On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 20.4 | 0.4 |
| Thu 3 | 20.3 | 0.5 |
| Fri 4 | 20.2 | 0.7 |
| Sat 5 | 20.6 | 0.2 |
| Sun 6 | 20.8 | 0.3 |
| Mon 7 | 20.8 | 0.3 |
| Tue 8 | 20.6 | 0.6 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 15 |
| Feb | 14 |
| Mar | 14 |
| Apr | 16 |
| May | 19 |
| Jun | 21 |
| Jul | 23 |
| Aug | 24 |
| Sep | 23 |
| Oct | 22 |
| Nov | 19 |
| Dec | 17 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Le Rivage de Quettehou2.0 kmManche
- MORSALINES La Redoute2.6 kmManche
- Jonville4.3 kmManche
- Anse de Jonville4.4 kmManche
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: SAINT-VAAST-LA-HOUGUE / Place Belle-Isle, about ~1.4 km away.
- Ferry: Embarcadère James Philips, about ~1.3 km away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, about ~1.3 km away.
- 1 place to eat within 1 km Closest is La Houguette, about ~100 m away.
- 4 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is La Galouette, about ~840 m away.
- 1 shop nearby, about ~1.4 km away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
- Water sports
Is the water clean at La Hougue?
La Hougue is a coastal bathing site with an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That annual classification comes from the EU Bathing Water Directive: national authorities test for two indicator bacteria, intestinal enterococci and E. coli, throughout the bathing season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency (EEA) the following spring — the 2025 season's rating was published in spring 2026, and the 2026 season won't be rated until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. On site you'll find Toilets, Beach bar, and Kids' area. You can park about ~120 m away.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The most reliable swimming window here typically runs from July–September, with the sea usually at its warmest around August. Outside that window the water is cooler and often quieter. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue — the closest town — sits about ~1.3 km from here.
Worth remembering: “Excellent” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Manche. There's 1 place to eat near the beach — La Houguette, about ~100 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Can you safely swim at La Hougue?
Yes. Its official 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent, the top classification, and 11 of the 11 classified seasons on record have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
How warm is the sea at La Hougue right now?
Right now, the sea at La Hougue is measuring around 20°C; see the “Right now” panel above for the latest conditions. That's the reading right off Manche.
What's the best month to visit La Hougue for swimming?
July–September is typically the most reliable swimming window, with the sea usually warmest in the second half of summer. That applies to the water around Manche.
What's behind the water quality rating shown above?
The annual classification — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — is built from a full season of official testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring. Some national authorities (Croatia's IZOR among them) also publish individual samples during the season itself; La Hougue isn't yet covered by that in-season feed.
How do you get to La Hougue?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is SAINT-VAAST-LA-HOUGUE / Place Belle-Isle, about ~1.4 km away. By ferry, the nearest landing is Embarcadère James Philips, about ~1.3 km away. The nearest town is Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, about ~1.3 km away.