Lille has its own international airport which is located just a few minutes from the city although flights from outside of 5 are limited. The most common way to get here is to fly to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, or indeed Brussels International Airport, and take a connecting flight, train or bus to Lille.

Lille Lesquin International Airport is located to the south of the city on the A1 Paris-Lille motorway and transfer options to Lille include a shuttle bus (20-minute journey) or taxi. Car hire is also available at the airport, and the trip into town and hotel areas is straightforward.

Transport options within Lille include a metro, buses and trams. There are two metro lines which run from the city centre to the suburbs, taking in many worthwhile attractions en route. Trains run from 05:30 to 00:30, and day, night, weekend and family passes are all available, as well as single tickets.

The Lille City Pass is a useful tourist pass enabling access to attractions, museums and exhibitions as well as transport and is valid for one, two, or three days. Bus, subway and tramway transport are included on the one- and two-day passes, while the special all-encompassing three-day pass includes usage of the entire rail network in addition to usage of buses, the subway and trams.

Lille’s buses are reliable and criss-cross the city, covering more terrain than the trains. In addition, cable trains run to Roubaix and Tourcoing. Lille is pleasant enough to warrant hiring a bicycle and cycling around, and there are many places that rent out bikes. Those with hire cars will find Lille’s roads confusing, and parking can also be tough, while getting about the countryside by car is the best way to go.