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Prefecture and commune in Hauts-de-France, France
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Harry Wood at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Lille (Dutch: Rijsel) is the core of one of the largest metropolitan agglomerations in France. It has a large and handsome historic centre with beautiful, Flemish-influenced architecture. As a major economic and academic centre, with a very large student population, it has lively nightlife. Situated at the literal crossroads of Europe in the Hauts-de-France region, Lille is within a 90-minute train ride from Paris, Brussels and London.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Built in 1653, this is a historic and beautiful building with an atrium style opening and inner court. Located between two picturesque squares, Place du Général-de-Gaulle and Place du Théâtre, this former commercial exchange still plays a central part in the life of the city. Within the inner court, you may find antique booksellers, posters, and other hidden gems.
La grand place
The main square of Lille. It has many beautiful, Flemish-inspired buildings, like the headquarters of local newspaper La Voix du Nord and a fountain with the statue of a goddess, "la Grande Déesse" (1843). There are myriad restaurants, bars, and stylish shopping centers located around the square.
Surrounded by restaurants, houses the tourist information centre inside its main attraction, the Palais Rihour (1453).
Hôtel de Ville
The Town Hall and its 104-m-tall Belfry is a historical monument and Unesco World Heritage Site. The belfry is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday. You can access this site by getting off at the metro station Mairie de Lille.
Built in 1923.
Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Grand Lille
Built in 1921, now an upscale co-working and office building. Offers a magnificent sight, especially when lit-up at night.
A masterpiece of 17th-century defensive military architecture, built in the reign of Louis XIV and designed by the famous French military architect Vauban. In the same area is a compact zoo (payable) and a lovely park.
The construction of this cathedral started in 1854 and was eventually finished only in 1999.
Large modernist mansion built in 1932 by French architect Robert Mallet-Stevens for industrialist Paul Cavrois. Occasional temporary exhibitions.
A famed museum covering European art from the 15th to 20th century. There are myriad events open to all, including night events and festivals.
A large collection of stuffed mammals, insects, fossils, etc.
A former hospital, Museum of Art and history.
Presents the research conducted by Louis Pasteur, Camille Guérin and Albert Calmette in Lille and which puts them in perspective with the research conducted today by the Institut Pasteur de Lille.
Maison Natale de Charles de Gaulle
The birthplace of Charles de Gaulle, leader of the French Resistance and later President of France.
The story of World War II resistance under German occupation in the remains of an old fort.
Musée d'Art et d' Industrie de Roubaix
An art museum featuring diverse 19th- & 20th-century works built around a striking Art Deco former swimming bathhouse. There is a small central garden with many plants used in the textile industry which is overlooked by the terrace of the restaurant.
Modern art, outsider art, contemporary art.
Textile Industry museum including machines and lives of workers. Guided tours are in French.
A mixture of modern and classical art. Named after local artist Eugène Leroy whose archives are owned by the museum.
One of the most famous theatres of Lille.
Visits at set times on Saturdays. On weekdays as available. There is beer shop as well. Visits in English on request.
The largest flea market in Europe, held every September for which millions of people come to Lille. You will find everything: paintings, antiques, ornaments, furniture, clothing, art, and more. The traditional food of the braderie is moules-frites, or mussels and fries, usually paired with a refreshing local beer. You will find many restaurants selling this meal for an affordable price. Tourists and locals alike will be partying, eating, and drinking, in a very lively, fun atmosphere.
A must for visitors. You can access this market from the main square, where you can also enjoy the Ferris wheel and Christmas lights strung up all throughout the old city. The beautiful lights, warm atmosphere, local shops, and restaurants make this enjoyable for everyone. There are unique, local shops that sell items such as handmade soaps, artisanal honey, saucisson, and handmade crafts. There are many food stalls that sell a range of delicious Christmas food such as hot, spiced wine, pretzels, tartiflette, raclette, warm waffles with your choice of sweet topping, cider, soup, chocolate, and even cocktails.
Breton crepes in a historic building.
Out of town street food & bars in former warehouse. Can be very busy.
Cute, colourful cafe with some vegan cakes.
Simple and good traditional cuisine. Very nice ambience and people. Friendly atmosphere and welcoming staff. The dishes are very good.
Very friendly brasserie bar. Varied menu.
Very good Mexican food. Tasty with fresh ingredients. Great selection of meat and veggie options for your burrito or taco. Opportunity to sit inside and outside.
Lovely family-run restaurant serving Indian food.
Food court with bars in former department store. With a great choice of beers & other drinks.
This small pizzeria in a quiet street serves Italian, pizza, and Mediterranean food. The staff is also very friendly.
Brewpub with Flemish food.
Very nice little grill. Good chicken, good fries, good mint tea. Very friendly place, ambient music.
Quality cooking experience with fresh products.
Traditional Maghrebian cuisine. Warm welcome. Very good tagine. Varied menu.
Great atmosphere.
Hearty meals. The homemade ricotta / spinach ravioli are excellent as well as the sauces.
Homemade fries. Over 10 sauces to choose from, fries served with side salad and sausage.
From €11.40 for the "all you can eat" flammekueche menu (March 2022). A flammekueche is an Alsatian speciality with crème fraîche, onions, and bacon on a thin crust of dough. Yummy.
This pâtisserie has all sorts of goodies, including excellent croissants.
Hearty pub food with a British influence. Great hamburgers and selection of beer on tap.
Good Japanese food including sushi, sashimi.
Large choice of good meals.
Opened in 2002, this modern hotel has light airy rooms with long rectangular windows, giving excellent view over the city of Lille. Opposite Lille Europe train station, just a short walk to the historic heart of the city. Restaurant offering excellent buffet meals and "à la carte".
Typical meals, typical beers. But do not expect to find excellent food here: this restaurant may just be useful if you don't know where to have dinner at 03:00 in the morning. Do not miss the awesome plate collection on the walls. Each was signed by an artist or a famous person, as La Chicorée is the place where they usually eat after the show. You might even meet someone famous if you try it after 02:00 or 03:00! It's also the place where a lot of casual people eat at night, after their job, after a trip in café, after a show. It's of course rather popular with tourists, but if you wish to appreciate Lille's cuisine at its best, try some other place.
The entrance of this restaurant/bar is difficult to miss and situated close to la Grand Place. Ramps and murals combine to create a perspective that evokes the feeling of being in Alice in Wonderland. Inside the decor appeals to the same childish sense of wonder- all red lights and plush, appropriate to this ex-theatre and ex-brothel (you'll find the history of the building on the placemats). The food is affordable: the lunch time menu starts from €9. The 'potjevles' are regional specialty but recommended only to the adventurous. Otherwise, the chicken tikka skewers are very enjoyable. The bar also seems to be very proud of their wide range of beers, and the wine was reasonably priced and good.
This somewhat intimate restaurant is a great place for lunch or dinner. Candles on each table make it a nice spot for couples to have a quiet dinner. The menu, found under the glass tabletop, is full of diverse, delicious dishes. Each dish also has a clever name, usually a play on words.
The menu in this restaurant focuses on regional specialties and is written in Ch'ti, the local patois. Great food and a warm, friendly waitstaff make this restaurant a great place to have dinner.
This restaurant is a perfect spot for lunch and dinner offering high quality, delicious meals for a reasonable price. Restaurant specials are Flemish-influenced, including regional dishes such as potjevleesch and carbonnade flamande.
The Red Cow
Hearty pasta dishes, risottos and salads. Vegan friendly.
Enjoyable street corner vegan café/restaurant. Well presented colourful food. Good weather? there are a few tables on the street.
Brique House - La Maillerie
Restaurant/Beerhouse outside the city centre. Suitable for groups of various sizes. Also features rooftop terrace. All the Brique House brewery taprooms feature food, see also Drink. Tables can be booked through website.
May offer some good dishes in a beautiful environment.
Flemish cuisine.
Fancy restaurant
Behind the early 20th-century art-nouveau fish store lay one of the best seafood and fish restaurants in the country, appreciated by many famous people. The upscale restaurant is definitely closed, but you can still have oysters (and other small seafood) with a drink on the 1st floor
This place used to be "une bonneterie," which is still reflected in the decorations inside. Dress forms, wooden dolls, cloth, and beautiful colours (soft sea green and pink) are found throughout two floors. A great place to stop for a coffee or beer when you're out and about.
Very small, groovy lounge with two floors and a few tables outside when the weather warms up. Ambient music and orange lighting complement the vintage-looking movie and music posters on the walls. My advice: grab a table upstairs - the chairs are comfy and you can see down onto the street and people-watch. This bar is more for cocktails than beer, and their happy hour special offers all their cocktails for €6.
Very cool bar with a lively atmosphere, good mix of music played, and a mélange of Francophone and Anglophone bartenders. They also have a terrace open during the day when the weather warms up for those who wish to enjoy an afternoon refreshment. Check their website or head on in and ask about their various happy hour specials, which fluctuate depending on the day/season.
Specialises in French and foreign artisanal beers on tap and bottled. Over 100 choices of beer to choose from. Cozy, wonderful interior, perfect to meet friends in.
Every type of cocktail you can think of if you'd like a change from beer.
A large selection of beer and draft beers at reasonable prices. Popular with college students.
You will find all things Cuban including portraits of Che Guevara, hot Spanish tunes, and their famous Havana Club Mojitos. As well, indulge in a Desperado (tequila beer) or two. Drinks are a bit pricier, but the ambiance makes it all worth it.
offers about 140 different beers
in the Hermitage Gantois
Luxury hotel is open to the general public (dress appropriately). It is one of the most refined spots to enjoy a drink in Lille (priced accordingly). The hotel also hosts art exhibitions that you can enjoy free of charge.
An exceptional wine bar with a superb wine list along with house wines. Cheese plates, oysters, and gastronomic cuisine.
Absolutely incredible African rhumerie with the most amazing interior decoration.
Taproom for Brique Beers in city centre halfway between the main rail stations. Burgers & sandwiches available.
Out of town craft beers & pizzas from Brique House at their brewery.
Luxury hotel in the centre of Lille.
The residence is near to the railway station. Each apartment houses a bathroom with a separate toilet, a separate kitchen area complete with stove, microwave, fridge and dishwasher, and TV with cable channels. 5 apartments are equipped for people with reduced mobility.
Auberge de Jeunesse
An HI hostel, can be booked on website.
Reliable no frills accommodation close to old town.
Peacefully overlooking a church, but in a very central location. about €80/night.
Central location, basic but clean.
Its entrance is in front of where the long-distance coaches stop. Spacious studio apartments for up to 3 adults or a family of 4, all with both a bath and a shower, as well as a separate toilet. Basic self-catering facilities, including microwave, in every room. Breakfast is very basic and better taken care of by means of shopping around than paying extra at hotel. No views to speak of and a bit of a walk from the historic city centre.
Open every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning, but the busiest day is definitely Sunday. Vendors sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, Moroccan, Mediterranean, and Vietnamese food, books, stationery, suitcases, shoes, clothes, and even perfume and undergarments! Be sure to pick up a bag of fresh clementines, a bright bouquet of fresh-cut flowers, some rotisserie chicken and roast potatoes for lunch, and a glass of beer at one of many little pubs surrounding the market.
Lille's largest shopping mall and offers popular clothing chains as well as the Carrefour hypermarket. It is located between Gare Lille Flandres and Gare Lille Europe in the heart of the city, making it very accessible to travellers coming into Lille. Stores include Primark, Zara, H&M, Timberland, and Nike.
A bookstore in the Place du Général de Gaulle. It is the largest bookstore in Europe with eight floors and more than 420,000 titles. It is a perfect place to spend a day.
A luxury department store located in Vieux Lille offering brands such as Burberry, Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, and more.
By plane
Lille has its own international airport, but it is mostly served by flights to holiday destinations around the Mediterranean and other airports within France.
By train
If you are travelling from the United Kingdom, Eurostar is the best option to reach Lille through the Channel Tunnel.
By bus
BlaBlacar Bus and Flixbus run coach services between Paris, Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Bruges, and more. The bus stop station is located on the road behind Gare de Lille Europe.
By bike
Cycling is very popular in Lille. There is a bike sharing system V'Lille covering the city centre.
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