Villa Mon Étoile
Opal Coast · Northern France
The seaside from Brussels: a break on France's Opal Coast
From Brussels, the nearest sea is the Belgian coast, with Ostend or Knokke about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 away. For a change of scene, Le Touquet on the Opal Coast is 2 h 45 to 3 hours away: a huge beach, a pine forest, Art Deco villas and a distinctly French atmosphere.
From €140 per night · + €50 cleaning and linen fee
Book direct and enjoy
- Best price: cheaper than on Airbnb
- Free early check-in
- Free late check-out
Early check-in and late check-out subject to availability.
★★★★★ 4.7/5 on Google · 4.81/5 on Airbnb
Belgian coast or Opal Coast: which one from Brussels?
To be fair: for a day at the seaside, the Belgian coast is unbeatable from Brussels. The E40 gets you to Ostend in just over an hour, so does the train, and the coastal tram links every resort from Knokke to De Panne. Rough figures from central Brussels, without traffic:
| Resort | By car | By train |
|---|---|---|
| Ostend / De Haan | about 115 km, 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 | Ostend direct, about 1 h 20; De Haan by coastal tram |
| Knokke-Heist | about 110 to 120 km, 1 h 25 | well served, including via Bruges |
| De Panne | about 145 km, 1 h 40 | train to Adinkerke-De Panne or coastal tram |
| Le Touquet-Paris-Plage | about 230 to 265 km, 2 h 45 to 3 hours | change in Lille, from about 2 hours |
So Le Touquet is a good hour further. Why drive the extra miles? Because for a weekend or a holiday it is a genuine change of scene: abroad, without going far.
Why the Opal Coast and Le Touquet
- A very wide beach: at low tide a vast expanse of sand appears, perfect for walking, running or sand yachting.
- A resort in the forest: behind the dunes lies a pine wood full of cycle paths, villas and avenues.
- Art Deco and old villas: Le Touquet is an architectural stroll in itself, around the centre and the rue Saint-Jean.
- The French way of life: market, bakeries, café terraces, aperitifs.
- A base for exploring the Opal Coast and Northern France: headlands, the Authie bay, Montreuil-sur-Mer. See things to do around Le Touquet.
Getting from Brussels to Le Touquet
By car
Allow about 2 h 45 to 3 hours. Follow the E40 towards Ghent and Bruges to the French border at Adinkerke, then the A16 past Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer to the "Étaples / Le Touquet" exit. The last stretch of the A16 is tolled. Once there, the car can stay parked: our tips on parking in Le Touquet.
By train
There is no direct train. You travel via Lille (Lille-Europe or Lille-Flandres), then take a regional TER to Étaples-Le Touquet station. With a good connection it takes about 2 hours, often more like 2.5 to 3 hours. From the station it is about 5 km to the centre of Le Touquet, by bus, taxi or bike. Full details on getting to Le Touquet.
An Opal Coast weekend: an example
Leave on Friday after work and have dinner in Le Touquet. Saturday: a walk on the beach at low tide, the Canche lighthouse, an aperitif on the rue Saint-Jean. Sunday: cycle in the forest and along the Canche estuary, or visit the ramparts of Montreuil-sur-Mer, then an easy drive back to Brussels. More ideas on our Le Touquet weekend page.
Where to stay: Villa Mon Étoile
Our 1920s Art Deco villa has two 55 m² self-catering apartments, Hélios and Cassiopée, each for 4 guests plus a baby, or 8 guests if you book both. About 300 m from the beach and 200 m from the rue Saint-Jean: everything on foot. Equipped kitchen, washing machine, fibre wifi, terrace with barbecue, baby kit. From €140 per night, 2-night minimum, plus a €50 cleaning and linen fee. Book direct with Charles on our booking page.
Charles's tip: on Sunday evenings the E40 towards Brussels is often jammed with traffic coming back from the coast. Leave after dinner, or add a night and drive back on Monday morning: you gain half a day by the sea.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest seaside to Brussels?
The Belgian coast: Ostend is about 115 km away, around 1 h 15 by car and about 1 h 20 by direct train. Knokke and De Haan are roughly the same distance.
How far is Le Touquet from Brussels?
About 230 to 265 km, 2 h 45 to 3 hours by car via the E40 and the French A16.
Can I get from Brussels to Le Touquet by train?
Yes, with a change in Lille and a regional train to Étaples-Le Touquet: from about 2 hours with a good connection, then 5 km by bus, taxi or bike.
Why choose the Opal Coast over the Belgian coast?
For a different atmosphere: a very wide beach, a resort in a pine forest, Art Deco villas and French life. It is an hour further, so better for a weekend than a day trip.
Book your Opal Coast weekend
Book direct: 2-night minimum, sheets and towels provided, keys on site.