Accueil vélo
Wide open spaces, long beaches, unspoiled nature, and a spacious city center: Calais XXL is a prime destination for a successful holiday with your four-legged friend. With some twenty kilometers of coastline, idyllic canals, and a welcoming city center, the area has established itself as a leader in pet-friendly tourism.
Calais XXL, a destination to experience by bike
Cycling together between land and sea, stopping at the foot of the lighthouse, sharing a break overlooking the sea: cycling changes the way you discover Calais XXL. The area lies at the crossroads of several European cycle routes, between the Opal Coast, canals and marshes, with Calais as a starting point or a stopover for two. Bike rentals, accommodations with the Accueil Vélo label, short or more challenging routes to Cap Blanc-Nez: this guide gathers useful information to organize a cycling holiday in the 14 municipalities of the metropolitan area.
Calais, the heart of the Opal Coast
©Nohcab Rent a bike in Calais XXL
Le Vel'in service It offers more than 70 self-service bike stations spread across the metropolitan area, including one in Guînes, with the first hour of travel free and then €2 per additional hour. Some stations have electric bikes.
For a standard rental, the association Opal Bike ServicesLocated on Boulevard Gambetta in Calais, 2 Caps à Vélo offers mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, road bikes, and tandems, as well as all the necessary accessories for your stay. For riding as a pair with a guide, 2 Caps à Vélo offers electric mountain bikes, a particularly suitable option for climbing up to the... Cape Blanc-Nez.
Getting around & parking in Calais XXL
©Nohcab Crossroads of European cycle routes
The area lies on the route of several European cycle paths. Velomaritime, French section of theEuroVelo 4 linking Roscoff to kyiv, it runs along the Opal Coast. Via Francigena The cycling route, which follows the pilgrimage route between Canterbury and Rome, finds its starting point on the European continent in Calais XXL. The area is also crossed by the North Sea Cycle Routewhich connects Norway to Scotland along the coastline. For a break for two, these routes can be combined with shorter loops, between canals, marshes and the seafront, detailed in our selection of cycling routes around Calais.
See the bike rides around Calais
©Nohcab 
©Nohcab The Home Bike Label
The Accueil Vélo (Cyclists Welcome) label distinguishes establishments in the area—restaurants, accommodations, tourist sites, and rental shops—that offer services tailored to cyclists: repair kits, advice, and secure shelters are among the services offered, depending on the location. As with any reservation, calling before arriving allows you to verify the specific conditions of each establishment, particularly regarding bicycle parking.
What is the Accueil Vélo label?
©Nohcab Bike welcome accommodation
The complete list
Everything you need to explore without a car
Once you have your bike, several routes are available to you. The family bike tour offers an accessible loop combining heritage and fresh air, to be explored at your own pace, as a couple or with the family. To go further, our selection of bike rides around Calais It brings together five routes between coastline, canals and fortifications, to be chosen according to the mood of the day.
Cycling is not the only way to get around the area without a car. soft modes of transport in Calais usefully complement a cycling holiday, with the free Imag'in bus network to reach a starting point, or to return without straining if the wind or fatigue gets in the way.
Visiting Calais without a car
©Nohcab Maps and guides of the territory
Find maps and guides for Calais XXL, including the 14 municipalities of the agglomeration, to prepare your cycling route before departure.
See the guides and mapsHow to rent a bike in Calais? +
The Vel'in service allows you to rent a self-service bicycle at over 70 stations in the metropolitan area. For traditional rentals or electric bikes with a guide, Opale Vélo Services and 2 Caps à Vélo complete the offering.
Is Calais a stop on the European cycle routes? +
The territory lies on the route of the Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4), the North Sea cycle route and the Via Francigena by bike, of which Calais XXL marks the continental starting point.
Is Cap Blanc-Nez accessible by bicycle? +
Yes, but the elevation gain requires a bit of effort. An electric bike, available notably through 2 Caps à Vélo, makes the climb to the Grand Site de France site easier.
Do the accommodations at Calais XXL welcome cyclists? +
Many establishments carry the Accueil Vélo (Cyclist Welcome) label and offer suitable facilities, such as secure shelter or repair kits, depending on the location. Calling before booking allows you to confirm the specific conditions of each establishment.
Bike welcome accommodationWhat is the best season for a cycling holiday in Calais XXL? +
Spring and autumn offer pleasant driving conditions, with less traffic than in summer. Wind, which is common on the Opal Coast, should be taken into account when choosing the direction of travel.