A Weekend in Le Touquet: Our Ideal 2- or 3-Day Itinerary

A weekend in Le Touquet is enough for a change of scene: about 2 hrs 30 from Paris and 2 hrs from Lille, the resort offers a huge beach, a forest and a centre where everything is within walking distance, all in two days. The key is to choose your accommodation well and not to overload the schedule.

Here is the itinerary we recommend to our guests, with variations depending on the season and the weather.

Before you go: the three decisions that matter

How to travel

By car, the A16 takes you to Le Touquet from Paris in about 2 hrs 45, and from Lille via the A25 in roughly 2 hrs. On Friday late afternoons, traffic leaving town often lengthens the journey: setting off after dinner or early on Saturday is often more relaxed. By train, the nearest station is Étaples-Le Touquet, about 5 km away, reachable from Paris-Nord in just under 2 hrs 30; buses, taxis and the Caddy Express shuttle, bookable in advance, link it to the resort.

Where to stay

For a short stay, location is everything: accommodation between the beach and rue Saint-Jean saves you from hunting for a parking space every time you go out. To compare the options, see our guide on where to stay in Le Touquet.

When to go

Event weekends (the Enduropale in February, the show-jumping competition, summer festivals, the festive season) are very lively and book up early. If you are looking for peace and quiet, check the events calendar before choosing your dates.

Friday evening: a gentle arrival

Drop off your bags, then head straight to the sea: the promenade is lit up, and the evening light on the beach is often one of the most beautiful moments of the stay. For dinner, the centre has plenty of restaurants around rue Saint-Jean; on Friday evenings in season, booking is strongly recommended. If travel fatigue wins, a simple meal in your rental, looking out over the pines or the lively street, is also a fine way to start the weekend.

If you arrive late, bring something for Saturday breakfast, or locate a bakery near your accommodation.

Saturday: town centre, market and beach

Saturday is when the resort is at its liveliest. Here is a plan that works well:

Le Touquet's covered market, built in the early 1930s, is worth a visit as much for its architecture as for its stalls. In the afternoon, if the wind is right, a sand-yachting taster session is a great way to see the beach differently. For your meals, our selection of where to eat out in Le Touquet will help you choose.

Sunday: forest, lighthouse or Canche bay

On Sunday, focus on nature before heading home. Choose according to what you fancy:

• Cycling in the forest: around 800 hectares of pines surround the town, with lovely avenues to explore as a family.
• The Canche lighthouse: climbing the steps of this tower of about 57 m gives you a view over the whole resort; it is open to visitors at certain times, notably at weekends and during French school holidays.
• The Canche bay: a guided outing with the tourist office to watch the seals and birds of the estuary.
• Golf: a round on one of the three courses at Le Touquet golf club, booking your tee time in advance.

Have an early lunch to get on the road before the big Sunday-evening exodus, or leave after dinner instead. More ideas are gathered in our article on things to do in Le Touquet.

Extending it with a third day

With an extra Monday or Friday, you can venture beyond the resort without rushing:

• Montreuil-sur-Mer, a walled town about fifteen kilometres away, whose ramparts you can walk and which Victor Hugo wrote into Les Misérables.
• Étaples, just across the Canche, with its harbour and its past as a painters' colony.
• The coast to the south, along the Vélomaritime, to Stella-Plage, Merlimont or Berck.

Our article on day trips from Le Touquet details these outings.

Budget, booking and packing: the practical details

Book at the right time

For a weekend between May and September, or over a bank holiday, book your accommodation several weeks in advance, and even earlier for event weekends. Out of season, a few days' notice is often enough, but the best places are still in demand on sunny weekends. Check the tourist office's events calendar before setting your dates.

Keep your budget in check

• Compare the total price of a rental: cleaning, linen and tourist tax are sometimes charged on top.
• Share an apartment: for four people, a rental often costs less than two hotel rooms, with a kitchen thrown in.
• Alternate between restaurants and meals at home: the covered market lets you put together a simple dinner with fresh produce.
• Think about parking: in season, it is paid across much of the centre; accommodation with a parking space or within walking distance avoids the cost.

What to pack

Even in summer, the Opal Coast can bring cool evenings and wind. Pack:

• a waterproof windbreaker and a jumper, whatever the season;
• shoes that don't mind wet sand for walks at low tide;
• swimsuit and beach towel in summer, plus sun cream, as the wind masks the strength of the sun;
• a bike lock if you are bringing your own bikes.

A weekend in Le Touquet by season

• In spring: the resort comes back to life, the days grow longer and the beach stays spacious. Ideal for cycling.
• In summer: beach clubs, swimming, festivals. Book accommodation and restaurants well in advance.
• In autumn: soft light, a colourful forest and gentler prices; the book fair livens up November.
• In winter: long walks on the beach, the Enduropale in February and Christmas festivities at the end of the year.

For somewhere to stay, Villa Mon Étoile offers two apartments from two nights, about 300 m from the beach. And to choose your dates, see our article on when to visit Le Touquet.

Charles's tip: on Saturday morning, park the car once and for all and don't touch it again until you leave. In high summer, finding a space near the beach can cost you an hour; on foot or by bike, everything is just a few minutes away.