Les Deux Caps
Wissant beach
The Opal Coast's most popular beach, between the two capes
The essentials
- Water quality
How this rating is calculated
The regional health agency samples the water several times a season and measures two faecal bacteria: Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci.
The rating isn’t based on a single sample, but on all the results from the last four seasons. It’s recalculated every year and places the beach into one of four levels, from poor to excellent, based on the share of results that exceed European thresholds.
The upshot: a beach rated excellent can be closed on a stormy day, and a poorly rated beach can have perfect water today. The rating shows the trend, not today’s weather.
Good
- Monitored bathing
Health monitoring and supervision
This is the period declared by the local council during which the regional health agency tests the water.
This isn’t the period of lifeguard supervision, which is down to the local council and is often shorter. Check with the town hall before relying on it.
- From 15 June to 15 September
- The sand
- Sable fin
- Dogs
- On a lead along the Dune d'Aval, and allowed after 7pm on all beaches. Banned from 15 June to 15 September.Council order on record; the signs on site have the final say.
Wissant beach: what you need to know
Ideally placed between Cape Blanc-Nez and Cape Gris-Nez, the seaside resort of Wissant is one of the most popular spots in the North during summer. At low tide, the beach is huge, letting children paddle in the very shallow pools of water. At high tide, on the other hand, there's still room to stroll on the sand.
Loved by photographers, painters and anyone who appreciates lovely colours, Wissant often offers stunning sunsets and ideal scenery for artists.
Bars, restaurants, ice cream sellers and other small shops are nearby, without taking over the place.
Thanks to its ideal setting, Wissant beach puts on an almost daily sporting show: windsurfing, sand yachting, kitesurfing. It's actually one of the best windsurfing spots in northern Europe. According to Vogue magazine, it ranks among the most beautiful beaches in France, at number seventeen.
- Between the two capes
- Windsurfing
- Sand yachting
- Lifeguard-patrolled swimming
Can you swim in Wissant?
The regional health agency monitors this beach under the code FRE1262899M062090. It’s rated good water quality over the last four seasons of testing.
No closures or pollution were reported at this beach during the last monitored season.
Data: Ministry of Health, under Open Licence. Full details of the site are in its bathing water profile.
Our 3 restaurants
Where to eat near the beach of Wissant?
Our favourite
To eat on the sea wall
Les Sables d'Opale
On the digue de Mer, facing the bay, between the two capes.
1 digue de Mer, Wissant
To stay in the village centre
La Chaloupe
Rue du Muret, a few steps from the square and the market.
1 rue du Muret, Wissant
For a table in the village
Le Green Bistrot
On the same street, in the heart of Wissant.
4 rue du Muret, Wissant
Our 3 places to stay
Where to stay near the beach of Wissant?
Our favourite
To be a hundred metres from the sand
Hôtel de la Plage
A hotel address in the village, within walking distance of the sea wall and the shops.
Hotel · Wissant
To range between Gris-Nez and Blanc-Nez
Au cœur des caps
Wissant is the best base in the area: both capes are a quarter of an hour away.
Accommodation · Wissant
For a village stay
Au Vent Du Kent
An address in Wissant, facing the bay and the coastal paths.
Accommodation · Wissant
After the beach
Worth visiting nearby
In the same area
Do you know this beach? Your review
Samuel
Very pleasant
Very pleasant beaches. Possible access via a path through the dunes. Cars can't get onto the promenades, which is a big plus! One small downside though: not enough cold water points to wash your hands or rinse your feet…
Myriam
Lovely beach
A lovely village with everything you need for a good holiday. And a really beautiful beach, very clean. A very pleasant place!
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