Shopping guide for British visitors

Shopping in Calais: where should you go?

The best place to shop in Calais depends on how you crossed the Channel, how much time you have and what you want to buy. Cité Europe is usually easiest for LeShuttle passengers, while ferry travellers may find shops closer to the port more convenient.

Last checked: September 2026

Choose by arrival point

If you use LeShuttle

LeShuttle arrives in Coquelles, where the largest concentration of cross-Channel shopping is located. You can shop without entering central Calais.

The main options are:

• Cité Europe for Carrefour, fashion, restaurants and indoor facilities;
• Channel Outlet for outlet fashion and branded stores;
• Auchan Calais for a large hypermarket in the Les 2 Caps retail centre;
• specialist wine retailers when drinks are the main reason for stopping.

Cité Europe is normally the simplest all-purpose option. Auchan is useful when you primarily want a hypermarket and prefer the Les 2 Caps complex.

For help understanding the terminal and crossing, see the independent guide to travelling through the Channel Tunnel and LeShuttle .

If you arrive by ferry

Ferry passengers arrive on the eastern and coastal side of Calais. Cité Europe and Auchan remain accessible, but both require a drive towards Coquelles.

More convenient options can include:

• Carrefour Mi-Voix for groceries and general supermarket shopping;
• Calais Wine Superstore or Calais Vins for specialist drinks shopping;
• central-Calais shops when combining shopping with lunch or sightseeing;
• the ferry operator’s duty-free offering when eligible.

The quickest option depends on your ferry operator, exit route and onward destination. The Calais ferry port and routes guide provides a wider overview of services using the port.

Calais shopping areas compared

Cité Europe

Cité Europe is the largest all-purpose shopping destination around Calais. It combines a Carrefour hypermarket with shops, restaurants, a cinema, bowling and practical facilities.

It is best for LeShuttle passengers and visitors who want several types of shopping in one indoor complex.

Read our complete Cité Europe guide .

Auchan and Les 2 Caps

Auchan anchors the Les 2 Caps shopping centre on Avenue Roger Salengro. The hypermarket sells groceries, wine, beer, household products and general merchandise.

The surrounding centre is smaller than Cité Europe, which can make Auchan more direct when a large supermarket is your main objective.

Read our Auchan Calais guide .

Carrefour Mi-Voix

Carrefour Mi-Voix is on Avenue Georges Guynemer. Its position makes it particularly relevant to ferry passengers who want a proper supermarket without driving to the Coquelles retail area.

It does not offer the same mall experience as Cité Europe, but that can be an advantage when speed matters.

Read our Carrefour Calais Mi-Voix guide .

Channel Outlet

Channel Outlet is a separate outlet village beside the Cité Europe area. It focuses on discounted fashion, footwear, homeware and branded products.

Promotions and participating brands change. Check the current directory if one specific retailer is the reason for your visit.

Read our independent Channel Outlet guide .

Specialist wine and beer stores

Calais Wine Superstore, Calais Vins and Pidou serve travellers looking specifically for wine, beer, Champagne or spirits.

They can be more useful than a hypermarket when you want advice, advance ordering or prepared cases. Current addresses and opening arrangements should always be checked directly.

Compare wine and beer outlets in Calais .

Best shopping stop by purpose

What is worth buying in Calais?

The most interesting purchases are not always the products carrying the largest discount label. Calais is particularly useful for products that are difficult to find in an ordinary British supermarket.

Items worth comparing include:

• regional French cheese;
• charcuterie and preserved foods;
• French butter and dairy products;
• bakery products for the journey;
• regional beer;
• French wine and Champagne;
• mustard, sauces and store-cupboard ingredients;
• household and seasonal products not commonly sold in Britain.

Our planned guide to what to buy in Calais will compare useful categories rather than repeat retailer promotions.

Are prices really cheaper?

Some products can cost less than their British equivalent, but there is no reliable rule that all shopping in France is cheaper.

Before deciding that something is a bargain, compare:

• the price per litre, kilogram or individual item;
• the current pound-to-euro exchange rate;
• the exact pack or bottle size;
• current British supermarket offers;
• the cost and time of making a separate detour;
• any personal allowance or food-import restriction.

Products can still be worth buying because of selection, quality or availability, even when the saving itself is small.

Shopping on Sunday

Sunday shopping in Calais requires more planning than shopping from Monday to Saturday. Large shopping centres may close while their hypermarket opens for a limited period in the morning.

At the time of our September 2026 checks:

• Carrefour at Cité Europe published Sunday opening from 09:00–12:30;
• Auchan Calais published Sunday opening from 08:30–12:30;
• the wider Cité Europe shop collection was normally closed;
• individual restaurants and specialist shops followed their own hours.

Do not interpret a supermarket’s opening hours as confirmation that its entire shopping centre is open.

See our Calais Sunday shopping guide before travelling.

Markets and independent shops

The hypermarkets are convenient, but they are not the only way to shop in Calais. Markets and independent food shops provide a different selection and can be combined with a visit to the town centre.

Markets work best when their operating day matches your visit. They are less useful for a tightly timed crossing because stall numbers, weather and closing times can vary.

Our guide to markets in and around Calais covers days and locations.

Duty free versus shopping in France

Cité Europe, Auchan and Mi-Voix are ordinary French retail locations. They should not be described as duty-free shopping centres.

Duty-free shopping connected to a ferry or LeShuttle journey follows separate eligibility and collection arrangements. A duty-free headline also does not prove that an item is cheaper than every supermarket price.

Our planned Calais duty-free shopping guide will explain where shopping takes place and who can use it.

Alcohol allowances when returning to Britain

British travellers returning from France are responsible for remaining within current personal allowances or declaring goods when required.

Current allowances for each adult aged 17 or over include:

• 42 litres of beer;
• 18 litres of still wine;
• either 4 litres of spirits over 22% alcohol or 9 litres of alcoholic drinks up to 22%;
• a proportional combination of the final two categories.

Read our alcohol allowances from France to the UK before making a larger purchase.

How much time do you need?

Start with our one-hour Calais guide or the two-to-four-hour Calais guide to choose a realistic combination.

Practical shopping tips

• Bring reusable shopping bags.
• Keep a €1 coin or suitable trolley token available.
• Use a written list when shopping before a crossing.
• Check Sunday hours on the retailer’s own website.
• Keep refrigerated products cool during onward travel.
• Do not leave passports, luggage or purchases visible in the car.
• Keep receipts for larger alcohol and tobacco purchases.
• Confirm EV charging availability in a live charging app.

Frequently asked questions

Shopping locations and opening information checked against current retailer and local tourism websites in September 2026. Store lists, prices, promotions and opening hours can change.