I will be in Gent, Belgium for work for about 10 days in November. I was wondering if a day trip to Lille would be worthwhile. I haven't found much on the internet about it which makes me think there isn't much to see. I've already been to Paris and the other major Belgian cities and am looking for somewhere new that isn't too far from Gent. I will have a car and am also willing to take the train if it makes more sense.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33865 posts
I drive or take the train past or through Lille several times a year. Twice I have been tempted to go into the centre. Both times I have been underwhelmed. Its nice enough, but the narrowness of the pavements (sidewalks) and the lack of anything special continue to encourage me to stay on the outskirts and continue my journeys immediately after breakfast. Others rave about it (well quietly like it). YMMV
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7893 posts
Some people (I was told...) call Lille "Little Paris". That's because much of the street style and architecture is very reminiscent of Paris. Obviously, there are orders of magnitude more things to do in Paris. I spent one day in Lille this year, also coming from Belgium, specifically to see the Palais de Beaux Arts. I had read (cannot verify, naturally) that it's the best art museum in France, outside Paris. Indeed, it's very good, and I reviewed it on TripAdvisor, but I'm just one opinion. I referred to Lonely Planet Belgium before my trip. The NY Times wrote this year that there is some great Flemish cooking in Lille. I think it used to be part of Belgium. Alas, I couldn't stay for dinner. Train nuts might also want to ride the driverless subway system. However, I saw just as many fare-beater guards (!) as they might have needed drivers .... The old station (and the one you'd use), Lille Flandres, is a beautiful train shed, but there are plenty of those in Europe. If you like traditional art, and you've already been to Bruges and Antwerp, maybe you should go. Otherwise, Gent is a better tourist destination (I've been there twice, for the day.) Are you aware that Antwerp is a superb place to visit? (Their main art museum is closed for years of reconstruction. But there are plenty of other museums there.) Tiny but charming and historic cities nearby are Lier, Leuven and Turnhout. (Change in Antwerp. The latter two have very nice Beguinages.) I'm also very fond of Mechelen, but it's also small - more churches than art, until the van Busleyden museum reopens, showcasing native Rik Wouters.