Ferry from the UK to Belgium
Travelling from the UK to Belgium by ferry is very doable, because boats leave for mainland Europe from many different places across the UK. Sadly there is no direct ferry to Belgium any more, but you arrive close by and simply drive the rest of the way from the ferry. We are happy to explain the most popular options and what to keep in mind.
Routes
Our experience
We’ve sailed with every ferry operator on the Dover–Calais route ourselves. We were particularly impressed by P&O Ferries thanks to its competitive fares, modern ships, clean facilities, spacious outdoor decks, and overall comfort. For most travellers heading to Belgium, this is often the fastest and most affordable option.
Our experience
This is the only cross-Channel route we haven’t personally sailed, so we can’t offer a first-hand opinion.
Our experience
We found this to be a pleasant and relaxed crossing with a convenient schedule. It’s particularly well suited to travellers with a car or motorcycle, as onward travel options for foot passengers are more limited.
Ferry services from the UK to Belgium
There are 5 logical ferry routes from English ports to Belgium. They are run by the well-known operators: DFDS (Newcastle, Dover), Stena Line (Harwich), P&O Ferries (Hull, Dover) and Irish Ferries (Dover).
Map with suggested the UK – Belgium ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from England to Belgium, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Onboard experience
Travelling to Belgium by ferry can involve anything from a 90-minute Channel crossing to a full overnight sailing across the North Sea. Dover crossings are primarily transport ferries, while the routes from Hull, Harwich and Newcastle are operated by larger cruise ferries with cabins, restaurants and onboard facilities.
From the arrival ports to the Belgium border
Travelling via Dover is the fastest and most popular crossing to Europe. To Calais alone there are easily 30 sailings a day in high season. From the arrival ports of Calais or Dunkirk you are in Belgium within 45 minutes. Travelling on a longer crossing via the Netherlands? Then it is around 1 to 2 hours’ drive to Belgium. That’s ok right?
By car
Cars travel a good deal faster than ferries sail, so you can gain time by doing more of the journey by road yourself. That means the short Calais-Dover crossing (1.5 hours) gets you there quickest, even slightly faster than the Dover to Dunkirk crossing, which saves you a quarter of an hour’s driving in France but takes half an hour longer at sea. From the longer crossings (from Northern England and Scotland), Belgium is still easy to reach once you arrive. The Netherlands is not a very large country, and the motorways towards Belgium are toll-free and excellent. The only thing to note is that you often arrive in the Netherlands just before or around the morning rush hour, so you may run into traffic. It can get especially busy around Antwerp.
Compare & book
Pick your route to see live times and prices.
Compare prices →
We send you to the ferry operator or price comparison
By campervan
Travelling by campervan is usually a little more expensive than by car, because you take up more space on the parking decks. If you want to save on this, your best bet is to book a short crossing. The daytime sailing from Harwich also often has offers for campervan travellers. Newcastle-IJmuiden is often very pricey for campervans.
Still weighing up your options?
We have sailed nearly every one of these crossings ourselves, and the photos on this site are our own. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.