Calais

It is the closest point on the European mainland to England; Dover lies across the English Channel (La Manche) just 32 km (20 miles) away. The town has a major cross-Channel ferry port, and the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel is nearby. Calais is popular with British day-trippers arriving by ferry or on Channel Tunnel shuttle trains one reason being because France has lower taxes on alcohol and tobacco. Large warehouse supermarkets have sprung up on the outskirts of Calais just to serve these British "booze cruisers" who return to the UK with their suspensions groaning under the weight of cheap alcohol and cigarettes. While most tourists view the town as simply a port, there is much more to Calais than just that.

By ferry (car and foot)

Calais is connected to Dover in England by ferry services operated by P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways. Ferry crossings between Calais and Dover take typically around 1 hour 30 mins and there are up to 46 sailings daily. The check-in time is 30 minutes before departure for vehicles and 45 minutes before departure for foot passengers.
The strait of Dover is one of the most frequented shipping lanes in the world. Calais ferry port allows easy access to the town itself as well as shops outside the town, many of which are designed to sell alcohol to visitors from the UK where higher taxation means alcohol of all kinds is normally priced higher.
Free car parking facilities are available in front of the Calais ferry terminal and the maximum stay is three days.
Another popular ferry route is Dover to Dunkirk (near Calais) which is operated by DFDS Seaways and takes around 2 hours.
Passengers travelling by ferry from Dover to Calais/Dunkirk go through French passport/identity card checks in the UK before embarkation, rather than on arrival in France. Passengers travelling in the other direction from Calais/Dunkirk to Dover by ferry go through French exit checks and UK passport/identity card checks in Calais/Dunkirk before embarkation, and UK customs checks on arrival in the UK.
Fares for the Dover-Calais ferry start from £25 (day return) and £39 (single) for a car with up to 9 passengers.

By car

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle

Running from Folkestone to the western edge of Calais (Coquelles), this car shuttle service operated by Eurotunnel takes about 35 min (although only about 20 min in the tunnel) and offers the fastest way to travel between France and the UK. This train service is for passengers with cars only, who remain with their car for the duration of the short trip, as there are no restaurants (except a fast food restaurant) but there are toilets.
Passengers travelling from Folkestone to Calais go through French passport/identity card checks in the UK before boarding the train, rather than on arrival in France. Those travelling in the other direction from Calais to the UK by Eurotunnel go through UK passport/identity card and customs checks in Coquelles before boarding the train, rather than on arrival in the UK.

Roads

The port in Calais is directly linked to the French motorway system. The A26/E15, Autoroute des Anglais, which provides access to the heart of France including Paris and beyond and the A16/E40, a gateway to Benelux and the northern European motorway systems. The A16/E402 directs you to western France.

By train

• Calais-Fréthun station

• Calais-Ville railway station

Eurostar

Eurostar operates high-speed trains between Calais Fréthun station and the following destinations in the United Kingdom and Belgium:

• London St Pancras International station (1h 2 min; 3 daily from London; 2-3 daily to London)
• Ebbsfleet International station (44 min; 2 daily from Ebbsfleet; 1-2 daily to Ebbsfleet)
• Ashford International station (35 min; 1 daily from Ashford)
• Brussels Zuid-Midi station (1h 2 min; 2-3 daily from Brussels; 3 daily to Brussels)

Note that Calais Fréthun station is some distance from Calais city centre, but there are a number of trains operating between Calais Fréthun and Calais Ville (in the city centre), as well as shuttle buses and taxis.
The Eurostar timetable is available from their website.
Passengers travelling by Eurostar from the UK to Calais go through French passport/identity card checks in the UK before boarding the train, rather than on arrival in France. Passengers travelling in the other direction from Calais to the UK by Eurostar go through French exit checks, followed by UK passport/identity card checks in Calais Fréthun station before boarding the train, and UK customs checks on arrival in the UK.
Those travelling by Eurostar between Brussels and Calais are within the Schengen Area.
Although the Brussels Midi-Calais Fréthun route can't be purchased through the Eurostar website, it is available on the Belgian Railways website.
Eurostar fares start from £66 return (under 26) and £69 return (adults) from the UK to Calais .

SNCF

Running from Lille, Boulogne, Dunkirk and Paris, Calais is well supported by the French national rail network. Calais Ville is the station serving the city centre, whilst Calais Fréthun is located on the outskirts of Calais. There are trains that operate between Calais Ville and Calais Fréthun stations.

By plane

• Aéroport de Calais-DunkerqueJust across the narrowest part of the English Channel and near France's western border, with customs available on request, it's a convenient stopping point for light aircraft. Lille is probably the nearest large airport.

Most people travel by car around the town, but there is a comprehensive network of buses running from the town centre to the suburbs and Cité Europe. The port is served by a special shuttle bus although via a footbridge the centre, and the harbour terminal are only 15 min apart.
Bus 5 is useful for reaching the large Auchan and Carrefour hypermarkets and the Cite Europe shopping mall and the 6 goes to Calais Frethun Eurostar station. Services run every 30 min during the day and costs about €1 (board through the front door and pay the driver) and all buses terminate outside the Gare D'Ville.

• Les Bourgeois de Calais

  address: Place du Soldat Inconnu
  Rodin's sculpture

• Parc Saint-Pierre

• Hôtel de Ville

  address: Place du Soldat Inconnu
  Get in, and go upstairs through the majestic staircase to the first floor and the wedding room, the ballroom, and the "parliament" room. Self visit (signs to read) or guided tour by Opale Tour. It is possible to access the belfry via a lift.

• Light TowerVisit and climb up to the light. Wonderful view. Little museum.

• Cité Internationale de la dentelles et de la mode

  phone: +33 3 21 00 42 30
  An old factory refurbished into a "living" museum about the story of lace, and especially the lace made in Calais on levers. You can see two machines working for real. Restaurant, bar and lace shop. Really worthwhile. Allow at least 2 hours.

• Modern Art museum

  address: 25 rue Richelieu
  Permanent and temporary exhibitions. Sculpture, paintings.

• War museum

  address: Parc Saint Pierre

• Theater

  address: Place Albert Ier
  Guided tours by Opale Tour.

• Le Channel , Scène Nationale

• Notre Dame ChurchRestorations are ongoing and the church is frequently closed, but in any case, you can still see the exterior. In 2017, the church was open for visits in July and August.

• Courgain Maritime and fish marketA former fishermen's quarter outside the walls of the city. Rebuilt after the war, but a nice place to buy fresh fish and have a drink.

• The beach and the jettyTo have a look on the ferries plying the route between France and Britain.

• The White Cliffs of DoverVisible in the distance.

• Citadelle and Fort NieulayRenaissance fort with guided tours.

• La cours d'artistes

  phone: +33 660846363
  address: 294 grande rue du petit courghain
  Exhibition

• Mondiavision

  address: rue du Vauxhall
  Photo gallery.

• Swimming pool

  address: Piscine Ranson or ICEO complex

• Skating rink

• Char à voilebase des Hemmes de Marck

• Sailing school

  address: Base de voile, Blériot-Plage

• Cinemas

  address: Alhambra
  (beside Town Hall, VOSTF films !) or Gaumont Multiplex (Cité Europe)

• Bowling AlleyBowling de Calais, avecnue de St6exupéry or Bowling quai 121, (Cité Europe)

• Visit the Coast up to "Cap Blanc Nez" (White Nose Cap), Unesco Classified site. If you have no car, you can take the bus (double-decker) at the theater or the station for 1 € there along the see road. Really cool.

• Alcohol- since France has slightly lower taxes on alcohol than the UK various establishments have set up to cater for day trippers, although often it is a little cheaper to go to a local hypermarket (and you can pick up other stuff). The main hypermarkets are Auchan and Carrefour, the latter within the Cité Europe shopping centre and can both be reached on bus 5. In the town centre, there is a smaller Carrefour located at the back of the Quatre Boulevards shopping centre (near the Opéra).

• Cite Europe

  address: 1001 Boulevard du Kent
  Large shopping centre containing 147 shops, 20 restaurants, and a cinema.Note that the shops are closed on Sundays and none of them sells tobacco.

• Place Crevecœur Market

• Place d'Armes Market

• Lace : three places worth a visit:

• Lace Museum shop

• Boutique Noyon

  phone: +33 3 21 46 78 04
  address: 85 rue de Vic
  factory-turned-designer shop.

• Les dessous de Calais

  phone: +33 3 21 97 59 16
  address: Boulevard Lafayette
  outlet design shop for lingery and clothes with great discounts!

• Au Cadre Vert

  phone: +33 321 34 69 44
  address: 3 Rue André Gerschell
  For people who are really hungry, best quantity/quality value. Worth a visit for Christiane

• La Guinguette

  phone: +33 321 36 96 95
  address: 17 rue Félix Cadras
  Home Food, family atmosphere, best quantity/quality value. Open 7/7.

• L'Ambrosia

  phone: +33 321 36 09 89
  address: 14 Rue de la Mer
  Wok specialist but not Asiatic with good value and price.

• L'Hovercraft

  phone: +33 321 34 59 73
  address: 11 Place du Maréchal Foch
  Bar and brasserie - The largest choice of "welsh" dishes (speciality from Calais/Boulogne) - Open late - Big terrace.

• Chocolat'Thé

  phone: +33 321 34 34 85
  address: 53 rue Royale
  great home made food and excellent place for a Tea/coffee break in the afternoon

• Friterie des Nations

  address: Digue Gaston Berthe
  Some chips in front of the sea

• Friterie Wilson

  address: Avenue Wilson, Parc Saint-Pierre
  may be the best chips in town

• New Way

  phone: +33 321 85 02 13
  address: 3 rue Babinet
  resh Sandwiches, Soups, Pastas and salads you can create by your own

• Café de la Tour

  phone: +33 3 21 34 50 14
  address: 5 Place d'Armes
  Great omelettes

• La Mauvaise Herbe

  address: Rue Royale

• L'Arsenic

  address: Rue Royale

• Le bar du Yacht Club

  address: Bassin Ouest
  nice 1980s music... particular atmosphere

• Le n'importe koi

  address: Rue de la mer
  concert every Sunday afternoon. You can borrow free games to play inside.

• La Suite

  address: Rue Jean Quéhen
  night bar : to carry on after Baba ou Mauvaise herbe

• Discothèque 555

  address: 63 rue Royale
  old but famous disco ...

• La Nauvia

  address: 16 Rue Jean Quéhen
  disco

• Le Temple

  address: Sortie Calais ST Pierre
  best disco

• Le Casino de Calais

  address: 59 rue Royale
  slot machines, blackjack

• Le Channel Scène Nationale

  phone: +33 321 467710
  address: 173 Boulevard Gambetta
  Former slaughter house, refurbished in a huge cultural centre with various rooms, café, resto, bookstore. This is a really great place.

• Auberge de Jeunesse de Calais

  phone: +33 321 34 70 20
  address: Avenue du Maréchal DeLattre de Tassigny
  Youth hostel, but no age limit with private room. really close to the beach. Nice place

• Le Mouton Blanc

  phone: +33 321 34 71 52
  address: 44 rue du Vauxhall
  family owned ... Guide du routard recommended

• Holiday Inn

  phone: +33 3 21 34 69 69
  address: 6 Boulevard des Alliés
  The car parking is an experience, for good drivers.

Consulates

• Greece

  phone: +33 321-972700
  address: 12, Boulevard des Alliés, BP 450

To hitch-hike to Belgium or the Netherlands, if you leave the terminal, you must walk 500 m through a large car park, after which you will see roundabout and an on-ramp to the motorway. That is the place to hitch a ride: there is enough space even for a big lorry.
For a more 'traditional' experience of France, Saint-Omer is a mere 26 miles (43 kilometres) down the road from Calais. The Saturday morning market on the main square, the Place Foch, can be enjoyable. There are also good affordable restaurants and friendly bars, as well as interesting architecture.
Other options:

• Ardres — for the old city and its lakes
• Guines — with its marshes, forest and old tower
• Wissant — with the Le site des 2 Caps on the seaside
• Oye Plage — with the natural reserve of Le Platier d'Oye