Opal Coast
Visit Boulogne sur Mer
The capital of the Opal Coast, and France's leading fishing port
- Nausicaá
- Old town
- Fishing port
- Ramparts
Boulogne sur Mer in brief
- How long
- A full day if you're doing Nausicaá; half a day for the old town and the harbour.
- When to go
- May to September for the beach and the harbour; the old town and Nausicaá are open all year, rain included.
- Parking
- The handiest option: the car parks in the upper town, to start with the ramparts.
- From
- Lille 1 h 20Paris 2 h 45Bruxelles 2 hCalais 35 min
Home to France's leading fishing port, Boulogne-sur-Mer is a must on any tour of the Opal Coast and is considered its capital. You'll need several days to see it all, especially with a visit to Nausicaá, Europe's largest aquarium, which takes an average of 5 hours.
Boulogne's old town is steeped in history. Ringed by ramparts, its cobbled streets lead past historic buildings and charming shopping streets.
How long to stay?
Boulogne sur Mer is a stop along the way. It’s best worked into a route:
The 3 highlights
What to do in Boulogne sur Mer?
Nausicaá
Europe's largest aquarium. You'll lose track of time here for a whole day.
La vieille ville et ses remparts
A full circuit of the ramparts, then the cobbled streets, the belfry and the basilica.
Le port au retour de pêche
France's leading fishing port: the atmosphere on the quays, and fish for lunch.
And also
- A walk along the ramparts
- The harbour
- The old town
- Notre-Dame basilica
- The Beuriere House
- The Jardin Éphémère
- Casa San Martin
3 activities to book
What activities to do in Boulogne sur Mer?
Our favourite
To see the town from the water
Kayak de mer au départ du port
A guided outing along the coast, setting off from the harbour. The only viewpoint from which the upper town makes sense in a single glance.
2 h · from age 8 · booking required
For windy days, and there are plenty
Char à voile sur la plage
The main beach suits sand yachting all year round. One taster session is enough to make your first runs.
1 h 30 · from age 10
To understand what you're looking at
Visite guidée de la vieille ville
The ramparts, the belfry and the basilica in one guided loop. What's just a pretty backdrop becomes a two-thousand-year story.
1 h 30 · departs from the tourist office
Our 3 restaurants
Where to eat in Boulogne sur Mer?
Our favourite
For the fish, facing the harbour
Fleur de Sel
On quai Gambetta, in the row of tables watching the boats come in. The menu follows what the fish market landed that morning.
Fish and seafood · €€ · 90 quai Gambetta
For a simple, hearty lunch
Mon cousin belge
A brasserie on place de la République, a couple of minutes from the centre. The kind of place you sit down at without booking.
Brasserie · € · Place de la République
For the evening, a favourite with locals
Le Châtillon
An institution in the harbour quarter, known to every Boulonnais. Best to call ahead if you're coming at the weekend.
Traditional cuisine · €€ · 6 rue Charles Tellier
Other good addresses
- Le Comptoir20 Rue du Doyen, Boulogne-sur-Mer
- La Cabane10 Quai Gambetta, Boulogne-sur-Mer
Our 3 places to stay
Where to stay in Boulogne sur Mer?
Our favourite
For a night with a little extra comfort
Au coin du spa
A B&B that plays the cosy card, best followed by a day outdoors. Few rooms, so book early in the season.
B&B
For a tight budget, close to the centre
Ilot Désille
The good compromise for staying in Boulogne without blowing the trip's budget. Everything else is then within walking distance.
B&B
To stay in the old town
Comme à la maison
Sleeping inside the ramparts changes a visit: the cobbled streets are yours in the morning, before the cars arrive.
B&B
Getting there and parking
By car on the A16: Boulogne-centre exit, then follow 'Ville haute' or 'Port' depending on your plans.
By train: Boulogne-Ville station, served from Paris, Lille, Calais and Amiens. The centre is a 15-minute walk away.
Once there, everything is walkable: the old town, the harbour and Nausicaá are all within 20 minutes of each other.
The questions people ask before coming
How long does it take to visit Boulogne-sur-Mer?
Half a day is enough for the old town and the harbour. Allow a full day if you add Nausicaá, which alone takes five hours.
What to do in Boulogne-sur-Mer when it rains?
Nausicaá, the basilica and its crypt, the château-museum: Boulogne is one of the coast's towns that works best in the rain. Our dedicated page →
Is Boulogne-sur-Mer worth it with kids?
Yes, and it's even one of the coast's best family stops thanks to Nausicaá. The ramparts are pushchair-friendly.
Where to park in Boulogne-sur-Mer?
In the upper town for the old town, at the harbour for Nausicaá. The two areas are a 15-minute walk apart.
Information about the town
Close to Cap Gris-Nez, Boulogne-sur-Mer is one of the classic towns of northern France, alongside Calais, Wimereux and Hardelot. A real fishing town for decades, it draws thousands of visitors every year for its architecture, history and giant aquarium. Boulogne-sur-Mer attracts city-dwellers from Paris or Lille wanting a breath of sea air and some water sports, especially in summer. Its closeness to Le Touquet (45 minutes' drive) is an asset: staying at a hotel in Boulogne-sur-Mer and spending a few days in Le Touquet is a common pairing.
Our pages on Boulogne sur Mer
The Château-MuséeA 13th-century castle, and inside it, masks from Alaska
The Maison de la BeurièreAn 1870 fisherman’s house, the only one left standing in its street
The Casa San MartínA piece of Argentina in Boulogne, and a national hero who died here in 1850
Festival de la Côte d’OpaleEarly July, every year- What to do in Boulogne when it rainsSeven refuges in town, from the school-museum to Nausicaá
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