30 Unmissable Attractions in Lille

Although Vauban Garden was created by the head gardener of Paris, the public park is the perfect example of the English countryside. The garden was established in 1863, and is home to over 20,000 species of flora and fauna, including trees that over 100 years old. The park is adorned with statues of prominent Frenchman and Lille natives, and also features a goat house that has been conformed into a marionette playhouse for children. Vauban is open to pets, so bring your dog and watch him run around the grass, which spans over three hectares. Vauban Garden is a beautiful park, so stop by with the whole family to enjoy a pleasant walk, fun picnic, game of Frisbee, and more. Recommended by Shyla Watson.

Opened in 1848, La Gare Saint Sauveur was a bustling railway station that brought goods in and out of the city. After decades of lively and successful activity, the station came to a close in the early 2000s. Since then, the city has slowly transformed the 20-acre space into a thriving city center, complete with a restaurant and bar, and movie theatre. However, there is still so much space that has gone undeveloped. While the city works on occupying the rest of the space, La Gare Saint Sauveur is used as a venue for concerts, weddings, and other special events. It is most notably the location for Lille 3000, a French art and culture festival. Cities from around the world participate in celebrating, and showcasing, their culture through art. It only takes place every three years, so be sure that you don’t miss the next one! And just in case you do, La Gare Saint Sauveur is still a great place to go and be a part of the community. Recommended by Shyla Watson.

Built to replace its 18th century predecessor, which burned down in 1903, Opéra de Lille opened its doors in 1923. Germans occupied the neo-classical structure during World War I, and they took over most of the furnishings and interior items, before relinquishing it back to the city four years later. The music hall is designed with grand splendor, featuring a magnificent staircase, fireplace, foyer, and stage. Much of the opera house is adorned with sculptures, elegant lighting, beautiful paintings, and ornaments of gold. Enjoy a classy night out on the town by dressing up and attending a show. The orchestra is fantastic, and there is such a variety of performances that take place, you’re guaranteed to find something that amazes you. After the show, go for dinner or dessert at a nearby restaurant. Opéra de Lille is located in the city square, so there is so much to do and see in the area! Recommended by Shyla Watson.

Le Musée de Plein Air, or The Open Air Museum, is the site of a historic village community from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Rural Heritage Association saved it from demolition back in the 1990s, and it has since been reconstructed as a living museum. Each with their own unique architectural history, explore the 20 buildings that were once vital staples of the community, including a medical house with medicinal plants and pharmaceutical objects, a craft workshop, a communal bake house, a chapel, and more. There are free, guided tours every Sunday, although the museum is also open during the week for you to explore. Surrounded by so many beautiful gardens, the museum is frequently used as a venue for concerts, festivals, and other special events. Be sure to look into attending a workshop on woodworking, baking bread, construction, gardening, and many others. Recommended by Shyla Watson.

Lille has a long and thriving brewing culture that picks up to fever pitch each October during beer week. Discover and taste local beers and enjoy the program of special events, bike rides, conferences, and games. It’s a fun time for twentysomethings to meet the locals, make friends, and expand their beer appreciation. Recommended by Sylvia Edwards Davis.

In this unusual film house, movie watchers grab a beer, wine, or a sandwich from the bar at the back of the huge projection room and then pick a spot on one of the comfy sofas. The screenings can include anything from dance, painting, music or theatre, shorts, animated films from all over the world and cult films. There is a symbolic €1 ($1.07) ‘membership’ and a €4 ($4.28) admission. Recommended by Sylvia Edwards Davis.

There’s a place that is gaining a loyal following in Lille with natural and organic makeup and beauty products. At Mademoiselle Biloba, guests acquire a love for natural ingredients in short workshops that teach how to make high-quality products that range from organic soap to a customised eyeshadow or a base that matches one’s skin tone perfectly. Get tonnes of bonus tips and beauty secrets as well. Recommended by Sylvia Edwards Davis.

The small regional restaurants serving Flemish specialties are called estaminets. Try one of the typical dishes such as carbonade, a beef stew cooked in beer, waterzoï, a poultry or fish dish with a creamy sauce, a steaming bowl of mussels and fries, or potjevleesch, the local terrine in aspic. Recommended by Sylvia Edwards Davis.

Lille has a long brewing tradition, but another typical local drink is genièvre, an eau de vie distilled from grains and flavoured with juniper berries usually served as a digestif to finish off a meal. Recommended by Sylvia Edwards Davis.

Located in a former textile mill at the center of Moulins, Lille, Le Prato is not just a group of entertainers but a social movement in its own right. Explore laughter, poetry and the circus arts with performers that have been mastering the trade of theater for years. Whether it is outdoors or indoors at their historic venue, audiences are guaranteed quality entertainment and fun! Recommended by Kalpana Satish.