Living in Lille: Being a digital nomad in this fun city

Living in Lille is great. It’s small but perfectly formed and an ideal destination when working remotely in Europe

#lille travel #remote working #digital nomad Europe

We love France, it’s a hugely diverse country with so much to offer, from beaches to mountains, hilltop towns to lively cities. And whilst many may flock to Paris, Lille, a small nearby city in the North, is often overlooked by digital nomads and remote workers. 

Lille is close to the Belgium border, just an hour from Paris and easily accessible on the Eurostar. Small and historic and with oodles of charm, it’s a great place to base yourself. Being so close to the Belgian border, it shares many characteristics with its neighbour and that also blends into the style of architecture, ambience and food you’ll find there. 

Wander

Due to Lille being fairly small, it’s very walkable. When living in Lille, everything feels ‘just ten minutes’ away, which makes day-to-day less stressful. The old town of Lille is picture-perfect. Small cobbled lanes, winding alleys and cute boutiques and bistros aplenty.

If you love to shop, then living in Lille with is many small independent clothes shops will not disappoint. We could have browsed for hours (and spent a small fortune!) in the boutiques which offered unique and beautifully made pieces.   

And not to mention the pharmacies which are dotted all around town. If you’re a skincare junkie or you just love a bargain, French pharmacies are unbeatable for their range and quality of products, often at better prices than you get at home, for the likes of Claudalie, CeraVe and La Roche Posay.   

Don’t forget to take a stroll after hours, when the old buildings in the town square are beautifully illuminated in the city colours of blue and yellow. Parc de la Citadelle is a perfect place to get some fresh air and do some exercise, and it also houses the city zoo.   

Eat 

Oh la la, you will be spoilt for choice when eating out in Lille. As we said, there is a distinctly Belgian influence in the cuisine, with local ingredients from the local region and with dishes often served with Belgian Frites. 

Head to food hall Grand Scene for a wide selection of food trucks, from Thai to Greek and Neapolitan Pizza. Open seven days a week, it gets busy and has a vibrant atmosphere. Fun, upbeat Italian, Papa Posto, is great for Focaccia style pizza and bar snacks.

Estaminet Lille is where you will find a dish called the Welsh. A delicious, hearty meal of beer, cheese, toast and ham topped with a fried egg. What’s not to love? Take our word for it, it’s delicious and a perfect hangover remedy.  

If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck. For its small size, Lille has the most astonishing amount of independent and delicious boulangeries and patisseries. 

Do not skip Meert, a Lille institution for true gourmands, with the most beautiful selection of chocolates, pastries and cakes. We had some of the best cake we’ve ever had here, it’s seriously good. 

Another favourite is L’Orge de Carrouselberg. Tucked away down a side alley, they had one of the best pain au chocolat we’ve ever tasted as well as a sublime, if pricey, selection of sweet treats. Don’t skip it!      

Drink 

Once again, being so close to Belgium, the beer needless to say in Lille, is superb. Of course, it’s still France, so there are wine bars in abundance as well, but Lille is a great city for beer lovers. 

Try Hein outside of the city centre for a great selection of craft beers on tap and a trendy atmosphere. 

La Capsule is another Lille institution and a beer hall which is a great choice for a night out with friends or to hang out with the locals.  

Try Bierbuik for more great beer, and an impressive small plate selection if you need something to soak up the hops. 

If you’re tired of beer, or you want a fun place to pre-party, head to Le Kremlin where you’ll find some quirky decor and vodka tasting, from some very knowledgeable vodka enthusiasts.   

Stay

Of course, there is an abundance of Airbnbs in Lille as you would expect. But also try The People, a hostel in central Lille which offers great rooms for a very reasonable nightly rate. It’s a young crowd, with evening social events and workspaces so perfect for remote workers and digital nomads who need somewhere clean and comfortable for a night or two.    

The information on this page is not professional, business or lifestyle advice and is for entertainment purposes only.