ARRIVING BY LESHUTTLE
From Calais Ferry Port: where can you go next?
LeShuttle does not arrive in central Calais. You drive off the train in Coquelles, beside the A16 motorway and only a few minutes from Cité Europe. That makes shopping the easiest first stop, although Calais beach and the town centre are still close enough to visit.
Last checked: September 2026
For shopping or food, start at Cité Europe. For fresh air, drive to Calais beach. If Calais is only your entry point into France, follow the A16 without entering the town.
Where do you arrive?
LeShuttle’s French terminal is in Coquelles, just outside Calais. After driving off the train, the exit roads connect directly with the A16 and the surrounding retail area.
This is different from arriving by ferry at the Port of Calais. You are closer to Cité Europe and Channel Outlet, but slightly farther from the town centre and beach.
Your best first stops
1. Cité Europe for shopping and food
Cité Europe is the obvious first stop after LeShuttle. A slip road from the terminal area takes you towards the shopping centre, where there is extensive free parking.
The centre contains regular shops, restaurants and the large Carrefour hypermarket. It works particularly well when you need:
- Breakfast, coffee or an uncomplicated meal.
- French groceries and drinks.
- Travel supplies for the onward journey.
- An indoor stop during poor weather.
- Somewhere for the family to reset after travelling.
Carrefour normally opens earlier than the surrounding shops. On Sunday, the hypermarket may open for a limited morning period while most of the shopping centre remains closed. Check our Sunday shopping guide before relying on it.
2. Channel Outlet for discounted brands
Channel Outlet is next to the Cité Europe complex. It is worth adding if you specifically want fashion, sportswear, luggage or homeware.
It is less useful as a quick practical stop. If you only need food, drinks or essentials, go directly to Carrefour rather than spending time walking between outlet shops.
3. Calais beach for a proper break
If everyone needs fresh air after the drive through Kent and the Channel crossing, continue to Calais beach.
The beach gives children more space than a motorway service area and provides a clear break before a longer drive into France. You can combine it with the seafront, the Calais Dragon or lunch nearby.
4. Central Calais for lunch and sightseeing
Drive into central Calais when you have at least two hours and want to see something beyond the retail zone. The area around the Town Hall and belfry is a practical starting point.
For a longer stop, add the centre or seafront rather than trying to fit several museums into a short arrival window.
What can you do with your available time?
Under one hour
- Buy travel essentials at Carrefour.
- Have coffee or a quick meal at Cité Europe.
- Refuel before joining the motorway.
One hour is not enough to shop, visit central Calais and return to the motorway without rushing. Use our focused Calais in one hour guide.
Two to four hours
- Shop at Cité Europe and have lunch.
- Visit Calais beach and the seafront.
- Combine the Town Hall area with a restaurant.
- Visit Channel Outlet if shopping is the main purpose of your stop.
Our 2–4 hour itinerary gives you combinations that work without unnecessary driving.
A full day
With a full day, use Coquelles only as your arrival point. Follow the one-day Calais itinerary to explore the centre and coast, then shop near the terminal later if needed.
Which motorway should you follow?
- A16 north/east: for Dunkirk, Belgium and onward routes towards Bruges.
- A16 south: for Boulogne-sur-Mer and the Opal Coast.
- A26: for Arras, Reims and routes towards eastern France.
- Calais signs: for the town centre, beach and ferry port.
Take particular care at the first junctions and roundabouts. After leaving the terminal, keep right after turning and use your left-hand mirror before joining faster traffic.
See our guide to driving in Calais for road positioning, roundabouts, fuel and parking advice for British motorists.
Returning to LeShuttle later
The terminal is signed as Tunnel sous la Manche. When leaving the A16, follow signs for Terminal tourisme, not Terminal fret.
The official terminal details are:
Eurotunnel LeShuttle
Terminal France
62231 Coquelles, France
GPS: 50.936315, 1.814964
LeShuttle currently directs passenger vehicles from junction 42b of the A16, although road signs should take priority over an outdated navigation instruction.
For more detail about the crossing and terminal process, see the independent Calais LeShuttle terminal guide or the official directions.
Shopping before returning to Britain
Cité Europe is conveniently close to the terminal, but do not shop until the last possible moment. Leave enough time for check-in, passport controls and any delays around the terminal entrance.
If you are taking food or alcohol back to Britain, check the current UK personal import rules first. Product restrictions can change, and some items sold in French supermarkets cannot currently be brought into Great Britain.
Use our guides to what to buy in Calais and what to do before your crossing to plan the final part of the trip.
Our advice after arriving
LeShuttle puts you in the most convenient part of Calais for shopping. Cité Europe is the sensible default, but it does not have to be the entire visit.
If you have more than two hours, drive beyond Coquelles and see the beach or centre. Otherwise, Calais can easily become nothing more than a hypermarket beside a motorway.
Driving times are approximate and depend on traffic and your position within the terminal. Terminal directions were checked against official LeShuttle information in September 2026.