Lille, told by someone who lives here.

An independent guide to Lille without the clichés: where to eat, where to go out, where to get pleasantly lost in the streets of Vieux-Lille, and how to enjoy the city like a local rather than a rushed tourist.

Lille Opera House and the Chamber of Commerce belfry on place du Théâtre

Featured

Lille's Christmas market: the complete guide

Ninety chalets on Place Rihour, the Ferris wheel on the Grand'Place, and six weeks of lights. Where to go, when to go to dodge the crowds, and what to budget.

Read the Christmas guide

The guide

Events

What's on in Lille

The Christmas market, the Braderie, and the fixtures that shape the Lille year.

Places to see

What not to miss

Vieux-Lille, the Belfry, the Palais des Beaux-Arts, the Citadelle: the essentials plus a few lesser-known spots.

Restaurants

Eating northern specialities

Carbonnade, welsh, Meert waffles, and the best tables in Vieux-Lille for every budget.

Bars & nightlife

Where to have a drink

From rue Solférino to the bars of Vieux-Lille and on to Wazemmes, depending on the mood you're after.

Day trips

Bruges, Brussels, Ghent and Tournai

Four cities less than an hour away, easy to visit in a single day from Lille.

Planning your stay

The map Every address in the guide on a single map. Itineraries Lille in 24h, a foodie weekend, a rainy day. When to visit Month-by-month weather and the best season. Practical info Transport, payment, safety: the essentials before you come. About Who writes this guide, and why.