France can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.

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Passport/Visa

The best times of year to visit Lille are late spring and summer, when warm temperatures allow for walks and outdoor pursuits. The first weekend of September is also an interesting time to visit, since this is when Lille hosts its historic "braderie", a large-scale, city-wide flea market that attracts 2 million visitors annually.

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Best Time to Visit Lille, France

Lille Airport, also known as Lille-Lesquin Airport or Lesquin Airport, is located 7 km southeast of Lille in Lesquin. A shuttle bus service is offered and runs between the airport and the Euralille shopping centre (next to the main train station of Lille), and the journey lasts 20 minutes: www.lille.aeroport.fr/getting-to-the-airport/shuttle/

Taxis can also be hired at the airport: www.lille.aeroport.fr/getting-to-the-airport/taxis/

Lille can also be reached by train or bus from Brussels, and direct bus routes exist between the Brussels South Charleroi Airport and the city of Lille: www.flibco.com/en

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Airport

Lille has a well-developed public transportation system, managed by Transpole, comprising metro, tram, and bus lines.

Transpole has two underground lines which share the different areas of the city.

The bus service include many lines which entirely cover the city of Lille. The service also include a night line (every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night) et a shuttle for the old city (with departures every 10-15 minutes, Monday to Saturday, from 7:00 to 21:00).

Lastly, two tram lines serve nine districts of the city.

Tickets for every mean of transport can be purchased both at the stations and online. For further information about tarifs: www.transpole.fr/fr/32-les-titres-occasionnels.

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Public Transport

There are several taxi ranks across the city (Boulevard de Leeds at Lille Europe station or on Place de Buisses at Lille Flandres station). Multiple taxi-to-order companies operate in Lille, some of which include:

TaxisLille
+33 7 60 06 61 61
www.taxislille.com

Taxi Flandres
+33 6 05 05 05 01
www.taxi-flandres.com

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Taxi

Pharmacies are marked with a green cross and are relatively easy to locate. 

One 24-hour pharmacy is Grande Pharmacie des Halles:

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Pharmacy

Stamps may be purchased at post offices (most close for lunch) and tobacco shops. Post boxes are yellow in colour.

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Post

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Telephone

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Electricity

Over a decade ago, Lille was awarded the European Capital of Culture title, marking not its pinnacle but rather the start of its journey. In the years since, it has established itself as a premier cultural destination, rivalling any other in northern France and, according to some, beyond. Once a thriving commercial hub in French Flanders, Lille still exudes a strong Flemish character, both in its cuisine and the ornate buildings of its charming Old Town.

Start your stay in Lille by exploring the old part of town and wandering along Vieux-Lille's cobbled streets. Apart from fine examples of old Flemish architecture, the area contains a plethora of small boutiques and cosy cafes. Do not miss the charming little Place aux Oignons.

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Old Town

Second only to Parisian Louvre in the calibre of its collection, Lille's Fine Arts Museum (Palais des Beaux Arts) contains works by assorted great masters, the likes of Rubens and Manet. The basement level holds archaeological finds and miniature representations of the region's 18th-century fortified settlements.

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Palais des Beaux Arts

The building of what once was an Art Deco swimming pool has now been turned into a fine/applied arts museum (La Piscine Musée d'Art et d'Industrie), classical sculptures and busts lining the filled-up pool in a bizarre yet curious presentation.

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La Piscine Museum

The Lille suburb of Villeneuve-d'Ascq is worth the trip if only for its singular Modern Art Museum (Musée d'Art Moderne, d'Art Contemporain et d'Art Brut – LaM), which showcases works by celebrated modernists (such as Picasso and Modigliani, to name a couple), along with a noteworthy collection of outsider art.

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Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art

First built in the 17th century following the seizing of Lille by French forces, the Citadel is an impressive star-shaped fortress which now houses the French Rapid Reaction Corps. Guided tours of the Citadel are held monthly. The park area surrounding the fortress contains pleasant greenery and the Lille Zoo.

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Citadel of Lille

The building of La Vieille Bourse, as it is known locally, consists of a couple dozen separate buildings and a beautiful courtyard containing a book flea market. It is a fine example of 17th century ornamental Flemish Renaissance.

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The Old Stock Exchange

Finally completed only at the turn of the current century, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille bears striking dissimilarity to Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals across Europe - perhaps, due to its pronouncedly modern facade. The inside contains a crypt and sacred art museum.

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Lille Cathedral

Located only a short walk outside the old town, the Lille Zoo is a pleasant afternoon pastime for the whole family. Ticket prices are times lower than those at an average west European zoo, all animals are well looked after, and an impressive collection of species for a zoo of such compact size is represented.

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Lille Zoo

The belfry of Lille's Hôtel de Ville shoots up a hundred metres into the sky, and is accessible via both stairs and an elevator (the latter means of reaching the top is recommended). From up top, a splendid view unfolds over the entire city, including a few local landmarks (although admittedly little of the old town).

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Lille Belfry

The Hospice Comtesse Museum, or Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse, is a century-old once-hospital now open to visitors. The complex consists of a former hospital hall and an adjacent chapel. The English audio guide is informative and essential for those who do not speak French.

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Old Town

Start your stay in Lille by exploring the old part of town and wandering along Vieux-Lille's cobbled streets. Apart from fine examples of old Flemish architecture, the area contains a plethora of small boutiques and cosy cafes. Do not miss the charming little Place aux Oignons.

Lille Zoo

The Old Stock Exchange

The building of La Vieille Bourse, as it is known locally, consists of a couple dozen separate buildings and a beautiful courtyard containing a book flea market. It is a fine example of 17th century ornamental Flemish Renaissance.

Lille Cathedral

Finally completed only at the turn of the current century, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille bears striking dissimilarity to Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals across Europe - perhaps, due to its pronouncedly modern facade. The inside contains a crypt and sacred art museum.

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