Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Travel Guide

Arras showing heritage elements, night scenes and street scenes
Arras showing heritage elements, night scenes and street scenes
Arras showing heritage elements and street scenes as well as an individual femail
Place des Heros featuring outdoor eating, dining out and nightlife
Notre Dame Cathedral featuring art, religious aspects and interior views

Far from its sad, grey reputation, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais is alive with colour and celebrations where culture and gastronomy come together amidst glorious landscapes.

If you’ve never visited Nord-Pas-de-Calais, you’ll be surprised at the welcome and hospitality you’ll receive here you’ll meet people who are proud of their culture and heritage, who will invite you to taste local specialities and discover the most beautiful parts of the region. On the menu? Museums, beer, cheese, concerts, beaches and history.

To begin exploring the region, start in its main city, Lille, where you can visit the Palais des Beaux-arts fine arts museum, the Natural History Museum and the famous LaM museum of modern art. Don’t forget that in September the famous Lille flea market takes place, attracting millions of visitors. But the surrounding cities are every bit as good as Lille in terms of culture. There’s La Piscine museum of art and industry in Tourcoing, the Louvre-Lens Museum and the famous Rodin sculpture, Les Bourgeois de Calais, in the city of the same name. If you are not a lover of art, why not head to the Nausicaa national sealife centre in Boulogne-sur-Mer instead, or to the Fontinettes Boat Lift, an impressive structure located in the east of the Caps et Marais d’Opale regional nature park?

Caps et Marais d’Opale is also an ideal place to discover the region’s wooded landscapes, such as the Scarpe-Escaut regional nature park and the Avesnois regional nature park. For a completely different view, set off to discover the Opal Coast and its chalk cliffs, particularly around Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez. For an equally charming but perhaps slightly less salty and bracing walk, head to the Deûle canal, which crosses a large part of the region. To enjoy a beautiful view over French Flanders and to learn about the region’s mining history, head up the Mont des Cats hill, trying some of the excellent cheese and beer along the way!

To get to Nord-Pas-de-Calais, fly into Lille. You can also get to Lille on the Eurostar from St Pancras. Local TER trains run throughout the region from Lille, or you can get the high-speed TGV between the larger cities. A holiday in Nord-Pas-de-Calais is easily accessible, and this fascinating region can be discovered using public transport.

Alternatively, you can also get round with a rental car.

Where to stay in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Lille Centre Ville showing street scenes, a sunset and a city

Lille Centre Ville

Art galleries, museums, and historic sites highlight some notable features of Lille Centre Ville. Make a stop by Porte de Paris or Le Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Mairie de Lille Station or Rihour Station to get around town.

Lille Centre Ville
Old Lille which includes heritage architecture, street scenes and a city

Old Lille

Shopping, historic sites, and restaurants are just a few things travelers enjoy about Old Lille. Check out Le Musée de la Maison Natale de Charles de Gaulle or Hospice Comtesse while you're exploring the area.

Old Lille
Historic Center showing a city

Historic Center

Travelers choose Historic Center for its abundant dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Rihour Station or Republique Beaux Arts Station and check out top sights like Rihour Square.

Historic Center
Default Image

Le Marais

While there might not be top attractions in Le Marais, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Citadel of Lille and Zoo Lille.

Le Marais
Default Image

Résidence

While Résidence might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Auchan Villeneuve d'Ascq V2 and Lille Metropole Stadium.

Résidence
Default Image

Rosendaël

While there might not be top attractions in Rosendaël, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Malo-les-Bains Beach and Marcel-Tribut Stadium.

Rosendaël
Hotel Lille Europe

Hotel Lille Europe

3 out of 5
Avenue Le Corbusier Lille Nord
The price is P3,322 per night from Mar 1 to Mar 2
P3,322
P3,898 total
Mar 1 - Mar 2
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Lille. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,003 reviews)
Friendly staff

Reviewed on Feb 8, 2026

Hotel Lille Europe
Séjours & Affaires Lille Europe

Séjours & Affaires Lille Europe

2 out of 5
271 Avenue Willy Brandt Lille
The price is P3,511 per night from Mar 1 to Mar 2
P3,511
P4,015 total
Mar 1 - Mar 2
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this aparthotel in Lille. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Popular attractions Pierre Mauroy Stadium and L'Aeronef are located ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,234 reviews)
Simple and clean, good choice for family travel

Reviewed on Dec 25, 2025

Séjours & Affaires Lille Europe
All Suites Appart Hôtel | Dunkerque Centre

All Suites Appart Hôtel | Dunkerque Centre

3 out of 5
Quai Freycinet 1 Dunkirk Hauts-de-France
The price is P5,332 per night from Feb 20 to Feb 21
P5,332
P6,109 total
Feb 20 - Feb 21
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this residence in Dunkirk. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,658 reviews)
Great location very close to the town centre. Clean room and reasonably priced secure parking.

Reviewed on Feb 1, 2026

All Suites Appart Hôtel | Dunkerque Centre
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Séjours & Affaires Lille Europe

Séjours & Affaires Lille Europe

2 out of 5
271 Avenue Willy Brandt Lille
Stay at this aparthotel in Lille. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Popular attractions Pierre Mauroy Stadium and L'Aeronef are located ...
7.2/10 Good! (1,234 reviews)
Simple and clean, good choice for family travel

Reviewed on Dec 25, 2025

Séjours & Affaires Lille Europe
All Suites Appart Hôtel | Dunkerque Centre

All Suites Appart Hôtel | Dunkerque Centre

3 out of 5
Quai Freycinet 1 Dunkirk Hauts-de-France
Stay at this residence in Dunkirk. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,658 reviews)
Great location very close to the town centre. Clean room and reasonably priced secure parking.

Reviewed on Feb 1, 2026

All Suites Appart Hôtel | Dunkerque Centre
Cowool Lille Villeneuve D'Ascq - Ex Olivarius

Cowool Lille Villeneuve D'Ascq - Ex Olivarius

3 out of 5
Parc Haute Borne 6, avenue Halley Villeneuve-d'Ascq
Book a stay at this golf aparthotel in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,586 reviews)
Fairly clean, modern apartments. Some areas like the tiles in the bathroom and the ceiling are showing signs of wear and our sofa was very stained. The location was quite far out on an industrial estate but we used uber to get to the city centre which was around £25 one way as the metro was suspended. ...

Reviewed on Nov 26, 2025

Cowool Lille Villeneuve D'Ascq - Ex Olivarius
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit