A family driving a Rosalie on the promenade of Calais beach with the sea and the sea wall in the background.

Calais, a key destination for summer 2025 in France

The Opal Coast is popular! A 179% increase in train bookings this summer on Trainline, +9% attendance at the Calais XXL Tourist Office…And Calais is now among the top seaside destinations favored by vacationers! An XXL summer that confirms the shift taken a year ago with the launch of the Calais XXL brand, now supported by a growing destination portal and soaring attendance figures.

Calais, a seaside resort popular with train passengers

Summer 2025 confirms the growing success of Calais as a seaside resort in its own right. According to the travel intermediary platform Trainline, Calais enters the top 10 destinations that saw the strongest increase in train passengers this summer with +179% bookings for July & August, compared to the period from April 1 to June 1, 2025 [Source]. The city thus rises alongside the major resorts of the French coast such as Deauville, Hyères, Sète or Agde.

The Hauts-de-France train station closest to the beach

Here, you don't necessarily need a car to enjoy the sea air: a 15-minute walk from Calais-Ville train station takes you to the beach and its modernized seafront, perfect for swimming, strolls, and sunsets. To extend your escape, head to Cap Blanc-Nez, 11 km away, accessible by the city's free buses, to admire one of the most beautiful views of the English Channel.

How to get to Calais and the surrounding area?

This photo shows tourists walking along the Calais La Plage sea wall near the gourmet village

View of the beach with the golden reflections of the autumn sun on the cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez.

Calais is now established as a seaside and cultural destination in its own right, where people come for the quality of life, the richness of its heritage and the generosity of its encounters.

Visit Calais at a reduced price with a TER travel ticket

Culture is not left out: This summer, five iconic locations are offering discounts upon presentation of a TER Hauts-de-France ticket for the day, thanks to the TER culture program run with SNCF Voyageurs. The City Hall and its UNESCO belfry, the Museum of Fine Arts and its Rodin gallery, the Memory Museum 39-45, the City of Lace and Fashion, And the Dragon Company are all within walking distance of the station. Calais invites visitors to combine soft mobility and cultural tours throughout the city.

Coming to Calais by train

Calais Ville SNCF Train Station, the Imag'in Bus Station and the Street-At artwork by KogaOne

A territory in motion and audiences at the rendezvous

Since the launch of the Calais XXL brand in 2024, the momentum has continued unabated. The calaisxxl.com portal, a true inspiration guide, is experiencing remarkable growth. with nearly 45 visitors and 000 cumulative views since the beginning of 107. More than 134 ideas for walks, activities and detours have already been listed, inviting everyone to create their own XXL route among the 14 municipalities in the urban area.

A season that starts very early

On the ground, the pre-summer season figures indicate a clear trend.

From January 1 to June 30, 2025:

The Tourist Office sees its attendance increase by +9% and has passed 1 guided tour tickets online, a record for its digital ticketing launched this season.
The Calais Museum of Fine Arts shows a 26% increase attendance over the period.
The Dragon Company, for its part, recorded a 23% increase in attendance. on the voyages aboard the Dragon of Calais.
The 39-45 Memory Museum also grew by +9%.
La The City of Lace and Fashion has already welcomed 20 visitors.

Beyond the numbers, a collective trajectory is emerging: that of a region that relies on hospitality, curiosity, and encounters to offer vibrant and accessible experiences for all. A region that invites us to take the time to explore, to marvel, and to share.

View of the Dragon of Calais, monumental animal of the Dragon Company.

A family enjoys the panoramic view from the rampart walk of the UNESCO-listed Calais Belfry during a sunny sightseeing tour.

And a thousand routes to discover

This season is still full of surprises with a wealth of events! Until the arrival of the Voyage monitor lizard in a show by the Compagnie la Machine In November, there are plenty of good reasons to visit Calais and its surroundings.

Calais LA Plage: the summer hit
All summer long, the seafront comes alive with deckchairs, sports fields, open-air concerts, and more. A program that transforms the seaside resort into a place of relaxation and XXL leisure for young and old.

Stopover in Calais
From August 29 to 31, 2025, join us for the unmissable maritime heritage event in Hauts-de-France. Discover a fleet of historic ships, maritime demonstrations, and much more!
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Exhibition: War in Miniatures
Until November 3, 2025, the Musée Mémoire 39-45 presents an exceptional exhibition of military models, vehicles, and historical scenes retracing the battles of the Second World War. An immersive and educational look at the conflicts of the XNUMXth century.
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Listeners with headphones at the foot of the Dragon de Calais to vibrate to the rhythm of the 3 DJs who mix in astonishing silence!

The Belem, a majestic French three-masted ship, sailing the high seas under sail. This historic ship, the last large French merchant sailing ship of the 19th century still in operation, will stop at Escale à Calais, offering a unique immersion in maritime heritage.

Aerial view of Calais beach and its huge sports and play areas and squares which run along the fine sand for 1 km.

This summer in Calais XXL

The proposed display in the circular path of the Fort Risban powder magazine with numerous photos of the stages of construction of the Dragon of Calais.

Visit to the Rodin Gallery at the Calais Museum of Fine Arts with Sophie Henwood.

Children observing the models presented at the 39-45 Memory Museum in Calais.

New Rodin Gallery
Since spring 2025, the Calais Museum of Fine Arts has been offering a new space dedicated to Auguste Rodin. Major sculptures, drawings, and studio works immerse visitors in the world of the master of The Burghers of Calais.
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Varan, Dragon and Chimera Exhibition
Until March 1, 2026, Fort Risban hosts a unique exhibition by Compagnie La Machine. Sketches, models, and mechanical creatures reveal the behind-the-scenes creation of the future Varan de Voyage and the Calaisian chimeras. A fascinating dive into the world of giant machines.
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