Last week I headed off on a weekend trip to Boulogne-Sur-Mer. A weekend in Boulogne-Sur-Mer with children; shopping, good food and Nausicaa, that was the plan.
That we would also be blown away by the beautiful harbour, the wonderful old town and the pearly white beach? That was more of a welcome surprise.
Budget for this little trip? Less than you'd think. I was pleasantly surprised by the gentle prices, the good food and the friendliness of the locals.
Child-friendly accommodation in Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Boulogne-Sur-Mer has plenty of traditional little hotels, but not all of them are equally child-friendly. Let alone with a fabulous view of the old town.
So it was a no-brainer that we went for Evancy La Marina. The name says it all; this modern hotel is located in the harbour, with the wonderful view of both the sea and the town as an extra gift.
This time there were only three of us travelling, but the rooms were still remarkably spacious. You can easily stay there with 6 people (3 bedrooms) plus a baby. Super family-friendly, then. And you feel that family-friendliness everywhere, by the way. In the baby baths, the toilet seat reducer, the sturdy high chair, the generous amount of pans and crockery, but also in the sweet little gifts on arrival.
Another advantage of a weekend in Boulogne-Sur-Mer with children is of course the fact that everything is walkable. If you park your car in the large free car park next to the hotel, everything is actually within a maximum 15-minute walk. The beach, Nausicaa and the shops, for example, are only a 5-minute walk away.
Outings tailored to children in Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Nausicaa is of course a no-brainer when you head this way, but Boulogne-Sur-Mer has a lot more to offer.
Nausicaa
The largest aquarium in Europe, filled with the most beautiful fish. Tropical colourful ones, gigantic manta rays and tough sharks.
For anyone doing a weekend in Boulogne-Sur-Mer with children, this is one you simply can't miss.
We spent almost 3 hours just looking at the different fish. Then there are the exhibitions and the feeding times … At Nausicaa you can easily fill a whole day.
One highlight was definitely the augmented reality. Virtual reality? Nope! Augmented. Something completely new. You look through a pair of glasses and simply see everything around you in normal colours. But as soon as the show starts, all kinds of giants from the sea suddenly come swimming past.
This experience is included in your ticket as standard, by the way. You just have to book a time slot at the desk at the entrance.
The beach of Boulogne-Sur-Mer
As soon as you step outside Nausicaa, you arrive on the big beach of Boulogne-Sur-Mer. Here you'll find playgrounds everywhere, a few beach huts and the typical beach cabins in cheerful colours.
The beach is large and the water shelves gently. There are also all kinds of activities to do, such as sand yachting, surfing, paddle boarding and water games. On the promenade we even saw an open-air Zumba class. For small children the playgrounds are of course TOP. The best playground, we found, was the one opposite the entrance to Nausicaa. This one was under the trees and therefore ideal for when the sun is a bit fierce in the afternoon.
Cap Blanc Nez
Since most of us pass Calais on the way to Boulogne-Sur-Mer, Cap Blanc Nez is the ideal stopover. A breath of fresh air on one of the most beautiful rocky coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean in France.
Did you know, by the way, that the two cliffs, Cap Blanc Nez and Cap Gris Nez, are on the same list of major tourist sites as the Gorges du Verdon, Mont Saint Michel, etc.? So definitely worth a stop.
You can have a bite to eat and let the kids run around there, because from there Nausicaa is only a 20-minute drive away.
The old town
You'll pass the harbour of Boulogne-Sur-Mer anyway as you drive by, but don't underestimate the old town. At its heart you'll find the Notre-Dame Cathedral and in my opinion it is certainly no less impressive than its Parisian sibling. Both cathedrals were built in the French Gothic style, only this one was later given an update in the neoclassical style with the large dome. For me that brings a touch of Italian flair.
Be sure not to miss the crypt, which may well be the largest in France.
The belfry in Norman style, in turn, houses an exciting museum with Egyptian and Roman remains.
This cathedral within the fortified walls around the old town gives Boulogne-Sur-Mer a great deal of cachet. Apart from these features, Boulogne-Sur-Mer is simply a typically charming French town with incredibly good food and cheerful terraces.
Shopping
Admittedly, Paris has nicer shopping centres and more chic shops, but Boulogne-Sur-Mer has exactly what you want for a pleasant, low-key afternoon of shopping. The traditional chains, but in between them cute typical little shops with cheeses, bread, natural soaps, trendy shoes, gadgets, …
The good food and the cosy terraces are never far away either.
Weekend in Boulogne-Sur-Mer: The good food
Whoever says France, says good food. For us it started first thing in the morning at our hotel. The breakfast that Evancy serves is typically French: crusty baguette, delicious croissants, orange juice, freshly ground coffee, jam and real butter.
There were also breakfast cereals for the children, but my little gourmands opted for the traditional breakfast.
As soon as you head into town there are endless options. Breakfast bars, trendy drinks, wine bars, classic French restaurants, fish restaurants, burgers and of course the typical seafood towers. More than enough!
We opted for an Indian and a French meal, topped up with all sorts of sweet treats.
Practical information
A trip to Boulogne-Sur-Mer is easily reachable for a day trip from most corners of Belgium. For a day trip it is quite intense, though. That's why we chose to stay a night at Evancy. That's extra nice too, because you have time to go out for a meal and to discover the town. Personally I think 3 days is ideal for visiting this area. One day for Cap Blanc Nez and the beach, one day for Nausicaa and a day visiting the town.
Parking
At the harbour, opposite Evancy, there is a large free car park. Everything is within walking distance.
Playgrounds
A nice one opposite the exit of Nausicaa and one on the beach near the beach cabins.
Food and drink
Prices are relatively low. 6-8 eur for a good cocktail. Large charcuterie boards for 24 eur and small ones for 8-12 eur. And the prices for eating out vary from 5 to 35 eur pp. Naturally also THE place to eat the big seafood towers.
BUDGET TIP: Opposite Evancy there is a fish market where you can buy all kinds of fresh fish and shellfish for very little money. We found the best bread at Boulangerie Emilie.
A weekend in Boulogne-Sur-Mer with children? Definitely make a note of it! I'm convinced you're going to enjoy it a lot.
