Wander the Old Town
Vieux Lille is the heart of the city. Just stroll around it and soak up the atmosphere. Lots of shops (including world-famous luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes, famous French marques such as Le Creuset and Lacoste), restaurants, bars, coffee shops, epiceries and fromageries, chocolate shops, etc. A must visit area! The further north you go, the more residential it becomes. Lots of restaurants on Rue du Gand. Lots of bars (and restaurants) on Rue Royale.
At first sight the Cathedral, Notre-Dame de la Treille, doesn’t look very exciting. But it has a trick up its sleeve! Go in and walk down the nave WITHOUT turning around. Give it 15-20m then turn around…
Place aux Oignons is a lovely square, viewed by locals as the heart of Vieux Lille. There is a lively market every Sunday morning in Place du Concert.
The musée de l’hospice Comtesse on rue de la Monnaie is worth a visit.
Most of the old town is pedestrian only at weekends. And most of the pavements are cobbled… which can get a bit tiring! It’s not a huge area so all eminently walkable.
Obviously, everyone has online maps! However, I thought this map was quite good for getting your bearings. The streets in yellow are the old town (Vieux Lille). The streets in pink are pedestrianised shopping streets. Think of Gare Lille-Flandres as your transport hub (the two metro lines intersect here, the tramlines terminate/start here, and there are lots of bus stops) and the two adjoining central squares (Grand’Place/Place Charles de Gaulle and Place du Théâtre), where the Team Introductions take place on July 5, as the centre of the city.
Discover Lille
Lille, the vibrant capital of Flanders, is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and welcoming atmosphere. Explore the charming old town, indulge in delicious French cuisine, and experience a unique mix of French and Flemish cultures.
Culture and History
Bars and Cafes
Dining
Shopping
Vieux Lille
Safety and Security
Plan your visit
How to Get Here?
Getting to and from Lille. Obviously, you’ll have booked what you’ve booked. Just some general observations. Gare Lille-Europe (Eurostar) is fairly central and on the Metro (line M2/red), about a three-minute walk/one Metro stop, from Gare Lille-Flandres, the regional hub. If you’re heading back on Eurostar, the actual international part of the station is quite small, so expect to queue. UK (and French) passport checks are done there. Once through, the lounge is small with a tiny ‘Relay’ shop: basic sandwiches, drinks, confectionary and cigarettes. No Duty Free.
If you’re travelling by bus (Flixbus, etc.) they stop and pick-up outside Lille-Europe.
By Road
If you’re arriving by ferry or Eurotunnel, it’s all fairly obvious. However, be aware that the major roads that approach and go through the city often have variable and/or constantly changing speed limits. So, you can quickly go from 130kph to 110 to 90 to 70. And there are lots of cameras which are quite hard to spot (Waze is pretty good). As stated earlier street parking in Lille is mostly paid for in the centre. And there are quite a few, very central, underground car parks, for example underneath Grand’Place.
Crit Air sticker. If you are bringing your car in the city you will need a Crit Air Vignette (pollution). You can purchase them online here: https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
And remember post-Brexit the rules on passport validity are being enforced. Your passport must:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive
- have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen (France) area
And at French border control, you may need to:
- show proof of your accommodation
- show proof of your travel insurance
- show a return or onward ticket
- prove that you have enough money for your stay
The new ETIAS/EAS visa system keeps being delayed. There is talk of some roll out starting in November, so no issue for Tour de France visitors.
Airports
Lille-Lesquin is the city’s airport. Not a major hub. The closest major airport are Brussel and Paris-CDG.
Where to stay ?
Hotels in the city center, budget options, and nearby accommodations
What to Bring ?
Comfortable walking shoes, event tickets, and your excitement!
Stay in the loop
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