Lille is often overlooked as a winter holiday destination, possibly because the Lille Christmas Market is relatively small. However, this is actually one of the reasons to go. The event is cosy and easy to get around, and the queues are relatively short.
In this guide, I share the confirmed dates for 2024, opening times and the two main locations.
Lille Christmas Market 2024
Dates – Confirmed
Lille Christmas Market dates: 20th November to 29th December 2024 (confirmed).
Update: Dates were announced in May. Sign up for our newsletter for future updates.
Source: Dates are obtained directly from the event organiser’s website, available here.
Plan Your Visit
Location and Times
Location: Place Rihour and events at the Grand Place.
Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday: 11am to 8:30pm.
Friday and Saturday: 11am to 10pm.
Christmas Eve: 11am to 6pm.
Christmas Day: Closed.
New Year’s Eve: 11am to 6pm.
Travel and Accommodation
Recommended tour: Lille vintage Citroen city tour is an interesting option.
Public transport: Widely available and accessible.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Travel tips: Ride the Ferris wheel at dusk for beautiful city views.
Plan your trip: Resources to plan your winter break.
Lille weather in winter: Temperatures average 7°C / 2°C (high / low) in December.
Where to stay: The OKKO Hotel is an excellent value hotel, 4-minutes from Place Rihour.
Amenities and Attractions
Admission: Free.
The Christmas Train: Located at Place Richebé from 2pm daily.
The Big Wheel: At Grand Place from 10am to midnight.
Carousel: The vintage carousel is located at Place du Théâtre.
Santa: No.
Ice skating: No.
Reason to Visit: Incredible international cuisine. Less crowded and milder weather compared to Central Europe.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian: Yes, plenty of options.
Vegan: Yes, plenty of options.
Gluten-free: Limited. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Food specialties: Carbonade flamande, tarte au Maroilles, Merveilleux dessert and Meert gaufres.
Accessibility
Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, but not recommended during busy periods.
Convenient Hotels
Staying near Grand Place is the best option for visiting Lille on a short stay. I stayed in this area on my visit and found it ideal, so I didn’t have to walk too far in the cold weather.
The OKKO Hotel is an excellent option in this central part of the city.
For more options, read my complete guide to hotels in Lille.
Recommended Tours
On this 2-hour guided walk, you can visit Lille’s most charming districts and admire its architecture, shops and museums. You’ll see attractions like the Palais Rihour, Old Stock Exchange, Opera House and Notre-Dame de la Treille Cathedral.
Alternatively, on this food tour, explore Lille’s culinary scene with locals who know the best spots in town. Sample Maroilles fries, charcuterie, cheese, local pastries, and many other surprises.
For more ideas on where to go this year, read my French Christmas Markets List.
Location Map
Wrapped up your Christmas visit? We’d love to hear about your experience. Share your story and tag photos with #UltimateChristmasMarkets on social media.
Christmas in Lille
Christmas in Lille is a sensory delight. The streets around the Grand Square are adorned with lights and decorations, while food stalls, bakeries, cafes, and pubs fill the air with enticing aromas.
The market’s centrepiece is a towering Ferris wheel in the Grand Place, which illuminates the winter nights and offers stunning views.
Food Specialties
- Carbonade Flamande: A rich beef stew with a sauce made from beer and often served with fries.
- Flamiche: Originating from Picardy, this delicious tart is traditionally filled with leeks and cream.
- Tarte au Maroilles: Made with Maroilles cheese, a strong-smelling but mild-tasting cheese from the region.
- Speculoos: A type of spiced shortcrust biscuit that is very popular in Northern France and Belgium.
- Gaufres Lilloises: Traditional waffles from Lille that are served warm and dusted with powdered sugar. They’re crisp on the outside and tender inside.
- Saucisson: Stalls offer a huge selection of saucisson and other charcuterie.
- Pain d’épices: Spiced bread that is kind of like gingerbread.
- Merveilleux: Lille is known for the Merveilleux, a dessert comprising light discs of meringue joined by a layer of whipped cream, then fully covered in more whipped cream and rolled in chocolate shavings. This is the best dessert in the ENTIRE WORLD. No joke.
- Meert Gaufres: Not to be confused with gaufres Lilloises, Meert gaufres is a signature biscuit from the famous Meert patisserie in Lille. These unique, thin waffles are filled with Madagascar vanilla cream. You can get them directly from the Meert store.
- Cider: As you wander the market, you may want to switch from the traditional vin chaud and try some hot cider. Normandy and Brittany are neighbouring regions to the North that are famous for their apple ciders.
- Raclette: Originally from Switzerland but equally adored in France, raclette is melted and then scraped onto boiled potatoes, pickles and charcuterie.
- Estaminet Fare: A traditional pub in Lille, offering not just drinks but also local comfort food. such as carbonade flamande, potjevleesch and tarte au Maroilles.
What to Buy
- Artisanal Cheese: From the local Maroilles to other regional favourites like Munster and Brie, cheese enthusiasts have ample choices. Wrapped in rustic paper, these make a nice gift for the foodies back home.
- Handcrafted Jewellery: Among the 90 stalls, vendors sell unique, handcrafted jewellery.
- French Linens: The region around Lille is renowned for its textile industry, which produces tablecloths, napkins, and kitchen towels.
- Wines and Spirits: Choose a red from Bordeaux, a crisp white from the Loire Valley or perhaps some Calvados from Normandy.
- Handmade Toys: Wooden puzzles, games and animals are some options.
- Spices and Condiments: Traditional herbs from Provence, fragrant lavender, mustards, honey and more are nice gourmet gifts.
- Ornaments: Hand-painted baubles, carved wooden decorations and glass ornaments make great souvenirs.
Responsible Travel
- Use Public Transport or Walk: Consider leaving your car at home and using Lille’s efficient public transport system. The city has an extensive network of trams, buses, and a driverless metro system, one of the first of its kind in the world.
- Book an Eco Hotel: Look for a hotel that uses renewable energy sources.
- Eat Local and Seasonal Food: Many of the stall vendors use local, plant-based ingredients.
- Minimise Food Waste: Buy what you can finish and consider sharing portions. If your hotel room has a fridge, consider taking leftovers back with you for later.
- Support Local Artisans: When buying gifts or souvenirs, consider ethical consumption, such as where the items were made and the type of packaging used.
- Drink Tap Water: In France, tap water is safe to drink. Instead of buying bottled water, bring a reusable water bottle that you can refill. This not only saves you money but also reduces plastic waste.
Comment below if you want to leave a Xmas review, have any questions or would like to report any inaccuracies.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. While we make every effort to provide accurate information, the dates and details listed here should not be relied upon. Please consult the official website before booking your trip or planning a visit.
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