Stories · France
A weekend in Lille
Told the way I’d tell a friend, step by step.
You don’t visit Lille; it takes you in. Here is how I’d spend 2 days there without rushing, leaving room for the things you can’t plan.
Day 1 · The icons
Early in the morning, it’s John Doe Escape Game. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (6,622 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.
Around noon, head to Place du Lion d'Or. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise also check Tiqets.
For lunch, trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
In the afternoon, I make my way to Henri Matisse Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
As the light fades, meet me at Porte de Roubaix. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Lille is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 2 · The icons
In the morning, I make my way to Eclipso Lille. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. 4.9 out of 5 across 1,119 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
Then, head to Église Saint-Maurice de Lille. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (1,640 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Lunch without a plan: the first noisy room you pass is often the right one.
Later, head to La Grande Roue de Lille. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
In the evening, I make my way to Palais Rihour. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or go through Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Lille does the rest.
If you’re still hungry
Other places I wish I could have fitted in: Villa Cavrois, La Vieille Bourse, Grand’Place Lille, Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, Porte de Paris and Le Vieux Lille. Slip them in wherever a day feels light.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
And if you go, tell me what you loved. Lille changes, and so do I.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.