A Travel Price Comparison for France Nice vs. Lille for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Old Town

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Should you visit Nice or Lille?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nice and Lille can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Nice

Nice is a trendy, chic, and glamourous seaside destination. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. And you can't forget about the shopping, nightlife, and food.

Lille

Lille is a under-rated, fascinating, and historic small city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and nightlife.

How is Nice different from Lille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Is Nice or Lille better for Food?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine in both Nice and Lille.

Many restaurants in Nice have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The cuisine brings together fresh regional ingredients and mixes Provençal and Niçoise flavors. You'll find a lot of Italian influence as well. Fresh seafood is the thing to try while you're in town, but other local favorites include socca, Ratatouille, and Salade niçoise.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Lille. Because it's so close to the border with Belgium, you'll find a lot of Flemish and Belgian influences. The waffles are great, as are the pain au chocolat and the tartine.


Is Nice or Lille better for Nightlife?

Both Nice and Lille are comparable when it comes to partying.

Nice is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city has some of the best nightlife on the Cote d'Azur. You'll find a number of nightclubs along the seaside as well a bars and pubs in the Old Town. Some of the best clubs are along Promenade des Anglais.

Lille has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The most popular nightlife areas are Rue Masséna and Rue Solférino.

Is Nice or Lille better for its Old Town?

Both Nice and Lille have historic old towns worth visiting.

Nice is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Wandering around the charming old town is a quintessential part of visiting this city. There are many historic churches and squares, as well as great restaurants and shops that you can pop in.

Many visitors go to Lille to see the historical old town. The old town (Le Vieux Lille) is charming to explore. Many of the buildings are from the 16th or 17th centuries and there are quaint streets and charming shops.

Is Nice or Lille better for Shopping?

Both Nice and Lille are good shopping destinations.

Nice is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has long been a favorite for the rich and famous, so you'll find plenty of shopping opportunities around town. The boutique shops are chic, trendy, and fashionable, but for those on a budget, you can sometimes find a unique local purchase in your budget.

Lille offers some nice shopping areas. The two main shopping centers in town are McArthur Glen and A l'Usine.

Is Nice or Lille better for Families?

Both Nice and Lille are fun to visit with kids.

Nice is a family-friendly place to visit. The town has many fun playgrounds, kid-friendly beaches, and unique cultural opportunities that kids can enjoy. It also makes a great base for exploring the French Riviera and everything that it has to offer.

Lille is a very kid-friendly seaside destination. There's a small zoo, a small amusement park, several museums and even a puppet theater.


Is Nice or Lille better for Couples?

While Lille and Nice are both popular destinations, overall Nice is considered to be a more popular choice.

Nice is a great seaside destination for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The old town is filled with romance and charm. You can also take a walk along the Promenade Des Anglais or soak up the romantic countryside that surrounds the town.

Lille makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city has a number of gardens and parks that are fun to explore. It's also nice to wander around the old town.

Is Nice or Lille better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Nice and Lille are popular destinations for backpackers.

Nice is a good seaside destination to visit for backpackers. Because it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in France, many backpackers make their way here. Nice is known for its high end vibe, so it can be challenging to find affordable options, but if you know where to look, they are around.

Lille is a good seaside destination to visit for backpackers. This small city flies under the radar of most backpackers, but there are a handful of hostels and a great experience for those who venture here.

Is Nice or Lille better for Public Transit?

Both Nice and Lille offer public transit options.

The public transit in Nice can get you around easily. There are both buses and trams.

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

Is Nice or Lille a more walkable city?

Nice and Lille both are comparable when exploring on foot.

It is easy to get around Nice on foot. You should definitely spend some time exploring the 7 kilometer long Promenade des Anglais.

It is easy to get around Lille on foot. The old town in particular is compact and best explored on foot.


Nice and Lille: Pros and Cons

Nice
Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
  • Quaint atmosphere
Lille
Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Cons
  • Less popular with couples


Should I spend more time in Lille or Nice?

How long in Nice or Lille?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nice and Lille. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Nice than Lille.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Nice is 3-5 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Lille is 1-3 days.


  • How many days in Nice or Lille? Ideal Length of Stay
    Nice 3-5 
    Lille 1-3

One day in Nice or Lille?

In Nice, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this trendy destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This seaside destination offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Lille. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area. One day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Nice or Lille?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nice. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Lille is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to spend here. The entire area has lots to do.

Five days in Nice or Lille?

Nice is a fun place to experience. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find food and shopping around the historic destination of Lille. This small city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Nice or Lille?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the opulent destination of Nice. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The historic small city of Lille offers shopping and nightlife. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Which city is cheaper, Lille or Nice?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nice is €105, while the average daily cost in Lille is €92. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nice and Lille in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nice €47
    Lille €44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nice €94
    Lille €88

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nice €20
    Lille €22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nice

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nice:

  • Ultra - Nice Private Airport Transfer from Nice Airport NCE to City Centre: $9.46
  • Ultra - Nice Private Airport Transfer from City Centre to Nice Airport NCE: $9.46
  • Ultra - Private Airport Transfer from Nice Airport NCE to Cannes City Centre: $9.46
  • Ultra - Nice Private Airport Transfer from Nice Airport NCE to Cruise Port: $9.46
  • Ultra - Nice Private Airport Transfer from Nice Cruise Port to Nice Airport NCE: $9.46
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) to Nice City Center: $23
  • Private DepartureTransfer from Nice City Center to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport(NCE): $23
  • Private Departure Transfer from Nice Hotels to Nice Airport: $26
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Nice Airport to Nice Hotels: $26
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Nice Airport: $32
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Nice Airport to Hotel: $32
  • Private transfer from Nice City to Nice Airport: $33

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lille

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lille:

  • Lille Private Transfer from Lille city centre to Lille Airport (LIL): $65
  • Private Transfer: Lille to Lille Airport (LIL): $622

Is it cheaper to fly into Nice or Lille?

Prices for flights to both Lille and Nice change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Nice €39
    Lille €33
Typical Food prices in Nice

Some typical examples of dining costs in Nice are as follows:


  • Slushee
    €2.50
  • Strawberries
    €4.00
  • Loaf of Bread
    €3.20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nice

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nice.

  • Mamaz Social Food Lamb Dinner: $38
  • French dinner with a Mediterranean touch in the heart of Nice: $44
  • Mediterranean Cooking Class & Dinner with View of Nice: $49
  • Nice Food Tour: $50
  • Garden-Fresh Dinner with a View of Nice: $54
  • Provencal cuisine cooking class and meal in Nice: $77
  • Mediterranean fish dinner in Nice: $79
  • Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting: $87
  • Food Tour Specialities Half-day from Nice Small-Group: $95
  • Nice Small Group Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Lunch: $100
  • Small-group French Cooking Experience in Saint-Jeannet: $114
  • Nice Afternoon Walking Food Tour with Dinner: $118

Typical Food prices in Lille

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lille are as follows:


  • Dinner for 2
    €37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lille

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lille.

  • Hands-on Cooking Class: $86

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nice €9.45
    Lille €13

Tours and Activities in Nice

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nice are as follows:

  • Old Town of Nice Private Tour and Exploration Game: $4.84
  • Digital Self-Guided Sightseeing Tour: $5.66
  • Nice Le Grand Tour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus: $19
  • One Hour Nice Highlights Pedicab Tour: $24
  • French Riviera Mediterranean Coastline Sightseeing Cruise from Nice: $27
  • Skip the Line: Hard Rock Cafe Nice Including Meal: $27
  • Old Town Treasures Walking Tour: $28
  • Nice Le Grand Tour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus: $29
  • Small-Group Nice Walking Tour of the Old Town with Guide: $30
  • New Walking Tour of Old Nice / Castle Hill: $33
  • Nice Walking City Tour with a Glass of Wine: $38
  • Nice City Small-Group Half Day Segway Sightseeing Tour: $40

Tours and Activities in Lille

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lille are as follows:

  • Lille - Small Group Guided Walking Tour in French: $14
  • Small Group Guided Tour of the Old Lille in English: $17
  • Lille City Sightseeing Tour: $17
  • Lille Running Tour 10k: $31
  • Lille 2 Hour Bike Tour: $31
  • Self-Guided Walking Tour in Lille: $36
  • Unique Tour of Lille by Convertible 2CV with Champagne Break: $64
  • 2-Hour Segway Tour: $79
  • Chocolate Tasting Tour of Lille: $96
  • Australian and New Zealand Battlefield Day Tour in the Somme from Lille or Arras: $342
  • Australian Battlefields Private Tour in Fromelles and Flanders from Lille: $342
  • Vimy and Flanders Fields Canadian Battlefield Tour from Lille: $342

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nice €13
    Lille €14

Sample the Local Flavors in Nice

Also in Nice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Nice Bar Crawl and Clubbing: $25
  • Cheese and Wine Tasting in an awesome apartment in the heart of Nice: $62
  • Half-Day Saint Paul de Vence and Wine Tasting Tour from Nice: $74
  • Half-Day Wine Tasting and Saint Paul de Vence Tour from Nice: $81
  • Nice Local Vineyards Small Group Half Day E-Bike Tour with Wine Tasting: $100
  • Full Day Tour of French Riviera Perched Villages and Wine Tasting from St Jeannet: $118
  • Nice Evening Food & Wine Tasting Tour with a Local: $124
  • Grasse, Gourdon, Valbonne and Wine Tasting Full-day from Nice Small-Group Tour: $136
  • Côtes de Provence Wine Tour from Nice: $141
  • Wine tour of Provence vineyards in the hills of Nice: $153
  • Full-day Wine Tour in Bellet & Saint-Paul de Vence from Nice: $156
  • Calanques of Cassis, Aix-en-Provence & Wine tasting Shared Tour from Nice: $180

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Nice and Lille, we can see that Nice is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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Nice vs. Lille Travel Comparison

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