A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers The Hague vs. Lille for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit The Hague or Lille?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between The Hague and Lille can help you decide which place is right for you.

The Hague

The Hague is a global, international, and bustling city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

Lille

Lille is a cultural, culinary, and friendly city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and shopping.

The Hague and Lille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in The Hague or Lille?

Tourists will generally find more to do in The Hague than Lille. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. The Hague is very popular for its music and big city activities, while Lille attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Lille is more touristy than The Hague and is popular for its beautiful architecture, excellent shopping, and world class food scene. The Hague is famous for its large international population and its roll in international politics and diplomacy. It is also well known for The Peace Palace.

How is The Hague different from Lille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in The Hague or Lille?

Lille is a decent place to visit for its museums and history. However, The Hague does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

The Hague does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Lille is an amazing city to visit for its restaurants. Also, The Hague is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Lille has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit The Hague. The city has a diverse population and the large number of ethnic restaurants reflects that.

Is The Hague or Lille Better for Nightlife?

Both The Hague and Lille have excellent vibes after the sun sets.

The Hague has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Many of the city's restaurants turn into clubs at night. Head to The Grote Markt for some of the most energetic nightlife.

The people in Lille know how to have a good time. 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.

Is The Hague or Lille Better for Music?

The Hague is notable for its live music scene. However, Lille is not a live music destination.

If you love music, you'll find something to enjoy in The Hague. There's an active music scene here and the city actually played an active role in the development and popularity of electronic music.

Lille is not a live music destination.

Is The Hague or Lille Better for its Old Town?

Lille is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town. However, The Hague does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Lille. 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.

The Hague does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in The Hague or Lille?

Lille is an amazing city to visit for shopping. Also, The Hague is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Lille. 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.

The Hague is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There's a dynamic shopping scene with indoor malls, outdoor markets, and a number of neighborhoods that have shops that sell eclectic items.

Is The Hague or Lille Better for Families?

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

The Hague is a family-friendly place to visit. This city has a bit more of a family-friendly vibe than nearby Amsterdam. Kids enjoy exploring by bike or heading to the Scheveningen Beach Resort.

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 The Hague or Lille Better for Couples?

Both The Hague and Lille are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

The Hague is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy the diverse restaurants and the busting atmosphere that the city offers.

Lille makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 The Hague or Lille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

The Hague and Lille are both nice destinations for backpackers.

The Hague is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While most backpackers head to the more popular city of Amsterdam, The Hague has a fun atmosphere with a diversity of activities and restaurants.

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.

Is The Hague or Lille Better for Students?

The Hague is very popular for students. Also, Lille is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

The Hague is a great destination for students. This is a very popular study abroad destination so you'll find plenty of international students living here. It's an internationally oriented city so everyone feels right at home.

Students come from all over to stay in 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.

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

Visitors will find excellent public transit in both The Hague and Lille.

Public transit in The Hague is fairly effecient and thorough. There are bus and tram lines throughout the city.

Lille has some very good public transit options. There is a metro as well as trams and buses throughout the city.

Is The Hague or Lille a more walkable city?

Lille is an amazing city to visit for its walkability. Also, The Hague is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Lille. 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.

The Hague is a somewhat walkable place. There are a number of walk tours through the city center.

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

Should I spend more time in Lille or The Hague?

How long in The Hague or Lille?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both The Hague and Lille. In our opinion, Lille has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Lille than The Hague. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lille than The Hague 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 The Hague or Lille?

Each neighborhood in The Hague has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Lille. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lille has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in The Hague or Lille?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in The Hague. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. 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.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the fascinating destination of Lille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in The Hague or Lille?

The Hague is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the big city destination of The Hague. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic city of Lille. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. 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 The Hague or Lille?

You'll find live music and food around the global big city of The Hague. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Lille is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Netherlands, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Netherlands, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between The Hague and Lille, we can see that The Hague 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 The Hague would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in The Hague 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 The Hague Expensive? and Is Lille Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, The Hague or Lille?

The Hague has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Lille. When comparing the sizes of The Hague and Lille, 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 The Hague or Lille?

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 The Hague or Lille in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to The Hague as well as Lille. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to The Hague this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Lille for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, The Hague is around the same temperature as Lille. Typically, the summer temperatures in The Hague in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Lille averages at about 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in The Hague this time of the year. In the summer, The Hague often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lille. The Hague gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 202 hours of full sun.

The Hague usually gets more rain in July than Lille. The Hague gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lille receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit The Hague or Lille in the Autumn?

Both Lille and The Hague are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to The Hague for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Lille in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, The Hague is generally cooler than Lille. Daily temperatures in The Hague average around 11°C (51°F), and Lille fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

The Hague usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lille during autumn. The Hague gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, The Hague usually receives less rain than Lille. The Hague gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit The Hague or Lille in the Winter?

Both Lille and The Hague during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to The Hague in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Lille for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Lille can be very cold during winter. The Hague can get quite cold in the winter. The Hague is much colder than Lille in the winter. The daily temperature in The Hague averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Lille fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, The Hague often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lille. The Hague gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 47 hours of full sun.

The Hague usually gets more rain in January than Lille. The Hague gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lille receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit The Hague or Lille in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both The Hague and Lille. Most visitors come to The Hague for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Lille because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, The Hague is cooler than Lille. Typically, the spring temperatures in The Hague in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Lille averages at about 8°C (47°F).

The Hague usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lille during spring. The Hague gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, The Hague usually receives more rain than Lille. The Hague gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lille receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lille and The Hague