We will be embarking on a cruise in a few weeks from Dover. Since we have a few extra days "pre-cruise", we thought to take the ferry to Calais for a day. My question is whether there is enough to see to warrant the trip, and whether it is safe for tourists given that thousands of migrants were said to have squatted there at one time. Please no lecturing. This is not a racist rant--just a question given that crime sometimes pops up in locales throughout the world when there are large populations of desperately poor people. I am not "anti-immigrant", nor would I even venture to discuss what France, or any other country, might do to solve its own problems. I just want to be cautious and stay safe. Any suggestions are welcomed.

I wouldn't bother with Calais -- but visiting Boulogne has some interesting bits but the ferry only goes to Calais.

If it was me I'd spend the 'extra' day exploring Kent instead. Dover Castle, Canterbury, lots of other options.

I very much enjoy Calais and have visited the city a number of times.

Another look at Calais | Any Port in a Storm

Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode - Calais Lace Museum | Any Port in a Storm

Most smaller places in France not on the "must see" lists have fascinating histories, and Calais is no different. The lace museum is indeed interesting especially if you can be there when a "running" of any of the looms is in progress. I was lucky enough, on one of my trips to watch a jacquard loom work through the cards Kerouac has shown in the pictures. The lace industry in Calais is one of the many economic results of the Napoleonic Wars and the Luddite movement that sent many lace workers across the channel to Calais as looms were being broken in England. There is also a huge World War II bunker used as a war museum and perhaps the most famous Rodin sculpture of all, The Burghers of Calais.

Yes Calais is safe to travel to & worthwhile IMO.
Calais has some good restaurants, small area where fresh fish is sold & a small market, plenty of shops. Boulogne is more charming & close by car, a stop in Wimereux for lunch by the sea in one of the many restaurants is a nice thing to do. If you have time, there are walking paths along the coast by a tall monument which I can’t remember what it’s called, scenery is beautiful.

Dunkirk?

Calais is nicer than Dunkirk imho. Both are safe for foot or car passengers. Most of the camps have been dismantled or moved. There are still immigrants about of course, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was.

If you can rent a car take a trip along the coast to the Caps, for some stunning scenery, views of the White Cliffs if it is clear, and some WW2 history.

Yes by all means even long ago when I last visited Calais it was a pleasant town that would be a nice way to experience a wee bit of France. Kerouac documents that - plus the boat ride there is great - seeing the White Cliffs of Dover from the water is special - I'd suggest taking a car ferry one way and sitting up front - and faster hydrofoil the other way. Hydrofoils IME you have buckled in a seat but ferries you can roam around and sit in chairs up front -much better viewing.

Buy a day return ticket though this may mean taking either hydrofoil or ferries both ways. Hydrofoils can be rougher in rough waters IME - and the ferry can be really relaxing both ways.

But the OP's question was about safety - all reports I've heard is yes that migrants are being settled and not a problem at all in city center.

One excellent thing about Calais is that it has a free bus line -- the Balad'in -- which goes around the city, including most places of interest. It runs every 8-12 minutes from 07h45 to 18h45 (approximately).

Can anyone remember when the hydrofoils, hovercraft and catamarans stopped running between Dover and Calais? Was it when the tunnel opened in the mid 1990s, or did they hang on a bit longer? You certainly won't find any running now, and I am sure we have told Pal this prerviously.

I agree with the suggestion that you hire a car and visit Les Deux Caps between Calais and Boulogne, together with the resorts like Wimereux.

Yup got to thinking about those hydrofoils and realized the awful mistake but too late to edit. Last one one site says was 2005 - but most apparently ceased in 2000. Well time for me to catch last Hovercraft.

Hovercraft stopped in 2000. The SeaCat was an awful way to cross the Channel and stopped a couple of years later.
Take the P&O ferry over a DFDS one, for a generally nicer trip. Book the special lounge too, and if you go on one of the newer boats you get a private deck area on which to enjoy your trip if the weather is good.

I do a lot of volunteering with Kitchen in Calais. The situation is that refugees who formerly were around the port area in Calais have been pushed to the surrounding countryside and are being hunted daily by the police and CRS to keep them "moving" and to prevent aid orgs from supplying basic needs stuff. Dunkerque same. Just saying that there never has been any question of "settling" refugees. Paris is a similar crisis area. Menton/Ventimiglia: same.

To add: you'll be perfectly safe, and it's also an opportunity to look right into "history in the making", as it were.

I was delighted to watch Afghan refugees playing cricket in a park in Calais. It must have been such a relief for them to be doing something normal.

And Calais has one of the most famous statues anyway in its town center- the Burghers of Calais:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burghers_of_Calais

Pal -- why not post about places you've at least visited this century?


Re Calais: It will be safe and it almost entirely depends on what you hope to get out of your day trip? Do you want to see "history in the making" as menachem says? Have you visited SE England before? The reason I suggested Kent is there is a LOT to see/do on the north side of the Channel. But if you've spent extended time in Kent East Sussex - then sure, cross the Channel for a day trip. I do like Boulogne better than Calais but it is about a half hour drive from the ferries.

Pal -- why not post about places you've at least visited this century?> Was there in 2011 and was a nice but not spectacular town then for anyone wantng a taste of France and experiencing crossing the Channel the way everyone had to to centuries. What is better about Boulogne than Calais if someone is looking for a typical French regional town - getting to Boulogne from Calais is easy and you need not drive - as regional trains link the two frequently in just 30 mins -so maybe OP wants to see a 'better' town - why is that so? Not a bad idea if really worth the little effort to take a train there.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I now have many options to consider!

Leburta

Kerouac: Thank you, as usual, for your wonderful photo album on Calais!