Getting ashore
Cruise ships dock in Dunkirk’s commercial harbour, a few kilometres from the city centre. CruiseMapper’s wiki says ships have recently berthed at Quai Freycinet 12, which is separate from the DFDS ferry terminal at Loon-Plage, so follow the transfer instructions your ship gives you. The wiki’s berth detail is undated, so confirm it before you leave the ship. Walking from the gangway through the docks is not advised. Cruise lines usually run shuttles to a drop-off point near Place Jean Bart, so reach the pickup point at least an hour before all-aboard and allow extra time if a shuttle is needed.
For walkers and architecture fans
Place Jean Bart is the usual shuttle drop-off and the start of the walk. It is close to the Saint-Éloi Church and belfry, the Town Hall and the Bassin du Commerce waterfront. The belfry has 65 steps to its terrace, with a lift covering part of the climb. The town passed between Spain, the Netherlands, England and France before it became French in 1662. The Dunkirk 1940 Museum in Bastion 32 covers the Operation Dynamo evacuation, when about 338,000 British and French soldiers were evacuated over eight days by roughly 900 vessels. Allow about an hour inside, and 20 to 30 minutes’ walk from Saint-Éloi. The museum opens 10am to 6pm daily, as updated in March 2024. The Maritime and Port Museum on Quai de la Citadelle takes one to two hours and includes the sailing ship Duchesse Anne. The Museum of Fine Arts has been closed since 2015 with no reopening date given.
For beach lovers
Malo-les-Bains has a sandy beach, a flat promenade and cafés. Wikivoyage describes the seafront dike as lined with turn-of-the-century villas. A walk of 30 to 45 minutes along the front is suggested, and allow two to three hours with transport. Swimming depends on conditions and on seasonal supervision. Fort des Dunes lies at Leffrinckoucke, east of Dunkirk, partly hidden under the dunes, and has military history exhibits. Reach it by local bus with a short walk, or by prebooked taxi. Expect steps and uneven ground, and allow about half a day.
For eaters and drinkers
Wikivoyage describes the local cuisine as resembling Flemish food, with dishes such as coq à la bière, chicken in a creamy beer sauce, and potjevleesch, white meats preserved in juniper-flavoured jelly. It describes a cuisine that blends Flemish cooking with seafood. Wikivoyage lists several budget options in the city centre, including the friterie du Mynck and Le Wilson, along with mid-range choices. It gives no prices, and its listings were last updated in August 2022, so check current hours and menus before a day ashore. The seawall bars are busy on Saturday evenings.
Getting around and money
The usual options are a cruise-line shuttle or a prebooked taxi, so book the return before you set off. The free DK’BUS network links the central town with Malo-les-Bains. Regular city buses are not a guaranteed link to the berth, so do not rely on them for the trip back to the ship. Wikivoyage says public buses have been free since September 2018. The wiki gives no taxi fares, so ask the ship for the exact pickup point and time, and keep the ship’s contact details with you. DFDS Seaways runs up to 24 daily departures to Dover, a crossing of about two hours, but its ferries do not take foot passengers. The currency is the euro.
Walking guide: Place Jean Bart loop
Start at Place Jean Bart, the usual shuttle drop-off. The loop is about 2 km and takes 30 to 40 minutes of walking, or 1.5 to 2.5 hours with stops. It passes Saint-Éloi Church and the belfry, then the Town Hall and the Leughenaer Tower at Place du Minck, before returning along Quai de la Citadelle, past the Maritime and Port Museum. The route is mostly flat, with some uneven paving. Return to the confirmed pickup point rather than walking back through the port, and check the route against your return time, as stops can take longer than planned.
Accessibility & mobility
The sources read do not give a full accessibility description. The belfry climb has 65 steps with a lift for part of the way, and Fort des Dunes involves steps and uneven ground.