About the Market

Every year there is a Christmas market held outside the Place Crève coeur . This year it is on the 12th - 20th December and is open between 10am and 6pm. The Calais' Christmas market extends around the Place Crève coeur and along the main shopping streets of the city centre. Some 100 stalls display arts and crafts and mouth-watering local specialties such as ostrich pâté and festive Rond de Saint Nicolas - delicious crunchy biscuits.

More About Calais

For most people Calais is a place they just drive through on their way to the rest of France or take a day trip to, to stock up with cheap wine and beer, however there is more to it than that.

Sights to see include:

  • The town hall - a unesco World Heritige site
  • The statue of the Six Burghers from Rodin
  • The Church of Notre Dame dates back to the 13th Century and mingles Tudor with Gothic. General de Gaulle was married here in 1921
  • The Fortresses (Nieulay, Risban) constructed by the French engineer Vauban at the end of the 17th century.
  • The Calais Lighthouse - For those not daunted by the 271 steps the reward is a magnificent view, on a clear day the white cliffs of Dover can be seen.
  • The War museum - housed in a bunker near the town hall, this was once the command post to the German Navy
  • Fine Arts and Lace Museum where a stunning collection of Calais history can be seenfrom sculptures and monuments to paintings and lace and lace making.

Calais beach is a sandy beach edged by beach cabins. You can stroll along the esplanade on the sea front. The fine sandy beaches are ideal for tennis, walking, fishing and petanque but the principal activities are sail related.

You can also visit Calais in the delightful sightseeing train on wheels from the Calais Tourist Office right down to the beach. Tour lasts 1 hour.

On Wednesday and Saturday, Places des Armes has a morning market. On Thursday and Saturday the traders move to Place Creve Coeur, off Rue de Gambetta, near the tourist office. Both areas have superb coffee shops that will lead you by the nose to their wares.

For more information about Calais click here

Accommodation in Calais

Accommodation in central Calais gets booked fast during the Christmas market period, so search for a hotel in Calais now. Alternatively you may want to try charming rural self catering accommodation near Calais, as during the winter months many holiday property owners allow short stays.

Transport quick facts about the markets:

Free Parking: on Sunday or next to the station
Pay Parking: Hotel de Ville, Place d'Armers
Coach Parking: Hotel de Ville
Nearest Bus Route: Port - Theatre - Free (09h00 to 19h00)
Nearest Railway Station: Calais Ville
Nearest Tram Stop: n/a
Nearest Tube Station: n/a
Nearest Airport: Lille or Le Touqet
Nearest Ferry Port: Calais

Getting there

As a foot passenger from UK to Calais:

By train: Calais has two rail terminals, Calais Ville in the centre of the town for SNCF local services and Calais Frethun to the south west of Calais for Eurostar and TGV Services. Daily TGV and Eurostar connections between Paris Gare du Nord, Lille Europe, Brussels Midi and London St Pancras railway stations are available from Calais Frethun. Book Eurostar and TGV tickets

By bus and ferry: There are regular bus services from London to Dover Priory station, approximately every 2 hours. From Dover Priory station a regular shuttle bus operates to the ferry terminal, at only £1 per person each way. Also regular shuttle buses leave Calais Ville station and costs 1.50 euros per person each way. Book a ferry to France.

Taking your car from the UK to Calais:

By Eurotunnel: The motorway exit from the M20 is junction 11A and drive straight to the Check In booths. The terminal in France is just outside Calais, take junction 42 of the A16 motorway and the slip road takes you straight to our Check-In booths. Standard fares start from £49 single, with the option of the length of stay you need.

By boat: The ferry terminal in Dover is close to the main routes to London via the A2 and M2 motorway or by the M20 which joins the M25 and M26. Dover ferry terminal is well signposted from both motorways. Two autoroutes, the A16 and A26, leave Calais ferry terminal. Book a ferry to France.