rosslare to Cherbourg, Dunkirk and Roscoff, but sailing from Dublin to Cherbourg is also possible, this is the second longest crossing (19 hours), while Dunkirk Rosslare is the longest (24 hours). Roscoff-Cork is the fastest connection taking you from Ireland to France with a night crossing in just 14 hours.
Taking the ferry to the European mainland is a comfortable way of starting your vacation, and it's also handy if you want to take your car along on vacation.
Ireland ⇔ France
Ferries from Dublin to Paris, France.
Dublin Cherbourg is a good crossing for those wo want to travel from Dublin to Paris and or France. On this route you'll be sailing with Irish Ferries from Dublin to France.
Once arrived in Cherbourg it's a 4 hours drive to Paris. Alternatives are to depart more from the south of Ireland to Roscoff from Cork, but then the drive is close to 6 hours to Paris.
The ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg is a ferry with a night crossing taking you around 19 hours to the French shore.
Dublin ⇔ France
Travelling through France
Traveling in France is very pleasant. In combination with the ferry, most people will go by their transport. You will have to get used to driving on the right, but that will go well after a while.
The good roads are unfortunately not always free. In France, you travel a lot on toll roads. These do not cost very much in themselves, but over a long drive to the South, the amount can add up considerably.
In google maps, a function allows you to avoid toll roads. Maybe that's useful to save some money, but these roads save you a lot of time.
If you don't go by car, you can choose to travel through France by train. The country is known for its good connections with the TGV, the fast train.
The stations are easily accessible from some ports of arrival, but you could also consider traveling through the Channel Tunnel with the Eurostar. In Paris, you can then change or get off.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ireland to France ferries
The cheapest crossing is the ferry from Roscoff to Cork. It is a crossing of Brittany Ferries. This is also the shortest crossing. A one way ticket for 1 person without a car is around €72, this is without a cabin, but with a sleeping seat. With a cabin the price doubles to approx €150,-.
The shortest crossing is between Cork and Roscoff. This ferry sails a distance of approximately 475 France.
This crossing takes you in about 14 hours to France and vice versa. It is a comfortable way of travelling to Europe.
Ferry talk: Share your questions and opinions
Ask, answer, and explore ferry routes with the community's expertise!
Is it one dog per traveller, or one in total, they weigh 4,5kg each
Hi Des Casey,
Depends a bit per ferry company but in general you can bring up to 2 dogs. If you bring more dogs you need to book a kennel instead of a dog-friendly cabin. If you want to know more about bringing your dog onboard the ferry we have this comprehensive guide for you: https://ferrygogo.com/ferries-and-dogs-the-complete-guide/ . Be sure to also doublecheck with the ferry company to see if they have any specific rules.
Hope to have helped you a bit further.
Best regards,
Jan Willem