Boulogne is a working town, and France's busiest fishing port. But, it also used to be where all the ferries came in from the UK, so many Brits will know it. And many think it's a lot prettier than Calais - indeed some of the best places to stay in Boulogne can be found in the elegant centre of the town.

Despite being bombed extensively during WW2, the oldest bit of Boulogne - within the walls of the medieval castle that sits on the hill - survived. The rebuilt section is now referred to as the New Town and spreads to the riverside and the coast.

Within the castle's walls are Boulogne's Cathedral, the belfry, Town Hall and of course the castle, a 13th Century moated chateau. It's incredibly picturesque in the summer when the moat's filled with water lilies. The castle is now a museum. In the crypt of the Cathedral are stone cannon balls belonging to the army of Henry VIII, who once besieged this city. The walls and ramparts are also worth investigating.

As you'd hope from France's largest fishing port, Boulogne has an excellent food market that specialises in seafood. It runs Wednesdays and Saturdays. There's also an impressive aquarium.

You'll find some nice beaches at Equihen, Le Portel and Hardelot. And just outside of Boulogne is a monument commemorating Napoleon's successful invasion of England…All of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Boulogne are well situated to make the most of all this!

What Not To Miss

• Take the whole family to Nausicaa National Sea Centre, Europe's largest complex devoted entirely to marine life. With over 1,000 different species of creatures and 50 aquariums, you're bound to be impressed!
• Be sure to wander around the 19th century Notre Dame de Boulogne Cathedral. With lovely architecture and a large crypt, there's also an incredibly impressive dome.
• Head up the Beffroi, (or belfry), and enjoy lovely views over the city from the top.
• The Chateau Musee is, as you might've guessed, a museum set in a 13th century chateau. The exhibition is wonderfully varied, incorporating artefacts from all over the world - even a few from Alaska! Lovely and eclectic.

Don't forget that the best places to stay in Boulogne will be especially busy during the peak summer months. So if you're planning to visit or pass through in July or August, get organised and book early.

The Best Places to Stay in Boulogne

The Best Places to Stay in Boulogne For central location

• If you want to stay somewhere central to make the most the town's history, book a room at Enclos de L'Eveche. It's an intimate townhouse hotel with only five rooms. Simple, elegant and reasonably priced, its family suite means it's also good for families.

The Best Places to Stay in Boulogne For great value

• If you're on a budget Hotel La Matelote is one of the best places to stay in Boulogne. It's more of a restaurant with rooms. Neat, slightly masculine rooms, decorated in red and golds. The restaurant is next door and has a Michelin star. So this is also one of the best places to stay in Boulogne for foodies.

The Best Places to Stay in Boulogne For the beach

• If you're hoping for a beach break try the Atlantic Hotel. It's just along the coast from town, on a far nicer stretch of beach. Its charming Art Deco facade makes it memorable, but you'll also remember the spectacular sunsets. And possibly the seafood.

The Best Places to Stay in Boulogne For a country escape

• Just out of town amid beautiful countryside you'll find La Ferme du Vert. Here they offer charming rooms and suites, some of which can sleep up to five (great for families). There's also a great restaurant.
• Chateau de la Marine is another good out of town choice. It's a lovely B&B with luxurious bedrooms and there's table d'hotes style dinners too.

Prefer An Apartment Or Villa?

• If you think you'd be best served by a self-catering option then check out the wide variety available with our partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Boulogne's fairly nippy during the winter months but enjoys lovely weather in the summer, with July and August experiencing an average temperature of 17°C.
• That said, this is peak season and so expect there to be a fair number of tourists whilst accommodation will also be more expensive.
• Boulogne's not very well served by airports, so you're probably better off taking another mode of transport unless you're coming from very far afield.
• There are a number of ferries from Dover to Calais run by DFDS Seaways and P&O Ferries. Once in Calais, there's a bus linking the ferry port to the main station where you can take a train to Boulogne.
• Alternatively, you can take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Calais (taking between 50 minutes and just over 2 hours) before then heading down to Boulogne.
• For car hire prices, we recommend you visit our online partner Rentalcars.

Still not sure which is the hotel for you?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Boulogne.
• Want to widen the net? Check out all our Channel Port recommendations.
• Alternatively, call or email one of our gurus for advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Boulogne