Le Touquet in winter: weather, festivities, the Enduropale and off-season walks

Le Touquet in winter is a resort that doesn't close: the shops on rue Saint-Jean, the covered market, the museum and most restaurants stay open, and the beach, vast at low tide, is almost yours alone. It is mild for the time of year, around 8 °C in the afternoon, but wind and showers are part of the experience.

From the All Saints' half-term to the February holidays, each period has its own character: Halloween and the russet forest in October, the book fair in November, illuminations and an ice rink in December, the Enduropale and jazz at the start of the year. Here is how to make the most of it, month by month.

What is the weather like in Le Touquet in autumn and winter?

The climate is oceanic: the Channel softens temperatures, and it rarely freezes during the day. On the other hand, autumn is the wettest season, and the wind blows harder and more often from October to March. Météo-France's climate normals for the Le Touquet weather station (1991–2020) give these benchmarks:

Source: Météo-France climate data sheet, Le Touquet station. Rounded values.

In practice, rain mostly falls as showers, and sunny spells are frequent between two squalls. February is drier and brighter than December. For details across the whole year, read our article on Le Touquet's weather and climate.

In your suitcase, pack:

• a waterproof windbreaker with a hood, more useful than an umbrella on the seafront promenade;
• a warm jumper or fleece, a hat and gloves for late-afternoon walks;
• shoes that can cope with wet sand and forest paths;
• wellies for the children, who love the puddles left by the tide.

From All Saints' to February: what's on in Le Touquet

All Saints' half-term: Halloween and the autumn forest

During the All Saints' school holidays (late October), the tourist office runs a Halloween programme for families: mask-making workshops, pumpkin carving, a fancy-dress parade, storytelling at dusk and activities at the equestrian park. The content changes every year, but the idea comes back. It is also the best time for the forest, as it takes on its autumn colours.

November: the book fair

In mid-November, the Salon du livre du Touquet-Paris-Plage brings together more than a hundred writers over three days: talks, book signings, award ceremonies and children's activities. It is one of the most important literary fairs north of Paris, and a good excuse for a quiet weekend between bookshop and beach.

Late November to early January: the festive season

In late November, the town launches around five weeks of festivities: illuminations in the streets and gardens, a ceiling of lights over rue Saint-Jean, an open-air ice rink on place du Centenaire, a Christmas village with craft and food chalets on avenue du Verger (at weekends, then every day during the school holidays), light projections on the façade of the palais des congrès, fairground rides, a parade and shows. The detailed programme is published each autumn by the tourist office. If you are thinking of spending the holidays here, our page on renting in Le Touquet for Christmas and New Year shows our availability.

Late January or early February: the Enduropale

Created in 1975, the Enduropale du Touquet-Pas-de-Calais is the great motorbike and quad race on sand: around 2,800 riders over three days, a circuit laid out on the beach and hundreds of thousands of spectators. It is the busiest weekend of the winter, when accommodation is booked months in advance. Our advice for this very special weekend is on our page on renting in Le Touquet for the Enduropale.

February: the Winter Jazz Festival

In February, the Winter Jazz Festival brings international headliners to the palais des congrès for almost a week, with free stages for young talent from the region. For dates, the programme and other events, see our Le Touquet events calendar.

What stays open in winter

Le Touquet has more than 300 shops and craftspeople, and many of them open all year round, often including Sundays. Outside the school holidays, some restaurants and beach shops reduce their opening days or close for a few weeks: it is best to check before you go.

• Le Touquet's covered market, an Art Deco market hall from 1932, is held all year round on Thursday and Saturday mornings, with extra mornings during some school holidays.
• The Musée du Touquet-Paris-Plage, housed in the villa Way Side, displays paintings from the Étaples art colony and hosts temporary exhibitions.
• The Canche lighthouse is open to visitors at weekends and during the school holidays: 274 steps and a view over the forest, the bay and the sea.
• The thalassotherapy centre on the seafront and the hotel spas, to warm up after a walk.
• The palais des congrès and the cinema, for an evening of concert, theatre or film.

A few minutes away by car, Maréis in Étaples and Nausicaá in Boulogne-sur-Mer round off the programme on rainy days.

The beach and nature in winter

Winter is the season when Le Touquet's beach is at its most spectacular. Without parasols or beach clubs, the foreshore seems endless at low tide, the light is low all day long and sunsets come early, often around 5 pm in December.

A few ideas for outdoor outings:

• Walk along the seafront promenade to the dunes in the north, then come back across the sand at low tide.
• Head to the baie de Canche, north of the resort: estuary, sandbanks, migrating birds and, with a little patience and a pair of binoculars, seals resting in the distance. Stay on the marked paths and respect the protected areas.
• Stroll through the forest: the lanes between the villas and under the pines remain passable even after rain, and offer shelter from the wind.
• Go cycling on the cycle paths, as long as you keep an eye on the wind strength.
• Try sand yachting, which is also possible out of season depending on the tide and the wind: ask at the water sports centre.

Always check the tide times before heading far out on the sand: the sea comes back in quickly, especially during spring tides.

Charles's tip: in winter, set off for your walk two hours before low tide, when the beach is uncovering, and come back before nightfall. From the villa, the beach is a five-minute walk away: you can watch for a sunny spell from the window and head out as soon as it arrives, then end the day in the warm with a hot chocolate from rue Saint-Jean.

The pleasures of a quiet resort

Out of season, Le Touquet feels more like a small town than a seaside resort. Terraces retreat behind glass, tea rooms fill up in the afternoon and you take the time to look at the architecture: the Art Deco post office, the Anglo-Norman villas in the forest, the market halls.

A few typical pleasures of the season:

• a seafood platter or a fish soup after your walk;
• the Saturday morning market, for seafood, cheeses from northern France and local vegetables;
• afternoon tea in a tea room in the town centre;
• an evening show at the palais des congrès;
• an afternoon of reading, while the rain taps on the windows.

It is also a good season to work remotely for a few days in Le Touquet, far from the summer bustle.

Why come out of season: quieter and often cheaper

Outside the school holidays and major events, demand for accommodation drops noticeably. In practice:

1. Prices are often lower than in July and August, and short stays are easier to find.
2. There is more choice: you can book a few days before leaving, except for the festive season and the Enduropale weekend.
3. Parking is easier in the town centre and traffic flows smoothly.
4. Restaurants have more tables available, even on Saturday evenings.
5. The beach and the forest are almost empty during the week.

Watch out for the exceptions: the Christmas holidays, the Enduropale weekend and, to a lesser extent, the February and All Saints' holidays remain in high demand. To compare all the seasons, read our guide on the best time to visit Le Touquet.