Calais

Calais, at the busiest passenger port in continental Europe

Calais is the largest port regarding passenger traffic in France and the second largest in Europe. It was renovated recently, in 2021, in order to upgrade the quality of the provided services. Calais is at the Pas De Calais department and its largest city. The British coast is only 34 km away and when the sky is clear you can see Kent and the White Cliffs of Dover from there.

Since the Middle Ages, Calais has been a major port and an important trading point between France and England. From 1347 to 1558 Calais belonged to the United Kingdom and it grew so much that it was called “the brightest jewel in the English crown”.

After Brexit (2021), travelling to and from Calais has become a little more complicated. Britain is no longer part of the European Union, therefore travellers cannot move freely between UK and Europe. You will need more documents, as the border controls are stricter and they take more time. If you want to travel to and from to Calais by ferry, you should arrive at the port 2-3 before departure.

Calais port has a ferry terminal, a cruise terminal, an intermodal terminal and a general cargo terminal.

The city of Calais

How to get to and from the port of Calais
The Port of Calais is in northern France, very close to the borders with Belgium. The French town Lille is 113 km away while Paris is 300 km away. Travelling by train is the fastest and easiest way to visit other cities and countries and the tickets are quite affordable.
• “Balad'in” is a free shuttle service that runs from Monday to Saturday and from 7am to 7 pm, except on the days of Christmas and New Year’s. The route is from the port of Calais to the city centre and the Calais Ville Station.
• The closest big town is Lille. If you choose to travel by train from Calais to Lille, the journey lasts 30 minutes and tickets cost from 19€.
• If you want to travel to another country, visit Belgium and the romantic city of Bruges by train. The journey lasts 2-2,5 hours and ticket prizes start from 33,5€.
• There are many car rental services at the Calais ferry port.
• Taxis are available at the Calais ferry port 24/7.
• There is a free passenger drop-off and short-term parking at the port of Calais. If you wish to find long-term parking, you should book a space online, in one of the private parking areas.
• The closest airport to Calais is the airport of Lille.

I just arrived at the port of Calais. And now what?
Check-in for both foot passengers and drivers take place at least 1 hour before the ferry departure. Vehicles proceed to check-in at the ferry’s company stall that they are travelling with. Foot Passengers check-in at the Ferry Terminal.

There are two Ferry Terminals at the Passengers Port of Calais

Calais 1 is the old terminal, which now hosts the offices of the 3 sailing companies that operate the route Calais-Dover (DFDS, P&O ferries, Irish Ferries).

Le Calais (or Calais 2) is the newest and main Ferry Terminal. It’s a modern, seafront building with an amazing view and a lot of facilities: Café, playground, WC, WC for the disabled, currency exchange office, outdoor picnic tables, vending machines for drinks and treats. At the terminal there is also an art area which hosts temporary exhibitions like «Louis Blériot, conqueror of the Channel». There is also a big Duty-Free Shop in the building. In order to do your shopping there you should just show your boarding pass.
If you are travelling very early in the morning or have decided to spend a few days in France, there are many hotels and hostels close to the port and the centre of Calais city.
It’s difficult to find a shop open in the night or operating 24 hours a day as it is something against French culture. Make sure you get everything you need before stores close, which is about 20:00. There are also a few 24hour restaurants.

It takes about 2 hours to get to the Eifel Tower by train and tickets for the journey Calais – Paris cost about 60€. When you arrive at the “City of Light” you can book a boat tour at the Seine River, visit the Louvre Museum, eat croissants in Montmartre, and take your children to Disneyland and the Asterix Park. You can take the train from the Calais Ville train station. The first train to Paris leaves at 6 in the morning and the last at 8 in the evening.

If you want to stay in Calais and see its attractions, there are plenty here. At the Museum of Fine Arts of Calais (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Calais), you can see a permanent exhibition of the famous sculptor Francois Auguste René Rodin. The Citadel de Calais is a fortress close to the port that was built at the end of the 16th century. The fortress has three main stunning gates: The Porte de Boulogne, the Porte de Secours and the Porte de Neptune. Calais has its own Notre Dame and is one of the most famous landmarks in Calais. The city is also known for its street statues like “The Burghers of Calais” (Les Bourgeouis de Calais) by Rodin and the La statue des époux De Gaulle et la Place d'Armes. One of the main attractions is the Calais Dragon, also known as the Compagnie du Dragon. It’s a mechanic construction that moves around the port like a shuttle.
If you need more adventure, visit the sandy beach Plage de Calais and the Calais beach Skatepark.

Beach in Calais

How can I book ferry tickets to and from Calais?
Visit Let’s Ferry to see routes, offers and information, and buy ferry tickets. Book your ticket online and choose to web check-in. It is important to arrive at the port early because the Calais ferry port is very busy. Make sure you have all your travel documents ready for inspection. Enjoy your trip!