How to get around in Lille and the metropolis
Arriving in a new city means many new challenges, among which: transport. Indeed, moving to a new city can be intimidating, especially when you are not familiar with the public transport network and the different options available. In this article, discover the transport solutions available in Lille, as well as services, tips and good plans to facilitate your daily trips.
Lille is a city well served in terms of public transport with a very complete and multimodal network. You have several options:
subway
- network :
It is the first fully automatic metro in the world, and also the one with the highest frequency. In Lille, it is the fastest mode of transport. It is composed of two lines (Line 1 or the yellow line, Line 2 or the red line), and connects effectively key districts of Lille as well as several surrounding municipalities such as Lomme, Hellemmes, Villeneuve d’Ascq, Croix, Roubaix, or even Tourcoing. For line changes, you must go to the stations where the two lines intersect, that is to say at the stations Gare Lille Flandre and Porte des Postes.
- schedule
Line 1: On weekdays: first departure at 5:12 am and last departure at 00:21 am Saturday: first departure at 5:12 am and last departure at 1:21 am Sundays and holidays: first departure 6h32 and last departure 00h30 For detailed schedules, it’s here! Line 2: On weekdays: first departure 5h16 and last departure 00h30 Sundays and holidays: 6h23 and 00h30 For detailed schedules, it’s here!
- Prices
Occasional trips: Single trip: 1.80€ (valid for 1h on the whole network) ZAP ticket: 1.15€ (valid for three stations off bus) 10 tickets: 15.40€ Day pass: Monthly subscription 4-25 years: 31.50€ month Subscription 10 months 4-25 years: 27€ month Permanent subscription 4-25 years: 27€ month To see all the rates, it’s here!
- Where to buy a ticket or subscription?
For occasional journeys and certain subscriptions: in the station For subscriptions: in the Ilévia branch (Lille-Flandres station; Eurotéléport; Tourcoing Centre; Villeneuve d’Ascq – Hôtel de Ville; République – Beaux-Arts) For subscriptions, if you have a personalized PassPass card: online (24 hour lead time)
BUS
- Network
It has 140 lines, including 12 high-speed bus routes and almost 90 municipalities. Find your line here!
- Schedule
The schedules vary according to the lines. From 22h on demand drop-offs are available, to get as close as possible to you. A night line (N1) is set up between 4 Cantons – Stade Pierre Mauroy and Lille Porte de Douai between 00h41 and 5h23 on weekdays and 1h41 and 6h23 on Saturdays. To find out the schedule of your line, it’s here!
- Prices
Occasional trips: Single trip: 1.80€ (valid for 1 hour on the whole network) ZAP ticket: 1.15€ (valid for three stations off bus) 10 tickets: 15.40€ Day pass: 5.30€ SMS ticket: 2€ (valid 1h, bus only) Subscriptions: Monthly subscription 4-25 years: 31.50€ month Subscription 10 months 4-25 years: 27€ month Permanent subscription 4-25 years: 27€ month To see all rates, it’s here !
- Where can I buy my tickets?
For occasional journeys and certain subscriptions: in metro station For subscriptions: in Ilévia agency (Lille-Flandres station; Eurotéléport; Tourcoing Centre; Villeneuve d’Ascq – Hôtel de Ville; République – Beaux Arts) For subscriptions, if you have a PassPass card: online (within 24 hours) SMS ticket (invoice from your mobile operator or deducted from your prepaid mobile account without additional cost)
Tramway
- Network
Two tram lines are in service and serve Lille, La Madeleine, Marcq-en-Baroeul, Wasquehal, Villeneuve d’Ascq, Croix, Roubaix, Mouvaux and Tourcoing. Tramway Lille-Roubaix (line R) from Lille Flanders Station to Eurotéléport Tramway Lille-Tourcoing (line T) from Lille Flanders Station to Tourcoing Centre
- Schedule
Line R: Direction Roubaix Eurotéléport: from 5h35 to 00h25 from Monday to Saturday/ from 6h55 to 00h25 on Sunday and festive days Direction Gare Lille Flandres: from 5:25 am to 00:00 Monday to Saturday/ 6:55 am to 00:00 on Sundays and public holidays Line T: direction Tourcoing Centre: from 5.45 to 00.35 Monday to Saturday/ from 6.40 to 00.35 on Sundays and public holidays Direction Gare Lille Flandres: from 5.35 to 23.45 Monday to Saturday/ 6.40 to 23.45 on Sundays and public holidays
- Prices
Occasional trips: Single trip: 1.80€ (valid for 1 hour on the whole network) ZAP ticket: 1.15€ (valid for three stations off bus) 10 tickets: 15.40€ Day pass: 5.30€ SMS ticket: 2€ (valid 1h, bus only) Subscriptions: Monthly subscription 4-25 years: 31.50€ month Subscription 10 months 4-25 years: 27€ month Permanent subscription 4-25 years: 27€ month To see all rates, it’s here!
- Where can I buy my tickets?
For occasional journeys and certain subscriptions: by tram/metro station For subscriptions: by Ilévia agency (Lille-Flandres train station; Eurotéléport; Tourcoing Centre; Villeneuve d’Ascq – Hôtel de Ville; République – Beaux Arts) For subscriptions if you have a PassPass card: online
V’Lille (bike sharing)
- Network
260 stations across the metropolis, to find the closest to you, it’s here! Condition of use: Have more than 14 years – Have a valid subscription – Do not exceed 24h per loan
- Schedule
Available 24/7
- Prices
Each time a bike is collected, the first 30 minutes are free, then the cost of use is €1.15 per additional half-hour. 24h subscription: 1.80€ 7day subscription: 7.70€ 1-year subscription: 40€ 1-year reduced-rate subscription: 27€ (reserved for holders of a personal Pass Pass card loaded with an ilévia long-term subscription) To see all the rates, go to here ! A deposit of 200€ not cashed is required at the time of membership. It is deducted only in case of severe damage, loss, theft or non-return of the bike after 24 hours
- Where can I buy my tickets?
For occasional trips and certain subscriptions: kiosk in V’Lille station For subscriptions: at the Ilévia branch (Lille-Flandres station; Eurotéléport; Tourcoing Centre; Villeneuve d’Ascq – Hôtel de Ville; République – Beaux Arts) For subscriptions, if you have a PassPass card: online (24 hour lead time)
Electric scooters in self-service
- Network
Self-service scooters are deployed in 68 municipalities of the metropolis by two operators: LIME and TIER. Terms of use: Be at least 16 years old – Be the holder of a credit card – Be the holder of a smartphone to download the application
- Schedule
Available 24/7
- Prices
TIER Occasional rate: €1 per unlocking + €0.20/minute Round-trip pass: €3.99 Day pass: €9.99 Unlimited unlockings: €19.99 for 150 minutes / €35.99 for 300 minutes / €65.99 for 600 minutes Student rate : -25% LIME discount Occasional fare: €1 per unlocking + €0.18/minute Round-trip pass: €3.60 100-minute pass: €12.99 240-minute pass: €22.99 300-minute pass: €29.99 Scholarship student fare: €1 per unlocking + €0.10/minute – Where can I buy my tickets? On the dedicated applications: LIME : LimeTIER : TIER – Move Better
Train
- Network
The TER routes allow not only to leave the European Metropolis of Lille, but also to move within it. From the bus to Tourcoing, Roubaix and Villeneuve D’ascq, but also to other nearby cities such as Haubourdin, Seclin, Lesquin, Wattignies, Fretin, Ronchin, Armentières, are available.
- Prices
With a PassPass card: Single journey: 1.80€ (valid for 1 hour on the entire network) 10 tickets: 15.40€ Day pass: 5.30€ Subscriptions: Monthly subscription 4-25 years: 31.50€ month Subscription 10 months 4-month25 years: 27€ month Permanent subscription 4-25 years: 27€ month To see all the rates, it’s here! With SNCF: see rates here
- Where to buy my tickets
For occasional journeys and certain subscriptions: at the station For subscriptions: at the Ilévia branch (Lille-Flandres station; Eurotéléport; Tourcoing Centre; Villeneuve d’Ascq – Hôtel de Ville; République – Beaux Arts) For subscriptions, if you have a PassPass card: online (within 24 hours) On SNCF Connect or at the station
Practical tips
Via https://arcenciel.hautsdefrance.fr/arcenciel4/pages/les-supports-pass-pass
What is the PassPass card? It’s a card that lets you travel throughout the Hauts-de-France region. You can load it with your subscriptions or occasional tickets for the metro, bus, tramway, TER or V’Lille. You have two options: create a personal PassPass card (€4) or a non-personalized card (€2). If you choose the first option, you’ll be able to subscribe to the varioussubscriptions, top up your card online and have it returned to you if you lose it. With a non-personalized card, you can only buy occasional tickets (single journeys or passes). As a non-personal card, it can be lent out. To obtain a personal PassPass card, you can go to an Ilevia branch or create an account online on the Ilevia website. To create a personal card, you need valid identification and a passport photo. Non-personal cards are available from ticket machines and in agencies.
- Which subscription to choose according to your situation?
To choose the best plan, it is important to consider the length of your stay, your travel habits and your place of residence. You can find the shortest route for your home-study trips or any other occasional travel thanks to Google Maps If you have to make daily journeys by metro/bus/tram/TER/V’Lille in the MEL: Monthly subscription 4-25 years: 31.50€/month Start date of validity at choice, unlimited trips on the MEL network or Monthly subscription 10 months 4-25 years: 27 €/month (or 270 € in total) Unlimited travel from 1 September to 30 June, purchase of the subscription possible from June 22 to October 7, subscription payable in cash or in 10 monthly payments (made on the 15th of the month) Find the perfect subscription here !
- Keep up to date
Breakdowns or strikes can cause disruption to the public transport network, so it’s important to stay informed. To do so, you can visit the Ilevia website or its X account (twitter ). Lille offers a comprehensive and efficient transport network, making it easy for residents and students to get around every day. By choosing the right means of transport and taking advantage of the services on offer, you’ll be able to explore the city and its surroundings with ease.