Créé par Emilie, le 7 mai 2026
Votre guide Ryo
© Shutterstock
Between the North Sea and the English Channel lies a small town of just 2,011 inhabitants covering an area of 33.5 m². If you're a geography ace and know the territories that populate the Hauts-de-France region by heart, then you'll have guessed that this is the city of Calais. A French commune, sub-prefecture, belonging to the territory of the Pas-de-Calais department. The city has a turbulent history: it was under English domination for 210 years and they made it the world capital of "Leavers lace". Close to Paris, Brussels, Lille, and London, many people tend to pass through Calais quickly... However, it offers many advantages for a cultural stay in the Hauts-de-France. Discover without further delay the six flagship activities to do in the city of Calais!
What to do in Calais?
1. The belfry and town hall
Category: €/Cultural
Description: As soon as you get off the boat or train that brought you to Calais and start walking, you won't take long to come face to face with the town hall. It must be acknowledged that it catches the eye, due to its imposing architecture and immense size. It's a bit like the heart of the city, as the belfry is considered the "sentinel of the city": the superb sundials and clocks provide precise times to the inhabitants. Tick-tock. Not to mention that the visit to the belfry is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and it's possible to take a 30-minute guided tour without prior reservation from 10am to 12pm, and from 2pm to 5:30pm. So get acquainted with this mechanical carillon that helps rhythm the life of Calais inhabitants.
2. The lace museum
Category: €/Cultural
Description: What would a city visit be without passing through one of its essential museums? We mentioned it above, Calais is renowned for its custom-embroidered lace, delicate to the touch and lovely to wear. The city has therefore created a museum in honor of this fabric, made of silk thread. As you progress through your visit, you'll quickly realize that there's a lot to learn about lace, its history, its past in relation to the city of Calais, the way it's manufactured... Head to 135 quai du Commerce to learn how to use a spindle and needle, up to mechanical lace production. It will thus hold no more secrets for you. Not to mention that the museum also presents temporary exhibitions focused on the fashion world.
3. The Dragon of Calais
Category: €€/Cultural/Unusual
Description: Yes, you read the title correctly: if there's an unusual attraction that will impress young and old in the city of Calais, it's definitely its dragon. Are you looking for thrills? You'll be served! There's a whole myth around the dragon of Calais. It's made of steel and carved wood. A colossal construction of the most imposing kind that required certain manpower and technique. But the result is stunning! The beast breathes fire and smoke in different forms, and its mobility is inspired by that of reptiles. Because yes, it moves! Tourists are always both frightened and intrigued to see it walking through the city and interacting with inhabitants. During a 45-minute journey, climb along its tail and board it for an original tour of the city.
4. Going to the beach
Category: Free/Sports/Gastronomic
Description: After a visit to the lace museum, nothing beats practicing a "chill" activity this time. So put on your swimsuit or swimming shorts, take your sunscreen and beach towel for a sunny afternoon. The seaside town of Calais has a very beautiful beach with fine sand. It's the ideal activity to spend time with family or as a couple while contemplating the horizon that stretches as far as the eye can see. However, for those who are there primarily to enjoy the beach and engage in water activities, you'll be happy to be able to practice windsurfing, diving, and even kitesurfing if weather conditions permit and there's enough wind. Don't forget to walk along the beach on foot, it helps you unwind and relax, then finish the day around a good portion of fries on the coastal promenade.
5. The Ports and jetty
Image-Creative-Commons
Category: Free/Cultural
Description: The Calais jetty is about 450 meters long. Yes, it's almost a mini-hike. It's made of artificial rockfill and large concrete blocks and you'll find a large majority of fishing boats there. It's a simple and relaxing activity for walkers who want to stroll in the late afternoon while watching the different catches of discreet fishermen. Small important information: a little further, you'll see the Paradise basin near Place d'Armes. Certainly less impressive than the ports and jetty, but nevertheless worth visiting anyway, and where you can find some small boats. Here's a perfect activity to enjoy the North Sea. For walkers, by the way, the best thing is to walk up the jetty above the waves.
6. The memory museum
Category: €/Cultural
Description: And to finish our ranking, nothing beats telling you about the Memory museum. This is a retrospective of the war in Calais in a bunker. You'll be in total immersion in the middle of the city of Calais in Saint-Pierre park, among old soldier uniforms and various articles displayed in newspapers. The memory museum, as its name indicates, helps always keep a trace of past phenomena (in this case here, during World War II) in order to draw lessons for the future. It's a place that will make you travel with numerous historical pieces and information about the era, and you'll come out as if matured, having absorbed the different exhibitions.