Calais: France's Doorway to the Continent

The Eurodrive guide

The Tour du Guet, the medieval watchtower at the heart of old Calais.

For many travellers Calais is the first taste of France — the ferry and tunnel port where the continent begins. But it's more than a gateway: wide beaches, a proud maritime history and the green countryside of the Opal Coast all start here. With your new car ready, here's how to begin the journey south.

First things first: the practical essentials

Filling up. If you didn't take the optional full-tank service at pick-up, there's no obligation to return the car full — you can fill up as you set off. The handiest stop is the 24-hour TotalEnergies on the eastern ring road (Rocade Est), just minutes from the delivery centre. More 24-hour stations line the Dunes industrial zone and the roads around the port — useful whatever your crossing or departure time.

Getting into town. The delivery centre sits in the Dunes industrial zone; the port, the Eurotunnel terminal and the town centre are all just minutes away by car. In Calais, nothing is far.

Where to spend your first night. The streets around the Place d'Armes, the belfry and the lighthouse are central and walkable — an easy first base to catch your breath before the road.

Your vehicle. Your brand-new Renault is waiting at the delivery centre in the Dunes zone, ready to head south under the short-term lease programme.

Cap Blanc-Nez on the Opal Coast.

Calais's essential sights

The Burghers of Calais and the belfry. In front of the Flemish-style town hall, Rodin's famous bronze immortalises the six citizens who offered their lives to save the besieged town in 1347. Behind it rises the belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage site: climb it for a panorama over the town, the port and — on a clear day — the white cliffs of England.

The lighthouse and the seafront. Climb the 271 steps of the Calais lighthouse for a sweeping view over the Channel, one of the busiest straits in the world, where ferries and cargo ships file past. Below, the long sandy beach and its promenade are made for a first breath of sea air.

The Dragon of Calais. Along the seafront, an extraordinary twelve-metre articulated machine breathes smoke and steam — you climb aboard for a stroll down the beach. A spectacular ride, and a favourite with families.

The City of Lace and Fashion. Set in a former factory, this museum tells the story of Calais lace, a rare craft still worked on original Leavers looms — the key to understanding the town's industrious, creative soul.

A herring gull on the vast beach of Le Touquet, to the south.

Foodie Calais: the market and Northern flavours

The market. Twice a week on Place Crèvecœur, the market spreads out the produce of the North: regional vegetables, cheeses and fish landed along the coast — perfect for putting together a picnic before you set off along the Opal Coast.

The sea on your plate. Fish is king here: hearty moules-frites, herring, mackerel and fresh cod, plus the catch of nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer, France's leading fishing port. A seafood platter facing the Channel is the right way to begin the trip.

Northern flavours. Warm up with a welsh (cheddar melted in beer over toast) or a carbonade flamande simmered in dark ale; taste pungent Maroilles cheese and the craft beers of the Hauts-de-France. For something sweet, filled waffles and chuques du Nord go nicely with a coffee.

Your first road trip out of Calais

The Opal Coast lives up to its name: cliffs, dunes and ever-shifting light for miles on end. Right nearby, the capes of Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez — both Grands Sites de France — plunge into the sea, with the pretty resort village of Wissant between them. To the south come Boulogne-sur-Mer and its Nausicaá aquarium, elegant Le Touquet-Paris-Plage and the seal-dotted Bay of the Somme. And if the open road calls, the A26 and A1 reach Paris in about three hours, while the A16 heads toward Belgium and Bruges.

The perfect first-day loop. Leave Calais on the D940, the route des caps: stop at Blanc-Nez for the view across to England, pause at Wissant, then Gris-Nez and its seals, before dropping down through Ambleteuse and Audresselles to Boulogne-sur-Mer and Nausicaá. Return inland: about 90 km of wild coastline, best savoured slowly.

When to come to Calais: climate and seasons

On the Opal Coast the weather is maritime and changeable: wind and light put on the show, and a shower soon gives way to a bright spell. May to September brings mild days (often 18–22 °C), ideal for the beaches, the capes and café terraces — and it's the busiest season. Spring and autumn offer dramatic skies and near-empty sites, a photographer's dream. Winter is cool, windy and bracing — perfect for a long walk on the promenade before a welsh in the warm. Always pack a windbreaker: on the capes the breeze gives no warning. No special winter rules apply here — this is flat, coastal country, with no snow-equipment requirement.

Driving tips for France

Tolls: the motorways toward Paris (A26, A1) and the south are tolled. Most toll gates accept contactless bank cards — keep one within reach.
Speed limits: 130 km/h on motorways (110 in rain), 80 on main roads, 50 in towns — and stay alert in coastal gusts.
Fuel: "essence" (SP95/SP98) for petrol engines, "gazole/diesel" for diesel.
City driving: several French cities have low-emission zones. Good news: your Eurodrive vehicle is exempt — no sticker is needed.

How far by car?

Approximate driving times from the delivery center.

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Photos : Velvet (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Jiel Beaumadier (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Gzen92 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons.