Visit Lille in 2 days
19 must-see POIs, optimized routes and anecdotes.
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You will visit the most beautiful points of interest in Lille
2 Days in Lille — A Whirlwind Love Letter to the Capital of Flanders
Lille hit me like a warm cup of coffee on a rainy morning: comforting, unexpected, and impossible to forget. People call it the Capital of Flanders, and there’s a proud, hushed charm everywhere. Some say it’s overrated, but that misses the point. I came for the architecture and stayed for the small, lived-in cafés and lively streets. I’ve walked these squares in spring and winter, and each visit felt like coming home.
Why visit? Lille blends Flemish warmth with French sophistication in a way that feels honest. You’ll wander from the bustling Lille-Flandres station into narrow lanes lined with patisseries. Hear church bells at Saint-Maurice church, and feel the hush inside ancient stone. Catch a play at Théâtre du Nord or pause on Rue de la Clef for people-watching. The city tastes like buttered brioche and strong espresso. Sight, smell, and sound combine into a cozy, electric atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer.
Planning can feel overwhelming. There is so much to explore that you could easily spend weeks wandering. I get it — time is tight and you want to see everything. That’s exactly why this short guide exists. Below, I’ll show you how to make the most of 2 days in Lille without rushing. This Lille itinerary focuses on the heart of the city, its best sights, and the small moments that make travel memorable.
Key advice: Start early and walk as much as possible. Lille’s charm is best discovered on foot before the crowds arrive. Streets are cobbled and compact, so comfortable shoes matter. Early mornings mean clearer photos at Lille-Flandres station and quiet reflection at Saint-Maurice church. Pace yourself. Skip one museum if needed and linger over a coffee instead. Now let’s dive into the itinerary and see what to see in Lille if this is your first time in Lille.
Quick Mini Guide to Lille
Where to stay:
- Near Lille-Flandres station — fastest arrival by train and within 10–15 min walk of Vieux-Lille and Grand Place.
- Vieux-Lille (old town) — cobbled streets, boutique hotels, immediate access to Rue de la Clef and estaminets.
When to visit:
- Spring and early autumn — pleasant terrace weather and fewer conference crowds.
- Weekdays morning arrival — stations and museums open, cafés less crowded; save evenings for Théâtre du Nord shows.
Things to do (2 days):
- Day 1: Arrive at Lille-Flandres → walk to Grand Place → Saint-Maurice church → explore Rue de la Clef boutiques and patisseries.
- Day 2: Morning at Lille’s old theater area, quick visit to Théâtre du Nord (check guided-visit times), afternoon interactive tour: book The Alchemist LILLE or The Secrets of Lille for a hands-on city experience.
- Eat at an estaminet — try local dishes (moules-frites, maroilles) and finish with a craft beer from a Flemish-style brasserie.
Don't forget:
- Book interactive tours in advance; small groups sell out on weekends.
- Carry change/card for market stalls on Rue de la Clef and nearby boutiques.
- Comfortable shoes — cobbles everywhere. Check showtimes at Théâtre du Nord before planning evenings.
Day 1 - Lille
10 POIs to discoverDay 1 - Morning à Lille
5 Points of interest - Duration : 3h45 - Distance : 0.6 km - Walking : 0h07
Column of the Goddess
- Since 1845, the monument has commemorated the heroism of the people of Lille during the 1792 siege of Lille by the Imperial (Austrian) army.
- The statue of the goddess at the top holds a boutefeu in her right hand and points to the inscription on the plinth, echoing the response of the mayor of Lille refusing to surrender the besieged city to the Imperials.
- The statue of the goddess is in bronze, stands three meters high, and is an allegory of the city of Lille.
- At its base, the column is surrounded by a basin making a fountain, added later.
Rue Saint-Etienne
- Its name refers to the former church of Saint-Étienne destroyed during the siege of 1792.
- The Hôtel Beaurepaire was dated 1572, as the only Renaissance style building in Lille.
- The house n° 62 is classified as a historical monument since December 21, 1984.
- The house at n° 60 is also classified as a historical monument since December 21, 1984.
- The Nouveau Siècle de Lille complex replaces the "Diplodocus" project and is owned by the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France.
Place du Général-de-Gaulle
- Former names: Forum, Place du Marché, Place d'Armes, Grand'Place Created in the 14th century as a market, it is the historic heart of the city and home to monuments such as the Goddess Column, the Théâtre du Nord and the Vieille Bourse.
- During the French Revolution, the grand-place was the site of executions and demonstrations.
- It was renamed in honor of Charles de Gaulle after the Second World War.
- Today, it is a place for festivities, exchanges and various events, as well as a center of commercial activity.
Maison Meert
- Maison Méert is one of the oldest pastry shops still in business in the world, having its origins in 1761 in Lille.
- Madagascar vanilla-filled waffles are Méert's flagship product, packaged by the six in gilded paper or by the twelve in cardboard boxes.
- The store features a flamboyant style with Orientalist echoes, gilding, coffered ceilings and wrought-iron balconies.
- Méert has received numerous national and international awards and has played host to illustrious personalities such as Napoleon, Charles de Gaulle and Churchill.
Rue Esquermoise
- One of the oldest streets in Lille, used to reach the Grand'Place and the future route to Dunkirk.
- Named after the ancient village of Esquermes. Noteworthy are the Maison Meert and five historic buildings, such as numbers 4, 6, 8 and 5, 7, with toitures and facades classified as historic monuments. Until 1858, it led towards Esquermes.
- The rue Esquermoise crossed canals, such as the Pont de Weppes, and its layout has changed over time. A passageway opened after 2005 allows pedestrians and cyclists to reach the parvis de la Treille via the rue de Weppes.
Day 1 - Afternoon à Lille
5 Points of interest - Duration : 3h45 - Distance : 0.9 km - Walking : 0h11
Lille's old theater
- Lille's theater, built in 1785 gave its name to the Place du Théâtre.
- In April 1903, a mysterious fire destroyed the theater, and reconstruction was abandoned in favor of the Cordonnier opera house, completed after World War I.
Théâtre du Nord
- The theater is housed in a former 18th-century guardhouse called Grand(e) Garde.
- The building was constructed in 1717 after the conquest of the city by Louis XIV and served as a guardhouse for the garrison.
- A solar sculpture on the facade recalls the annexation of Lille to France in 1667.
- Le théâtre du Nord offers numerous plays covering a wide variety of genres and eras.
Lille Opera House
- In 1668, the city of Lille became French, and operatic activity developed rapidly with performances organized in the town hall.
- At the end of the 18th century, a larger hall was built, inaugurating in particular the French premieres of famous operas.
- A fire destroys the opera house built in 1785, leading to the construction of a new building in 1903.
- The new opera house is occupied by the Germans during the First World War and used for German performances.
- After the end of the war, the opera house is restored and reopens in 1923 for its "French premiere".
Rihour Square
- Place Rihour highlights the Palais Rihour, the war memorial, as well as a glass pyramid marking the arrival of the metro in 1983.
- The Palais Rihour was destroyed by fire in April 1916 and today only a small part dating back to the 15th century remains.
- Lille's monument to the dead, inaugurated in 1927, commemorates the harsh living conditions during the First World War, for soldiers and civilians alike.
- Lille was the first metro in the world to be automated, on tires and without a driver.
Chamber of Commerce
- Lille's Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1715.
- The building was constructed between 1910 and 1921.
- Its famous 76-meter-high neo-Flemish belfry features an automated carillon of 26 bells, playing the European anthem or "le P'tit Quinquin" depending on the time.
- It's often nicknamed the "New Stock Exchange," in opposition to the Old Stock Exchange opposite.
- During the German occupation in 1940, the New Stock Exchange served as the headquarters of the regional Kommandantur.
Day 2 - Lille
9 POIs to discoverDay 2 - Morning à Lille
5 Points of interest - Duration : 3h15 - Distance : 1.7 km - Walking : 0h22
Lille-Flandres station
- Lille-Flandres station is the main railway station in the French city of Lille, inaugurated in 1848 and renamed in 1993.
- Terminal station for high-speed, medium-distance and regional trains, with connections to Belgium via the SNCB.
- The station features a neoclassical design dating from 1867, with a facade removed from the Gare du Nord in Paris to be reassembled in Lille.
- Rail services include high-speed lines to Paris, Mulhouse, and intercity connections to various cities in France and Belgium.
- Lille-Flandres station was used by around 17 million passengers in 2007, offering a wide range of regional and national connections.
Saint-Maurice church
- Its construction began in the late 14th century and was completed in the late 19th century.
- Over the centuries, the church has been enlarged, with additions to various parts, including the choir and tower in the 15th century, and the side chapels in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- The church was damaged by arson in 2001 and has undergone extensive restoration since then.
- The church interior houses paintings, sculptures and stained-glass windows by renowned artists.
- The church has two organs: a grand gallery organ built in 1877 and a choir organ built in 1882.
Place du Concert
- It is so named because of the presence of a conservatory concert hall.
- Originally, the square was called "place du cloître Saint-Pierre" and stood on the site of the canons' enclosure of the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre.
- The canonical buildings damaged during the siege of 1792, as well as the collegiate church, were destroyed from 1794 onwards.
- The square was renamed "Place du Concert" in 1803.
- Lille's School of Fine Arts, which stood opposite the conservatory until 1964, extended into Rue Alphonse Colas.
- An archaeological dig carried out at 12 Place du Concert revealed features dating back to the 11th century, when the town originated.
Ilôt Comtesse
- L'ilôt comtesse refers to the garden of the Hospice Comtesse, founded in 1237 by Joan of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders.
- A fire in 1468 destroyed the original establishment, but parts were rebuilt over the centuries.
- Recreated in the 1980s, the garden houses some thirty period medicinal plants, testifying to the use of these plants in the 13th century.
Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral
- The cathedral stands on a miraculous statue venerated since the 13th century.
- Construction began in 1856 and was completed almost 150 years later after many compromises, in 1999, due to numerous financial difficulties.
- The project aimed to rebuild a large church in the heart of the city, as well as to promote the creation of an episcopal see in Lille to reinforce its status as a religious capital.
- A model of the original project is present in the cathedral (pictured).
- In Gilleson Square, which surrounds the cathedral, you can also admire the Campanile Saint-Nicolas, the bell tower that stands alone from the cathedral.
Day 2 - Afternoon à Lille
4 Points of interest - Duration : 3h45 - Distance : 0.5 km - Walking : 0h06
Rue de la Clef
- This is one of the oldest and most emblematic of the Vieux-Lille district.
- It is mentioned in the medieval cartulary but not in the 1066 Charter of Endowment of the Collegiate Church of Saint-Pierre.
- Once called "rue Marat," it regained its original name after being the site of the "Hôtel de la clef" in 1793.
Hospice Comtesse
- Hospice Comtesse (also known as Hospice Notre-Dame) is a former hospice in Lille founded by Joan, Countess of Flanders, in 1237.
- The hospice remained Lille's main hospital until the late 18th century, and then became a hospice for the elderly and orphans after the French Revolution.
- Since 1962, it has housed a museum of Art and History that presents the social and cultural life of Lille in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- Regular exhibitions are organized in the patients' room, and the dormitory is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary works tracing the history of the city.
Maison de Gilles de la Boë
- This house, also known as the Bon Bouillon, was built in 1636 near the old port of Lille for spice and cloth merchant Gilles de la Boé.
- It also housed an estaminet called "Au Bon Bouillon", hence its nickname.
- The ensemble is richly decorated with heavy fruit garlands linking thick brackets together.
Rue des Chats Bossus
- The "street of hunchback cats" is one of Lille's oldest streets.
- The street owes its name to an old estaminet (tavern).
- The former fishmonger's A L'Huîtrière has been a Lille institution for over a century, an essential part of Lille's heritage for its interior and art deco façade.
- An enigmatic golden arm hanging for several centuries on the corner of the street keeps all its mystery.
- Cherubs adorn the street, looking at each other to indicate the same house and turning back to back to mark the neighborhood boundary.
- Boats float on the walls and balcony of some buildings.
Where to Stay in Lille
For a short, two-day visit to Lille, location matters more than anything else: you want to spend your time wandering cobbled streets and popping into cafés, not fighting transport. Choosing accommodation near the main arrivals and attractions keeps your days relaxed — arriving at the station, dropping bags, and stepping straight into the rhythm of the city is a small change that makes a big difference. Aim for a base that feels central so you can easily return for a midday rest or to change for an evening show.
The city is compact and pleasantly walkable, divided into a lively commercial spine and the atmospheric old quarters. To help orient yourself, picture the rail hub as a northern gateway and the historic center as a cluster of narrow streets, squares and museums clustered around the Grand Place. Streets such as Rue de la Clef and plazas by the churches form the heart of the old town, while slightly newer avenues host shops and metro stops that link the whole area together.
If you want to be steps from trains and quick connections, look for places around Lille-Flandres and the neighboring Euralille quarter: you’ll be close to both the station and tram/metro links that whisk you across the city and to nearby arrivals at Lille-Europe. For the most charming experience, choose a lodging in Vieux-Lille, where winding lanes lead to the Église Saint-Maurice and historic façades and cafés invite slow mornings. If catching a performance is a priority, consider staying near the Théâtre du Nord or the old theatre district so you can stroll to evening shows without hailing a taxi.
Transport in Lille is straightforward: two metro lines cover the center, trams and buses fill in the gaps, and most points of interest are within a 15–20 minute walk. Check that your accommodation is near a metro or tram stop if you plan day trips beyond the center, and remember the two main train stations are an easy 5–10 minute walk from each other — handy when you arrive from or depart to other cities.
For peace of mind on a short trip, prioritize centrality and simple logistics: proximity to a station or metro, flat streets for wheeling luggage, and a quiet street for sleeping well. Whether you choose the buzz of the station area, the charm of Vieux-Lille, or the cultural feel around the theatres, a well-placed base will let you enjoy Lille’s highlights without stress.
Getting Around Lille
Lille is one of those cities that feels big on culture and small on distance, and its public transport makes it wonderfully approachable. The network operated by Ilévia combines an automated metro (two VAL lines), modern tram services and a dense bus grid, so whether you want a quick hop across town or a calm ride to the museums, you’ll find a straightforward option. Stations are centrally located and the city center — where Lille-Flandres station sits — is compact enough that many visitors prefer to mix short walks with one or two tram or metro journeys. 🚇
Practical ticketing is simple: you can buy a single-ride ticket at machines in stations or use mobile tickets in the Ilévia app, and most travellers save money with a multi-ride carnet or a day pass if you plan to jump on and off. If you’re staying longer, look into the reloadable contactless card (sometimes called the local pass card) to avoid repeated purchases. Keep your ticket handy to validate at the machines or on board where required — inspectors do run checks. 🎫
Google Maps is genuinely reliable here: enter your destination and it will show metro, tram, bus and walking options with realistic travel times. For example, choose “public transport” to see whether the metro line M1 or M2 gives you a faster route, or if a tram to Roubaix/Tourcoing is involved for trips beyond central Lille. Real-time departures are usually accurate, and the Ilévia app can provide updates and e-tickets when you prefer an official source.
To save money and have a richer experience, mix walking, cycling and public transport. Lille’s center is eminently walkable and the city bike-share (V'Lille) is a great, inexpensive option for short hops. Carnets and day passes cut per-ride costs if you’ll use transit several times in a day, and walking between nearby sights often turns a transport budget into time for a coffee and people-watching instead. 💡
One personal note: when I first arrived at Lille-Flandres, I needed to get to Saint-Maurice church and then to the old theatre. Rather than queue for a tram I followed the crowd out of the station toward the Grand Place, spotted the Vieille Bourse, and walked — it took about ten minutes in easy steps. I used Google Maps to confirm the route and bought a single ticket for the rest of the day on the Ilévia app just in case. That mix of walking and the occasional metro stop made getting around feel effortless and a little like being a local.
What to Pack for Lille
En deux jours à Lille tu vas zigzaguer entre la gare, des églises remarquables, des théâtres et des places charmantes — souvent à pied et parfois sous un ciel changeant. Voici ma liste pratique et personnelle : je l’ai testée lors d’un week-end où je suis resté dehors plus de 10 heures par jour et j’ai fini par marcher environ 24 km au total. Chaque choix contient le pourquoi, pas seulement le quoi.
1. Chaussures de marche confortables : J’ai eu des ampoules la première fois que j’ai voulu « faire la ville » sans bonnes chaussures. Prends des chaussures avec semelle amortissante (ex. New Balance 990 ou Merrell) et résistance à la pluie légère — les pavés du Vieux-Lille et les escaliers d’églises fatiguent vite. Pourquoi : confort = liberté pour visiter 10+ heures d’affilée sans douleur, et meilleure adhérence sur sol humide.
2. Sac en bandoulière sécurisé : Je garde toujours un sac croisé fermé quand je traverse la gare Lille Flandres ou que je m’assois devant un théâtre. Main libre pour le ticket, mains libres pour prendre des photos, et zip contre les pickpockets. Pourquoi : facilité d’accès + sécurité dans les zones animées.
3. Vêtements adaptés au temps (superposition) : Lille change de météo en un instant — j’ai commencé en tee-shirt, fini en coupe-vent. Prends une couche thermique légère, un pull fin et une veste imperméable compacte. Ajoute une tenue respectueuse pour entrer dans les églises (épaules couvertes). Pourquoi : rester confortable toute la journée et respecter les lieux de culte sans te trimballer une valise.
4. Adaptateur secteur (prise française Type E) : La première fois j’ai oublié l’adaptateur et mon chargeur européen ne rentrait pas — téléphone mort avant le spectacle. Pourquoi : sans adaptateur tu risques de ne pas pouvoir recharger à l’hôtel ou à la gare, surtout si tu veux vérifier horaires et billets en ligne.
5. Batterie externe (10 000–20 000 mAh) : J’utilisais GPS, photos et billets numériques toute la journée ; une batterie de 10 000 mAh m’a permis une recharge complète, 20 000 mAh m’aurait donné deux recharges. Pourquoi : autonomie pour 10+ heures hors de l’hôtel, surtout pendant les trajets en train et les longues marches entre lieux.
6. Optionnel mais malin — parapluie compact ou imperméable léger + petite écharpe : Une averse surprise m’a surpris sur la Grand’Place une fois; une écharpe m’a aussi servi à couvrir mes épaules avant d’entrer dans une église. Pourquoi : polyvalence (protection pluie + respect des sites religieux) sans alourdir ton sac pour un court week-end.
Enjoy Your Trip to Lille!
In just two days you'll explore 19 spots across Lille, a compact itinerary packed with charm and variety. From the bustling Lille-Flandres station to the quiet beauty of Saint-Maurice church and the lively atmosphere around Lille's old theater, this plan gives you everything you need to taste the city's culture, history and theatre scene while leaving room for leisurely meals and wandering streets.
Remember, this is a guide, not a strict schedule — the best memories often come when you leave room for the unexpected. Allow time to get pleasantly lost in Vieux-Lille, follow a side street to a bakery, or linger over a coffee after visiting a church or theatre. Don't feel you must see EVERYTHING; slow down, savor a spontaneous discovery, and let the city surprise you.
I hope you feel excited — I'm excited for you! Between the grand station arrivals at Lille-Flandres, the hushed moments in Saint-Maurice church, and the theatrical buzz around Lille's old theater, you're going to have an amazing time. Embrace each moment and create unforgettable memories that will make you smile for years.
Want to explore in a playful way? Check out Coddy's gamified tours — The Alchemist LILLE and The Secrets of Lille — for interactive city quests that turn landmarks into puzzles and make discovery joyful and memorable.
Safe travels! Have fun! Enjoy! If you want, share your photos or questions when you're back — I'd love to hear about your favorite Lille moments.
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