Sussex to Normandy
Newhaven to Dieppe ferry
Check the departures for your date, then book the crossing that fits your drive through Normandy
- About four hours across, up to five on certain overnight sailings
- DFDS sails the Côte d'Albâtre with several departures a day in season
- One of the few Channel routes with foot passengers on regular sailings
- Dieppe lands you two hours from Paris by road
- All details without guarantee
Table of Contents
The crossing at a glance
Newhaven - Dieppe is the quiet alternative on the Channel: a proper sea crossing of about four hours, run by DFDS with the Côte d'Albâtre, from the small Sussex port straight into upper Normandy. It carries cars, campervans, motorbikes, bicycles and - unusually for the Channel - foot passengers on regular sailings.
The rhythm is seasonal: up to three round trips a day in summer, fewer in winter, with some crossings running overnight at a slightly longer five hours. For departures on your date, check the timetable.
Getting to Newhaven and checking in
The port sits where the A26 meets the sea, about 15 minutes from Brighton and roughly two hours from London. Arriving by car, follow the signs to the ferry terminal and treat the check-in time in your booking confirmation as a deadline rather than a suggestion - vehicle check-in closes before departure, and travelling with a pet means arriving earlier still. Foot passengers have it easy here: Newhaven Town and Newhaven Harbour stations are a short walk from the terminal, with rail connections via Lewes and Brighton.
On board
The Côte d'Albâtre is a conventional ferry, not a shuttle: there is a restaurant, a shop, a bar with sea views, play areas and reclining lounge seats for every passenger. For the four-hour daytime run most travellers settle into the lounges; for the overnight sailings a cabin is worth the upgrade, and pet cabins and kennels exist for animals that cannot stay in the car. Large luggage travels in dedicated baggage areas rather than at your seat. Cards are widely accepted on board; the ship sails between a pound and a euro economy, so expect both.
Vehicles, bikes and pets
Cars, campervans and motorbikes board in the usual lanes, and bicycles are carried too - this route is a staple of cyclists heading for the Avenue Verte, the signed cycle route that links London and Paris via Dieppe. Pets normally stay in your vehicle for the crossing; book any kennel or pet cabin in advance, carry the animal health certificate, and plan the earlier pet check-in.
Arrival in Dieppe and onward travel
Dieppe's ferry terminal sits just east of the town centre. The town itself deserves an hour - a proper Norman harbour front with one of France's better Saturday markets - and the roads out are quick: Rouen in under an hour, Paris in about two, the Seine valley and Giverny on the way. Heading west, the Alabaster Coast road towards Fécamp and Étretat is the scenic start into Normandy.
Tickets, fares and changes
Fares move with season, sailing and vehicle size, and the binding total always appears in the booking step. As a rule the route prices below the Dover short sea for a car in summer, and foot passenger fares are among the cheapest ways to reach France at all. Change and cancellation terms depend on the ticket type you choose, so read them before you fix a date. The prices page explains what moves a Channel fare.
Newhaven - Dieppe
The one crossing between Dover and Portsmouth
Newhaven - Dieppe is the middle way across the Channel: further west than the Dover conveyor belt, shorter than the long Brittany Ferries sailings from Portsmouth. DFDS operates the route with the Côte d'Albâtre, crossing in about four hours.
It suits travellers from London and the south-east who want to start in France with Normandy already under the wheels - Dieppe sits on the Alabaster Coast, about two hours' drive from Paris and well placed for Rouen and the Seine valley.
- Departure
- Newhaven Ferry Terminal, East Sussex
- Arrival
- Dieppe, Normandy
- Crossing
- About 4 h, up to 5 h at night
- From price
- €32
Next departures
All details without guarantee. The operator's departure time and your booking confirmation are authoritative. DFDS →
FAQ Newhaven - Dieppe
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Newhaven - Dieppe crossing.
How long does the crossing take?+
About four hours on the standard daytime sailings, and up to five hours on certain overnight crossings. Add the check-in deadline at Newhaven and the short drive from the A26/A259 into the port, and the door-to-door leg is closer to five and a half hours.
Can I travel as a foot passenger?+
Yes - this is one of the few Channel routes that carries foot passengers on regular sailings rather than a restricted subset. Large luggage beyond cabin-bag size goes into the dedicated baggage areas on board. Newhaven Town and Newhaven Harbour stations are within walking distance of the terminal, with connections towards Brighton and London.
Can I take my dog?+
Yes. Pets travel in your vehicle during the crossing, and DFDS offers kennels on board for foot passengers as well as pet cabins on this route - book them in advance. The GB-to-France paperwork applies: microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and an animal health certificate issued within ten days of travel; the FAQ has the details.
Is it better than driving to Dover?+
Often, yes - the Sussex departure spares you the M20 and the Dover traffic, and four hours at sea replace about two and a half hours of French motorway you would otherwise drive from Calais. If your destination is Paris, Rouen or western France, Newhaven - Dieppe usually compares well; if it is Belgium or the north, Dover keeps the edge. The prices page shows how the fares compare.
How often do the ferries run?+
DFDS runs up to three round trips a day in the summer season and fewer in winter; on this rhythm a missed boat can mean half a day. Check the timetable for your date, and on the day itself the operator's status page is the authoritative word on delays.
Ready to book the Sussex crossing?
Check the departures for your date and continue to the booking step.