Calais FranceCruise Port Guide
Getting Around from the Port
Calais has a ferry terminal (Calais-Manche port, handling cross-Channel ferries) and is occasionally used as a cruise stop, typically for ships repositioning between the Mediterranean and northern Europe. The port is approximately 2–3 km from the city center. Local taxis connect the port to the center; journey time is five to ten minutes. The town center, including the Hôtel de Ville, the Burghers of Calais, and the Cité de la Dentelle, is compact and walkable once in the center. For passengers wishing to use Calais as a base for a cross-Channel excursion to England by Eurotunnel or ferry (an unusual but possible option on appropriate repositioning itineraries), the Calais Ville train station connects to Paris Gare du Nord in approximately 90 minutes by TGV and to Lille in 30 minutes. The dramatic Cap Blanc Nez headland (15 km southwest) and Cap Gris Nez (22 km) are accessible by taxi for outstanding Strait views and cliff walks.
Attractions and Activities
The Burghers of Calais sculpture in the Hôtel de Ville gardens is free to view at any time. The new Rodin rooms at the Musée des Beaux-Arts (opening 2025, admission approximately €6–8) trace the complete creative history of this masterpiece. The Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode (€8 adults, closed Tuesdays) is an excellent half-day museum: its working Leavers looms are still running and can be observed in operation, while galleries above display the history of Calais lace from the early 19th century through contemporary fashion collaborations. The Parc Richelieu gardens behind the Hôtel de Ville offer a pleasant green space. Cap Blanc Nez (15 km), a dramatic chalk headland with an obelisk memorial to the Dover Patrol (First World War naval operations) and views to the English coast, is reached by taxi or organized transfer and rewards a 45-minute walk. The Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Calais Southern Cemetery contains the graves of soldiers from both World Wars and is maintained to the immaculate standard of the CWGC.
Dining & Shopping
Calais has a lively restaurant scene, particularly around the Place d'Armes and along the waterfront, reflecting its long tradition of catering to British visitors on day-trips and overnight crossings. Moules-frites (mussels and fries) is the signature local dish, with the waters of the Pas de Calais producing excellent moules de bouchot. Maroilles cheese (pungent, washed-rind, from the Flemish border region), flamiche (a Flemish leek and cream tart), and carbonade flamande (beer-braised beef) reflect the Franco-Flemish culinary heritage. The daily market in the covered Marché Central sells excellent local produce. Calais has long been a significant shopping destination for British day-trippers, particularly for wine, cheese, and beer at hypermarkets (Cité Europe, a large shopping center near the tunnel terminal, is minutes from the port). The city center has a pedestrian shopping district with local French shops and chains.
Weather
Calais on the Strait of Dover has a maritime climate with mild summer temperatures between 59–68°F (15–20°C) during the cruise season. The Channel location brings frequent wind, variable weather, and rain, so a waterproof windproof jacket and layers are always essential. The white chalk cliffs visible across the Channel, the Rodin sculpture museum, and the nearby Flemish art towns of Dunkirk and Boulogne make this an underrated but accessible northern French port.
Safety
Calais is safe for tourists, though the port and motorway areas see large volumes of traffic and pedestrians should stay on designated paths. The city center is calm and orderly. Standard urban precautions apply.
Currency and Language
France uses the Euro (€). ATMs are plentiful throughout Calais. Credit cards are universally accepted. The proximity to Britain means that some businesses may accept sterling, though at varying exchange rates.