Plan your visit to Cambrai

Getting to Cambrai

By train

Cambrai is served by regional (TER) trains from the main stations of the Nord and the Aisne, including Lille, Douai, Valenciennes and Saint-Quentin. From Paris you will usually travel to one of these stations and change there. Timetables vary by day and season, so check the SNCF website before you set off. The station is close to the centre, within walking distance or a short bus ride.

By car

Cambrai stands at a junction of motorways in northern France and is easily reached from Paris, Lille, Reims and Belgium via the A1, A2 and A26. It is a convenient stop on a road trip through the Hauts-de-France.

By bus

An urban bus network serves Cambrai and several towns of the Cambrésis, with interurban lines linking the city to regional hubs such as Douai, Arras, Valenciennes and Le Cateau-Cambrésis. Fares and frequencies are available from local operators and the tourist office.

By bike

Cambrai has cycle paths and lies on several touring routes. A greenway laid out along former railway lines lets you reach neighbouring villages safely. Bike hire points operate in town depending on the season; the tourist office keeps an up-to-date list.

Parking

Several public car parks are available near the town centre. Parking conditions — free or paid, time-limited — are signposted on arrival and can change, so check the town's official website for the current rules before you travel. Because the historic core is compact, it is usually easiest to park once near the centre and explore the rest on foot.

The best time to visit and the local climate

The most pleasant period to visit Cambrai runs from spring to autumn. May to September lets you enjoy the terraces, the markets and the festivals, while spring and autumn offer milder weather and lighter crowds. Winter reveals a different mood, with the Christmas lights and markets transforming the Grand'Place and its surroundings.

Cambrai has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb): generally mild but changeable, with rain spread fairly evenly through the year rather than concentrated in one season. Conditions can shift quickly from one day to the next, so pack a layer and something waterproof whatever the season — and, above all, check a reliable forecast shortly before you travel rather than relying on averages.

How long to stay

One day is enough to discover the historic core on foot — the belfry, the cathedral, the Grand'Place and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. A two-day weekend lets you slow down, enjoy the local food and venture out to the surrounding villages. Art lovers can add a day at the Matisse Museum in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, about 28 km away, while those interested in military history can devote a half-day to the 1917 battlefield sites scattered through the countryside.

Accessibility

A large part of the historic centre is accessible to people with reduced mobility (PMR), including the cathedral, the Musée des Beaux-Arts and most shops. The belfry, however, is climbed by stairs and is not wheelchair accessible. Most open-air events and municipal venues are accessible, and reserved seating is generally available for shows on request when booking. For precise accessibility information on a specific site, contact the tourist office or the venue directly.

Where to stay

Cambrai offers a range of lodging for every profile: town-centre hotels, charming guesthouses in the old streets, rural gîtes in the Cambrésis countryside and a campsite for open-air lovers. Capacities and prices vary with the season and demand. A few pointers:

• In high season (July–August) and during big events — the Giants in August, BetizFest in spring, the Christmas market in December — booking well ahead is strongly recommended.
• For a food-focused stay, a guesthouse in the historic centre puts the estaminets and good tables within walking distance.
• For a countryside stay, the gîtes of the Cambrésis give easy access to cycle rides and the surrounding villages.

For an up-to-date list of open establishments, their prices and availability, use the usual booking platforms and the official website of the Cambrai tourist office.

Eating out

Dining in Cambrai reflects the culinary richness of the North. You will find fine-dining restaurants serving revisited regional cuisine; estaminets and brasseries with flamiche, carbonnade, welsh and potjevleesch in a convivial setting; crêperies and square-side brasseries for quick meals at any hour; and friteries serving chips fried in beef fat. For a fuller guide to the specialities, see our food and drink in Cambrai page. Regional and national restaurant guides, along with the advice of locals and the tourist office, are the best allies for choosing a good address.

Useful emergency numbers

While in France, keep these numbers to hand:

• European emergency number: 112
• Medical emergencies (SAMU): 15
• Police: 17
• Fire and rescue: 18

The 112 line works across the European Union and is the safest choice if you are unsure or do not speak French. For the tourist office contact details and municipal services, consult the official town website and that of the tourist office.

Continue your visit

• Things to see and do in Cambrai — monuments, museums and itineraries.
• Food and drink in Cambrai — Bêtises, northern dishes and beers.
• What's on in Cambrai — festivals, markets and seasonal highlights.