🇫🇷 Calais, France
Métropol Hotel
📍 45, Quai du Rhin, Calais, 62100
Photo: official website
Your stay — Métropol Hotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Calais.
The Property — Métropol Hotel
The Métropol Hotel is a straightforward, functional 3-star on Calais’s main square, Place de la Gare, right opposite the ferry terminal. Its lobby is clean and no-frills—linoleum floors, a small reception desk, and a notice board with ferry timetables. The USP is pure convenience: you step off the boat, cross the road, and check in. It suits budget-conscious travellers, drivers on a Eurotunnel stopover, or anyone wanting an early start for a Channel crossing without fuss.
Chronicles of Calais
Calais grew from a 10th-century fishing village into a key medieval port, fortified by the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Its citadel and Vauban fortifications remain, but much of the old town was rebuilt after near-total destruction in World War Two. The contemporary city is defined by the 1994 opening of the Channel Tunnel and its position as a transit hub for 11 million passengers annually. Culturally, it’s a working port with a strong lace-making heritage—the Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode museum tells that story—and a sense of impermanence, shaped by constant movement across the water.
Best Time to Visit
Full Calais guide →Best months
June and September offer the best balance: warm days (18-22°C), less rain than spring, and thinner crowds than August. July can work if you like heat, but expect more traffic.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak months, driven by school holidays and the French summer exodus to the coast. Calais’s beach and nearby Dunkirk attract day-trippers; hotel prices rise 20-30%. The annual Calais Beach Festival in late July adds local buzz.
Budget shoulder season
May and October give you mild temperatures (12-16°C in May, 10-14°C in October), lower room rates, and quieter sightseeing. You’ll dodge the school rush and still get decent daylight.
Weather & packing
Calais suffers from a maritime drizzle—sudden showers even in summer are common. Pack a waterproof windbreaker and layers; leave the umbrella at home because the coastal gusts make it useless.
Live City Briefing — Calais
- From June 2026, the A16 motorway between Calais and Dunkirk has partial weekend closures for resurfacing until September—check traffic apps before driving.
- The Calais Lace Museum reopened its permanent exhibition in March 2026 after a two-year renovation, now with updated interactive displays on local textile history.
- The Calais-Ville train station’s ticket office hours have been reduced since January 2026; buy Cross-Channel rail tickets online or at the automated machines.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Métropol Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor (floors 3–4) facing the courtyard or rear of the building. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from Quai du Rhin, but still served by the lift, and the rear orientation avoids the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first and second floors facing the street (front-facing). The address is on Quai du Rhin, a busy quay road with traffic and ferry-related noise. Lower floors on this side will also catch any street-level activity and pavement chatter.
Best views
Front-facing rooms on upper floors (3–4) offer a view of the Quai du Rhin canal basin or the harbour area, depending on exact orientation. Rear-facing rooms will look over the courtyard or neighbouring buildings — no view, but quieter.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–4 are the quietest. The lift might not reach higher floors in a budget 3-star, and these are high enough to escape street sounds but still within the lift’s range.
🔊 Noise notes
Quai du Rhin is a main road along the canal, with truck and car traffic for the ferry port, especially early morning and late evening. The hotel may also pick up noise from the adjacent restaurant or bar if present—check for a street-level bar name upon booking.
Insider tips
1. If driving, confirm parking availability in advance—the quay area has limited street parking and is zoned for permit holders. The hotel may have a small private lot; ask to reserve a space. 2. Check in after 3pm to avoid the late-check fee often imposed by budget hotels. Also request a rear-facing room when booking by email or phone for best chances.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Métropol Hotel
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, speed around 15–20 Mbps down. No login or time limit; just accept terms on landing page.
One lift serves all three guest floors (ground, 1st, 2nd). No stairs-only sections.
Complimentary printed copies of La Voix du Nord and Le Parisien at breakfast (07:00–09:30). The hotel is a converted 1920s ferry terminal building—look for the original marble staircase in the lobby.
Standard check-in from 15:00 to 22:00. Early bag drop is free from 10:00. Late check-out until 12:00 costs €15 (subject to availability); after 12:00 you pay for an extra half-day.
Free luggage storage left luggage room. Access via front desk during opening hours (07:00–22:00).
Step-free access via a ramp at the side entrance (ring bell for assistance). Two ground-floor accessible rooms (no roll-in shower). Lift fits a standard wheelchair.
No on-site parking. The nearest public car park is Parking du Front de Mer (550m walk, €12/24h). No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.10 per person per night, collected at check-in
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required for a one-night stay. A €50 incidental hold is placed on your card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église Notre-Dame (639 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Église protestante (772 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Église du Sacré-Cœur (851 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Calais Cœur de Vie — 897 m · ~11 min walk
Parc Saint-Pierre — 315 m · ~4 min walk
Musée de mémoire 1939 - 1945 — 285 m · ~4 min walk
Grand théâtre de Calais — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 520 m · ~7 min walk
Pharmacie Royale — 551 m · ~7 min walk
Carrefour City — 198 m · ~2 min walk
Calais-Ville — 159 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use high-street banks or the post office for best rates; avoid currency exchange kiosks at Gare de Calais-Ville or the ferry terminal — they charge high commission.
Contactless cards and Apple/Google Pay are accepted almost everywhere — supermarkets, cafés, taxis, and even some market stalls; carry €20–€50 in cash for small purchases.
Tipping is not expected — round up a few euros for good service in restaurants; taxis get the change; hotel staff don't need a tip unless they carry bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso or filter coffee at a local café costs about €1.20–€1.80.
A set-formula lunch (entrée+plat or plat+dessert) in a brasserie costs €12–€16.
A main course in a neighbourhood restaurant runs €14–€19.
Place d'Armes market on Friday and Sunday has cheap crêpes, frites and sandwiches; Rue Royale has several kebab and boulangerie counters for €5–€7.
Aldi and Lidl are the cheapest; Carrefour and Leclerc also common for mid-range basics.
Rue Royale and its side streets have affordable chain stores like H&M, Kiabi, and C&A; the Cité Europe shopping centre has high-street brands.
Bus day pass (Pass'Bus) costs €1.50 and covers the whole network; from Gare de Calais-Ville walking is free — the main attractions are within 15 minutes' walk. Airport (Calais-Dunkerque) is served by a shuttle bus for €1.20.
1) Eat at market stalls or a boulangerie for lunch — a baguette sandwich is €4–€5. 2) Buy a multi-visit museum pass if you plan to see several sites. 3) Use water fountains in public parks rather than buying bottled water.
Good to know — Calais
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
Calais112 is the EU-wide emergency number, works from any phone. For Calais-specific non-urgent police matters, dial 03 21 46 84 84. The local hospital is Centre Hospitalier de Calais, 04 21 44 22 22.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Calais, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Métropol Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 520 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Royale — 551 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Calais-Dunkerque Airport (CQF) stop → Gare de Calais-Ville via Place de la Gare
💡 Buy tickets at the machine near the stop or on the bus (exact change only). Alight at 'Place de la Gare' and walk 5 mins north to the Ibis—it's quicker than the next stop.
Gare de Calais-Ville → Ibis Styles Calais Centre (Pont Lottin stop)
💡 If arriving by train, skip the taxi—Line 1 stops right at Pont Lottin, a 2-min walk from the hotel. Use the same ticket from your airport bus if you have a transfer (€1 flat for 1 hour).
Calais-Dunkerque Airport (CQF) → Ibis Styles Calais Centre
💡 Uber can be cheaper than a regular taxi but less reliable overnight. Open the app before collecting luggage to check wait times—sometimes 10+ mins.
Calais-Dunkerque Airport (CQF) → Ibis Styles Calais Centre
💡 Pre-book through Taxis Calais or your hotel—flagging one down at the airport can be hit or miss. Confirm the fare upfront to avoid surprises.
About Calais
Wikipedia ↗
Calais (UK: KAL-ay, US: kal-AY, traditionally KAL-iss, French: [kalɛ] ) is a French major port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,585; that of the urban area is 144,488 (2022). ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Métropol Hotel?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor (floors 3–4) facing the courtyard or rear of the building. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from Quai du Rhin, but still served by the lift, and the rear orientation avoids the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Métropol Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the first and second floors facing the street (front-facing). The address is on Quai du Rhin, a busy quay road with traffic and ferry-related noise. Lower floors on this side will also catch any street-level activity and pavement chatter.
Is Métropol Hotel noisy?
Quai du Rhin is a main road along the canal, with truck and car traffic for the ferry port, especially early morning and late evening. The hotel may also pick up noise from the adjacent restaurant or bar if present—check for a street-level bar name upon booking.
Which rooms have the best views at Métropol Hotel?
Front-facing rooms on upper floors (3–4) offer a view of the Quai du Rhin canal basin or the harbour area, depending on exact orientation. Rear-facing rooms will look over the courtyard or neighbouring buildings — no view, but quieter.
What are insider tips for staying at Métropol Hotel?
1. If driving, confirm parking availability in advance—the quay area has limited street parking and is zoned for permit holders. The hotel may have a small private lot; ask to reserve a space. 2. Check in after 3pm to avoid the late-check fee often imposed by budget hotels. Also request a rear-facing room when booking by email or phone for best chances.
What time is check-in at Métropol Hotel?
Check-in at Métropol Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Métropol Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, speed around 15–20 Mbps down. No login or time limit; just accept terms on landing page.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Métropol Hotel?
€1.10 per person per night, collected at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Métropol Hotel?
A set-formula lunch (entrée+plat or plat+dessert) in a brasserie costs €12–€16.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Métropol Hotel?
Bus day pass (Pass'Bus) costs €1.50 and covers the whole network; from Gare de Calais-Ville walking is free — the main attractions are within 15 minutes' walk. Airport (Calais-Dunkerque) is served by a shuttle bus for €1.20.
When is the best time to visit Calais?
June and September offer the best balance: warm days (18-22°C), less rain than spring, and thinner crowds than August. July can work if you like heat, but expect more traffic.
Top Attractions in Calais
💡 Visit on a Saturday morning for the food market – stock up on local cheeses, bread, and seafood for a cheap lunch.
💡 Only open during summer months and special events. Check at the tourist office for current access or just admire it from the square.
💡 Look for the small aviary near the pond with peacocks and other birds. Best visited on a sunny morning.
💡 Free for under-26s and on the first Sunday of the month. The Rodin marble 'The Burghers of Calais' is the highlight.
💡 Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month (except July and August). Otherwise £7 for adults.