Visit Lille · Christmas 2026
The Lille Christmas Market 2026, from the residence
Nearly 90 chalets on place Rihour, from 18 November to 30 December. The train from Armentières, and the spa on the way back.
Every year-end, the Christmas Village sets up on place Rihour, next to the Grand'Place: artisans, makers, restaurateurs, and the big wheel opposite. From Maison La Vesée, the simplest way is often the train: Armentières station is about 3 km away, Lille-Flandres is 14 to 21 minutes by train, and place Rihour a 5 to 10 minute walk.
Information checked on 15 October 2026 with the organiser and the Lille tourist office. Dates and hours are announced subject to change: check them before you set out.
- Dates
- Wednesday 18 November to Wednesday 30 December 2026
- Place
- Place Rihour, next to the Grand'Place (Rihour metro, line 1)
- Opening hours
- Sunday to Thursday, 11 am – 8:30 pm; Friday and Saturday, 11 am – 10 pm
- Holidays
- 24 December until 6 pm; closed on 25 December
- Entry
- Free
- From the residence
- Train from Armentières (14 to 21 min) then 5 to 10 min on foot; or 15 to 20 min by car
What you will find
Nearly 90 chalets of artisans, shopkeepers, makers and restaurateurs, in an enclosed village fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. On the table: waffles, croustillons (fried dough), gingerbread, tartiflette, mulled wine and hot chocolate. The organiser counts more than a million visitors per season.
On the Grand'Place, the big wheel runs from 18 November 2026 to 16 January 2027, from noon to midnight on weekdays and from 10 am to midnight at weekends and during school holidays: about €7 per adult, €5 for children under 1.40 m, no booking needed.
Getting there from the residence
By train, from Armentières
Armentières station is about 3 km from Maison La Vesée, under ten minutes by car. It has a park-and-ride run by the Ilévia network, reserved for public transport travellers. Trains reach Lille-Flandres in 14 to 21 minutes; from there, allow 5 to 10 minutes on foot to place Rihour. This is the route the tourist office recommends: no parking to look for in the city centre.
In the evening, trains to Armentières become less frequent. Check the time of the last departure for your date on SNCF Connect or the TER Hauts-de-France website: on Fridays and Saturdays, the market closes at 10 pm.
By car
Lille is 15 to 20 minutes away by road. During the market, parking in the city centre is difficult: aim for a car park around the centre (Euralille, Esplanade) or a park-and-ride, then the metro to Rihour station, at the edge of the Village.
A few tips
- On a weekday and in the daytime, you will be more comfortable than on a Saturday evening.
- A second entrance, to the left of the Village, next to Rihour metro station, is often quicker than the main entrance.
- On 24 December, the market closes at 6 pm; it is closed on the 25th.
- The market pairs well with a walk through Vieux-Lille on foot, close by.
After the market
The return, and the spa
Fifteen to twenty minutes later, you are back in the quiet. To end a day of cold and crowds, a private spa session near Lille: sauna and jetted spa at 37 °C, 90 minutes for the two of you alone, in a separate space on the property. It is added to your stay, €100 per session.
For a stay during the market, the booking engine shows availability, prices and stay conditions for your dates.
Frequently asked questions
In practice.
When is the Lille Christmas Market in 2026?
From Wednesday 18 November to Wednesday 30 December 2026, place Rihour. It is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 8:30 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm, until 6 pm on 24 December, and closed on the 25th. The organiser announces these dates subject to change.
Is the Lille Christmas Market free?
Yes, entry is free. The big wheel on the Grand'Place is paid: about €7 per adult and €5 for children under 1.40 m, according to the tourist office.
How do I get there by train from Armentières?
Trains link Armentières station to Lille-Flandres in 14 to 21 minutes. From Lille-Flandres, place Rihour is a 5 to 10 minute walk. Check the time of the last evening train for your date on SNCF Connect or the TER Hauts-de-France website: on Fridays and Saturdays, the market closes at 10 pm.
Where can I park for the Lille Christmas Market?
Parking in the city centre is difficult during the market. The tourist office recommends the car parks around the centre (Euralille, Esplanade) or a park-and-ride with the metro. From Maison La Vesée, the simplest is often to leave the car at Armentières station and take the train.
How much time should I allow?
Two to three hours are enough for the chalets, the big wheel and a mulled wine. The market pairs well with Vieux-Lille, close by, or a museum in the morning.
For the rest of your stay, see Lille over a weekend or what to do in Lille when it rains.
Sources
- Organiser, Fédération lilloise du commerce, de l'artisanat et des services: noel-a-lille.com.
- Lille tourist office: the Christmas market and parking in Lille.
- Train times: TER Hauts-de-France.
