The 14 things to do on the Côte d’Opale

Looking for a cool destination for your next holiday? Go and visit the Côte d’Opale and its 14 must-see things!

Dizzy cliffs, dunes, marshes, huge sandy beaches, charming small ports, the Côte d’Opale is one of the most beautiful natural sites in France. Located in the Hauts-de-France region, 3 hours from Paris, it extends over 120 km between Dunkerque and Berck-sur-Mer.

Discover the places to visit on the Côte d’Opale and the activities that can be done during a getaway on this wild and undiscovering coastline.

1. Bray-Dunes

No way to visit the Côte d’Opale without going to Bray-Dunes! It would be lacking the beautiful National Natural Reserves of the Dune Marchand and the Parroquet, which offer a sumptuous decor.

But what makes Bray-Dunes unique is its geographic location. Indeed, here you are on the northernmost point of France (including DOM-TOM). And since it is advisable to sleep in the north, here may be the perfect place to take your vacation rental on the Côte d’Opale .

2. Dunkirk Port Museum

In the heart of the historic Citadelle district, the Dunkerque Port Museum will appeal to children as well as to the festivities of navigation. You will embark for a four-century journey through more than 500 works (maquettes, videos, paintings etc.).

You will learn how a port works and discover how the Dunkerquois sailed on all the world's seas. In front of the museum, you can visit exceptional boats such as the three-mast Duchesse-Anne, the largest visiting sailboat in France, or the Sandettié fire boat, both classified Historical Monuments. A must-see if you are fascinated by nautical life.

Finish your visit by the Risban lighthouse from where you will enjoy a panorama of the city, the port and the sea.

3. Calais

To discover this port city, point of passage to England, start by visiting the Hotel de Ville and its belfry, classified as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take the time to take a break in Richelieu Park and discover the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can admire the work of Auguste Renoir in a dedicated room.

If you have a few hours in front of you, stroll on the Place d’Armes, walk along the seafront, climb to the top of the lighthouse and take care of the dentellier past of Calais by visiting the International City of Lace and Fashion (see about 1h45).

4. Marais Audomarois

At 40 minutes from Calais, the Marais Audomarois is one of the must-see places to visit on the Côte d’Opale. This labyrinth of water and nature is a unique site that spans more than 3,700 hectares. It is the last marsh of such importance still cultivated today.

To explore these idyllic landscapes, the ideal is to go for a boat ride on waterways. Hiking tours also allow you to enjoy this lush vegetation.

5. The nature reserve of the Oye platter

The Oye platter is both a polder and an ornithological reserve. Each year, birds (about 230 species) call the site during their winter migration.

Its flora is also fascinating, as more than 300 different species are identified. Today, the 391 hectares of the reserve are protected to preserve this exceptional fauna and flora.

However, it is possible to visit the places. A loop of 3.80 km facilitates this visit, with several observatories throughout the course. The latter is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

6. The site of the Two Caps

Cap Blanc-Nez

A veritable balcony on the sea, Cap Blanc-Nez forms with Cap Gris-Nez one of the 13 national tourist places labeled “Grand Site de France”. With its chalk cliffs falling into the sea, Cap Blanc-Nez is one of the jewels of the Pale Coast that attracts many tourists every year.

This natural site is suitable for hiking on the top of the cliffs. The "La buckle du Cap Blanc-Nez" circuit offers a 6.5 km route to the north, direction Sangatte.

Cap Gris-Nez

Cape Gris-Nez is distinguished by its sandstone and clay cliffs and its lighthouse listed in the Historical Monuments. This is the point of the French coastline closest to England. Just that.

Many marked trails allow you to admire the site, including:

• Cap Gris-Nez loop. A trail of about 3km;
• And the hiking path GR120. Also called the customs road, it is between the two Caps.

Wissant

Half-distance between Cape Blanc-Nez and Cape Gris-Nez, this picturesque fishing village became a resort at the end of the 19th century. The village was able to keep its old charm with its traditional fishermen’s houses.

Its beach, 12 km long, will make the happiness of walkers and swimmers. The bay, very exposed to winds, is also very popular with the kitesurfers .

Otherwise, the Moulin Museum is also a curiosity not to be missed in Wissant. For those who want to make a little hike, go on the Fartz trail. The latter forms a 5.6 km loop from the Wissant Tourist Office.

Dunes de la Slack

Between Wimereux and Ambleteuse, on the land of the Two Caps, the Dunes de la Slack are among the must-see rides to be made on the Côte d’Opale.

For a refreshing walk between mares, dunes, beaches and pine forest, follow one of these two paths:

• loop of the Baie Saint Jeanfrom Wimereux (4 hours);
• Or Slack circuit, from the parking lot of Pointe aux Oies (2h30).

An outdoor walk with children who can pick up shells and pine apples. Then stop in the village of Ambleteuse to visit its fort. The wall dates from the 17th century and is part of the works of Vauban.

7. Audresselles

This fishing village of some 660 souls is one of the most visited of the Côte d’Opale. Its streets lined with low houses with coloured shutters give it a unique cachet.

On the fishing trail, signs evoke the past of the village and its traditions. On the beach, you can indulge yourself in the joys of swimming and walking fishing and observe the return of the fishermen at nightfall.

The walkers will not be left with many marked hiking trails. A 3-hour walk will take you along the cliffs between Audresselles and Cap Gris Nez where you can admire the view on the English coast.

8. Wimereux

Charming seaside resort of the Côte d’Opale, located 7 km north of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Wimereux is a popular holiday resort for families and tourists from Northern Europe.

It is characterized by a beautiful seafront and many Anglo-Norman-style houses dating from the Belle Epoque.

9. Boulogne-sur-Mer

The old town and the port

Boulogne-sur-Mer is quite unknown to French tourists. Yet, the city enjoys a magnificent heritage. To have a clear heart, just go to the old town.

When you pass in front of the ramparts, you can quickly understand that Vieux-Boulogne is essentially medieval. This impression is then confirmed, with the castle and the belfry, both dating from the 13th century.

You will also find more contemporary treasures, such as the splendid Basilica Notre-Dame-de-l’Immaculée-Conception, but also the Imperial Palace (also known as Hotel Désandrouin).

Finally, leave the old town to reach the port. The latter is located in a strategic location, near the footstep of Calais, the world's most frequent strait. Moreover, the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer is none other than the country’s first fishing port. Don’t miss it, both for its history and to enjoy the tranquillity of the place.

Nausicaá

Nausicaá, also known as the National Sea Centre, is the largest aquarium in Europe. If you have a soul of explorer or want to experience an unforgettable experience, it is here that you have to come!

More than 1,500 marine species populate this gigantic aquarium, from sharks to tropical fish, to manchots and sea lions. Two fun routes, "Travel in the High Sea" and "Les Rivages et des Hommes", allow visitors to feel close to animals and experience a unique sensory experience.

10. Château d’Hardelot

On the earth, immerse yourself in a tale Charles Dickens discovering this magnificent 19th century castle, located in Condette. Indeed, the author used to come to Condettes to find inspiration and rest there.

You can take a free or guided tour and then stroll through the English gardens and Renaissance gardens. Don't miss the walk around the lake of mirrors.

11. The Touquet

Sometimes nicknamed the "Nice du Nord", Le Touquet or Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is the most famous seaside resort in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. It is renowned for its long 12-kilometre beach that extends to Berck-sur-Mer and its Art Deco facades.

The resort has created a Historical Course that allows visitors to discover 31 iconic sites of its architectural heritage and history, of which twenty are registered in the Historical Monuments Inventory.

Moreover, there is a must-see if you are passing through the Touquet: the Natural Park of the Baie de Canche. It is a natural reserve of 45 hectares that can be travelled on foot or by bicycle. With a little luck, you can see some low tide seals!

12. Montreuil-sur-Mer

This beautiful fortified city, classified 4-star flowery city, is not located by the sea (although its name!).

17 km from Touquet, it owes its charm to its exceptional heritage: its ramparts, its typical low houses, its picturesque streets, its 16th century citadel, its 12th century abbey, its God Hotel and its chapel and its private hotels.

If you are visiting Montreuil-sur-Mer in the summer, you will be able to witness in the historical setting of the citadel the sound and light show "Les Misérables à Montreuil-sur-Mer".

13. La Baie d’Authie

Located between the Somme and the Nord-Pas-de Calais, the Baie d’Authie is a place to visit when visiting Berck-sur-Mer.

This small natural gem houses an atypical fauna and flora. At low tide, you can meet marine seals and calves on the sandbank. The trail of Authie Bay ( 1.6 km) offers an exceptional view of the bay from the viewpoint.

14. The sail tank

Enjoy your stay on the Côte d’Opale to experience new activities. Initiate yourself to the sailboat on one of the great sandy beaches of the coast. Many schools and clubs offer internships.

To practice this sport of slip, it is enough to have a little wind, a low tide and a desire for strong sensations. A nautical activity to be done with family because accessible to all, both playful and gray.

To make an initiation, you can contact the water clubs of Wimereux, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Touquet, Berck-sur-Mer or Merlimont.

How to get to the Pale Coast?

By plane

Want to visit the Pale Coast? The aircraft is an option with two airports in the area: Le Touquet-Côte d’Opale Airport and Calais-Dunkerque Airport, 7km from Calais. Do not hesitate to use a comparison of flights as Skyscanner to find the flight corresponding to your stay. Enter your dates and criteria and the comparison will be responsible for presenting the corresponding results.

By train

It is very simple to come to the Opal Coast by train. Many coastal cities are served, such as Dunkerque, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer or Le Touquet.

By car

The region is also accessible by A16 motorways since Paris and A25 since Lille .

Where to stay on the Pale Coast?

Whether you opt for a stay on the seaside or on the land, you can easily travel the area and visit its must-see sites. You will spend up to 1h30 to go from one place to another. For your vacation rental Evancy on the Côte d’Opale , you can sleep in a fishing house, on a sailboat, in a trailer, a perched cabin, or simply in sublime modern houses and/or apartments.

You’re ready to visit the Côte d’Opale!