Lille

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.

Understand
Lille is France's fifth largest metropolitan area, and its most northerly. The city sits on the Deûle River, very near to the border with Belgium. While the city is moderately sized (236,000 inhabitants in 2020), over 1.5 million people live in the French side of the metropolitan area, while the cross-border metropolitan area, which covers both French and Belgian territory and includes Kortrijk and Tournai, is estimated to have more than 2.1 million inhabitants. It is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region and the prefecture of the Nord department.

Historically, it was the capital of Flanders, and became an industrial powerhouse.

History
While the area of present-day Lille has been inhabited since as early as 2000 BC, the first mention of the city dates back to 1066, when it was referred to as apid Insulam in Latin. Meaning "at the island", this toponym is reflected in both the French and Dutch names of the city, both being contractions of the same expression (L'île and ter ijsel).

Get in
Most visitors will probably arrive by train at Gare de Lille Europe or Gare de Lille Flandres. It is possible to land at the Charles de Gaulle Paris airport and then continue by train, but do not try this at the Ryanair's Paris airport (Beauvais) as there is no train connection at all and the only bus is back to Paris itself.

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. That said, proximity to Paris and Brussels allows one to use the airports of either metropolis to visit Lille, especially those with direct train connections to Lille. Visitors from other continents may also entertain the option of landing in one of London's airports and transferring to a Eurostar train to Lille from the British capital.



By train
Lille has two major train stations:


 * Check the SNCF website to see train timetables
 * Check the SNCF website to see train timetables

If you are travelling from the United Kingdom, Eurostar is the best option to reach Lille through the Channel Tunnel. The journey time to Gare de Lille Europe is 1 hr 22 min from London St Pancras International, though you have to check in at least 90 minutes before departure in order to complete border formalities due to COVID restrictions and Brexit. Train connections run regularly by ferry from Calais.

Lille is also linked by TGV to Lyon (3 hours), Nantes (4 hours), Strasbourg (3 hr 20 min), and Marseille (5 hours).

The two train stations are located within easy walking distance of each other, meaning it is therefore possible to connect between services at either station, provided you leave yourself enough time to walk between the stations and find your train, as well as go through security and customs if you are transferring onto a Eurostar service to London.

Another option is to take the TER or the regional, slower moving trains, where a ticket can be purchased fairly cheap to many locations in France and Belgium. The transit bureau for the Nord-Pas-de-Calais offers weekend "Trampoline" passes, where a round trip on TER trains between Lille and several Belgian cities can be purchased for a set price of €20-40, with the freedom of choosing your own train times. Be careful though: depending on the train, cities may be referred to by either their French or Dutch names, which can get confusing.

By bus
BlaBlacar Bus and Flixbus run coach services between Paris, Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Bruges, and more. The bus stop station is located at Gare de Lille Europe.

By public transport
Lille has two metro lines that connect the centre of the city with several suburbs:


 * Metro line mostly serves suburbs on the south side of the city, as well as cutting straight through the centre.
 * Metro line starts in the western suburbs, skirts along the boulevard on the southern edge of the centre, and continues to Roubaix and Tourcoing, finally ending at a hospital adjacent to the Belgian border.

Both lines serve both railway stations.

There are also two tram routes, both starting at the railway stations:


 * serving Roubaix.
 * serving Tourcoing.

There are also bus lines that service all parts of the city.
 * ilévia Public transportation in Lille, In French, English and Dutch. There are also Android and iPhone app in English.

As of May 2023, single tickets are €1.80 + €0.20 charge for the rechargeable ticket. X10 Single ticket €15.40. 24-hour day passes are available for €5.30. Other ticket types are available for longer stays. Machines accept cash and cards. The tickets cover the ilévia metro, buses and trams to any destination, Longer distance intercity trains (to Roubaix for example) require separate tickets.

See
Lille is a cultural and commercial hub with a wide range of restaurants, bars, clubs, museums, and shopping centre. A highlight is its beautiful and historic old town. The night life, thanks to the city's large student population, is cutting edge and lively.

Must see

 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.
 * Take a stroll through the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobble-stone streets, the variety of stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, and museums. At Christmas Town, you may visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square, and take pictures with Father Noel by Christmas Lights. More notable streets like Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise are definitely worth the trip.

Other

 * The subway in the long-distance train station Lille Europe is an attraction on its own. In the expansive, main hallway, the wall is covered in a beautiful, large mural depicting various famous landmarks around the world.

Do



 * Chalice Sound System hold regular reggae gigs at various locations around Lille. Check their Facebook page to know when the next event will be.
 * Watch football at Lille Olympique, who play soccer in Ligue 1, the country's top tier. Their home ground (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, capacity 50,000) is in the eastern township of Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Metro Line 1 gets you there (get off at the 4 Cantons terminus and follow the crowd) or park your car at Les Prés station on Line 2 and get the free shuttle bus to the stadium and back.
 * Watch football at Lille Olympique, who play soccer in Ligue 1, the country's top tier. Their home ground (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, capacity 50,000) is in the eastern township of Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Metro Line 1 gets you there (get off at the 4 Cantons terminus and follow the crowd) or park your car at Les Prés station on Line 2 and get the free shuttle bus to the stadium and back.

Events

 * The annual
 * Tour de France starts in Lille on 5 July 2025 and concludes in Paris on 27 July.
 * Tour de France starts in Lille on 5 July 2025 and concludes in Paris on 27 July.

Students
Lille has a very large student population, thanks to the many schools and universities located in the city. There is also a significant international student population, thanks to the Erasmus program.
 * Business schools: Skema, Edhec, IAE Lille, IESEG School of Management, etc.
 * Engineer: École centrale de Lille, ENSAM, HEI, ISEN, etc.
 * University: Lille 1 (Scientific), Lille 2 (Medicine,Law,Political Science,Management,Sports) (and the IEP Lille), Lille 3 (Human Sciences, Arts and Letters), Lille Catholic University (Multi-disciplinary)

For any foreign students wishing to come to Lille, the following website could come in handy: Web Site du Crous

French

 * ICL-Clarife is the language centre for the Institut Catholique de Lille, France's largest private university. Located in the heart of Lille, ICL-Clarife organises complete French language and civilisation study programmes for non-Francophones. Web Site ICL-Clarife

Buy

 * The open market,
 * The pedestrian streets just past Grand Place (rue de Béthune, rue Neuve, Rue du Sec Arembault, rue des Tanneurs, etc.) offer popular clothing chain stores such as Etam, Pimkie, Zara, H&M, Sinéquanone, as well as small pubs, restaurants, and two large cinemas. These buildings reflect beautiful architectural designs and styles from the 1930s.
 * There are dozens of upscale boutiques (e.g., Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Kenzo) and trendier, independent stores and restaurants in Vieux Lille.
 * There are dozens of upscale boutiques (e.g., Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Kenzo) and trendier, independent stores and restaurants in Vieux Lille.
 * There are dozens of upscale boutiques (e.g., Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Kenzo) and trendier, independent stores and restaurants in Vieux Lille.
 * There are dozens of upscale boutiques (e.g., Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Kenzo) and trendier, independent stores and restaurants in Vieux Lille.

Eat
Food lovers will find themselves in a foodie heaven in Lille. The dishes of the north are delicious, hearty, and warming, and restaurants pride themselves on serving authentic food at affordable prices. Typical dishes include Potjevleesch, the Welsh, which is a hearty melt of cheddar cheese and fried egg, carbonnade flamande, a hearty beef stew, and, of course, moules frites. Try the maroilles cheese if you're feeling brave--it's the special cheese of Lille with a powerful odor.

Those with a sweet tooth will find hundreds of little patisseries and boulangeries selling more cakes, pastries, and macarons than they knew existed along with an exquisite number of chocolate shops. Guillaume Vincent (12 Rue du Cure Saint Etienne), sells beautifully decorated, rich chocolates.

One of the more popular and affordable (but greasy) eating options are the multitude of kebab shops around the city. For a few euro, you can get a hearty sandwich with shaved chicken or lamb with a side of frites. A local speciality is the kebab with "Fricandelles": sausages that are native to this region. These are a great (and more local) alternative to a fast food chain for a quick bite.

A Lille must have: Delicious stuffed waffles enjoyed at Meert, probably the most beautiful pâtisserie in France. These waffles were the favorite of President Charles de Gaulle. Meert is located on the Rue Esquermoise next to the Grand Place (place du Général de Gaulle). Take the metro Line 1 and get off at station Rihour. There is another location at the Piscine (Museum of Arts and Industry) of Roubaix (Station: Gare Jean Lebas on Line 2). Pastries bought here are to be enjoyed fully and without self restraint.



Mid-range

 * You can try some of Lille's famous "estaminets" (typical restaurants): for instance rue de Gand has two nice restaurants: T'Rijsel and Chez la vieille. The atmosphere is very agreeable, and you can taste some of Lille's typical dishes: Potje'vleesch, Carbonade flamande etc. These restaurants, being rather notorious in Lille, are very popular and it is strongly recommended to book a table two or three days in advance.

Drink
Lille has an amazing nightlife, wonderful bars and nightclubs, and a world of drinks to try. Because it is the north of France, beer is the most popular drink. Try as many kinds as you can, including Belgian ales which are very popular.

Rue Solferino has many bars and clubs. This is the street to visit if you enjoy a lively nightlife and party scene. On Rue Masséna, you will also find countless bars, nightclubs, and restaurants including small delicious kebab stands that are open late until the wee hours of early morning.
 * Salsa the night away at
 * Salsa the night away at
 * Salsa the night away at
 * Salsa the night away at
 * Salsa the night away at
 * Salsa the night away at
 * Salsa the night away at

Sleep

 * Nord Hotel, in the southern part of Lille, about a ten-minute ride on the subway away from the centre of town. When first arriving, the area seems a bit intimidating, but is actually quite quiet. Fairly basic accommodation. Small, clean room and friendly staff. €60/night for a twin room.
 * Nord Hotel, in the southern part of Lille, about a ten-minute ride on the subway away from the centre of town. When first arriving, the area seems a bit intimidating, but is actually quite quiet. Fairly basic accommodation. Small, clean room and friendly staff. €60/night for a twin room.
 * Nord Hotel, in the southern part of Lille, about a ten-minute ride on the subway away from the centre of town. When first arriving, the area seems a bit intimidating, but is actually quite quiet. Fairly basic accommodation. Small, clean room and friendly staff. €60/night for a twin room.
 * Nord Hotel, in the southern part of Lille, about a ten-minute ride on the subway away from the centre of town. When first arriving, the area seems a bit intimidating, but is actually quite quiet. Fairly basic accommodation. Small, clean room and friendly staff. €60/night for a twin room.
 * Nord Hotel, in the southern part of Lille, about a ten-minute ride on the subway away from the centre of town. When first arriving, the area seems a bit intimidating, but is actually quite quiet. Fairly basic accommodation. Small, clean room and friendly staff. €60/night for a twin room.

Stay safe
Despite its charm and dynamic vibe, Lille is not without its share of crime and other socioeconomic issues, and the media have at times portrayed Lille as a dangerous city. As a former industrial powerhouse, Lille suffered greatly from the fall of heavy industry, and right up until the late 1990s the city was marred by crime and poverty. Even if the city and its metropolitan area have made a remarkable economic comeback, crime-related issues are more common here than in other French cities.

During the daytime, taking the basic precautions you would take elsewhere should suffice to avoid trouble. However, do be cautious at night and stick to well-lit streets as much as possible. As a rule of thumb, the city center, old town, and northern half of the city are safe for the most part. On the other hand, try to avoid Lille's southern neighbourhoods as much as possible.

By far the most common issue you will encounter is pickpocketing, which is particularly common on the metro, in the railway station, and in crowded areas (especially on Saturday nights). Alcohol and drug fueled behaviors are also common; this is exacerbated by the large student population., which tends to frequently get rowdy on weekends and at the end of the school year (May to June).

Finally, Lille has one of France's most visible homeless populations. They tend to be more aggressive than in other cities, so watch out for any dubious-looking individuals. They are an unfortunately common sight near the Lille-Flandres station.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece

Connect
As of Sep 2021, Lille has 5G from all French carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places, transport, cafes and so on.

Go next

 * Kortrijk and Tournai are in Belgium, but part of the metropolitan area of Lille, quickly reached by local trains.
 * Bruges is a charming old city. Watch out at the border in case you need to change trains or coaches.
 * Arras, with an impressive central square, has most of the Allied memorials from the First World War.
 * Lille is the centre of the Eurostar-TGV network, so Paris, London and Brussels are all within an hour's ride.