Lille

Understand

thumb|Place du Général-de-Gaulle 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.

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.

See

thumb|Palais Rihour 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.

Do

thumb|Lille opera house

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.

Buy

thumb|Maison Meert boasts a history of over 250 years 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. thumb|right|The massive Euralille shopping mall is right between the city's long-distance train stations and features most of the typical chain stores found in France 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.…

Drink

thumb|280px|Quai du Wault and Couvent (convent) des MinimesLille 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

Sleep

thumb|right|The Hotel Carlton, despite its 19th-century ambience, was only opened in 1920. 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-Fla…

Connect

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