Located just over an hour from Calais port by car, Lille is a stunning French city with plenty to offer both those on a day trip, and people planning a longer break via a ferry to France. Here we share some of our favourite ways to explore Lille which you may not have considered before.
1. See Lille from a Citroen 2CV
Is there a more quintessentially French way to see Lille than from a Citroen 2CV? Take a trip around Lille’s charming cobbled streets in one of these classic cars and learn all that there is to know about the city. During this Citroen 2CV tour of Lille, you’ll be shown sights around the Old Town, plus other buildings of interest, and will be told anecdotes about the city that you might not hear anywhere else. Your knowledgeable guide will be able to point out places that you might like to head back to after your tour, and you can expect to spend between 30 and 90 minutes exploring the city in the car. Weather permitting, the roof of the Citroen 2CV will be taken down so that you can enjoy the tour in the open air, adding an extra dimension to the experience. You’ll be able to feel every bump and turn in this iconic car, making it a truly authentic experience, and a must-do for petrol heads during a trip to Lille.
2. Take a Segway tour of Lille
Whether you’ve use this mode of transport before or not, a Segway tour of Lille is the perfect way to explore the city. During this experience, your informative guide will provide an introduction on how to ride your Segway, before taking you on a 2 hour tour around the city – including its Old Town and more modern areas. Start your journey at Lille’s 17th century Citadel where you can discover its important walls, and then head into the Old Town where you’ll see highlights such as the Notre Dame de la Treille. You’ll also be able to admire the city’s oldest monument, the Hospice Comtesse, which was originally a hospital but is now home to a fascinating museum. From here, take your Segway down the Rue de Grand, which is lined with places to eat and drink, until you reach Euralille – the city’s modern commercial centre. You’ll complete your Segway tour of Lille at La Place du Théâtre and La Grand Place, where you can see the opera and Vieille Bourse – the city’s old stock exchange and one of its most important landmarks.
3. Explore Lille by coach
If you’d prefer to explore Lille in complete comfort, you might prefer to go on a city coach tour. This 75 minute tour will show you all of Lille’s top sights, and you can enjoy audio video commentary (available in 9 languages) during the trip. Highlights of the tour include the Column of the Goddess at the Grand Place, the opera house and chamber of commerce, the town hall and its impressive belfry, plus the Citadel and the Old Paris Gate – a 17th century triumphal arch monument. This comprehensive coach tour of Lille offers the perfect way to introduce yourself to the city and discover places that you’d like to go back and visit in your own time. The coach heads off from the tourist office, so it’s very easy to locate, and its open top means that you’ll be able to see all of Lille’s landmarks with ease.
Now that you know our favourite ways to explore Lille, book your Dover to Calais ferry crossing and start trying to decide which one you’d like to experience!
