Planning 3 days in Lille or a long weekend in Lille? Here’s how we packed a long weekend exploring museums, food and charming cobbled streets. I return regularly for French pop concerts – the reason for this latest Eurostar trip from London – but Vieux Lille‘s lively atmosphere would entice me back anyway.
Our busy three-day itinerary featured a city bus tour, heritage sites and art in Roubaix, museums in Vieux Lille, the vibrant Wazemmes market and panoramic views from the Belfry tower.
This is an honest report on what is achievable during a three day Lille trip on a fixed budget, rather than listing expensive or impractical activities you won’t fit into a weekend break.
Our Budget for 3 Days in Lille (2 People)
Before diving into our 3-day Lille itinerary, here’s the budget for our trip for two people:
- Travel: £69 return per person – Eurostar London to Lille during the Eurostar Flash Sale (£138 total)
- Hotel: £90 per night including breakfast – double room at Ibis Styles Lille Grand Place (£270 total)
- 72-hour Lille Citypass: £42.60 per person including 24-hour public transport (£85.40 total)
- Restaurants and snacks: £240 for two people over three days
- Total: £623.40 (excluding concert tickets)
For a long weekend in a walkable European city with great museums, interesting shops and food, we thought Lille was fantastic value in 2026.
Table of Contents
Just 90 minutes’ journey on Eurostar makes Lille a perfect weekend getaway; after clocking off work we arrived at Lille Europe station by 10pm local time. Our hotel near the Opera House was close enough to walk to from the Eurostar.
As it was not too late, we immediately headed out for an evening stroll around Lille’s handsome Grand Place, more formally known as Place du Général-de-Gaulle, after France’s famous President.
Seeing the stepped gabled roofs and decorative Flemish facades, hearing cars slowly rumble across the cobbles (although much of the centre is pedestrianised) in front of lively cafes – and you know you’ve arrived in Lille.
Day 1: Lille Citypass, Roubaix and a concert
On Friday morning, the first of our 3 days in Lille, we bought the 72 hour HelloLille Citypass which includes public transport for the first 24 hours. Lille has two underground metro lines and two tramlines reaching to the suburbs – although the city centre is easily walkable.
Lille tourist passes are available for 1, 2, or 3 days in Lille; you can order them online but picking up in person was easy at Lille tourist office. I will write a further dedicated post about the Citypass; we were pleased what good value it was.
Lille City Bus Tour
Having bought our tourist passes, we boarded Lille’s city bus tour which departs daily (except Monday) from the tourist office and passes the main sights alongside audio commentary.
The 75 minute tour passed sights farther from the centre we’d not yet seen; Quai de Wault, the Porte de Paris monument and Gare Saint Saveur cultural centre.
We saw Lille from a different angle on the open top deck; audio commentary on local history and architecture enhanced our knowledge of the city.
Afterwards, for quick sandwiches we went to KAF, opposite main transport hub Lille Flandres station, before boarding a tram towards Roubaix – where our evening concert would be.
Villa Cavrois: Modernist Architectural Monument
We got off halfway to Roubaix: Villa Cavrois is twenty minutes’ walk from the tramway and lies in a well-heeled suburb of large privet hedged houses. A 1930s architectural marvel, designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens, the yellow bricked mansion had fallen into disrepair before being saved by the French government as a national monument. Allow 2 hours to visit.
The villa’s custom-designed modernist furnishings were sold decades ago; gradually some pieces are being bought back when they’re up for auction. The estate was photographed by period design magazines, allowing painstaking accuracy in recreating fixtures, fittings and the garden.
In the bunker-like basement, materials salvaged from the dilapidated site are displayed; bakelite light switches, rusty metal bath feet, parquet flooring. A short film depicts the scale of the ongoing project. There’s a great gift shop selling design books but sadly no cafe.
La Piscine Museum at Roubaix
Flagging, we rejoined the tram to La Piscine Musée d’Art et Industrie in Roubaix. Annoyingly, a press reception that evening meant the museum cafe there had closed early.
Nevertheless, the stunning re-worked Art Deco swimming pool interior made us forget our caffeine deprivation (if not our aching feet). Shimmering water reflects light from the sunrise feature windows and tiled vintage cubicles, once changing rooms, are now display cases.
The impressive collection of sculptures, ceramics and paintings is almost upstaged; being late in the day, we were overwhelmed. La Piscine at Roubaix may be my favourite gallery space ever; a memorable visit well worth a day trip from Lille.
A post-industrial suburb, Roubaix punches above its weight with things to do, including two further museums and two big outlet shopping malls. The gritty urban setting – Roubaix is twinned with Bradford – contrasts with Vieux Lille’s more obvious tourist appeal.
Pop Concert at Roubaix Collisée
Evening approached and we sought food near Roubaix Collisée (another Art Deco gem). In a Muslim neighbourhood, the many food businesses were not yet serving as it was Ramadan. We found a friendly Japanese restaurant near the SNCF station called Happy Sushi; it was the first time we’d sat down since 1pm.
Our long day was catching up with us and once seated for our Benjamin Biolay concert, I could only muster energy for this single picture of the decorative ceiling. As a French music fan, I was thrilled to learn that the mighty Jacques Brel gave his two final farewell shows at Roubaix Collisée – most fitting, as he was Belgian-Flemish.
Ibis Styles Lille Grand Place
It was my second stay at Ibis Styles Lille Grand Place. Although a chain, it feels independent with the original incarnation open since the 1920s. Rooms are simple but functional; a sound budget option in a central location.
There are personal touches such as a self-serve drinks area and board games in the bright lobby. At breakfast, staff offer freshly squeezed orange juice and homemade waffles.
My husband was delighted not to forgo his night-time herbal tea – he’s happily brewing it at the drinks station in the photo here.
Day 2: Exploring Vieux Lille, Museums and Local Food
On Saturday we had a more relaxed day exploring Vieux Lille on foot. The streets closest to the Grand Place and Opera House are densely packed with shops; but the old town is considerably larger spreading beyond this busy zone with quieter residential streets and old houses.
Vieux Lille’s narrow streets have lanterns strung across roads rather than conventional street lamps. Combined with cobbled streets and decorative stonework on many buildings, Lille is visually arresting without feeling like an over-touristed chocolate box.
Being close to the Belgian border, the architecture feels distinctively Flemish rather than typically French – a big contrast to Paris.
Heading further out than our previous visits, we were charmed that Lille’s old town had retained its character. Although quiet, we didn’t get the impression it had morphed into an empty shell of AirBnB monoculture.
Lille still seems to strike a balance of supporting tourism and lively hospitality without turning itself into a circus or becoming a ghost town off-season.
Visiting the Charles de Gaulle Museum in Lille
On the northern edge of the old town lies the childhood home of former French president Charles de Gaulle, now a museum. Rather than offering dry political history, it’s an endearing period restoration of the de Gaulle family home filled with lovely French antiques.
Visitor numbers are controlled so we had a short wait to get in. The family were clearly devout Catholics: each room entrance has holy water wells and crucifixes. There’s even a small praying room with a kneeler and devotional statues.
I especially loved the vintage kitchenalia and Farrow and Ball-like arsenic green painted scullery with hanging pheasants. Upstairs there’s a laundry room with faded old hat boxes.
Allow 45 minutes inside and stick to the tour route because the friendly, albeit with military efficiency, staff prevent roaming freely. A separate wing houses a display about de Gaulle’s political timeline.
Lunch at a Traditional Lille Estaminet
After Friday’s unremarkable dining (for convenience), we sought authentic Lille cuisine. The Rue de Gand is home to a cluster of authentic northern French restaurants, known as estaminets, each serving hearty regional food.
Estaminets get busy, we were turned away from several – so booking is wise. We found a friendly welcome at Chez Ronny. Estaminets have a unique personality – dark cluttered interiors, the unmistakable fug of Marouilles cheese – and deserve a post of their own.
I ordered Le Welsh: orange molten cheese smothering bread and ham, croque-monsieur on steroids. Served with frites, it’s best washed down with cold beer. Surprisingly, it was less heavy than expected – although guilt prevents me ordering one again.
Shopping in Vieux Lille
To burn off our cheese feast we ambled around Rue de la Monnaie, one of old Lille’s most historic trading streets. Now it’s home to quirky shops although upmarket chains are creeping in.
I saw queues outside cool French fashion label Sézane and cult bakery Les Merveilleux de Fred. A beautiful mosaic-tiled storefront that was previously a fishmonger is now Louis Vuitton – but there are still grubby shuttered units and graffiti too. Aimlessly window shopping was a highlight of our 3 days in Lille.
Rue de la Clef was packed with more independent boutiques. Around Rue Esquermoise you’ll find several food shops including the ornate Meert tea room. We made sure to stop for a rest today at Le Post-Arrière, a coffee shop by day and stained glass-adorned cocktail bar by night. I can feature dedicated guides to Lille shopping, bars and restaurants soon – there is plenty to share.
Musée de L’Hospice Comtesse
Last Citypass stop of the day on our 3 days in Lille itinerary was the Musée de L’Hospice Comtesse, housed in a cluster of Flemish brick buildings around a Gothic courtyard. A former sick ward staffed by nuns may not sound enticing, but this surprising little museum was well worth seeing. Think Call The Midwife meets the V&A.
Beyond domestic quarters, you see the pharmacy where the nuns mixed remedies for patients, a chapel and main upstairs gallery. Displays include paintings by Brueghel, Faïence ceramics, silverware and scientific artefacts. We spent 45 minutes here, although we would have lingered longer if they weren’t closing at 6pm.
Nightlife in Lille
That evening we explored pubs and bars around Vieux Lille. The areas around Place Louise de Bettignies and the bottom of Rue Royale had the most places to drink. A large student population and easy proximity for visitors from Belgium, Holland and the UK means Lille is always lively.
The old town is peppered with restaurants of all kinds; the estaminets mentioned, Michelin establishments and various world cuisine. Wanting a lighter meal, we opted for Thai food at La Table du Siam.
Around the Grand Place are plenty of larger French brasseries where you can usually walk in without reservation. Al Cid there, despite the name, is a French bouillon restaurant with low prices and queues to get in.
Both the Grand Place and Opera House are dramatically lit at night, after a stroll around and some people watching, we needed a relatively early night.
Had we been up for a nightcap, Au Point Central on Rue de la Clef had guaranteed a great vibe every time we walked past, whilst Jacqueline on Rue de Gand was an intimate, casually stylish wine bar.
Day 3: Wazemmes Market, the Belfry tower and Lille Cathedral.
On Sundays, the majority of central Lille shops are closed, which feels strange if you’re used to Sunday opening in the UK. Westfield Euralille, the Vieux Lille boutiques will all be shut.
We still managed to pack a lot into the last of our 3 days in Lille by saving activities that were available on Sunday; the Belfry tower, Lille cathedral and the city museums are all open, although times may differ.
Wazemmes Sunday Market
Sunday morning is when best to visit the unmissable and huge outdoor Wazemmes Market, selling household goods, clothing and fresh flowers at low prices. It’s unglamorous, with ethnic foods such as olives and dates nestling aside knock-down LU biscuits. I bought a lovely knitted beret and scarf for just three euros.
The indoor part, Marché Couvert de Wazemmes, has specialist fresh food counters and places to eat; it is open every day except Mondays.
Watching shoppers choose produce for that day’s dinner embodies the enduring French preference for quality, unprocessed food: live lobsters in bubbling tanks, piles of freshly baked organic breads, massive vegetables still tinged with soil – and barely a sheet of plastic wrap in sight.
Rue Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul has boot-sale style secondhand stalls, although these are more flea market than brocante chic. Cafes at each end of the street overlook the church, Cafe Le Stout is on a busy corner to watch passers by.
Lille Town Hall Belfry Tower Views
To sharpen his appetite for lunch, my husband wanted to climb Lille’s town hall belfry tower. I’d been put off by the 400 steps, but in fact two-thirds can be done by lift. Visits can be booked at fixed times before 11am, but after that you queue – only 18 people are allowed up at once.
From the top of the Belfry, we spotted Porte de Paris below, the grand archway we’d passed on the bus tour. Knowing it was an original gate to the remparts – Porte de Gand, as seen close to Chez Ronny on day 2, was another – framed Lille as a historic walled city.
We’d learned on the bus tour that the name “Lille” derives from L’Île, reflecting its trading heritage as city surrounded by water in the Middle Ages – much like Bruges and Amsterdam.
Terrace Lunch: Carbonnade Flamande and Beer
By now the sun had poked through and we installed ourselves for a lazy lunch on an outdoor terrace near the Grand Place. Carbonnade Flamande is a traditional beef and beer stew with thick gravy served across northern France and Belgium. I’m tempted to revise my own beef stew with beer to see I can create a similar dish at home.
It was International Women’s Day and a passing upbeat procession of people waving feminist and anti-war placards brought some typical French protest energy to our afternoon. We sat sipping cold beers (and had a sneaky ice cream) until it was time for some final sightseeing.
The Smallest House in Lille
Although very central, you probably won’t stumble across La Plus Petite Maison de Lille by accident. The tiny yellow building, barely wider than its door, is hidden along a footpath behind the cathedral.
I think the walls leading to it are a bridge over a ditch that was once a waterway in Vieux Lille; today there are flats at basement level.
Lille Cathedral
As one of the earliest sunny weekends of the year, the square outside Lille’s cathedral, Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille, was buzzing with people at open air cafe tables. We’ve previously eaten waffles at Beer Square (the red brick building above) so much we made gluten free waffles at home.
Lille Cathedral, only completed in 1999, is a mix of Gothic revival and twentieth century modernist. The grey facade looks drab from outside but hides a distinctive amber-coloured stained glass window. It reminded me of the UK’s Coventry Cathedral.
The tall pew chairs have clean lines and the stations of the cross are abstract paintings. The crypt has a paid display of ecclesiastical “treasure” but it was sadly time to retrieve our luggage and head to Lille Europe’s Eurostar check in.
Going Home on Eurostar
Departure on Eurostar at Lille is even easier than London, we checked in 60 minutes before leaving. The Brussels train stops for 5 minutes whilst Lille’s passengers board. With security checks completed you can walk straight off in London. We were home by 7pm UK time.
If you’re planning your own 3 days in Lille, I hope this guide inspires you to explore the city’s culture, food, and shopping. This three-day itinerary is just the beginning of a series I intend to feature – if you have any questions or things I might cover, leave a comment below.
Is 3 Days in Lille Enough?
Walking around central Lille and Vieux Lille on foot, you could have a lovely visit on a day trip, but this would only be a snapshot of what Lille has to offer. If you want to spend time shopping or visit several museums, then you really need a weekend or more.
By spending 3 days in Lille, you get the space to explore beyond Lille city centre, either to Roubaix as we did, or other towns on the Lille transport network such as Tourcoing and Villeneuve D’Ascq – both of which have attractions of their own.
My honest answer? No – three days isn’t enough. But the joy of Lille being so close is that you can make repeat visits and still find new things to do. You might also plan a trip around the Christmas Market, Beer Festival or the Braderie, Lille’s famous city-wide flea market..
My next Lille trip will be in November – for a Vanessa Paradis concert – and I still have a long list of things to do!
Have you been to Lille? Have I inspired you to go? Tell me about your Lille experiences in the comments below and bookmark this page to follow my 3 Days in Lille Itinerary!
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