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What to do in Lille? Selection of the best activities and leisure

Lille is renowned for its festivity and friendliness. Very close to Belgium and only 1 hour by train from Paris, it retains a culture that is both French and Flemish , as evidenced by the buildings or some culinary specialties from Lille.

With the Deûle which crosses it, Lille is not only urban. Aquatic activities are available for the day or during a weekend in the capital of Flanders . And we will not forget to underline the great fervor of the braderie which brings together millions of people every year in September, to do once in a lifetime!

Wander the historic center and Old Lille

Among the many activities to do in Lille, there is above all the historic center of the city . With its northern and Flemish origins, Lille unveils colorful buildings with unique architecture.

Red brick houses, the Grand’Place, the old Stock Exchange and the cathedral await you for a visit that immerses you in the history of the city. A 100% economical leisure discovery to do at your own pace!

Let yourself be carried away to Vieux-Lille, a very typical lively district with its cobbled streets. You will find unusual street names such as rue de la Clef, rue des Chats Bossus or rue des Trois Mollettes:guaranteed charm.

On foot or by bike, you make your own itinerary to explore the secrets of Lille . The advantage of cycling:you go faster and therefore cover more kilometres, but watch out for passers-by and the rules of use.

Get higher during a first flight

To discover a city as a whole, you can fly away for a first flight at altitude. In a silent and calm hot-air balloon, in a helicopter or in a two-seater ULM, the architecture of Lille will be revealed in a new light.

In the sky, it's time to admire Lille, from the belfry of the Chamber of Commerce to the Citadel built by Vauban under Louis XIV, listening to some stories from the pilot.

In the cockpit or the nacelle of the aircraft, you have all the distance toobserve remarkable sites . You will also be able to realize the logic of the location of the city, by seeing its green surroundings.

Become a commander for a few minutes

If what you like is to be an actor in your activity, and still in the aerial world, you can become a captain for the time of an ultra-realistic flight session !

Installed in the cockpit of a known airliner or fighter, you will perform the tasks of a pilot in command . In this airplane flight simulator, you discover new sensations and can boast of having taken the controls of an airplane.

Accompanied by an instructor, you learn the basics of piloting , and are quickly immersed in the reality of a flight with its weather constraints, the configuration of the landing strip or even altitude management.

Make an escape game or a Koezio

If you like so-called urban activities,adventure and puzzle games , you will love participating in a mission of the utmost importance!

The escape game is settling in our cities to offer us sensational games of reflection. Depending on the scenario, you must save lives, investigate, escape, steal clues or even stop a global threat!

This life-size escape game takes place as a team. You have to solve puzzles which allow you to lift the veil on the mystery of the game:you have 60 minutes to unlock the secret and succeed.

Koezio is a secret agent game where you mix thought and action, with quick stages where you run to validate points. As a team, this adventure game will get you adrenaline pumping and will require some physical resources.

Ride on the water

When you think of doing an activity in Lille, you don't always suspect that you can go sailing on the water , on a leisure base for example but also on a river, the Deûle which crosses the city!

On the latter, you can practice stand up paddle – watch your balance – but it’s perfect for cooling off, playing sports and visiting a few spots in Lille as you progress on the water.

At the leisure centre, it's almost as if you were by the sea. We will offer you canoes, pedal boats, inflatable structures and boats to take a leisurely stroll and see the Vauban ramparts.

Lille, a crossroads of culture and sports activities

Lille is therefore a large city in the North, with many affordable leisure activities for the whole family and profiles of athletes, from the observation walk to the active game full of challenge.

For a few hours in the city or over a full weekend, you can fly, pedal on the roads or on the water , and make your brains work as a team.

Between two leisure activities, we advise you to take a break for photos and to taste the Wonderful , a pastry that lives up to its name!