Last weekend, we cycled along the Côte d’Opale in Northern France, starting with the section between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer on the Vélomaritime route (EuroVelo 4). For this sporty adventure, I was with Ticoeur, my teenager: a mother-son getaway to celebrate the end of his GCSEs. We already knew the Côte d’Opale, but it was our first time exploring this beautiful stretch of northern France by bike! I can already tell you: it is not exactly a gentle ride! The cycling route between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer is spectacular but demanding, with more hills than we expected. Luckily, we were rewarded with some beautiful sights, all detailed below. I will also share our tips and impressions.
From Calais to Boulogne-sur-Mer by bike: at a glance
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- The route: along The Vélomaritime, between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4) follows the Channel coast for 1,500 km between Roscoff and Dunkirk, so there is plenty to explore if you want to extend your adventure! We checked the map available on the Vélomaritime website throughout our ride. The site is very easy to use!
- Distance: officially 51 km according to the Vélomaritime website, but we actually covered closer to 55 km.
- Duration: 5 hours including breaks, with about 4 hours of cycling, compared with the 3 hours announced on the website. We are fairly sporty and used to cycle touring, but the climbs definitely slowed us down!
- Level: this section is classified as “difficult”, and we can confirm! There are many hilly parts (+/-329 m). Of course, it is all relative: if you are confident cyclists, there is nothing technically complicated.
- Type of path: between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, about 60% of the route is on roads shared with cars and 40% on cycle paths.
- Starting point: we started at the port of Calais because we arrived by boat from England. Officially, this section starts at Calais train station (1h50 by TGV from Paris).
- Can you do it as a family? Yes, with pre-teens or teenagers who are used to cycling! However, I would not recommend it with younger children because of the hills and the long road sections. For reference, Ticoeur is 16. Titpuce was not with us on this adventure, but she could have done it too (she is 14).
- E-bike alternative: we came across many tourists on electric bikes, which seems like a very good option for this Côte d’Opale itinerary!
- Weather: we had 21 degrees (early July), with sunshine, which already feels warm when you are going uphill! Note that there is almost no shade along the route.
- Accommodation for the night: we slept in a wonderful guesthouse in Boulogne-sur-Mer, the capital of the Côte d’Opale (see below for details of our accommodation).
- And afterwards? The next day, we continued with the Vélomaritime section from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Le Touquet, an easier section with a lovely stop at Château d’Hardelot. I will tell you about it in another article.
- Cycling and sailing adventure: we combined our cycling getaway on the Côte d’Opale with a Channel crossing by catamaran! A fantastic experience that we recommend!
The map of our cycling route between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer:
From Calais to Boulogne-sur-Mer on La Vélomaritime: our stops
Here are the details of our cycling day on this beautiful section of the Côte d’Opale, which passes through pretty villages and two famous headlands: Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez.
A quick look around Calais
After getting off our ferry, we began with a detour through the centre of Calais, heading towards the town hall. The Hôtel de Ville of Calais is magnificent, with an old belfry listed by UNESCO.
Just in front of it stands Rodin’s famous sculpture: The Burghers of Calais. This expressive and moving sculpture tells the story of the six notable citizens of Calais who, during the Hundred Years’ War, were chosen to be handed over to the English as a sacrifice to save the other inhabitants. Fortunately, Queen Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward III, obtained their pardon and saved their lives. Phew, that also saved our Anglo-French friendship!
At the moment, just in front of the sculpture, there are the large balloons of the joyful, colourful installation by Portuguese artist Patricia Cunha: on display until 13 September 2026.
Then we cycled towards the beach, spotting the lighthouse in the distance…
As we reached the seafront, we came across a giant lizard! It is a machine about 5 metres high that wanders around while spraying water. We saw this Varan de Calais, but there is also an even larger Dragon de Calais. In summer, you can ride on their backs (paid activity). Both were created by the famous Machines de Nantes, which we visited a few years ago.
Next, we rode along Calais beach, with its white beach huts on our right. To the left, it still feels quite urban. For now, we are on a cycle path and it is flat! So far, so good 🙂
Sangatte and its beautiful seafront
Leaving Calais, we cycled on roads shared with cars, but traffic was quiet. When we reached Sangatte, we decided to get off our bikes and walk along a magnificent 2 km long seaside promenade (for pedestrians only). We were delighted with this walking break, a chance to enjoy the sea breeze and the scenery.
Note that if you want to continue the cycling route, you need to follow a detour slightly inland (see the Vélomaritime map). There are signs.
After this invigorating walk, we got back on our bikes and headed towards Cap Blanc-Nez!
Cap Blanc-Nez: views of England!
To reach the magnificent Cap Blanc-Nez, we had to tackle a few climbs. They were not extremely steep, but they were long enough to be tiring when you are not used to them. Most of the time we were on roads shared with cars. The other tourists we met had electric bikes and kindly wished us good luck!
We have been to Cap Blanc-Nez several times already. Of the two headlands, it is my favourite, with its promontory, walking paths and views of England. It sits at the top of high chalk cliffs. We parked our bikes and did a little loop around Cap Blanc-Nez on foot to admire the panorama. It was clear enough to make out the cliffs of Dover, though there was a little haze.
Leaving Cap Blanc-Nez, the route loops through fields on small, very pleasant car-free paths via the village of Escalles:
Wissant, a pretty village of painters
Wissant is also known as the pearl of the Côte d’Opale. We liked this quaint village, where we stopped for a few minutes on the main square animated by the kind of food market we love.
Artistically, the village is also known as the birthplace of the Wissant School. In the 19th century, a colony of painters and artists lived and painted in Wissant: Virginie Demont-Breton and her husband Adrien Demont founded this school.
As we left Wissant, two signs showed that we had cycled 35 km from Calais and still had 20 km to Boulogne-sur-Mer. So that does seem to confirm that the total distance is closer to 55 km.
Cap Gris-Nez from afar:
Reaching the tip of Cap Gris-Nez would require a 3 km detour (so 6 km return). That is not too much, and it is worth seeing if you do not know it, also for lovely views of England. We had already been there in the past, and I prefer Cap Blanc-Nez. So, with the fatigue of the kilometres from Calais, we preferred to keep going. The good news is that the cycling route between the two headlands passes through pleasant countryside paths on higher ground, so you can see Cap Gris-Nez in the distance, and it is a beautiful panorama.
Ambleteuse and the Slack dunes
Once you have passed the Cap Gris-Nez area, you can really start telling yourself that the hardest part is behind you! We really enjoyed cycling along the cycle paths to Ambleteuse, a charming village that we only passed through quickly. Then we still had a bit of climbing as we approached the Slack dunes, but the late-afternoon light and the wild natural scenery of the dunes made this section very pleasant.
Then we enjoyed a lovely descent towards Wimereux…
Wimereux, a pretty seaside resort
This former fishing village became a seaside resort at the end of the 19th century. We love the Anglo-Norman architecture of its Belle Époque villas: large half-timbered houses with elegant colourful shutters, balconies and bow windows. Once again, we got off our bikes so we could enjoy the promenade. A very beautiful stop not to be missed!
Boulogne-sur-Mer: capital of the Côte d’Opale
Between Wimereux and Boulogne-sur-Mer, there is a cycle path, so it is very calm and easy. We really like Boulogne-sur-Mer, which we had already visited. Capital of the Côte d’Opale and a major fishing port, I find Boulogne-sur-Mer underrated, even though it is a very interesting town with a strong maritime heritage. Just as we arrived, we could admire some of the city’s huge and wonderful street art murals. This painting of a fisherman on a bike felt very appropriate after our 5 hours on La Vélomaritime! Fortunately, our bikes were in better condition!
I had booked a Bed & Breakfast in the old town (see below): the most beautiful part of town, but… uphill! So just before arriving, the final climb was one too many for me: I got off my bike and Ticoeur waited for me at the top!
We arrived at 8 pm, so after a few steps through the old town we went straight back out for dinner. We ate at Co’Pinard, near Saint-Nicolas Church. It was nice.
The next morning, we made the most of Boulogne-sur-Mer. For the programme, I let Ticoeur choose, and he opted for another visit to Nausicaa, the largest aquarium in Europe! We were fascinated by the jellyfish, sharks and especially the manta rays. We spent 3 lovely hours there! 
For other visit ideas in Boulogne-sur-Mer, I recommend:
- For the atmosphere: the fish market on Quai Gambetta and the Saturday morning food market on Place Dalton.
- For the beauty of the historic district: the ramparts, the old town and the belfry.
- If you are more culture-oriented, I recommend Notre-Dame Basilica and its impressive crypt, also in the old town.
- Street art lovers? There are around a hundred monumental and beautiful murals in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Before getting back in the saddle for the next part of our adventure towards Le Touquet, we ate some very good oysters at La Dégustation, opposite Saint-Nicolas Church.
Our lovely accommodation in Boulogne-sur-Mer
I booked the family suite at La Boulonnaise, an amazing B&B! In addition to this room for 4, there are also double rooms. Everything was perfect: the location in the old town, the charm of this large 19th-century house, the beautiful interior decoration, and the size and comfort of our suite with its huge bathroom! The sweet and savoury buffet breakfast was excellent too! We will be back! It is excellent value for money.
From Calais to Boulogne-sur-Mer by bike: our feedback
Our final thoughts:
- It was the ideal adventure for a getaway with my sporty teenager! Ticoeur loves cycling and the sea! And I was able to enjoy his excellent sense of direction. This cycling adventure will leave us with lovely memories. I really recommend experiencing this kind of adventure with your teenagers!
- Difficulty: this section of La Vélomaritime between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer was harder than I expected! So it is best to be mentally prepared and in good shape. Also, do not start this route without experience. Much easier: we tried the section of The Vélomaritime in Normandy along the Côte de Nacre. I should also say that the climbs between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer were mostly hard for me! Ticoeur had no problem and often waited for me at the top of the hills! However, he was tired in the evening too and also thought it was a tough itinerary.
- Scenery: I would say that on the cycling route from Calais to Boulogne-sur-Mer, the path itself is not really the biggest asset, but rather each of the stops. A good half of the route is shared with cars, and there are many moments when you cannot see the sea. On the other hand, the sections with cycle paths are pleasant, through fields. The stops are full of charm (especially Wissant and Wimereux), and the two headlands offer superb panoramas. As for the seaside, the section we walked in Sangatte really appealed to us because of its wild feel, as did the beach at Wimereux.
- Which season? We were lucky with the weather because it was only 20 degrees (early July). We passed between two heatwaves! It would be impossible to imagine such a bike trip at 30 degrees or more. Summer remains a good option, but plan at short notice so you have an idea of the weather trend. Otherwise, spring is an excellent option.
Our equipment:
- 2 hybrid bikes (for information, ours are from Decathlon’s Riverside range).
- Cycling gear: helmets, locks, pump and a key to adjust the saddle if needed.
- I should have taken a phone holder that attaches to the handlebars, because I often had to stop to check our route on the Vélomaritime website and Google Maps.
- Sunscreen is essential because cycling is really deceptive! We had ours, but we should have reapplied it along the way.
- Luggage: we each had a backpack with a change of clothes. We should have taken our bike panniers, as Papa Voyage had advised us, because backpacks are uncomfortable and make your back sweat.
And you? Tempted to visit the Opal Coast between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer by bike? Feel free to ask me your questions in the comments!
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