Dunkirk
A Channel port where Allied troops were evacuated in 1940, with long sandy beaches, a carnival and an easy trip from Lille.
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Dunkirk (Dunkerque in French) is a port on the English Channel coast of northern France, in the Nord department near the Belgian border. Its best-known chapter is the 1940 evacuation, when more than 300,000 Allied soldiers were lifted from its beaches and harbor during Operation Dynamo. Many history travelers come for the beaches and the Dunkirk Memorial at Malo-les-Bains, which names the men who have no known grave.
The town's wide sandy beaches are used most from late spring to early autumn, and the seafront promenade, called the Digue, is lined with cafés and restaurants. Dunkirk also holds a carnival with parades and festivities. The belfry in the city centre is part of a UNESCO-listed group of belfries. Most visitors spend one or two days, either staying overnight or adding the town to a trip from Lille or a ferry crossing to England.
Dunkirk in five
- Start with the 1940 sitesThe evacuation beaches and the museum dedicated to Operation Dynamo explain why Dunkirk matters to visitors. Check opening days and ticket details on the official museum site before going.
- Time the carnival if you like crowdsDunkirk's carnival runs through winter and fills the streets with costumed parades. Check the city's official calendar, as dates change each year.
- Arrive by ferry or train from LilleFerries link Dunkirk with Dover, and regional trains run from Lille to Dunkirk in about an hour. If you sail from the UK, check the ferry operator's guidance on EES and passport checks before you travel.How EES works
- Use the buses and a bikeThe Dunkirk bus network has been advertised as fare-free for years, and the coast is flat. Confirm the current rules on the local bus site before you rely on it.
- Pack for wind, even in summerThe North Sea beaches are wide and exposed, so a windproof layer matters outside June to August. Rent a car or bike if you plan to visit the dune coast.
Need to know
- Getting there
- Train from Lille about 1 hour; ferries to Dover; car on the A16
- Getting around
- Buses, bikes and walking; a car for the dunes
- Best base
- Near the station or the seafront at Malo-les-Bains
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with the beaches and Lille
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Cold, carnivalJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, carnival
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Carnival seasonFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Carnival season
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Cool, windyMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Spring, breezyAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, breezy
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Beach weatherJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach weather
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Cool, wetOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh11°Low8°Cold, grayNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, gray
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Cold, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Dunkirk, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Dunkirk
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 31 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Dunkirk
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°9°100%Monday: Rain. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue11°5°35%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Wed10°4°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°1°4%Friday: Fog. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat10°5°16%Saturday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sun11°5°16%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 16%.
Updated 09:25 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Lilleabout 1 hour by trainA Flemish-style city with a big old center and a main rail hub.Read the guide
- Arrasabout 1.5–2 hours by train via LilleTwin arcaded squares and Western Front memorials nearby.Read the guide
- Amiensabout 2 hours by carThe largest Gothic cathedral in France, on the way to Paris.Read the guide
Before you go to Dunkirk
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Rules for Dunkirk, checked
- Your passport decides whether you need a Schengen visa for France. Check the official rules on france-visas.gouv.fr before you book.Source
- The EU Entry/Exit System records passport details and fingerprints at the external border, so allow extra time at passport control.
- Travellers from outside the EU face limits on meat, dairy and plant products. Declare anything in doubt at customs on douane.gouv.fr.Source
- Service is included in French restaurant bills. Tipping is optional, so leave a little extra or round up for good service.
Plan around Dunkirk
Dunkirk FAQ
Is Dunkirk worth visiting?
Yes for history and beaches. The 1940 sites explain Operation Dynamo, and Malo-les-Bains has a long sandy seafront. It is not a classic sightseeing city, so keep it to a day or an overnight stop.
How many days do you need in Dunkirk?
One day covers the museum, the beach and the port. Add a night if you plan to visit the dune coast, Lille or a ferry the next morning.
Can you do Dunkirk as a day trip from Lille?
Yes. Regional trains take about an hour each way, so you can see the main sites and the seafront in a day. Check the last return train before you plan dinner.
Is Dunkirk a good place to arrive by ferry from the UK?
It works as a port of entry for northern France and Belgium, with ferries to Dover. Leave margin for passport checks and check the operator's current border guidance before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Dunkirk?
June to September for beach weather, or February for the carnival if you want the crowds and the costumes. Spring and autumn bring wind and gray days, but fewer visitors.