Holiday rental near Calais: the Dragon, the lace and the sea, 35 minutes away
The fire-breathing Dragon of Calais, the Lace Museum, the UNESCO belfry and Rodin's Burghers: Calais will surprise you — 35 minutes from your seafront terrace, and the perfect first stop after the tunnel or ferry.
By the Blueportel team — hosts in Le Portel · Updated on · 11 min read
Most travellers drive straight through Calais — wrongly. The town has reinvented itself: its monumental 25-metre Dragon breathes fire and steam as it carries visitors along the seafront, its Lace and Fashion Museum is one of the most original museums in northern France, and its sandy beach faces the ferries gliding towards Dover. From our mobile homes in Le Portel: 35 minutes on the A16.
For British visitors, Le Portel is the ideal first stop in France: 35 minutes from the Eurotunnel terminal at Coquelles, 40 minutes from the Calais ferry port — and from there, the whole Opal Coast opens up.
Things to do in Calais
The signature attraction is the Dragon of Calais: a 25-metre, 72-tonne performance machine inspired by the Nantes machines, which strides along the seafront with 50 passengers aboard, wings spread and nostrils smoking. Book a slot online and combine it with the long sandy beach and its renovated promenade.
On the culture side: the Lace and Fashion Museum (working Jacquard looms, surprisingly lively), Rodin's Burghers of Calais in front of the town hall with its UNESCO-listed belfry, and the fine arts museum. On windy days, the Calais seafront offers some of the coast's best kitesurfing spectacle — free from the promenade.
Why stay in Le Portel to visit Calais
Le Portel enjoys a rare central position on the Opal Coast: right next to Boulogne-sur-Mer and the Nausicaá aquarium, halfway between the Two Capes Grand Site to the north and Le Touquet to the south. From our mobile homes on the clifftop of Le Phare d'Opale campsite, Calais is a 35-minute drive — and when you return, you get the quiet of a gated campsite, Le Portel beach a few hundred metres away and the sunset over the Channel from your own terrace.
Staying in Le Portel rather than at the destination itself is also a matter of budget and availability: accommodation at the tourist hotspots is noticeably pricier and fills up early in the season, while from here you can reach every destination on the coast without moving base. Le Portel is also ideally placed for British visitors: 35 minutes from the Eurotunnel terminal at Coquelles and 40 minutes from the Calais ferries.
Your sea-view mobile homes 35 minutes from Calais
Blueportel offers two fully equipped residential mobile homes at Le Phare d'Opale campsite, on top of the Le Portel cliff, with panoramic views over the Channel:
- [Blueportel Prestige](/pages/prestige) — sleeps 6, 3 bedrooms, 12 m² covered terrace facing the sea, air conditioning, fully equipped kitchen (dishwasher, oven, hobs), private parking.
- [Blueportel Horizon](/pages/horizon) — sleeps 4, 2 bedrooms, the cosy option for a couple or small family, with the same seafront location.
- Both include wifi, quality bedding, board games and a personal welcome from your hosts Michel and Véronique — Booking guests rate the location 9.5/10 and value for money 9.8/10.
Book your stay near Calais
Availability can be checked online in real time and seasonal rates are here. Booking direct means no platform service fees, plus personalised tips before your stay: tide times, itineraries and our favourite spots around Calais. Any questions? The contact page usually gets a reply within the day.
Still weighing up accommodation types? Our hotel / Airbnb / mobile home comparison puts numbers on the options, and our complete Opal Coast guide covers 25 highlights with ready-made itineraries.
Stay facing the sea in Le Portel
Blueportel offers two fully equipped mobile homes at Le Phare d'Opale campsite, on the clifftop of Le Portel: panoramic sea view, covered terrace, 10 minutes from Nausicaá and at the heart of the Opal Coast.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calais worth visiting during an Opal Coast holiday?
Yes, for a day: the Dragon (book online), the Lace Museum, the UNESCO belfry and Rodin's Burghers make an original programme, perfect for changeable weather. And the road from Le Portel passes Cap Blanc-Nez — combine the two.
Is Le Portel convenient when arriving by tunnel or ferry?
Very: 35 minutes from the Eurotunnel terminal at Coquelles and 40 minutes from Calais port via the A16. Many of our British guests make Le Portel their first stop in France — and come back year after year.
How far is Calais from the Blueportel mobile homes?
About 40 km — a 35-minute drive from Le Phare d'Opale campsite in Le Portel. Le Portel's central position lets you combine Calais, the Nausicaá aquarium (10 minutes) and the rest of the Opal Coast in the same day.
Can I book for just a weekend?
Yes, Blueportel mobile homes can be booked from 2 nights, all year round. Availability is shown online in real time, and booking direct avoids platform service fees.
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