Lille: Atypical Nordic charm

City Pass :

Offered by Lille Metropole, the City Pass gives access to the city's biggest tourist sites and public transport at reduced prices. Depending on the length of your stay - 24, 48 or 72 hours - you get a bus tour, a guided tour of Old Lille, a trip up to the Belfry of the Hôtel de Ville, a visit to the Palais des Beaux-Arts and many other of Lille's most emblematic sites, as well as unlimited access to the transport network. The price varies according to the duration of the pass, from €25 to €45, which quickly proves to be very advantageous for travellers passing through the capital of Flanders.

Public transport :

Numerous bus lines, two metro lines and two tramway lines serve the whole of the Lille metropolitan area (Roubaix, Tourcoing, La Madeleine, Marcq-en-Baroeul, Villeneuve D'ascq...). For occasional travellers, single journeys valid for 1 hour are ideal if you plan to spend most of your stay on foot. Otherwise, day passes and week-long passes are available, from €5.3 to €18.1.

For more information on the Ilevia public transport network: https: //www.ilevia.fr/fr/?utm_source=easyvoyage

Essential documents:

French and foreign travellers alike need to carry identification with them, especially in major cities like Lille. A national identity card, passport or driving licence may be essential to enter certain places and sometimes useful to benefit from special fares.

Safety and security:

Although Lille is generally a pleasant city where walkers have nothing to worry about, some areas should be avoided in the evening. The areas to the north of the city - Vieux Lille, the centre, Vauban, La Madeleine, etc. - are well frequented, but you should be wary of pickpockets in the vicinity of the most touristy places and on public transport. In the districts further south - Fives, Wazemmes, Moulins and Sud - insecurity can sometimes be felt, although on a smaller scale, particularly after dark and in the streets with the most bars and nightclubs.

Tourist tax:

For visitors staying in Lille establishments, a tourist tax is added to the price of the night's stay. Depending on the type of accommodation, the rate ranges from €0.2 to €4, with the lowest rate applying to campsites and the highest to palaces. This additional cost imposed by the Government is multiplied according to the number of nights and the number of people. Note that some establishments include it in their price, while others require payment at the end of the stay.

Ideal period :

The best time to visit Lille is during the summer. From May to September, temperatures are mild or even warm, ideal for visiting the charming little cobbled streets. Despite the city's reputation, it doesn't rain all year round, and the warmth of the locals makes up for it on bad days! If you want to make the most of the city's gastronomic delights, head for Lille in winter, where the welsh, carbonnade flamande and maroilles of the estaminets provide comfort for travellers. If you prefer to enjoy the pleasures of the Citadelle or the Quai du Wault, summer is the time to go, but the prices are less attractive... If you're a party-goer, a bargain-hunter or both, don't miss Lille's famous Braderie, at the start of the new school year! Do you prefer the charm of the Christmas markets under the Flemish architecture or the coolness of the city's green public spaces in the heat?

What to bring back?

For epicureans at heart, the desire to bring home a Maroilles is inescapable, but it's difficult to impose it, or at least its smell, in the boot of a car or in the carriage of a train. So opt instead for a packet of Meert's traditional vanilla-filled waffles or a home-made beer bought direct from the brewer.