Traveling: Unlocking Lille, France

2022 was definitely a year of surprises when it came to the places I visited, not many of them were in the books, yet they ended up being the places that I would go to. My business trip to Lille was definitely unexpected, but it did make me want to add it to the list of places to visit at least once.

For those of you who (like me) don’t know much about this place, Lille is a town located in the north of France close to the Belgium border. The town's architecture is a mix of the 2 neighboring countries. The city center is filled with old buildings that take you back to the 17th century.

As the 10th biggest city in France, around 35% of the population is under 25, therefore you can expect to see it bloom during the night when the streets are filled with young people having fun. 

If you do have the opportunity, I recommend going to a bar and a nightclub, you will see a different type of city during the night. 

To make things even better, from the middle of November, the Christmas market is installed and ready to greet the visitors, making it a fairy tale-looking city. If you have a brave heart,  I recommend you get into the wheel that will take you 34 meters above the city for an amazing view from above. 

Another reason to add Lille to your list is the local cuisine. I had never eaten such great food in a single European city since I visited Vienna. If you are like me, a foodie, I really recommend you take a trip to the amazing mix of local and foreign restaurants that you can find here. 

Truth be told I didn’t expect much from the 5 days that I had planned to stay in Lille, 3 of them being at work, but I was very pleasantly surprised by a city that has so much to offer. I do plan on returning here with my significant other to enjoy the city that took me by surprise.