Sea & History in Dunkirk, France
So, I spent the month of July 2026 in Lille, France. During my stay in Lille, I decided to go for a day trip to the French coastal city of Dunkirk. In this article, I will share my experience of Dunkirk and what I learned during my exploration, so that you can find inspiration for your own trip. I will add some spots I haven’t been able to visit for lack of time, but if you stay longer, you should surely check them out!
If you are a visual person and like watching videos, you might want to check out my YouTube vlog about Dunkirk.
And, if you are interested in an easy to read 3 days Dunkirk itinerary that you can personalise, check this link to my itinerary on the Boop app.
Dunkirk is a major port city located in the far north of France on the North Sea, sitting just 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) south of the Belgian border. It is positioned directly on the coastline of the North Sea, near the eastern entrance to the Strait of Dover and is world-famous for the massive World War II military rescue of over 338,000 Allied soldiers from its beaches in 1940. If you like movies and you would like to learn about the historical facts concerning Dunkirk, the movie Dunkirk by Christopher Nolan is an accurate depiction of the overall historical event and atmosphere, but keep in mind that the specific main characters and their personal storylines are fictional.
View of Dunkirk from up the Saint-Éloi Belfry of Dunkirk
Table of contents:
How to travel to Dunkirk
Main landmarks in Dunkirk
Museums in Dunkirk
Seaside activities in Dunkirk
Additional organised tours and activities to do in Dunkirk
Where to eat in Dunkirk
How to travel to Dunkirk
Dunkirk (Dunkerque in French) has direct train connections to major cities like Paris, Lille and Calais, alongside regional stops such as Arras and Hazebrouck. From the train station, you can easily walk towards Dunkirk’s main landmarks and can end your day at the Plage de Malo-les-Bains, the main beach in Dunkirk. Dunkirk is walkable but to do a full tour of the city, you will need to save at least 2 or 3 hours, at a slow pace and not taking into consideration the additional time spent in each location. Are you ready? Let’s go!
Main Landmarks in Dunkirk
Saint-Éloi Belfry of Dunkirk
The first thing I did in Dunkirk, was going up the Saint-Éloi Belfry of Dunkirk to get amazing views of the city. I spent €5 for the ticket. There is a small shop at the base of the belfry with souvenirs and information about the building. The belfry stands 58 meters tall and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was originally built in 1233 as a watchtower and lighthouse. The staircase was steep and narrow but the climb was worth the views!
Saint-Éloi Catholic Church at Dunkirk
Just outside the belfry, you will find the Saint-Éloi Catholic Church. The Saint-Éloi Catholic Church is nicknamed the "Cathedral of the Sands" because sand dunes once sat near its location! The church was built in the 16th century in Gothic style. The church, like many of the landmarks in Dunkirk closes at lunch time but reopens in the afternoon, so make sure you work around the opening times to be able to visit inside.
Dunkirk Town Hall
The Dunkirk Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville de Dunkerque) is the seat of local government and the main civic building for the city of Dunkirk. The architecture of the Dunkirk Town Hall is a showcase of Flemish Renaissance Revival architecture and it was built using a combination of local red brick and white stone.
Tour du Leughenaer
On your way to the beach area, you will pass by the Tour du Leughenaer. The Tour du Leughenaer, also called the Liar's Tower, is the oldest building in Dunkirk. It was built around 1450 as part of the old city walls.
Jardin de Sculptures
Another stop on your way to the beach is the Sculptures Garden. Here, you can find some sculptures, stones and you might be able to rest in the shade for a while, especially if it is a very hot day.
The Sculptures Garden also houses the Lieu d'Art et Action Contemporaine.
Museums in Dunkirk
Port Museum of Dunkirk
If you like historic vessels, this museum is for you! The Port Museum of Dunkirk (Musée Maritime et Portuaire) is housed inside a former 19th-century tobacco warehouse located on the quayside of the historic Citadel district.
History Game Dunkerque
The History Game Dunkerque is a local entertainment and tourist company that specializes in city-wide treasure hunts and interactive urban history games. It is located at the Parvis des Droits de l'Homme right next to the Dunkirk Port Museum.
Lieu d’Art et Action Contemporaine de Dunkerque
The LAAC (Lieu d'Art et Action Contemporaine) in Dunkirk is a modern art museum housed in a striking building entirely clad in white ceramic tiles. It features over 1,500 works created between the 1940s and 1980s. You will find it in the Sculptures Garden.
Museum Dunkerque 1940 Operation Dynamo
The Museum Dunkerque 1940 Operation Dynamo is an essential stop if you want to learn more about the history that made Dunkirk known. The most significant thing about the Museum Dunkerque 1940 Operation Dynamo is that it is housed inside Bastion 32, which served as the actual Allied military headquarters and command post during the historic 1940 evacuation. Inside, you will walk through the original 19th-century underground brick casemates where Allied leaders coordinated the defense of the city. The museum also displays real military equipment, vehicles and weapons from that time.
If you are truly interested in the WWII history of Dunkirk, you can also take part to an organised tour where the guide will introduce you both to the sites of Operation Dynamo and of the shooting of the movie 'Dunkirk' directed by Christopher Nolan, released in July 2017. During the tour, you will stop at the evacuation beaches, the East Mole, the British Memorial and Cemetery and more. You can book it through this link.
FRAC Grand Large - Hauts-de-France
The Frac Grand Large — Hauts-de-France in Dunkirk is a contemporary art museum housed in a glass building that mimics the exact size and shape of the adjacent historic AP2 shipyard hall.
The Frac Grand Large
Seaside activities in Dunkirk
Walk up to the Jetée de Malo
Once you arrive at the seafront area of Dunkirk, you will see the Jetée de Malo. The Jetée de Malo, also known as the East Mole, is a historic nearly-mile-long breakwater that served as the primary embarkation point used to evacuate over 200,000 Allied soldiers during the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation. You can now have a fantastic walk there. Loads of people go fishing there.
Wind down at Plage de Malo-les-Bains
Finally, take a dip and relax at Plage de Malo-les-Bains. It can get very busy but it’s a huge beach, both very long and very wide!
View of the beach in Dunkirk, close to the Jetée de Malo and dunes
Where to eat in Dunkirk
During my day trip to Dunkirk, I didn’t eat much, so I will share only the places I actually tried. In my 3 days itinerary on the Boop app, you will find additional suggestions based on what I would choose if I visited again for a few more days.
Columbus Café
The Columbus Café in Dunkirk is celebrated for its freshly baked muffins, which baristas prepare on-site daily in over 20 different recipes! Because they are hand-made, their size differ and when I visited, some of them were doubled the usual size. Good luck with your choice!
Wood and Bro
Wood and Bro is a popular beachfront bistronomic restaurant and rotisserie located directly on the Malo-les-Bains promenade in Dunkirk. Unlike many other restaurants in Dunkirk, Wood and Bro is open all day, so if you get humgry at 3pm, you will still be able to eat!
Additional organised tours and activities
You can find some more tours and activities, like a personalised jewellery workshop at OléMain, by clicking on this link.
If you enjoy travel videos, I created a video on Dunkirk and it is available on YouTube. This is a walking tour of Dunkirk with calm music and information on the city; click the image below to watch it. It might be your cup of tea!
YouTube video on Dunkirk. Walking Tour, 2026
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