Dunkirk isn’t just another seaside town in northern France — it’s where one of the most dramatic events of the Second World War unfolded. In May and June 1940, more than 330,000 Allied troops were rescued from these beaches in a desperate evacuation known as Operation Dynamo. Visiting the top WWII sites in Dunkirk will have you walking in the footsteps of heroes and in the very places where history hung in the balance — from the sands of Malo-les-Bains to the tunnels beneath Bastion 32, every corner tells part of the story that became known simply as “the miracle of Dunkirk.”
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If you’ve ever watched Dunkirk or read about Operation Dynamo, you’ll already know this quiet French port city holds one of World War II’s most extraordinary stories. Between May and June 1940, more than 330,000 Allied troops were rescued from these beaches under constant German attack — a near-miraculous escape that shaped the course of the war. Today, Dunkirk wears its history proudly. You can walk the same sands where soldiers queued for evacuation, visit the tunnels where the operation was planned, and explore museums filled with artifacts recovered from the sea. In this guide, I’ll take you through the top WWII sites to visit in Dunkirk, how to reach them, and what makes each one worth your time.
Operation Dynamo, conceived and launched from tunnels beneath Dover Castle, aimed to evacuate them across the English Channel. From 26 May to 4 June 1940, a flotilla of Royal Navy ships and hundreds of civilian “Little Ships” rescued soldiers along three different routes across the English Channel under constant bombardment. While the city was largely destroyed, the successful evacuation became a symbol of endurance and unity. This is where the widely used term “Dunkirk Spirit” comes from.
EASIEST WAY TO VISIT
Operation Dynamo & Battlefield Tour
Self-drive, or choose your guide’s car in this private tour of the main sites of World War II Dunkirk. You’ll learn all about Operation Dynamo, the little ships, and how this extraordinary event happened.
A Brief WWII History of Dunkirk
The WWII history of Dunkirk is inseparable from the events of May and June 1940, when the Allied forces made a desperate stand against the advancing German army. When German forces swept across France in May 1940, the British Expeditionary Force and thousands of French and Belgian troops found themselves surrounded in northern France.
Cut off from the main Allied armies and surrounded, British, French, and Belgian troops were driven back to the beaches of Dunkirk. What followed was Operation Dynamo — one of the most extraordinary evacuations in military history. Carried out under heavy fire, it turned disaster into determination and became a symbol of resilience that defined the early years of the war.
Timeline of Events:
- 10 May 1940 – Germany invades France, Belgium, and the Netherlands
- 20 May 1940 – German forces reach the English Channel, cutting off Allied troops
- 26 May 1940 – Operation Dynamo begins, evacuating soldiers from Dunkirk beaches
- 4 June 1940 – Last Allied troops evacuated; around 338,000 rescued
- June 1940 – German occupation of Dunkirk begins
On 4 June 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill described the success of Operation Dynamo to the House of Commons in his famous speech.
“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender”
The Top World War II Sites in Dunkirk
There isn’t a huge list of places to see here in Dunkirk related to World War II, unlike the beaches in Normandy, where it feels like there’s a museum on every corner. But what is here is authentic, informed, and easy to visit. Here are the top sites related to WWII to see in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk 1940 Museum (Musée Dunkerque 1940 – Opération Dynamo)
Located inside Bastion 32, one of Dunkirk’s original fortifications, this museum tells the full story of Operation Dynamo — from the desperate beach evacuations to the civilian “Little Ships” that crossed the Channel. Bastion 32 was the former HQ of the Dunkirk Defense, and it was the local point where the evacuations were coordinated.
The Little Ships of Dunkirk were privately owned boats either commandeered by the Admiralty or helmed by their owners and volunteers. They included Thames sailing barges, yachts, pleasure crafts, cockle boats, RNLI lifeboats, and the like, in total around 850 of them, which sailed from Ramsgate. They and the ships of the British Royal Navy rescued more than 338,000 British, French, Belgian, and other Allied Soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. The fleet also included 65 Belgian boats. One of the most famous of the Little Ships, the Princess Elizabeth, is docked in the harbor on the Quai de l’Estacade.
At the museum, you can see exhibits and stories that include uniforms, weapons, maps, and personal diaries that bring the chaos of May 1940 to life. You can also read the story of the youngest on a “little ship”, a 15-year-old. You should plan to spend around an hour exploring the displays and watching the animation (there’s no sound), which details the timeline of events here in Dunkirk during 1940, before heading to the beach itself.
- Address of Dunkirk 1940 Museum: Bastion 32, Rue des Chantiers de France, Dunkerque
- Cost of Dunkirk 1940 Museum: €8 adults / €4.50 children (€10 combined ticket for adults with the Fort des Dunes museum)
- Opening hours of Dunkirk 1940 Museum: 10:00 – 18:00 (closed Mondays, November – February)
- Website: https://www.dynamo-dunkerque.com
- How to get to the Dunkirk 1940 Museum: 10-minute walk from Dunkirk beach or 20-minute walk from the train station
Dunkirk Beach (Plage de Malo-les-Bains)
The wide sands of Malo-les-Bains are where thousands of soldiers waited to be evacuated, often standing in the surf as bombs fell around them. It’s a hauntingly peaceful place today and vast — you’ll still see remnants of wartime bunkers among the dunes, they’re enormous and you can’t miss them. Visit at low tide for the best sense of scale, and pause by the memorial to the fallen at the eastern end of the beach. We spent around 45 minutes to an hour walking the shoreline.
If you visit during a really low tide, you’ll also be able to see the wrecks of several of the ships that took part in Operation Dynamo, blown up, torpedoed, and just plain sunk here off the beach. You should be able to see the wreck of the HMS Crested Eagle, the Claude London, and the Paddle Steamer Devonia. Check the tide tables here.
- Address of Dunkirk Beach (Plage de Malo-les-Bains): Malo-les-Bains, Dunkerque, France
- Cost of Dunkirk Beach (Plage de Malo-les-Bains): Free
- Opening hours of Dunkirk Beach (Plage de Malo-les-Bains): Open all day, year-round
- Website: https://www.dunkerque-tourisme.fr
- How to get to Dunkirk Beach (Plage de Malo-les-Bains): Around 15 15-minute walk from the Dunkirk 1940 Museum or a short bus ride from Dunkirk’s town center.
Memorial to the Allied Armies
This small but moving memorial sits near the beach, close to the Dunkirk 1940 Museum, and it’s dedicated to both French and Allied forces who fought in 1940. Its plaques list the divisions that held off German forces during the evacuation. It’s worth a moment of reflection after visiting the sands themselves. If you’re staying at the Radisson Blu, then it’s very close. The blue and white striped flag that you see here is the flag of Dunkirk (and you can see these colors on the water tower from the top of the Fort des Dunes.
- Address of Memorial to the Allied Armies: Boulevard des Alliés, Malo-les-Bains, Dunkerque, France
- Cost of Memorial to the Allied Armies: Free
- Opening hours of Memorial to the Allied Armies: Open at all times
- Website: https://www.dunkerque-tourisme.fr
- How to get to Memorial to the Allied Armies: A five-minute walk east along the promenade from Malo-les-Bains Beach.
Fort des Dunes Museum
Just east of Dunkirk in Leffrinckoucke (you can get the free bus here if you’re not driving), Fort des Dunes played a crucial defensive role during the evacuation and later became a site of German reprisals. Make sure you buy a combined ticket with the Dunkirk 1940 museum to save money (adults will save 5 euros, and you can buy the combined ticket at either site).
The fort was originally built in 1878, and the museum here details the history of the fort’s usage throughout the centuries, as well as covering why it was built. All of the signage is in French, but there is an excellent English language audio resistance fighters, boys really, who were executed by Nazis in 1944, and the impact it had on families here. There are great views across the dunes and the English Channel. It will take you 60 to 90 minutes exploring the grounds, museum displays, and surrounding trails.
Note that this museum closes on November 1st for the winter and doesn’t reopen until March.
- Address of Fort des Dunes: Rue du 2e Spahis, 59495 Leffrinckoucke, France
- Cost of Fort des Dunes: €7 adults / €4 children. (€10 for adults with the combined ticket)
- Opening hours of Fort des Dunes: 10:00 – 18:00 (closed Mondays, and also closed from Nov 1 until March 3)
- Website: https://www.fortdesdunes.fr
- How to get to Fort des Dunes: Around 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of Dunkirk; accessible by car, bike, or bus line 14 from the city center or beach area.
Wormhoudt Massacre Memorial
A short drive inland, it will take around 30 minutes from central Dunkirk; this site marks one of the war’s darkest episodes. In May 1940, more than 80 British and French prisoners were executed by SS troops here.
Herded into a barn and shot by the SS troops, 80 of the men died straight away; others survived, were taken prisoner, or escaped. The full details weren’t known until after the war ended in 1945. Two of the men who escaped crawled into a nearby pond to hide. They were found, and one, Captain James Lynn-Allen, was shot in the head. His body has never been recovered.
The barn was rebuilt as a memorial, and an oak tree was planted for each of the men who died.
- Address of Wormhoudt Massacre Memorial: Esplanade du Château, 59470 Wormhout, France
- Cost of Wormhoudt Massacre Memorial: Free (donations welcome)
- Opening hours of Wormhoudt Massacre Museum and Memorial: Wednesday to Sunday, 14:00 – 17:00 (March – November)
- Website: https://www.museemassacredewormhout.fr
- How to get to Wormhoudt Massacre Museum and Memorial: Around 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Dunkirk; best reached by car via the D17.
Recommended Route and Itinerary for WWII Dunkirk
Most of the top WWII sites in Dunkirk can be seen in a single day, combining a walk along the seafront with a short drive east and inland. Start at the Dunkirk 1940 Museum to understand the story behind Operation Dynamo, then continue along Malo-les-Bains Beach to the Memorial du Souvenir. In the afternoon, drive or cycle to Fort des Dunes, and if you have time, finish at the Wormhoudt Massacre Memorial — around 30 kilometers (19 miles) round trip. Parking is available at each site, and public buses run regularly between the beach and Leffrinckoucke.
Using the bus here in Dunkirk is easy, as the public buses are COMPLETELY 100% free 7 days a week, for both residents and visitors. So, save yourself the fuel, save the environment, and jump on a bus! You can get a bus from Gravelines, halfway between Calais and Dunkirk, as far as the Belgian border.
If you’d rather leave the logistics to someone else, these are the best WWII-themed guided tours of Dunkirk available.
Suggested One-Day Itinerary of Dunkirk’s WWII sites:
- 10:30 – Start at the Dunkirk 1940 Museum as it opens. Allow about an hour to explore the exhibits and timeline animation.
- 11:45 – Walk or drive to Malo-les-Bains Beach to see the evacuation site. Spend 30–40 minutes walking the shoreline and visiting the Memorial du Souvenir.
- 13:00 – Lunch nearby along the seafront (lots of cafés within walking distance).
- 14:30 – Drive or take the free bus to Fort des Dunes in Leffrinckoucke. Allow 60–90 minutes to explore the museum and ramparts.
- 16:30 – If you have a car, continue inland to the Wormhoudt Massacre Museum and Memorial. Spend 30–45 minutes here before returning to Dunkirk.
- 18:00 – End the day back in Dunkirk for dinner at the harbor
Where to Stay near Dunkirk’s WWII Sites
The best places to stay in Dunkirk are close to the beach or harbor, giving easy access to the WWII sites, plenty of dining options, and good public transport. These hotels all have solid guest reviews and make it simple to explore both the museum and the coastline.
- Hôtel Borel – Comfortable 4-star near the port, within walking distance of the museum. Check prices on Booking.com.
- Les Gens de Mer Dunkerque – Affordable, simple rooms right by the harbor. Pick these for a simple room in a great location.
- Radisson Blu Grand Hotel & Spa, Malo-les-Bains – Excellent sea views and close to the evacuation beaches. See availability here.
- All Suites Appart Hôtel Dunkerque – Spacious serviced apartments right on the basin, perfect for families or longer stays with kitchenettes and easy parking. Opt for the basin view comfort suites, they’re lovely.
Where to Eat and Drink in Dunkirk
After a day exploring the top WWII sites in Dunkirk, there are a few special spots where you can unwind with good food and a sense of history. These places combine local charm with a genuine connection to the city’s wartime past.
Princess Elizabeth Restaurant
Address: Quai de l’Estacade, 59140 Dunkerque, France
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Built in 1927, this original “Little Ship” was named for Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II). She was originally used in the war as a minesweeper, but then joined the Little Ships fleet, making four return trips and evacuating 1630 Allied Servicemen. The boat had a cameo in the 2017 movie, Dunkirk, and now operates as a restaurant. I recommend the Queen Tonic, oysters, and seabass. There’s a great wine selection, too. And while this isn’t a cheap endeavor, it’s a fabulous place to have dinner. Opt for the lunch specials, which come in around 23 euros a head. Reserve a table directly with them here.
La Cambuse Café
Address: 25 rue du Gouvernement, 59140 Dunkerque
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Located in the Citadelle, this gorgeous café serves up hearty northern French classics like moules-frites and carbonnade flamande. There’s vintage décor, and framed wartime photos make it a relaxed stop for lunch between sites.
Wall Street Pub
Address: 2 Rue Nationale, 59140 Dunkerque, France
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
It might not look much from the outside, but this is a fabulously quaint place. There’s not much to do with WWII, but the staff are fabulous, the daily specials and the mussels are amazing, and it’s all well priced.
Books to Read about Dunkirk and WWII
If you want to understand what happened on these beaches beyond the museums, some compelling books capture the chaos and courage of May 1940. These are ideal pre-trip reads that help bring Dunkirk’s story to life.
- Forgotten Voices of Dunkirk – Joshua Levine – Personal memories and soldier testimonies with historical context.
- The Miracle of Dunkirk – Walter Lord – A classic narrative history detailing the nine days of Operation Dynamo with gripping first-hand accounts.
- Dunkirk: Fight to the Last Man – Hugh Sebag-Montefiore – a deep dive into the soldiers’ experience, based on diaries, interviews, and official records.
- Dunkirk – the Men they left behind – Sean Longden – superbly researched, and a fascinating read about those who didn’t make it onto the evacuation ships.
Movies and Documentaries about Dunkirk and WWII
Watching how filmmakers and documentarians have portrayed Dunkirk gives a powerful visual sense of what those days were like, and it will really make the history come alive when you visit. We always have a short list of movies or documentaries to watch that explore more about the topic when we visit
- Dunkirk (1958, Leslie Norman) – An original British production praised for its realism and emotional portrayal of ordinary soldiers.
- Dunkirk (2017, Christopher Nolan) – An epic retelling of the evacuation from land, sea, and air, filmed on location in Dunkirk itself.
- Operation Dynamo: The Rescue of 338,000 Men – Documentary exploring the planning and logistics of the evacuation, from the Imperial War Museum.
Special Events Commemorating Dunkirk and WWII
Each year, Dunkirk honors the memory of Operation Dynamo with moving tributes, memorial services, and public gatherings that attract visitors from across Europe. Plan ahead if you want to be in town during these events and book your hotels well ahead of time.
- Late May – Operation Dynamo Anniversary Commemorations, Malo-les-Bains Beach
Marking the anniversary of the 1940 evacuation, this event features wreath-laying ceremonies, speeches from local officials, and historical reenactments on the beach. Veterans’ groups and descendants of those evacuated often attend.
Website: https://www.dunkerque-tourisme.fr - June – Memorial Service at the Dunkirk 1940 Museum
A formal remembrance service is held in the museum courtyard, with readings, music, and a moment of silence for those who died during the evacuation.
Website: https://www.dynamo-dunkerque.com - September – Heritage Days (Journées du Patrimoine), Various Sites Across Dunkirk
Part of France’s national heritage weekend, when museums and forts open free of charge, often including guided WWII-themed tours and talks.
Website: https://journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr
Other WWII-Related Experiences in Dunkirk
Beyond the main WWII sites in Dunkirk, several smaller places and experiences add much more to the story of Operation Dynamo. These are ideal if you’re spending more than a day in the area or want a broader sense of the region’s wartime history.
- Visit the filming locations used in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, especially around Malo-les-Bains Beach and the harbor.
- Explore the Dunkirk Port Museum, which includes wartime maritime exhibits and shipwreck displays from the evacuation.
- Take a short day trip to Ypres in Belgium or Calais in France to see additional WWII and WWI memorials.
- Join a guided WWII walking or boat tour to see parts of the coastline involved in the 1940 evacuation.
WWII Sites around the World
We can’t claim to have visited every single WWII site around the world, but we’ve explored quite a few of them, admittedly we haven’t written about them all, but here are our guides to those that we have documented.
- Dunkirk & Operation Dynamo (France): What to see, how to visit.
- Utah Beach and the Normandy Landings (France): Where to stay, what not to miss.
- Kanchanaburi and the Death Railway in Thailand: What to see
- Hellfire Pass the the Building of the Death Railway (Thailand): Here’s what to see
- Thanbyuzayat Thai Burma Death Railway (Myanmar): How to get there and what to see
- The Sandakan Memorial, Borneo: (Malaysia): What happened here, why to visit.
- Sandakan to Ranau: the Death Marches (Malaysia): What happened here
- Penang: Malaysia & WWII: Exploring the War Museum.
- Labuan Island: Exploring WWII (Malaysia): Here’s what to see
- Kota Bharu: Did WWII in Asia start here?
- Nagasaki: (Japan): The peace park, the hypocenter and what to see here.
- Hiroshima: The bomb dome and peace park (Japan): What to see
Final Words on Visiting WWII Sites in Dunkirk
Visiting Dunkirk’s WWII sites is more than a history lesson — it’s an experience that brings the courage, chaos, and resilience of 1940 vividly to life. From the beaches where the evacuation took place to the fortifications that still guard the coast, this city offers one of the most tangible connections to the early days of the war. Take time to pause, reflect, and imagine what those nine days must have felt like, explore the beaches, the bastions, and the shipwrecks, and you can almost feel the history come alive.
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