Normandy Ferry Ports and Channel Crossings by Passenger Ferries

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Normandy Ferry Ports and Channel Crossings by Passenger Ferries

Several passenger ferry services connect ports on the coast of Normandy with ports in England, Ireland and the Channel Isles of Guernsey and Jersey.

Passenger ferries dock at the Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie ports of Ouistreham/Caen, Cherbourg, Dieppe and Le Havre, as well at Dunkerque and Calais.

• For a map of the area see AngloINFO Normandy Maps

Normandy Ferry Ports

Ouistreham/Caen

Caen's port is approximately 18 Km to the nearest railway station, which is located in Caen. By rail, Paris is only 2.5 hours away.

Note: cross-channel ferries actually dock at Ouistreham which is 15 Km north of Caen. There is bus and taxi service to Caen from the port (though bus service is not generally available at night).

• Port de Commerce de Caen-Ouistreham
  At: Bassin d'Hérouville, Hérouville Saint-Clair (14)
  Tel: 02 31 35 63 00
  Fax: 02 31 35 63 06
  Website

Cherbourg

The port at Cherbourg, located in western Normandy, accommodates military as well as commercial vessels. It is located between the Cap de la Hague and The Pointe de Barfleur.

Taxi service is available to the city centre of Cherbourg. The nearest railway station (Cherbourg) is a 40 minute walk or a short taxi ride from the port. Paris is approximately 2.5 hours away by rail.

• Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Cherbourg-Cotentin
  At: Boulevard Félix Amiot, Cherbourge-Octeville (50)
  Tel: 02 33 23 32 25
  Fax: 02 33 23 32 36
  e-mail
  Website

Dieppe

There are two ferry terminals at Dieppe - one serves passengers while the other handles freight vehicles. A regular bus service runs from Dieppe to cities throughout France. A rail service is available but not particularly frequent.

• Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Dieppe
  At: 4 Boulevard Général de Gaulle, Dieppe (76)
  Tel: 02 35 06 50 50

Le Havre

Le Havre handles more container traffic than any other port in France - in fact it handles 60 percent of all of France's container traffic. It is the fifth-largest port in Europe. After P&O ended service to Le Havre in 2005, ferry traffic has been drastically reduced, with fewer daily journeys.

Le Havre port is located at the crossroads of the A131 and the A29 motorways. The port is managed by the Le Havre Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• Le Havre Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  At: Esplanade de l'Europe, Le Havre (76)
  Tel: 02 35 55 26 00
  Fax: 02 35 55 26 26
  e-mail
  Website

Ports Near Normandy

Though not technically in Normandy, Dunkerque and Calais are popular ferry destinations from Dover.

Dunkerque

Ferries depart nearly every two hours in either direction for the 1 hour and 45 minute trip from Dover to Dunkerque. The port is linked to the A16 and A25 motorways and reportedly experiences less traffic than many other ports in Normandy.

• Port of Dunkerque Authority
  At: Terre-plein Guillain (59)
  Tel: 03 28 28 78 78
  Website

Calais

Ferries from Dover to Calais run frequently throughout the day, with additional sailings during school holidays. The journey (one-direction) takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The port is connected to the A26 and A16 motorways.

There is a reasonably-priced passenger bus available from the port to the centre of Calais (Place d'Armes) and on request, the Calais Ville train station.

• Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Calais
  At: 24, Boulevard des Alliés, Calai (62)
  Tel: 03 21 46 00 00
  Website

Travel Times

• For contact details of ferry companies serving the region, see The AngloFILE Normandy Cross-Channel Ferries

Further Information

• For information on train travel see INFOrmation Page: Railways & Train Travel in Normandy
• For information on bus travel see INFOrmation Page: Bus Services in Normandy
• For contact details of public transport see The AngloFILE Normandy Public Transport: Trains & Buses