How To Spend 12 Hours In Lille

Charming, compact, and only 90 minutes from London St Pancras on the Eurostar, Lille is the perfect destination for day-trippers. With all museums, shops, markets, restaurants and bars within walking distance of each other, you can delve into the city’s past, pick up a bargain, or even indulge in a Turkish bath, and still be home before bedtime.

1. 00am–10:00am: A Traditional Petit-Déjeuner

9:00am–10:00am: A Traditional Petit-Déjeuner

Start your day off with breakfast at Paul, just a stone’s throw from the Grand’ Place. Although this chain is now found in the UK, it is the truly authentic petit-déjeuner experience – freshly baked bread, all manner of croissants, pastries and pain au chocolat, as well as rich coffee and fabulous chocolat chaud, all served within magnificently tiled surroundings.

Paul, 8–12 rue de Paris, Lille, France, +33 3 20 8 20 78

2. m–11:30am: Take A Stroll Around Vieux Lille

Art Gallery, Cathedral, Museum

10am–11:30am: Take A Stroll Around Vieux Lille

Getting lost among the cobbles and gables of Lille’s old town is one of the greatest gifts the city has to offer. Join chattering window-shoppers and sophisticated couples on its quaint streets where 17th-century buildings house shops selling antiques, well-thumbed books, and fragrant soaps. Some of Lille’s best-known sights are found in the old quarter: the striking Notre Dame Cathedral, with its crypt-based art gallery, and the Musée de L’Hospice Comtesse, a former hospital ward-turned-city museum.

Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse | © Velvet/WikiCommons

3. 30am–1:00pm: Wander Among Flowers And Fromages At Wazemmes

Market

11:30am–1:00pm: Wander Among Flowers And Fromages At Wazemmes

From the old town, head southeast (or get the métro to Gambetta) to Lille’s lively Wazemmes quarter, home to a buzzing market that will really ravage your senses. As you approach the red-brick market hall, you’ll wander past stalls of bric-a-brac and antiques, chickens and rabbits, plump artichokes and blanched chicory. Inside, you’ll smell salty heaps of seafood and garlic chicken on spits mixed together with fragrant blooms, as the food and flower halls combine. It’s a fantastic place to mosey and nibble, sampling regional cheeses and saucisson. But don’t commit to just one thing for lunch; just let your senses guide you – and keep your wallet at hand.

Wazemmes Market, place de la Nouvelle Aventure, Lille, France

Wazemmes market | © Anna Moores

5. 30pm–4:30pm: Experience The Wonders Of The Palais Des Beaux-Arts

2:30pm–4:30pm: Experience The Wonders Of The Palais Des Beaux-Arts

Walk back along rue Gambetta to place de la République, where you’ll find France’s second museum after Paris’ Louvre, the Palais des Beaux-Arts. Originally brought to Lille by Napoleon, it is a truly awe-inspiring collection. The brick-red walls are lined with some of the world’s greatest artworks, from Monets and Van Goghs to Goyas and Picassos. The three-floor gallery is home to a catalog of treasures that should not be rushed, so factor in a couple of hours for your visit.

Palais des Beaux-Arts, pl de la République, Lille, France, +33 3 20 06 78 00

Palais des Beaux-Arts | © Anna Moores

5:00pm–6:00pm: Explore The Euralille District

From place de la République, head northeast on rue du Molinel (or hop on the métro from Wazemmes) towards the modern and ever-growing Euralille district, crowned by a gargantuan shopping empire and futuristic casino. With 140 shops, hotels and nightclubs spread over two stories, Euralille is one of France’s biggest shopping centers – a true haven for those who love a bargain. If high-end consumerism isn’t for you, join the rollerblade fraternity and take a late afternoon stroll through nearby Parc Henri Matisse, home to a number of interesting artworks installed for Lille’s celebrations as European Capital of Culture in 2004.

Av le Corbusier, Lille, France

6:00pm–7:00pm: Soak Up The City Vibe On Grand’ Place

By now you’ll be wanting to rest those legs, and there is nowhere better to do it than on Grand’ Place, the heartbeat of the city where people come to drink coffee, meet friends, and, at Christmas, ride the giant Ferris wheel. As the light fades, indulge in some people-watching and admire the magnificent mix of architecture, whether Renaissance or Art Deco. If your feet can manage it, head over to the exquisite Vieille Bourse, arguably the most beautiful building in town, a haven for antiquarians, bibliophiles, and, on summer Sunday evenings, tango dancers.

Place du General du Gaulle, Lille, France

6. 00pm–9:00pm: The Hardest Decision Of The Day

Brasserie

7:00pm–9:00pm: The Hardest Decision Of The Day

High-end restaurants serving Michelin-starred meals, traditional estaminets with red-checkered tablecloths, Belgian bistros dishing up piles of moules-frites – Lille has it all when it comes to dining options. Those wanting a traditional Lillois experience need only follow their noses, as the city’s streets are lined with brasserie upon brasserie serving traditional fares such as carbonnade or waterzooï, the famous Flemish beef or fish stews. Nobody should leave Lille without trying a regional beer, so on your way back to the station, pop into Les Trois Brasseurs and order a palette – a tray of the four best bières Lille has to offer.

Les Trois Brasseurs, 18 pl de la Gare, Lille, +33 3 20 06 46 25

Try un palette at Les Trois Brasseurs | © Anna Moores

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.