ARRIVING IN CALAIS
From Calais Ferry Port: where can you go next?
Once you drive off the ferry in Calais, you can be on the motorway within minutes. But if you have an hour or two to spare, the beach, town centre and several useful supermarkets are all close enough for a worthwhile first stop in France.
Last checked: September 2026
Follow signs for the A16 if you are continuing into France or Belgium. For a break in Calais, choose the beach or town centre. For groceries, drive to Carrefour Mi-Voix or continue for around 10 to 15 minutes towards the larger shops at Cité Europe.
Where does the ferry arrive?
Ferries from Dover arrive at the large vehicle terminal on the eastern side of Calais. The port has direct road connections, so you do not need to drive through the town centre simply to reach the motorway.
After disembarking, follow the marked exit route until you have passed the final port controls. Do not stop on the operational port roads to set your sat-nav. Wait until you reach a safe parking area or have a passenger enter the destination.
Choose your first stop
If you want a quick supermarket
Carrefour Calais Mi-Voix is one of the most convenient large supermarkets after leaving the ferry. It avoids the need to cross the entire city or enter the Cité Europe complex.
It makes sense when you want French groceries, bottled water or travel essentials before continuing south or east. Check the opening hours first if you arrive early, late or on a Sunday.
If you want the largest selection
Continue towards Coquelles for Carrefour at Cité Europe. This is the better option for a substantial supermarket visit, with a much wider range of food, drink and household products.
The surrounding Cité Europe shopping centre also has restaurants and regular shops. Channel Outlet is nearby if discounted fashion is part of your plan.
If you need fresh air
Drive to Calais beach and seafront. It is an easy place to walk, let children move around and recover from the crossing before a longer drive.
The seafront is a better choice than the centre when your priority is space rather than shops. Allow extra time on sunny weekends, when the beach area can be busier.
If you want lunch and a look at Calais
Head towards the town centre and park near the centre or Parc Saint-Pierre. From there you can combine lunch with the Town Hall and belfry.
If you have at least two hours, use our 2–4 hour Calais itinerary instead of trying to choose stops as you drive.
What can you do with the time available?
Less than one hour
- Buy essentials at a conveniently located supermarket.
- Stop for coffee or fuel before joining the motorway.
- Take a brief seafront break if traffic and parking allow.
Use the Calais in one hour guide if you genuinely have a free hour. Do not count time needed for leaving the port as sightseeing time.
One to two hours
- Visit the beach and have a short walk.
- Do a focused shop at Carrefour Mi-Voix or Cité Europe.
- Have lunch in central Calais without adding several attractions.
Two to four hours
- Combine the beach with lunch.
- Visit the Town Hall area and the city centre.
- Shop at Cité Europe and stop somewhere more local afterwards.
A full day
With a full day, there is no need to treat Calais as a motorway stop. Follow our one-day Calais itinerary for a combination of the centre, seafront, food and one carefully chosen attraction.
Driving towards France or Belgium
The port connects to the A16 via the main approach roads. From there:
- Follow the A16 south for Boulogne-sur-Mer and routes towards Normandy.
- Follow the A16 east for Dunkirk and Belgium.
- Use the A26 for routes towards Arras, Reims and eastern France.
- Follow signs for Coquelles when heading to Cité Europe or the LeShuttle area.
The first roundabouts and junctions after a ferry crossing deserve your full attention. Keep right after turns and check the left-hand mirror carefully when joining faster roads.
Our driving in Calais guide covers roundabouts, fuel, speed limits and other practical differences for British motorists.
Arriving without a car
Foot-passenger arrangements depend on the ferry company and sailing. Passengers are normally transferred between the ship and terminal rather than walking through the vehicle areas.
Do not assume that every operator or departure accepts foot passengers. The Port of Calais states that foot travel is available with P&O Ferries and must be booked online. Check this again when booking, as operator policies can change.
See our complete Calais without a car guide for reaching the centre, station, beach and main attractions.
Can you stop inside the port?
The passenger terminal has basic facilities, and the port provides free short-term and drop-off parking in front of the terminal. It does not provide medium or long-term parking for travellers.
The port’s duty-free shop is not a general shopping centre that arriving motorists can enter from town. Access is tied to the ferry departure process. Read our Calais Duty Free guide before relying on it for shopping.
If you are returning to the port later
Save the terminal as a separate destination in your navigation system. The commonly published address is:
Port of Calais
285 Avenue du Mérite Maritime
62100 Calais, France
Follow local signs marked Car Ferry or Terminal Car Ferry as you approach. They are more useful than attempting to navigate directly to a particular berth.
Check your operator’s required arrival time rather than estimating it from the sailing time. During busy periods, the port advises allowing substantially more time. You can find additional terminal details in the Calais ferry port guide.
Our advice after arriving
Decide on your first destination before the ferry docks. For most visitors, that means one of four choices: the motorway, a supermarket, the beach or central Calais.
If this is your first visit and you are not in a rush, resist the automatic turn towards the motorway. Even a short stop can show you more of Calais than its port infrastructure.
Journey times are approximate and depend on traffic, port operations and your exact destination.