lille

Hello, lille

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.

City Information

Essential Information about the city

Passport

Passport/Visa

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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Calendar

Best Time to Visit Lille, France

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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Airport

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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Public Transport

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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Taxi

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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Pharmacy

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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Post

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

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Telephone

+33 (country code) 3 (city code)

Electricity

230 V, 50 Hz