A Travel Price Comparison for France Lille vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Nightlife

Should you visit Lille or Avignon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lille or Avignon, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Lille

Lille is a friendly, historic, and under-rated city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food.

Avignon

Avignon is a picturesque, historical, and quaint town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

Lille and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lille or Avignon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Avignon than Lille. While Lille is larger than Avignon, Avignon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Avignon is more popular for its museums, historical sights, and small town charm, while Lille is known for its nightlife, shopping, and impressive beauty. Avignon is more touristy than Lille and is popular for its architectural beauty and historical importance. It is also home to Palais des Papes. Lille is popular for its beautiful architecture, excellent shopping, and world class food scene.

How is Lille different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Avignon and Lille. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lille or Avignon?

Avignon is very popular for its sights and museums. However, Lille is a mediocre city for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Avignon are among the most recognizable in the world. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

While most people don't head to Lille specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The city offers an amazing atmosphere, with many of the most beautiful buildings near Place du Général de Gaulle (the main square). Top rated attractions in town include Palais des Beaux-Arts, Musée du Louvre-Lens, and Eglise Saint-Maurice.

Is the Food Better in Lille or Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Lille and Avignon offer world-class local cuisine and restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Lille is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city has a cuisine all its own. There are many local dishes that are recommended with some of the most popular being les moules (mussels), the Welsh (a beer and cheddar cheese dish), and la carbonade flamande (beef stew). Most dishes are served with a hearty side of fries. The mussels are a favorite and are served with various toppings including local cheese. You can expect your very own pot of mussels with each order. Many of the restaurants around the main square (General de Gaulle Square) offer these local specialties. Outside the old town you'll also find plenty of international restaurants including Asian street food.

Many restaurants in Avignon have been singled out for their culinary prowess. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

Is Lille or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Lille is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Lille has a large number of nightlife venues. With its young population and countless places to hang out, there's rarely a dull night around town. The most popular nightlife areas are Rue Masséna and Rue Solférino. The city also offers plenty of theaters and shows that you can enjoy.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Lille or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is very popular for its old town. Also, Lille is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

Avignon has a world-famous historical area. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Lille is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The old town (Le Vieux Lille) is charming to explore. Many of the buildings are from the 16th or 17th centuries and feature very ornate architecture. The area is filled with shops and restaurants and it stays active throughout the day. This is an area where locals and tourists alike live and play.

Is the Shopping Better in Lille or Avignon?

Lille is renowned for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Lille specifically to go shopping. The city is filled with shopping opportunities. Almost any store you could want is in or around the old town and the two main shopping centers in town are McArthur Glen and A l'Usine. Also by the train station is a shopping mall.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Lille or Avignon Better for Families?

Avignon is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Lille is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Avignon is a family-friendly place to visit. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Lille is not always a place people visit with their families. There are a handful of kid-focused activities like a small zoo, a small amusement park, several museums and even a puppet theater. Many of the restaurants also have kid's menus that are reasonably priced.

Is Lille or Avignon Better for Couples?

Avignon is notable for its romantic activities. Also, Lille is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Avignon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Lille is a good city for couples to visit. Couples who enjoy shopping, dining out, and exploring beautiful cities will enjoy a visit. There are many great restaurants worth experiencing, as well as beautiful architecture and fun shops.

Is Lille or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Lille and Avignon are good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Lille. This small city flies under the radar for most backpackers, but there are a handful of hostels and a great experience for those who venture here. It feels more off the beaten path than some French cities, but you'll find great food and a nice atmosphere.

Avignon is a good city to visit for backpackers. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Lille or Avignon Better for Students?

Lille is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Avignon is not popular with students.

Many students visit Lille. The city is home to a number of students, both local and international. It has a lower cost of living than many places in France as well as a youthful vibe with fun activities and plenty of shopping.

Avignon is not popular with students.

Is Lille or Avignon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lille is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The public transit in Lille can get you to most places easily. There is a metro as well as trams and buses throughout the city.

You'll find some public transit in Avignon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Lille or Avignon a more walkable city?

Lille and Avignon both are world-class when exploring on foot.

It is easy to get around Lille on foot. The old town in particular is compact and best explored on foot, but even outside of the old town, many areas are easily explored on foot.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Avignon. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Lille Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Lille?

How long in Lille or Avignon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Lille or Avignon to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Lille than Avignon because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Lille, and 1-2 days is enough time in Avignon.

Families should spend more time in Avignon than Lille. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Avignon, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Avignon than Lille. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Avignon that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lille than Avignon if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Lille.

One day in Lille or Avignon?

In Lille, you'll find shopping and nightlife. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Even though Avignon is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Lille or Avignon?

In Lille, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lille has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Lille or Avignon?

Lille is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Avignon is a fun place to experience. Avignon is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Lille or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lille. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Lille. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Avignon is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to France, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lille and Avignon, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Lille much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lille would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lille and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon than you might in Lille.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lille Expensive? and Is Avignon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Lille or Avignon?

Lille has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Lille and Avignon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Lille or Avignon?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lille or Avignon in the Summer?

Both Avignon and Lille during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Lille for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Avignon in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Lille is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lille in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Avignon averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Lille. In the summer, Lille often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Lille gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun.

Lille usually gets more rain in July than Avignon. Lille gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lille or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lille and Avignon. Many visitors come to Lille in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Avignon for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months.

In October, Lille is generally cooler than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Lille average around 12°C (54°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Lille usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during autumn. Lille gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Avignon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Lille usually receives less rain than Avignon. Lille gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Lille or Avignon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Lille as well as Avignon. Most visitors come to Lille for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Avignon because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Lille can be very cold during winter. Lille is much colder than Avignon in the winter. The daily temperature in Lille averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Avignon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Lille often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Lille gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun.

Lille usually gets less rain in January than Avignon. Lille gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lille or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and Lille are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Lille because of the natural beauty. Also, the small town charm are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

In the spring, Lille is much colder than Avignon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lille in April average around 8°C (47°F), and Avignon averages at about 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Avignon. Lille usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during spring. Lille gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Lille usually receives less rain than Avignon. Lille gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Lille