A Weekend Getaway in Le Touquet: Your Ultimate Guide

Spend a week-end at the Touquet

Maybe it's the Brigitte Macron effect and her legendary Villa Monéjan, but we've been dreaming of a breath of fresh air in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage for some time now. Check! We packed our sweaters, windbreakers, loafers, a notepad, and a pen to jot down the activities and places not to be missed, all in the pursuit of enjoying a refreshing getaway just 2.5 hours from Paris. Follow the guide.

 

The Perfect Hotel to Check-In

The westminster hotel at the Touquet

You can't mention Le Touquet without its iconic aura of the Westminster, which has hosted the biggest stars from around the world since the roaring twenties. In this 5-star hotel with its red brick facade, a nod to the many English tourists in the region, Bruno Borrione has created a comfortable room decor, playing with various shades of brown, blue, and sienna. Besides its charming little pool and hammam, the Nuxe spa offers fantastic full-body massages to help you unwind from the week's stresses, unless you'd rather enjoy the popular cocktail bar for a romantic rendezvous.

In the evening, make a reservation at the La Table du West brasserie to savor a tempting menu (starter, main course, and dessert for €45) and plates expertly crafted by Michelin-starred chef William Elliott: crab mayonnaise, celery and mussel ravioli, pork shoulder and lentil stew, scallops and tuberous chervil, chocolate tart and crème brûlée, all complemented by a glass of Pouilly Fumé (€14). Morning delight: enjoy breakfast facing the mini city forest just in front of the Westminster.

We love: The genuinely dog-friendly aspect of the hotel (and Le Touquet in general, for that matter) that welcomes four-legged guests with bowls, a bed, and some treats. Nice!

Westminster, Avenue du Verger, 62520 Le Touquet. +33 3 21 05 48 48. Rooms starting from €211.

 

A Stroll on the Beach

To have a ride with horses on the beach

Heading to Le Touquet without a leisurely walk along the expansive beach, toes in the water, would go against the very essence of the ultimate seaside resort. And why not go for a thrilling ride on horseback? For €49, you can enjoy a 1.5-hour gallop by the sea with the Touquet Equestrian Center. Feeling more adventurous? Try a land yachting baptism with the Centre Nautique de la Manche, to truly become one with the elements (€50 per person). Nothing like a breath of fresh air to leave with rosy cheeks.

 

The Tea Room that Hits the Spot

Opaline Tea Room at the Touquet

Settle in on the sunny terrace of the Opaline tea room, a charming little white and blue house overlooking the Jardin des Arts. Siblings Charles and Julie offer a delightful selection of pastries and comforting hot drinks: lemon meringue pie (€7.50), Paris-Brest (€7.50), sugar pancake (€3.50), to be washed down with a coffee with cream (€2.60), hot chocolate (€4.50), or their signature organic tea, also available for purchase (€4.50). Also, don't miss their daily brunch available from 11 am to 3:30 pm, featuring juice, hot beverage, pastries, a savory plate, and homemade pastries (€32).

Opaline, 43 avenue du Verger, 62 520 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. +33 3 21 81 42 46. Open from Wednesday to Friday from 8:30 am to 6 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am to 7 pm.

 

The Best Seafood

Pérard and Alexandre Gauthier restaurant at the Touquet

Indulge in a seafood platter at Pérard, a seafood institution that also serves the best fish soup in the region (€16, all you can eat). Grilled whole sea bass (starting from €37), lobster bouillabaisse (€49), oysters (€17.50 for 6 Fine de Claire No. 3), they adapt to the seasons to offer fresh products year-round.

Even better, make a reservation at Alexandre Gauthier's (a 15-minute drive from the city center), the Michelin-starred chef of La Grenouillère, who has just opened Sur Mer, the sexiest oyster bar on the Côte d'Opale overlooking the Channel: roasted skate wing with capers (€25), grilled cod (€24), beautifully garnished platters of shellfish, sashimi, crustaceans, sea urchins (starting from €25), endless oysters, and divine smoked haddock fish & chips (€20). A must-visit.

Perard, 67 rue de Metz, 62520 Le Touquet. +33 3 21 05 13 33. Open every day from 12 pm to 2:30 pm and from 7 pm to 9:30 pm (10 pm on Saturdays). 

Sur Mer, boulevard de la Manche, 62155 Merlimont. +33 3 21 94 67 53. Open from Wednesday to Monday, both for lunch and dinner.

 

Things to See and Do

Mezquité restaurant in Le Touquet

 

How to Get There?

Arrive at Étaples - Le Touquet train station. Opt for a direct train (2.5 hours) and catch a shuttle that always coincides with the arrivals of major train lines and will take you to the city center in fifteen minutes (€1 per person for the ride).

Reservations: www.oui.sncf Shuttle schedules: www.letouquet.com

For more information, visit www.letouquet.com

© Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Also, discover a gourmet getaway in Lille and a stunning castle amidst the vineyards.

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