Lille
A northern French city of red-brick streets, the Palais des Beaux-Arts and fast trains to Paris, Brussels and London.
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Lille is the largest city in northern France and the regional capital of Hauts-de-France, a short distance from the Belgian border. Its old center, Vieux-Lille, is a grid of narrow streets lined with red brick houses in the Flemish style. Louis XIV took the city from Spain in 1667, and it has been French since.
The Palais des Beaux-Arts is the main museum stop, with paintings and sculpture from across Europe, including many Flemish works. Vieux-Lille is best explored on foot, starting from Grand'Place. Two or three days is enough for a city break. Lille Europe station, the Eurostar stop, sits beside the modern Euralille district. Trains from Lille reach Paris, Brussels and London in under two hours, and Arras and Amiens are both reachable by regional train for a day trip.
Lille in five
- Arrive at Lille Europe or Lille FlandresThe two stations are a few minutes' walk apart. Eurostar and many TGVs use Lille Europe; regional trains and Paris services use Lille Flandres. Check which one your ticket names before you leave the platform.
- Spend an afternoon at the Palais des Beaux-ArtsIt is one of the largest fine arts museums in France, and a rainy day in Lille is rarely wasted there. Check opening days on the museum's site, as French museums often close one day a week.
- Walk Vieux-Lille for the brick and the shopsThe old town around the Grand Place and rue de la Monnaie is compact and flat. Keep the evening for the cafés and the estaminets, the traditional pubs that serve northern dishes.
- Mind the Braderie weekendThe Braderie de Lille, a giant flea market, takes over the city in early September. Hotels fill and prices rise, so book early or choose another weekend if crowds are not your thing.
- Add Arras or Amiens by trainBoth are easy half-day trips on regional trains. Pair them with Lille only if you want the north's wartime history or its Gothic cathedral.Arras travel guide
Things to do in Lille
See all attractions in Lille
Need to know
- Airport
- Lille-Lesquin (LIL), small; most visitors arrive by train
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris about 1 hr; Eurostar from London; Brussels about 35–40 min
- Getting around
- Two metro lines, trams and walking
- Best base
- Vieux-Lille, or near the stations for transit
- Time needed
- 1–2 days; 3 with Arras and Amiens
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, greyFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Mild, dampMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, damp
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Spring, freshAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Mild, terracesMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, terraces
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, long daysJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, terracesJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, terraces
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Braderie, mildSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Braderie, mild
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Cool, goldenOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, golden
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cold, dampNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, damp
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Christmas marketDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Lille, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Lille
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 67%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Lille
10:56 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°8°98%Monday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue9°4°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed9°2°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri10°1°9%Friday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sat10°3°14%Saturday: Fog. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sun9°6°14%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 06:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Arrasabout 40 min by trainFlemish-baroque squares, a belfry and underground quarries used in the Great War.Read the guide
- Amiensabout 1–1.5 hours by trainA very large Gothic cathedral and canalside quarter of Saint-Leu.Read the guide
- Dunkirkabout 1 hour by trainA wide beach and a harbor with a place in the Second World War story.Read the guide
- Brusselsabout 35–40 min by trainA different country on the same fast line, if you have a flexible day.Read the guide
Before you go to Lille
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Rules for Lille, checked
- Many non-EU visitors need a Schengen visa, depending on passport. Check entry rules on the France-Visas portal before you book.Source
- Goods brought from outside the EU are subject to limits on alcohol, tobacco and cash. Check the French customs website before you travel.Source
- Carry your passport or ID card. Police can ask to see ID, so keep a photo of the passport on your phone as a backup.
- Service is included in restaurant bills by law, so tipping is optional. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common.
Plan around Lille
Regions, cities and entry rules
Read the guideArras travel guideSquares and tunnels, 40 min from Lille
Read the guideAmiens travel guideGothic cathedral and canals by regional train
Read the guideDunkirk travel guideBeach, port and a wartime story
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleHow long you can stay in France
Read the guideLille FAQ
Is Lille worth visiting?
Yes for a short stay: a compact old town, a big art museum and good food at fair prices. It is not a headline destination, so most people fit it between Paris, London or Brussels.
How many days do you need in Lille?
One full day covers Vieux-Lille and the museum; two lets you add a market and a slow evening. Add days only if you want Arras, Amiens or Dunkirk as day trips.
How far is Lille from Paris by train?
About an hour on the TGV from Paris Gare du Nord to Lille Europe, with frequent departures. Fares vary with how far ahead you book, so compare dates.
Can you visit Lille from London on a day trip?
Yes, by Eurostar, in a long day. Allow for border checks on both sides and a buffer for the return. An overnight stay makes more sense if you want Vieux-Lille at a slower pace.
When is the Lille Braderie?
Early September, over a weekend, with the exact dates announced each year by the city. It is a street flea market that closes roads and fills hotels, so check dates before you book.