On a weekend or on vacation in the North of France, do you want to visit Lille in 1 day and are looking for a tourist circuit to do on foot? Well, why not follow my self-guided walking tour to follow on the attached Google Maps. This tourist circuit tours the most beautiful sites in Lille. It allows you to have an overall overview of the city and its hidden treasures in one day.
Less touristy than cities like Strasbourg, Lyon, Toulouse ou Bordeaux However, Lille is a city that is worth the detour because it has a rich heritage that you absolutely must discover. So, here is my walking route and its Google Map that you can follow to explore all the most beautiful sites of this beautiful city of character!
How to visit Lille in 1 day?
To discover Lille in 1 day, you will have several possibilities:
- Guided group tour of old Lille
- Panoramic tour of Lille by tourist bus
- Visit of Lille by tuk-tuk
- Visit of Lille on foot at your own pace by following my self-guided walking tour. See details of my itinerary below.
THELille tourist office Also makes available on its website brochures with 3 walking routes:
- Old Lille route
- Circuit Lille 19th
- Lille Saint Sauveur route
These 3 routes are interesting but the ideal is to do a single route that combines the 3! This is what I did to take advantage of more varied and well organized tours for a full day tour.
What to see in Lille in 1 day?
Lille, through its history, has kept traces of its time when its territory belonged in turn to Flanders, Burgundy, Spain and finally to France (since 1667). It was from there, to protect the largest Flemish city that Vauban undertook the construction of the Citadel.
The tourist sites in Lille are therefore numerous and very varied. By visiting Lille on foot, we cross the Middle Ages, the Renaissance period, the modern period without forgetting the military architecture of Vauban.
By being organized and following my self-guided walking tour, here are the tourist sites in Lille that you can see in one day:
- Palace of Fine Arts (Parking-République)
- Lille Town Hall and its belfry
- Paris gate
- Rameau Palace
- Church of the Sacred Heart
- Rihour Palace
- Grand Place of Lille
- Old Stock Exchange
- Opera
- Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Treille
- Countess Hospice
- Sainte-Catherine Church in Old Lille
- Citadel and its Vauban garden
Itinerary to visit Lille on foot
Click on "More options" in the map to follow the GPS
How to organize a visit to Lille in 1 day?
So that your visit to Lille is optimized for a day, you can follow my 6 kilometer walking circuit according to this program:
- Morning itinerary : from the Town Hall to the Grand Place (3,6 kilometers or about 45 minutes walk).
- Gastronomic stopover : Lunch in a typical Lille restaurant
- Afternoon Itinerary : Old Lille to the Citadel Park (2,4 kilometers or approximately 30 minutes walk).
Lille in 1 day - Morning tours
If you come by car, to park as close as possible to the start of my tour, I recommend the Parking-Republic .
Only 750 meters from the town hall (1st stop on my tour), this car park is perfect for visiting Lille. Especially since it is close to the pedestrian streets and under the Palace of fine arts.
In this magnificent 19th century monument, there is a museum which is one of the richest art museums in France. You can visit it if you have one more day in Lille because it presents prestigious collections of European paintings from all eras.
Town Hall and its belfry
The first stage of my tourist circuit is at theCity Hall on the Roger Salengro square. Listed as a historical monument in 2002, it is known for its belfry (large tower of civil use) from 1930 listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
This belfry is the highest in Europe with its 104 meters high. To have a unique point of view over the whole city of Lille, you can go up to the top.
Paris gate
Opposite the Town Hall, you will be on a magnificent square adorned with statues dating back more than 3 centuries and the Porte de Paris. It is a 17th century arch which is simply majestic.
Rameau Palace
25 minutes walk and you arrive at the Palais Rameau. Today a cultural center, this 1878 palace was originally reserved for exhibitions of all kinds (flowers, fruits, but also works of art or music concerts). It then served as an examination center from 1930 to 1960.
Church of the Sacred Heart
Just 300 meters retracing your steps, you will pass a church with a very beautiful facade. It dates from the 19th century and has 11 stained glass windows classified as historical monuments.
Rihour Palace
On your way back to Place de Strasbourg, you will walk about ten minutes to reach the Palais Rihour. You can admire the remains of a palace built from 1453 typical of Flamboyant Gothic architecture.
Then, a 5-minute walk away you will arrive in the heart of Vieux-Lille on its magnificent Grand Place!
Grand Place of Lille
Also called Place du Général de Gaulle, this Grand Place is the most emblematic place in Lille.
Opposite the Vieille Bourse, the Grand Guard, which dates from 1717, which today houses the Théâtre du Nord.
Old Stock Exchange
In the Middle Ages, this Grand Place was intended for trade, the largest transactions of which were made within its old stock exchange which dates from the 17th century.
Lille Opera
Just behind the Grand Place, a 2-minute walk away, you have to admire a magnificent monument with a beautiful facade in neoclassical style: the Lille Opera.
Restaurant at lunchtime
For the lunch break, you can't visit Lille without tasting some fries! It is a 2-minute walk from the Opera, that there is a good address that I recommend with my eyes closed:
The Flying Counter at 22 Place des Patiniers
In the heart of the historic district of Old Lille, a young team has moved into the premises of an old jewelry store from 1683! So, of course, this is not a gourmet restaurant but the burgers and fries they serve will satisfy your taste buds!
Lille in 1 day - Afternoon visits
The afternoon program is less busy but just as interesting because it starts from old Lille which has incredible charm!
Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Treille
300 meters from the Comptoir Volant, you will arrive in front of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Treille.
To my taste, it is not the most beautiful religious building in Lille, but it is the Cathedral all the same. A few photos then we continue to the side for a more interesting visit: the Hospice Comtesse.
Countess Hospice
150 meters from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Treille, is an old hospital from medieval times. Today this place houses the Lille Art and History Museum.
Sainte-Catherine Church in Old Lille
By heading in the direction of the Citadel, 600 meters further, you will be able to discover the Sainte-Catherine Church. Without spending too much time there, this beautiful church is worth a visit.
Its Citadel
It was Louis XIV who ordered Vauban to build this Citadel in 1667. Indeed, Louis XIV wanted to protect the city he had just conquered and which had become the capital of the northern provinces.
Surrounded by 5 bastions which form a star, the citadel opens through its royal gate onto a set of military buildings in red brick.
Vauban Garden
When you are at the Citadel, you can visit the Zoo or stroll in the cool of the Jardin Vauban. This English-style garden created in 1863 invites you to relax with its beautiful lawns and ponds.
Where to stay to visit Lille on foot?
For a successful weekend in Lille, do not neglect the hotel or Airbnb rental. My tip is a wonderful hotel at the price of an Airbnb (89 €)!
In a historic monument (former faculty of medicine), with its listed facade and majestic courtyard, staying in this hotel is a privilege!
And the icing on the cake: it is located a stone's throw from the Palais des Beaux-Arts, an ideal location for my one-day walking tour and the other day to visit the Fine Arts museum.
Any other city tour weekend ideas?
So here it is:
Ola! Vou fazer esse itinerário esse fds! A única coisa é que eu não consegui reservar mesa no restaurante indicado, vou tentar a sorte e ver no que dá!
Segunda eu conto como foi a experiencia!
Obrigado!
Brilliant! Por isso, espero que aprecie o passeio. Quanto aos restaurants, não há falta deles em Lille, mas é difícil saber quays permanecem abertos dure o Covid e especialmente às segundas-feiras.
Really very nice article, simple, clear and which makes you want.
Thank you Sarah for this comment. I hope that my article will allow many Internet users to discover the gems of this beautiful city!