Simple seaside pleasures draw the crowds to Le Touquet. Activities here include sunbathing and water sports along the 4-mile (7-kilometer) long sandy beach, browsing the cafés, boutiques, and restaurants of the 20th-century town, or enjoying the lively nightlife scene at the many bars, nightclubs, and casinos. Once you’ve explored the small town center and visited the lively Covered Market, there are plenty of outdoor things to do along the Opal Coast, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, and golf.
Le Touquet is a great choice for luxury travelers with a choice of stylish hotels, elegant beachside villas, and upmarket bars and restaurants.
The windy Opal Coast is a popular spot for sand yachting; you can take lessons along Le Touquet beach.
Le Touquet is largely accessible for wheelchairs and strollers and has boardwalk access to the beach.
Le Touquet sits on the English Channel Coast in northwest France, about a 50-minute drive south of Calais, where the Eurotunnel and cross-Channel ferries arrive from the UK. Trains also connect to Le Touquet from Calais (about a 2-hour 20-minute journey) and Paris (about a 3-hour journey). In high season, free shuttles (navettes) run between Le Touquet and the neighboring towns of Montreuil, Etaples, and Berck.
Le Touquet can get overrun with tourists during peak season (July-August), so opt for a late spring or early fall visit if you want to avoid the crowds and the high season prices. The north of France doesn’t have the balmy temperatures of the south, but it’s often still warm enough to enjoy beach days in June and September. Time your visit for market days (Saturday and Thursday) to enjoy the popular local market.
Stretching from Bray-Dunes to Berck-sur-Mer, the Opal Coast is named for its gleaming waters and features some 75 miles (120 kilometers) of golden beaches, dunes, and natural landscapes. Highlights include a hike along the white sea cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, the beach resorts of Boulogne-sur-Mer and Wimereux with their picturesque Belle Epoque villas, and bird-watching around the coastal marshes of the Marais d’Opale Regional Natural Park.
