Getting There
Train
Train is King in Lille with TGV (high-speed) services as well as the Eurostar from London and Brussels running through the swanky Lille-Europe station (the train takes 10 minutes from Brussels and 80 minutes from London). The city’s other main station, Gare Lille-Flandres, hosts regional services and an hourly train to Paris.
Air
You can fly direct to Lille’s Lesquin airport from several European and North African destinations.
Sea
Lille is an hour’s drive from Calais ferry terminal.
Car
The city sits at the crossroads of six motorways so is easily accessible from major cities across France and Europe, such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp, Paris and Lyon.
Getting Around
Lille is the fifth biggest city in France but you can walk around the town centre easily. It’s only if you want to head out to satellite towns like Roubaix that you’ll need to hop on the metro or tram.
Transpole is the local public transport system covering the bus, tram and metro system in Lille.
Bus
Runs from 5.30am-8.30pm, at night there is the night buses called the Clair de Lune that operate in the Vieux Lille and out to other towns, these run from 9.30pm-midnight. There is no public transport on May 1st.
Tram
Runs from 5.15am-midnight weekdays, 6.15am-midnight at weekends
Metro
The VAL Metro is unique in the fact that it is totally automated ie no driver! There are 2 lines Lille to Villeneuve d’Ascq and Lomme to Roubaix and Tourcoing.
A single tickets costs €1 and allows one journey in one direction but does allow you to change from metro/tram/bus. 10 tickets come as a ‘carnet’ and will cost €10, a one day ticket (Passe Journee) is around €3 and offers unlimited travel. Tickets are available from the machines at each station.
Lille City Pass
Great value at €14 this allows unlimited travel plus access to museums and other attractions.
Where to stay
Gastama Hostel & Bar
Gastama is a hostel and bar conveniently situated in the quaint Old Lille neighbourhood.
