10 Things to Do in Lille on a Small Budget

Free museum visits on the first Sunday of the month are a popular way to see some of the best museums in France covering a variety of different topics. You'll find local museums that cover the history of both people and the natural world. Additionally, you'll find quite a few art museums around town.

If you can fit the first Sunday of the month into your holiday itinerary, museum visits won't eat into your budget at all since they'll be entirely free. Just keep in mind that a lot of people will be taking advantage, so you may want to go early in the morning. You'll find museums throughout town, though most are fairly close to the city centre.

Lille Old Town (Le Vieux Lille) is a fun historic district with impressive architecture that you can see without paying anything. The buildings in the area are Flemish-influenced, with many sporting the iconic red brick the style is known for.

A lot of the architecture and structures here were built in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the cobbled streets only add to the historic atmosphere. You'll find it all by heading north from the city centre, and it's easily traversable on foot or with a bike.

Visit around with a City Pass to enjoy a massive amount of the city's top sites while maintaining your budget with the steep discounts. The City Pass lets you enjoy all sorts of attractions, including museums and cultural places in Lille and the surrounding area.

When you opt for this pass, you'll not only find yourself with easy access to a variety of attractions, but you can enjoy public transport options as well, making it easy to get around. The pass comes in multiple forms, such as the 24-hour and 48-hour variants, and it's available online.

Citadel Park (Parc de la Citadelle) is a large park in town where you'll find trails, historic sites and lush greenery that you can access for free. A prominent site in the park, the citadel itself dates back to the 17th century, and a lot of its fortifications are still intact and open for visitors.

This park is useful for travellers looking for a relaxing experience, thanks to the numerous wellness trails set up around it. You'll even find a zoo with 70 different species on display. It's all located on the west side of town surrounded by waterways.

Bike rental V’lille makes it easy to get around town without having to pay for public transport or hiring a car. The bike-sharing system in town is quite advanced and boasts numerous stations and bikes for you to utilise, making it easy to keep well within your budget.

The city is particularly friendly to cyclists, and the streets are easy to navigate without having to worry about major roads being too dangerous. Plus, you can ride with peace of mind knowing that your carbon footprint isn't a problem as you travel about. You'll find these stations all around town, though they're mainly found around the city centre.

The Botanical Garden (Jardin des plantes et serre équatoriale) is a stunning pleasure garden where you'll not only find plenty of open green space but diverse plants. Flowers are common throughout, but this garden also features an arboretum with towering and sometimes exotic trees.

The exotic plants here are typically grouped by country of origin, so it's easy to tell where they came from. Access to this park is entirely free, so you don't have to check your budget at all when planning on visiting this stunning space. Explore it all southeast of the city centre by the Porte de Douai metro station.

Beffroi de l'Hôtel de Ville is a historic tower where you can take in stunning views of the city and surrounding area from its peak. The tower dates back to the early 20th century when it was designed by Emile Dubuisson, who wanted to maintain the Flemish tradition.

When you visit this tower, you'll be able to travel 104 metres up to take in panoramic views of the surrounding cityscape. It's all protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well, so you can count on it all being well maintained. You'll find it just east of the city centre.

Saint Sauveur Train Station (La Gare Saint Sauveur) is a former train station that has since been transformed into a cultural space that hosts regular events and exhibits. Concerts, art exhibits and even cinema screenings are regular occurrences at this cultural centre.

Be sure to check the local calendar before you visit to get an idea of what's on. For the most part, however, you'll find that admittance is free no matter what kind of event is being held. Even if there's nothing notable going on, the area is quite peaceful and good for a break. You can find it east of the city centre and north of Moulins.

The Old Stock-Exchange Building Market (Marché de la Vieille Bourse) is a fun market with second-hand books that you can explore among a 17th-century marvel. The market offers some incredible books, old newspapers, comics and more for discounted prices.

The area itself has much to offer as well, as the old building is one of the finest in town in terms of intricate detail with its stylings. Of course, you can look at the building all you like without paying a thing. It's all located in western Euralille.

Lille Braderie is a legendary flea market held once a year where you'll find serious discounts on a massive variety of second-hand items and antiques. This is one of the largest flea markets in all of Europe, so you're sure to find something you like when it's in session during the first weekend of September.

Among the items here, you'll find not only antiques and second-hand goods from France but from all over the world. Vendors flock to this market, so you can expect an impressive selection available. Despite the quality and diversity, you'll find it all largely affordable as well. It's located in southern Euralille by the Lille Grand Palais metro station.