Calais is one of those places I’ve been guilty of passing through without ever stopping to explore. For many visitors, it’s just the place where you roll of the ferry or train before heading into France and beyond.
This summer, I decided to see what it would be like if I made Calais the destination. I discovered a relaxed and colourful city, home to street art, historic buildings, green spaces and a beautiful sandy beach complete with it’s very own resident dragon. And the best bit?
Calais is very budget friendly. You can see and do a lot here without spending much at all. So, whether you’re looking for a fun French mini-break or wondering how to fill a few hours before catching the ferry, here are some of my favourite free things to do in Calais.
Discover Calais’ Street Art
This is a city that has established itself as one of the most dynamic urban art destinations in Northern France. The streets are a living gallery, being home to no less than 115 works in a variety of sizes and style, many of which draw inspiration from Calais’ history and maritime heritage. There’s even a Banksy on the beach!
Banksy completed three works in Calais, but only one remains, now protected by a Perspex cover. I couldn’t get a picture; the art is on the side of a building on a beach and bit of a meeting point. I wasn’t comfortable whipping my camera out when everyone’s sitting around in swimwear! See an image of it here.
Alongside works by internationally renowned artists, Calais holds space for French artists and new faces. The result is an eclectic and fascinating mix. The city’s street art scene is celebrated every year with a Street Art Festival, but the murals are there to discover at any time. There’s even a self guided tour to help you do so, find it linked below.
Find a guide to the Calais Street Art Trail and a map here.
Admire the Town Hall & Belfry
If you love a bit of history, beautiful architecture or just a good old wander around somewhere lovely, this is one you shouldn’t miss. The Town Hall and Belfry are the heart of Calais and as well as being seriously impressive, they’re a great place to get a feel for the city beyond its reputation as a busy port.
Once you’ve explored the Art Deco entrance and the stained glass, polished wood loveliness of the Town Hall head upstairs to the Belfry. You pay a small charge to climb the tower, but it’s well worth paying for- the panoramic views from the top are absolutely fantastic.
The Belfry is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Belfries of Belgium and France, making this a bit more special than your usual city view point. It’s just shy of 200 steps to the top. There’s an elevator if you want to save your legs, but I can tell you from experience that those stairs are a good workout- and make the pause at the top truly appreciated!
Before you leave, make time for a wander round the gardens that surround the Town Hall. This is where you’ll find Rodin’s famous Burghers of Calais, which tells the story of the six citizens of Calais who offered themselves for surrender to England’s Edward III during the Hundred Years War. It’s a dramatic piece, worth making time for.
Calais Beach & Promenade
Calais Beach: France’s underrated seaside resort just a short hop from the south of England. The beach and seafront surprised me. I didn’t expect to find such a lovely and lively seaside resort, and I don’t think enough people know about this one.
There’s a long stretch of sandy beach with its distinctive white beach huts, a fantastic promenade and an impressive range of facilities- almost all completely free to access. From practical things like showers and changing areas through to play areas, a skate park and wooden loungers placed to make the most of the sea views, this is a place you could easily make a day of.
This is also where you’ll meet the Calais Dragon. The huge fire-breathing dragon is the city’s most unusual attraction and he has made Calais seafront home. You’ll see him wandering up and down the promenade daily, interacting with the crowds. For a really unique Calais experience, book tickets to ride on his back
(Charge for tickets to ride, free to view on the seafront)
Read More: Meeting the Calais Dragon on A Short Break in Northern France
Explore La Place D’Armes
The Place d’Armes: Historic market square, gathering place and where you’ll find Calais’ oldest monument – the medieval Watch Tower- alongside one of its newest, the statue of Charles and Yvonne de Gaulle.
The Watch Tower dates back to medieval times and this old survivor has seen a thing or two. It’s stood through an earthquake, fire, canon balls fired by the English fleet (apologies for that one, Calais!) and two World Wars. No surprise then, that this tower is a much-loved local landmark and one that the city is rightly proud of.
At the foot of the tower, a bronze statue stands in tribute to the presidential couple, Charles and Yvonne de Gaulle. They married in Calais in 1921 with a civil ceremony followed by a religious one at the near-by Notre-Dame church.
The statue was unveiled in 2013, based on an iconic image from their historic official visit to Calais in 1959. If you look closely at Mme de Gaulle, you might notice that she seems to be looking off to one side. She’s looking towards the place where her childhood home once stood. It was destroyed by bombings during the Second World War , a time when most of Calais’ medieval quarter destroyed. A touching detail.
Wander the Rue Royale
If you enjoy a walk that’s about browsing and people watching rather than getting to the next landmark, this is the one for you. The Rue Royale, with its distinctive red-brick buildings and cheerful overhead art installation, is the place to find a range of shops and cafes that really reflect the character of Calais.
It’s also where you’ll find my budget hotel recommendation if you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Calais that is within easy reach of both the beach and the city centre, Ibis Styles Calais ( full review coming soon)
Relax in Parc Richelieu
If you’re looking for a place to pause between the city centre and the beach, head into Parc Richelieu. This leafy green space is the perfect place to relax, with plenty of space to wander or just sit and relax.
Paths shaded by centuries old trees lead to a small water feature with a fountain, a waterfall and a few fish. It would be a pretty spot at any time of year, but the shade and gentle sounds of the water were most welcome as we visited when Calais was in the grip of a heatwave.
This park is also where you’ll find one of Calais’ most recognisable monuments: the Churchill and de Gaulle statue. The striking sculpture depicts the two wartime leaders standing together, a fitting reminder of the close relationship between Britain and France during the Second World War.
Churchill does, of course, have his trademark cigar in place.
Getting Around Calais on Balad’in: The Free City Centre Shuttle
Getting around Calais- and even travelling between the foot passenger ferry terminal and the city centre- is surprisingly easy thanks to the Balad’in shuttle bus. It’s completely free to use and runs on a handy circular route connecting the north and south sides of the city.
The service calls at the foot passenger terminal at Ferry Port. The bus that brings you off the ferry drops you at the same stop where you can hop straight onto the Balad’in service to travel into town.
The Balad’in buses run Monday-Saturday, 09.00-19.00. Look out for the little green buses and the rather pretty little pink bus stops that they run between around the city.
This isn’t the only free transport available in Calais, it’s part of a network designed to make exploring the city and surrounding areas easy and accessible. It’s a wonderfully welcoming idea. Find out more about the free transport network here.
That’s my little look at Calais, let me know what you think. Have I inspired you to give the place a visit rather than just rushing through? I’d highly recommend it. I’m a firm believer everywhere is worth visiting at least once, but this underrated French destination has definitely made it into my re-visit list.
Helen x
It does look interesting. All I remember from our ferry trip via Calais decades ago was having a good seafood meal (obviously pre-veggie days.
I must admit I would never have thought of visiting Calais but that street art definitely tempts me and the town hall stained glass is wonderful too!
Calais street art looks amazing and colourful and so are the stained glass windows Inside Calais Town Hall. It certainly looks well worth visiting for a day or a short weekend. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
You HAVE convinced me. We’ve been missing out all these years! To rectify …
The dragon surprised me, but I don’t suppose it should have. Nantes is a great place for articulated creatures, too. Calais certainly looks like it has a lot going for it xx
Calais is a little gem Jo, and quite handy while I’m Kent based! Thanks for popping by, always appreciated 😊
Calais looks so colourful with so many sculptures and murals. It definitely looks like a destination in its own right. And anywhere with a beach is always a hit with me. Churchill sculptures get around. We found one in Madeira last year. X