Lille City Guide

Try local dishes like Carbonnade Flamande and Welsh. The city has varied international food and more vegan and vegetarian choices now. Late-night options mostly near student areas.

Lille’s nightlife centers on Rue de la Soif and Vieux-Lille, with many bars and clubs for different tastes.

The city mixes classic French cafés with newer specialty coffee shops.

Tips aren’t required as service charge is included. Small tips or rounding up is appreciated.

SIMs are sold at providers like Orange and SFR or supermarkets. Registration with ID is required. Coverage is good with Orange and Bouygues Telecom.

Lille is mostly clean, especially in tourist areas with regular waste service.

Limited 24/7 services with some late-night pharmacies and stores mainly in the center.

Supermarkets like Carrefour and Auchan are common and open mostly 8-9 AM to 8-9 PM on weekdays and Saturdays. Fresh markets like Marché de Wazemmes offer local produce.

Most places like restaurants, shops, and supermarkets accept cards. Cash is handy for small purchases or markets.

ATMs are common around Lille, including at banks like BNP Paribas and Société Générale. Watch for possible foreign withdrawal fees.

Lycée Faidherbe is a well-known school. The International School of Lille offers English instruction. Admission conditions vary.

The nomad scene is small but growing with meetups and coworking spaces.

Parks like Parc de la Citadelle offer space for walking and running.

Popular routes include Parc de la Citadelle and the Deûle canal, with safe and pleasant paths.

There are several gyms across Lille with standard facilities.

Several tennis clubs with courts are available; booking online or on-site required.

Padel courts are growing in number; generally booked via clubs or online.

Multiple yoga studios offer classes, some with English-speaking instructors.

Dojo and clubs offer Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Some have English-speaking instructors.

No nearby ski resorts; closest are several hours away in Ardennes or Vosges.

Limited kayaking or paddleboarding on local canals and lakes, but rentals are scarce.

Lille itself has no surfing, and nearby coasts have limited surf conditions.

No diving or snorkeling opportunities in Lille.

Lille has good hospitals like CHRU Lille, with some English-speaking staff. Pharmacies are easy to find with a green cross sign.

Tap water in Lille is safe to drink.

Parks like Parc de la Citadelle have playgrounds, and there are kid-friendly cafés and attractions like Lille Zoo and Natural History Museum.

Lille is LGBTQ+ friendly with safe spaces and legal protections.

Many parks and vets make Lille pet-friendly. Some places allow pets but check first.