How to get to Dunkirk?

Your journey to France’s northern coast starts here

Wondering how to get to Dunkirk?

Located on France’s northern coast, just a few miles from the Belgian border and directly opposite the UK, Dunkirk is surprisingly easy to reach.

Whether you’re travelling from the UK, Belgium, Paris or elsewhere in France, you can get here by ferry, train, car or plane.

And once you arrive, there’s even better news: Dunkirk’s local buses are completely free, 7 days a week. You can leave your car behind and explore the city, the beaches and the surrounding area with ease.

From the UK

Cross the Channel and arrive in Dunkirk DFDS Ferries

Dunkirk is one of the easiest French destinations to reach by ferry.

DFDS operates regular ferry crossings between Dover and Dunkirk, with a crossing time of approximately 2 hours.

The ferry terminal is located at Loon-Plage, just outside Dunkirk. From the terminal, you can easily reach the city centre and the beaches by car.

The route is particularly convenient if you are travelling by car, motorhome or campervan and want to explore France’s northern coast and beyond.

Travelling further afield?
Dunkirk is also connected by ferry to Ireland, with crossings taking approximately 24 hours.

A new Dunkirk–Scotland ferry connection is also planned.

For ferry timetables, fares and bookings, check the latest information with DFDS.

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By Le Shuttle

A comfortable, convenient and more sustainable way to travel

Travelling with your own vehicle?

Le Shuttle takes cars, motorbikes, campervans and other vehicles through the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone and Calais.

The crossing itself takes around 35 minutes. From Calais, Dunkirk is approximately 40 minutes away by car, via the A16 motorway.

This is a convenient option if you want to bring your own vehicle and explore more of northern France during your stay.

Folkestone → Calais: approximately 35 minutes by Le Shuttle
Calais → Dunkirk: approximately 40 minutes by car

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By Eurostar

Eurostar to Lille, then on to Dunkirk

If you prefer to travel without a car, the train is an easy and more sustainable way to reach Dunkirk.

Take Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Lille Europe. From Lille Europe, regular trains run to Dunkirk, with direct services available.

Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations are very close to each other, making connections easy if you need to change stations.

Once you arrive at Dunkirk railway station, you can continue your journey by free local bus, on foot or by bike.

Why choose the train?

Travel from central London to northern France
No airport transfers
Arrive directly in the city
Easy connection from Lille to Dunkirk
Free buses once you arrive in Dunkirk

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By train From Paris, Lille and other major European cities

Travelling to Dunkirk by train is easy and convenient. From Paris, Lille and other major European cities, the train brings you right into the heart of the city, close to the beaches, town centre and many of Dunkirk’s main attractions.

From Paris, Dunkirk can be reached in around 2 hours by train, while the journey from Lille takes approximately 35 minutes. There are also easy connections from Brussels and other European cities.

Dunkirk railway station is close to the city centre and just a short walk from the seafront.

Once you arrive, you can leave the car behind. Explore Dunkirk on foot, by bike or using the 100% free local bus network.

Train times and tickets

By plane

From the airport to the beach – Dunkirk is closer than you think!
If you’re travelling from further afield, Dunkirk can easily be reached from several major international airports.

The closest options include:

Lille Airport
Lille-Lesquin Airport is approximately 85 km from Dunkirk.

It is a convenient option for travellers flying from other European destinations, with onward connections to Dunkirk by car or train.

Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport is approximately 160 km from Dunkirk and offers a wide choice of international flights.

From Brussels, Dunkirk can be reached by train or car.

Paris airports
Travelling from further afield? Paris’ international airports offer numerous connections from around the world.

From Paris, Dunkirk is approximately 2 hours by train, making it easy to combine a trip to the French capital with a seaside getaway on France’s northern coast.