You can reach France in just 90 minutes when you sail from Dover on one of our ferries to France, and there are loads of fantastic day trips from Calais to choose from when you travel with your car.
Whether you have already visited Calais, or are just hoping to explore somewhere different, these top day trips from Calais are sure to inspire you to book a French adventure.
Day Trips from Calais: Lille
It takes just over an hour to drive from the port in Calais to the beautiful city of Lille, making it ideal for a day trip once you have crossed the Channel.
You will be amazed by Lille’s stunning architecture as you wander around its pretty streets, and the city’s star-shaped citadel, ornate old exchange building, and stunning art deco town hall are definitely worth a visit. For impressive views of Lille and beyond, climb the town hall belfry’s 400 stairs, or opt for the lift if that sounds like hard work!
If you are travelling with children, we recommend visiting Lille’s zoo during your day trip from Calais. Boasting around 70 different species, this zoo is compact in size but has large and natural enclosures that make the animals feel at home, and it is involved in a number of international conservation programs too.
Culture vultures will love the giant Palais des Beaux-Arts museum. Set in a charming 19th century building, this museum is impressive in size and houses artwork by plenty of well-known artists, including van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso, making it an inspiring place to visit.
Day Trips from Calais: Arras
The fascinating city of Arras can be reached in just over an hour by car from the port in Calais, and when you reach it you are sure to be amazed by how the architecture, food, and art have been influenced by Flemish culture and customs.
Your first stop during a day trip to Arras should be the Place des Héros, as this lovely cobbled square is a great place to relax and unwind with a coffee or beer, and it’s also where you will find the city’s 75m high belfry. You can reach the top of the belfry via a lift followed by a small climb up a spiral staircase, where you will be rewarded with wonderful panoramic views.
If you are interested in finding out about how Arras was impacted by World War I, visit Carrière Wellington which commemorates those who built the network of tunnels, with the capacity to accommodate 20,000 soldiers, and those who fought in the Battle of Arras.
Arras offers the chance for you to indulge in some delicious local delicacies, such as Andouillettes, a type of course sausage that has its own festival, and mussels cooked in either white wine or herb and tomato sauce. Both of these dishes are best enjoyed with frites and a beer, which no French trip would be complete without trying.
Day trips from Calais: Boulogne
Boulogne can be reached in just half an hour from Calais by car, so you will have more than enough time to get here and back during your day trip.
Wander around the shops, bars, and restaurants that Boulogne has to offer and take in the surrounding architecture. The centre is mainly pedestrianised so getting around on foot is easy, and you will find a market in Dalton Place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings where you can pick up some French treats to take home.
For a bit of culture, head to the city’s cathedral where you can admire its 101m dome before heading underground to France’s biggest crypt. Discovered in 1827 when the cathedral was being rebuilt, the crypt is made up of passageways and chambers with painted walls, columns, and ceilings, and is home to a number of gold and silver treasures too.
If you visit Boulogne in the summer you can spend hours lazing on its long stretch of sand, with the option to hire deckchairs, parasols, and even a beach hut. On breezy days you will also be able to watch kite surfers and sand yachters who will fly past along the flat beach, or give one of these sports a go for yourself!
Great fun for all the family, Nausicaá, the National Sea Centre, is a fantastic place to visit during your time in Boulogne. Stroke rays in the touch tank, come face to face with crocodiles as they relax in their submerged forest, see sharks swim by, and have fun trying out all of the interactive activities that are on offer too.
There are loads of fantastic day trips from Calais to choose from, no matter how long you have to spend in France, so why not book your Dover to Calais crossing today and discover one of these great destinations for yourself.
