Calais, France — Ultimate City Guide

Why go

Subprefecture and commune in Hauts-de-France, France.
Served by Le Touquet-Côte d'Opale Airport (LTQ).

History

Calais is a French major port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,585; that of the urban area is 144,488 (2022). Calais overlooks the Strait of Dover, the narrowest point in the English Channel, which is only 34 km (21 mi) wide here, and is the closest French town to England. The White Cliffs of Dover can easily be seen from Calais on a clear day. Calais is a major port for ferries between France and England. The Channel Tunnel has connected Calais and Folkestone since 1994.

Restaurants & places to go

L'Antre du Dragon

Regional, Coffee Shop, French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 10:00-19:00 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · 201 Avenue Winston Churchill,… · compagniedudragon.com

Indoor

Au Bureau

French, American, European, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-23:00 Features: outdoor seating · Boulevard du Kent · aubureau.fr

Indoor

Buffalo Grill

Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:30-15:00,18:00-22:00; Fr 11:30-15:00,18:00-22:30; Sa 11:30-22:30; Su 11:30-22:00 · Avenue Roger Salengro · buffalo-grill.fr

Indoor

Burger King

Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th,Su 10:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-23:30 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access · Chemin Vert · burgerking.fr

Indoor

Columbus Café & Co

Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00 Features: takeaway · columbuscafe.com

Indoor

Domino's

Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:00,18:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · 60 Boulevard Léon Gambetta · dominos.fr

Indoor

Flunch

French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 10:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-21:30 · flunch.fr

Indoor

KFC

Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Su 11:00-00:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · Chemin Vert · kfc.fr

Indoor

150 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Calais Marck Airport (CQF) 7.1 km to the centre

Calais, HDF, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.

Indoor | Outdoor

Le Touquet-Côte d'Opale Airport (LTQ) 52 km to the centre

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, HDF, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.

Indoor | Outdoor

Saint-Inglevert Aerodrome 12 km to the centre

Saint-Inglevert, HDF, FR

Outdoor

Saint-Omer Wizernes Airfield 37 km to the centre

Longuenesse, Pas-de-Calais, HDF, FR

Outdoor

Boulogne-sur-Mer - Alprech Aerodrome 36 km to the centre

Le Portel, HDF, FR

Outdoor

Verchocq Airpark 48 km to the centre

Verchocq, HDF, FR

Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Meuse

Ferry terminal · 0.5 km from the centre

Outdoor

George V

Ferry terminal · 0.6 km from the centre

Outdoor

Calais, Poste 5

Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre

Outdoor

Calais, Poste 7

Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre

Outdoor

Calais, Poste 7 Piétons

Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre

Outdoor

Calais, Poste 5 Piétons

Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre

Outdoor

Majest'in

Ferry route · STCE

Outdoor

Dover - Calais

Ferry route · P & O

Outdoor

Douvres - Calais

Ferry route

Outdoor

Majest'in : George V → Pont de Coulogne

Ferry route · STCE

Outdoor

Majest'in : Pont de Coulogne → George V

Ferry route · STCE

Outdoor

Dover (UK) - Dunkerque (F)

Ferry route

Outdoor

Dover - Dunkerque

Ferry route · DFDS

Outdoor

Dover – Calais

Ferry route · P&O / DFDS / Irish Ferries

Outdoor

Where things are

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season

May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season

April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding

Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Le Touquet-Côte d'Opale Airport (LTQ); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Meuse, 0.5 km); routes include Majest'in, Dover - Calais, Douvres - Calais.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Calais, France. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.