One day in Calais - what to do? Suggestions welcome

moromir · 25 June 2013 at 10:14PM

So we'll be in Calais for one day on Monday 8th July -

I've been researching it on the net but loads of the information about Calais seems horribly out of date (i.e. lots of references to Tesco and Sainsburys warehouses both of which I think have gone now).

I'd particularly like to visit Sephora at Cite Europe but other than that I have no idea!

Any hidden gems? Is it still worth buying booze over there? Belgium is near by, worth the drive?

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Bob_the_Saver · 25 June 2013 at 10:46PM

I found this for you, it's just such a shame Google is so difficult to use.

44 things to do in calais (yes really) some must be of some use.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/France/Nord_Pas_de_Calais/Calais-132251/Things_To_Do-Calais-TG-C-3.html

mcfisco · 26 June 2013 at 7:25AM

One day in Calais - what to do? Suggestions welcome

Get out of the place, it's depressing
Go have a long lunch and a walk on the beach at Dunkerque or Boulogne
There's some good sea-food to be had

Voyager2002 · 26 June 2013 at 9:10AM

You could ride the choo-choo and take a day trip to London.

bcl999 · 26 June 2013 at 10:06AM

St Omer is typical French town within easy reach of Calais. Ostend in Belgium is another possibility.

Doshwaster · 26 June 2013 at 10:50AM

I had a day trip to Calais once. I couldn't find anything to do so I spent all afternoon in a bar drinking and then got the ferry back.

moromir · 26 June 2013 at 11:47AM

Bob_the_Saver wrote:

I found this for you, it's just such a shame Google is so difficult to use.

44 things to do in calais (yes really) some must be of some use.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/France/Nord_Pas_de_Calais/Calais-132251/Things_To_Do-Calais-TG-C-3.html

With all due respect Bob, in your hurry to post with a healthy dose of sarcasm about my ability to use Google, you didn't read the content of my post, particularly my comment that 'loads of the information about Calais seems horribly out of date'.

Being adept at using Google, I had already read the website you linked, and you will notice that much of the information on that site has not been updated since 2004/05, with a few articles revised in 2011/2.

Thank you to the other posters for suggestions of towns near by, I'm looking in to that now. :beer:

TonyMMM · 26 June 2013 at 3:57PM

Drive to Boulogne ... much nicer.

ampersand · 26 June 2013 at 4:26PM

Hello moromir,

I'd agree with others who suggest Dunkerque, which may well surprise you[and please ignore the sneery reply from bobthesaver] Head towards Bray-Dunes, or further up to Rosendaël. There's a good Musee des Beaux Arts, a moving monument to all that happened at Dunkirk on the beaches[I can walk along these happily anyway].
You needn't be bi-lingue to check these out:

http://www.jours-de-marche.fr/index.php?c=recherche&m=rec&q=dunkerque&day=1

It depends on your mindset of course, but there's no need to be bored anywhere. On the last of 3 recent daytrips[special P&O offer included 6 bottles of wine] I found my way around old docks etc, near close of day, with vast seascapes, interesting sidestreets, setting sun ablaze over the sea, after a great day at various vide-greniers. I can't find any for you on a Monday, but this is what I use generally:

http://vide-greniers.org/

Have a splendid day out, on your own enjoyable terms, whatever you do.
#########
I lived in years in France, still go whenever I can, know this area well, among others.

browneyedbazzi · 26 June 2013 at 4:46PM

My recommendation would be to get out of Calais, lol. St Omer is a lovely little town to go for a walk around and grab a meal in one of the restaurants on a square etc.

If you want to keep to Calais then the hypermarkets are good for stocking up on beer and wine...we buy the little bottles of french lager for the summer as they're super cheap and great for BBQs etc. I also buy lots of red wine because I cook with it and it is much cheaper to get decent quality ones over there.

They are also good for cured meats, cheeses, breads and their bakery sections are also quite good (I can't go near a french supermarket without buying religieuse -choux buns with chocolate or coffee filling)...if it's a nice day you could buy all the makings for a very nice picnic then find a nice spot to sit and enjoy.

benjus · 26 June 2013 at 6:06PM

I was over there a few months ago to get some wine for my forthcoming wedding. I tried the wine warehouses but didn't find them very inspiring.

Someone at work mentioned this place: http://www.boursot.co.uk so we gave them a try. The owner was really helpful and we tasted quite a few wines before deciding on a couple we liked and buying them. He's got a nice selection of wine from under €4 to some fine wines for collectors. Ardres is a pleasant little town as well, and good for stocking up on cheese etc

One day in Calais - what to do? Suggestions welcome

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