A Perfect Weekend in Lille, France

Art gallery hopping and boutique shopping in Vieux Lille

Set aside a day for gallery hopping and exploring the maze of winding streets in Vieux Lille (the Old Town), a neighborhood that reminds me of New York’s SoHo, but with far more history. It’s the kind of place where you’re never sure which street to walk down because they’re all so inviting. So be sure to go down all of them—there seems to always be an ornate architectural gem or superb bakery around every corner in Vieux Lille. (Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes as the streets are cobblestoned). On a street called the Passage des Arts, in the center of Vieux Lille, you’ll find a number of excellent art galleries, including Galerie Hammer, Lill’Art Gallery, Espace DUBART and Myl’ART Gallery. There are also LOTS of great women’s fashion finds to be had in Vieux Lille at boutiques like Essential Antwerp, Tara Jarmon, HIGH Shop, Danie Hoo, Muse, Au Bonheur de Sophie, Être Concept Store, Antoine et Lili, Zapa, Xavanne, ba&sh, Gérard Darel, and From Future. (There are plenty of boutiques for men and children too). When you’re ready to wind down, meander over to Parc de la Citadelle (which includes a zoo!) to cap off your day with some relaxation in this pretty park.

Learn about Lille history and culture in Lille-Centre

Just south of Vieux Lille is Lille-Centre, the heart of the city. The town square, the Grand-Place (aka Place du Général de Gaulle), is the heart of everything. It’s all a six-minute walk from the Lille train station. The buildings in this area are historic, beautiful, and very much worth exploring. La Vieille Bourse once housed the Lille Stock Market. In the summertime, from Mondays-Saturdays, the building’s courtyard is now the site of the Vieille Bourse Book Market, where locals gather to buy and sell used books. Just behind La Vieille Bourse is the Lille Chamber of Commerce and its belfry. The building is only open to the general public on special occasions. (Hope for a special occasion while you’re in Lille, as the interior is gorgeous). Next door to the Lille Chamber of Commerce is the Lille Opera, an active opera house where you can still see a concert most nights. A bit further south, walk by the imposing Palais Rihour and keep walking another 15 minutes south until you get to the Beffroi de Lille. Climb up the steps to the observation deck for wonderful views of the whole city. A ten-minute walk east of the Beffroi is the Palais des Beaux-Arts, a museum of arts and antiquities, and a marvelous way to cap off Lille culture day.

Méert (Lille-Centre): I can write entire volumes of poetry about the experience of biting into a vanilla gaufres at Meert. It’s something between a wafer and a waffle and it’s just heavenly. I’ll spare you on that, but do highly recommend you stop by Meert for pastries, chocolates, teas, and gelato. Although I haven’t eaten there, there’s also an entire restaurant behind the shop, where you can sit down and have a proper meal that doesn’t even involve sugar.

Estaminet La CH’TITE BRIGITTE (Vieux Lille): An estaminet is a Flemish bistro and you’ll find them everywhere in Vieux Lille. These are the best places to sit down and enjoy a good, affordable meal. I recommend Estaminet La CH’TITE BRIGITTE for its happy vibes, old-world décor, and the Vegetarian Welsh (a Flemish take on grilled cheese).

Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Vieux Lille): Then there’s the matter of the meringue at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. These pretty chocolate puffs delight both the eyes and mouth. Also, shout out to Aux Merveilleux de Fred for their chocolate brioche and vanilla Flemish waffles.