Calais - Dunkirk - De Panne - Oostende
Recently we had a few days off work to do some travelling, however we had left it a bit late to book any cheap airline seats . We thought of alternative, cheap methods of going into Europe and devised a way of getting to Belgium, somewhere we had never been before.
We were prepared for a day of travelling. We took a ferry, once again, from Dover to Calais - we took the first one that was leaving, which happened to be P&O. Once in Calais, we took the bus from the port to the main train station, outside of which we waited for another bus which would take us to Dunkirk. Leaving from the front of the train station, the bus journey to Dunkirk took about 45 minutes. From what we saw of Dunkirk, it looked a bit run-down and shabby, not really what we were expecting. Admittedly, we didn't have time to explore the town fully.
We arrived at the main station in Dunkirk and the next step was to get another bus to Adinkerke/De Panne station in Belgium. After a bit of fruitless searching on the bus timetables, I eventually obtained the help of a friendly shop owner who spoke English and told me where we needed to get the bus and what time it was coming. It eventually arrived, we bought tickets, and wondered what to expect at the border control between France and Belgium. Well, we were amazed to find there is actually no border control. In fact my husband, who needs a Schengen visa to travel into Europe (which he has got), managed to get all the way into Belgium from the UK, through France, without anyone checking his passport! Quite a feat. There was, however, quite a distinct difference between France and Belgium in terms of the scenery and architecture - generally how clean and spacious Belgium looked compared to the areas we had passed through in France. Anyway, by this time we were quite tired of bus journeys, and were glad to get off the bus at De Panne train station.
However, our travelling was still not at an end. Our destination was Oostende, further along the Flemish coast, and where our hotel was booked. The next step was to catch a tram, or the "Kusttram" as it's known, that travels along the coast, stopping at each town along its way, and quite cheap too, being only 5 euros each for a day pass. Fortunately it was still daylight by the time we were on the tram, so we managed to see the towns it passed, which seemed to be mainly holiday type areas with lots of apartment buildings by the sea. After about an hour we arrived in Oostende, happy that all had gone smoothly with our travelling, but obviously quite tired.
It was an interesting, cheap way to travel to Belgium, but a very long way of doing things, and we decided that on the way back we'd take direct trains instead! This was done by catching a train from Oostende to Lille, in France, and from there another train to Calais, where we got the next ferry to Dover (Sea France). Journey complete. For those who would like a more direct route to Belgium by ferry, Transeuropa ferries operate a service from Ramsgate to Oostende, however, as far as I'm aware, no foot passengers are allowed, only cars.
(More about our time in Belgium in the next blog entry).
We were prepared for a day of travelling. We took a ferry, once again, from Dover to Calais - we took the first one that was leaving, which happened to be P&O. Once in Calais, we took the bus from the port to the main train station, outside of which we waited for another bus which would take us to Dunkirk. Leaving from the front of the train station, the bus journey to Dunkirk took about 45 minutes. From what we saw of Dunkirk, it looked a bit run-down and shabby, not really what we were expecting. Admittedly, we didn't have time to explore the town fully.
We arrived at the main station in Dunkirk and the next step was to get another bus to Adinkerke/De Panne station in Belgium. After a bit of fruitless searching on the bus timetables, I eventually obtained the help of a friendly shop owner who spoke English and told me where we needed to get the bus and what time it was coming. It eventually arrived, we bought tickets, and wondered what to expect at the border control between France and Belgium. Well, we were amazed to find there is actually no border control. In fact my husband, who needs a Schengen visa to travel into Europe (which he has got), managed to get all the way into Belgium from the UK, through France, without anyone checking his passport! Quite a feat. There was, however, quite a distinct difference between France and Belgium in terms of the scenery and architecture - generally how clean and spacious Belgium looked compared to the areas we had passed through in France. Anyway, by this time we were quite tired of bus journeys, and were glad to get off the bus at De Panne train station.
However, our travelling was still not at an end. Our destination was Oostende, further along the Flemish coast, and where our hotel was booked. The next step was to catch a tram, or the "Kusttram" as it's known, that travels along the coast, stopping at each town along its way, and quite cheap too, being only 5 euros each for a day pass. Fortunately it was still daylight by the time we were on the tram, so we managed to see the towns it passed, which seemed to be mainly holiday type areas with lots of apartment buildings by the sea. After about an hour we arrived in Oostende, happy that all had gone smoothly with our travelling, but obviously quite tired.
It was an interesting, cheap way to travel to Belgium, but a very long way of doing things, and we decided that on the way back we'd take direct trains instead! This was done by catching a train from Oostende to Lille, in France, and from there another train to Calais, where we got the next ferry to Dover (Sea France). Journey complete. For those who would like a more direct route to Belgium by ferry, Transeuropa ferries operate a service from Ramsgate to Oostende, however, as far as I'm aware, no foot passengers are allowed, only cars.
(More about our time in Belgium in the next blog entry).
Comments
Thanks a lot for your blog. Very useful as i am looking for a way to travel from De Haan to Calais other than by train from Ostend. Could you possibly let me know how (in)frequently the buses run, where exactly they depart (is it right by the tram station?) and how long the trip could take altogether?
Best Regards
Hedy
If you are a foot passenger, driving to Dover is often a very good option to do on the impulse without having to book anything in advance. The parking garage at the Dover ferry terminal charges per hour for the first day and then £5 per day afterwards. The ferry tickets for foot passengers are quite reasonable, about £12-22 one way. There is a ferry every hour or less. Take the Sea France ferry if you don't like paying lots for traditional English grease. To take a car over you have to book in advance and it costs a fair bit more.
Once in Calais, the bus that goes from the ferry terminal terminates eventually at the train station. At the train station is a bus to Dunkerque, I think once every hour or so. It stops right in front of the Calais train station on the dual carriage way to pick passengers up. It travels to the bus terminal and train station in Dunkerque, I think the trip is about 40 minutes to an hour. Otherwise when at Calais station try to see if you can rather get a train to Dunkerque, it shouldn't be that much more expensive and the next one might be passing through before the next bus.
Dunkerque itself around the bus terminal and train station isn't anything special. At the Dunkeque bus terminal there is a bus that travels across the border into Belgium to Adinkerke. They make you buy two tickets, one for the French part of the trip and one for the Belgian part. There is no border control because of the Schengen agreement but you'll see when you pass the border since suddenly everything changes from being run-down Northern France into clean and wealthy Flanders.
The bus stops at the Adinkerke tram stop. From there you can take the coastal tram all the way up the coast. It passes through Oostende, Zeebrugge and De Haan and many other small places. Oostende is reasonable and not a bad place to stay to visit Brugge from, and De Haan is a pretty but quiet seaside town. Zeebrugge is just a big shipping port. The coastal train might run along the coast, you'll pass through some decent, clean, seaside resorts but you won't be seeing much of the sea since this part of Belgium is mostly below sea level so you're shielded from the sea by a sand wall.
The whole trip is quite exhausting, along with a ferry crossing and all the waiting for changes at bus stops it would easily take 6-9 hours. We eventually decided to take the train back from Oostende through Brugge which then heads down to Lille, and then from Lille changed to go back to Calais. It didn't cost that much more and you get to see new scenery.
I work in Brusseles and walked from De Panne into France many times. Seen the bus you mentioned too.
If you go over the week-end you can buy a week-end train ticket at a fraction of the price or Belgium rail do a pass for E73 for 10 journeys - easy pezzy.
Ounce in Brussels you could get to the Ardennes on the same train ticket and stay at one of the plentifull hostels.
Dinant would be a good place to base, bit like Matlock. Tons of walking round there and a different beer at each stop.
http://www.dkbus.com/
Finished working in Brussels after 10 Years.
One thing not well known is that the Eurostar train ticket gives you passage to ANY station in Belgium. Mind, Public transport is so cheap that it may not be worth it.
Get to Lille and then you can jump on the Belgium train system to any station for the price of 73Euro (10 journeys) and if you are 65 or over, go on any train for E5.20 return (weekend), Well thats how I do it.
Spa is a good place to end up (end of a remote train line via (Virvier) and its like a grander Matlock - best I can come up with.
If you like walking - then the Ardennes are a great place to spend a week.
You could then go onto Luxemburgh - truely some excellent walks there.
Again use Belgium ticket up to Arlon (via Namur) or Gouvy (via Liege) then get the Luxemburgh ticket from the Train Control (Conductor). Cheap as chips.
Liege has this new HUGE all metal station cover, spectacular sight, not much else though.
Once in Belgium try a Cuvee beire, Blond or Brown - my favourite is L'Crochon.
Think I have walked most of Belgium while here, and not very often have I been diappointed.
One good thing to say about the Belgium Public transport is that they have never failed to get us to our destination. Not like UK by any stretch of ones imagination.
Virton, passing Florrenville, which visted and stopped at the next weekend.
Florrenville is close to VILLERS-DEVANT-ORVAL that has several B&B's. The hotel round the back has Cuvee St Arnmatage - the best Belgium beer. It has taken me a long time to sample that!
http://www.horest.be very recommended. One end of street is France, but I remained in Be.
Thanks
James.
cheers
James.
Smiles to you,
Chiara
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