</p><p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-98436" src="https://static.travelgay.com/media/68048/lille-city-guide.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /></p><h2>Lille</h2><p>The capital of the Hauts-de-France region and straddling the Belgian border. Lille is home to around a quarter of a million people, making it France's 10th largest city. Over a million people live within its urban area - the 5th largest in France.</p><p>Archaeological digs suggest that the area on which Lille was built has been populated since 2000 BC however the first recorded mention of Lille was in 1066 (AD). It has a history of invasions with Vikings, Magyars and Protestant radicals in the 16th century. It was occupied by German forces in both the First and Second World Wars.</p><p>Today, Lille is a centre of industry and has been hailed for its internet friendly culture. It is renowned for its universities, with its student population contributing to its vibrant nightlife. Visitors will be charmed by its stunning historical architecture, great shopping opportunities and modest gay scene.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Gay Rights in France</h2><p>For information about gay rights in France, please check out our <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/essential-guide-to-paris/">Gay Paris City Guide page</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Gay Scene</h2><p>Due to Lille's large student population (and France's history of tolerance), Lille is very welcoming of LGBT+ travelers. Lille's organised gay scene is modest in comparison to Paris or Brussels', but the city has its fair share of gay venues including some <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/lille-gay-bars-clubs/">Gay Bars</a>, <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/lille-gay-cruise-clubs/">Gay Cuise Clubs</a> and <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/lille-gay-saunas/">Gay Saunas</a></p><p>Lille hosts a popular annual Pride festival, usually held at the end of May/beginning of June. Its main event is the Saturday street procession and party; however, there are events programmed in the run up to the parade.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Getting to Lille</h2><p><b>By plane</b></p><p>Lille-Lesquin Airport (LIL) is a small airport, located 7 km south of the city centre. It offers limited connections to domestic airports and destinations in Europe and North Africa. There is a seasonal long-haul connection to one of France's overseas departments in the Caribbean.</p><p>A direct coach from the airport takes you into the city centre in around 20 minutes. The service runs every hour with single tickets costing £7. Taxis can be hailed at the airport or ordered in advance. A journey will cost between €25-30 into the centre. Car hire is available from the airport. The drive into the city takes around 15 minutes.</p><p>Due to Lille's location, you are more likely to fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL). From Charles de Gaulle it is possible to get to Lille in an hour by train, and there is a direct coach from South Charleroi to Lille which takes 90 minutes.</p><p><b>By train</b></p><p>Lille has two main railway stations. Lille Flandres offers local connections and TGV services to and from Paris. Lille Europe offers a wider range of connections to destinations across France, Belgium and Eurostar connections to London St Pancras (in an hour and a half) where you can connect to other destinations</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Getting around Lille</h2><p><b>On foot</b></p><p>Lille's historic city centre is compact and quaint which makes it perfect for exploring on foot. Rain is common throughout the year so pack accordingly.</p><p><b>By public transport</b></p><p>Transpole operates Lille's integrated system of buses, 2 tramlines and 2 driver-less metro lines. Tickets start at €1 for a 3-stop Zap ticket to €14 for a set of ten tickets. The services run from 5.30am to around midnight every day except for the first of May. Some bus routes cross the border into Belgium.</p><p><b>By taxi </b></p><p>Taxis can be readily hailed in Lille or found at ranks but it can be a bit more difficult to get a cab late at night or during rush hour. The taxi app operates in Uber. Take the usual precautions and don't get into unmarked cabs and check for signs that the car is legitimate (meter, fare display, ID etc).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Where to Stay in Lille?</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lille has a great choice of accommodation in the city centre near the best sightseeing attractions. Our list of top Lille hotels for gay travelers can be found on the <a href="https://www.travelgayhotels.com/Place/Lille.htm">Lille Hotels page</a>.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Things to See &amp; Do</h2><p><b>La Vieille Bourse </b>- a stunning building, constructed in 1653. This former stock exchange is one of the city's great landmarks and hosts booksellers or a flower-market in its inner-courtyard.</p><p><b>Le Furet du Nord </b>- the largest bookstore in Europe, making it a tourist attraction in its own right. Here you will find 8 floors of books and a quaint cafe.</p><p><b>Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille </b>- one of the largest art museums in France. In this dazzling example of the Belle-Époque architecture you will find works of art by Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Rubens and Rembrandt.</p><p><strong>Lille Botanical Garden</strong> - a pleasant place to take a romantic stroll or picnic on a sunny day. Here you will find a varied selection of plants, a large and scenic lake, and the city's astronomical observatory.</p><p><b>Vieux Lille Shopping</b> - while the historic old town has most of Lille's tourist attractions here anyway, it is also where you can find upmarket names and trendy designer boutiques.</p><p><b>Marché de Wazemmes </b>- a treasure trove of antiques, farmers' produce, craft goods and street food. Held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning.</p><p><strong>Lille Cathedral</strong> - with its museum of religious art, this Neo-Gothic cathedral is a national monument.</p><p><strong>Citadel </strong>- constructed by the military engineer Vaudan in the 17th Century by the military engineer (who referred to it as the queen of citadels). It is worth getting a tour to take in the history of this fascinating building.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>When to Visit</h2><p>The weather in Lille can be described as moderate. Summers don't get too high and while winters can dip below zero, this is not the norm. You can expect rain at any time of year. June and September are the busiest months so to avoid the hordes avoid these months.</p><p>There are many popular festivals and events held in Lille throughout the year. La Braderie is an extremely popular event in September when the city becomes a flea market with musicians and street performers everywhere. Once a month in Wazemmes' is the Chalice Sound System reggae event which has a party atmosphere.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Visa</h2><p>France is within the Schengen visa area. If travelling from outside Europe, you should check to see if you require a Schengen visa.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Money</h2><p>France is part of the euro. Cash dispensers are widely available. You may be asked for photo ID if paying with a credit or debit card in a shop.

Gay Lille · City Guide

Planning your first trip to Lille? Then our gay Lille city guide page is for you.

<h2>Gay-Friendly Nightlife in Lille</h2>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap">Lille has a small but lively gay nightlife scene concentrated in the historic Le Marais Lillois district. Dance until morning at clubs like Le TOP Club or stop by Le Privil&egrave;ge, popular gay bar for over 30 years. Relax at laid-back cafes and neighborhood pubs frequented by the LGBTQ community.</p>
<h2>Experiencing Gay Pride in Lille</h2>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap">Each year in late spring, Lille hosts a colorful Pride march and festival attended by thousands. Nearby cities also hold their own Pride festivities. Pride events are the best way to celebrate and support the local LGBTQ community.</p>
<h2>Community Organizations &amp; Resources</h2>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap">Visitors can connect with Lille's LGBTQ community through organizations like Centre LGBTQI+ de Lille. They offer resources and host community events year-round. Knowing about these organizations makes it easier for gay travellers to navigate the city.</p>
<h2>Welcoming &amp; Open City</h2>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap">Thanks to its long history of openness, Lille provides a welcoming environment for LGBTQ visitors. Residents tend to have progressive attitudes, making it easy for gay travellers to be open about their identity and connect with the city's gay scene.</p>

Gay Lille

Same-sex couples have been legally able to adopt children since May 2013, when the same-sex marriage law took effect. The first joint adoption by a same-sex couple was announced on 18 October 2013.

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

The age of consent in France is 15 for both male-male, female-female, and male-female sex.

The difference between legal age of consent for homosexual sex and heterosexual sex.

In 2022, France removed the deferral period for gay and bi men donating blood, replacing it with a new policy that applies to all donors, regardless of sexual orientation.

The ability for MSMs (men who have sex with men) to donate blood or tissue for organ transplants. A deferral period refers to a waiting time before a man can donate after having sex.

In July 2019, Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn announced that the deferral period would be reduced to four months of abstinence from 2 April 2020.

Proposed in 2015, the indefinite deferral was replaced by a 1 year deferral in 2016.

In 1983, in response to the HIV epidemic, the Directorate General of Health banned MSMs from donating blood indefinitely. This ban was reiterated in 2009.

Blood donations in France were legal before 1983.

In France, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

Censorship or prohibition of discussing, promoting, or teaching LGBTQ+ topics in media, schools, and in the general public.

Individuals can legally change their gender in France. Sex reassignment surgery is state-funded. Requires court approval and proof.<br />
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According to media reports, in 2010, France became the first country to remove "transsexualism" from their official list of mental illnesses.

Legal recognition of sex reassignment by permitting a change of legal gender on an individual's birth certificate.

No surgery required since 2018. Missing non binary options on documents.

The National Assembly approved the new law unanimously, voting 142-0 on Tuesday evening.

Legal status of conducting sexual orientation changing therapy ("ex-gay" therapy)

Not banned, although a legislation to criminalise conversion therapy is currently progressing.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment, including hiring, promotion, termination, harassment, etc.

The law of 1791 decriminalized homosexual activity, however, it does not recognize homosexuality itself. 

Consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity when applying for housing or discrimination by landlords / property owners.

France passed comprehensive same-sex marriage legislation in 2013; entitling gay and lesbian people to equal marriage rights in Metropolitan France and all its overseas departments. France was the ninth European country and the thirteenth country in the world to legalise gay marriage.

Marriage and marriage recognition between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity.

Under French law, both same sex and different sex couples can get a PACS, a civil union with limited rights. PACS are still available today.

The ability for homosexuals to serve in the military and be open about their sexuality.

Non-binary gender is not available. In 2023, the European Court of Human Rights decided in the judgment "Y. v. France" (2023) on the legal recognition of the gender of an intersex person. Specifically, on the case of a person who had been refused by French authorities the possibility to modify their gender marker to reflect the term "neutral" or "intersex". The ECHR rejected that such a decision was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, stating that, given the relevance of such a change to the otherwise binary French legal system, it was for the French state itself to reform its legislation beforehand. However, it acknowledged that future developments in Council of Europe member states could change its interpretation.<br />
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A court ruled in August 2015 that an intersex plaintiff who was designated male at birth, could use the term “neutral gender” on personal official documents. This decision was overturned by a French appeals court.

Legal recognition of non-binary, genderqueer, or third gender identities.

A court in Tours ruled in favour of an intersex plaintiff who sought to have a third gender option recognised on official identification documents.

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Lille Gay Sauna Guide

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Lille, France

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Discover the top gay-friendly nightlife spots, LGBTQ organizations, and Pride festival in Lille, France's capital of Flanders and a welcoming city for gay travelers.

Gay Lille Guide 2024 - gay bars, clubs, saunas & more

Lille

Hauts-de-France

Introducing Lille. Walk among beautiful historic brick townhouses, and enjoy the best of this northern French city's art, culture and gay nightlife

Gay cocktail bar and a popular hangout for the local LGBT and friends in Lille.<br>
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Privilege has a modern atmosphere, with friendly staff, fun crowd, guest DJ and occasional events. Open from 5pm.

Privilege

Gay cocktail bar and a popular hangout for the loc...

One of the largest gay saunas in Northern Europe, with 4 floors covering 1,200 m². Open 7 days a week.<br>
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Facilities at Les Bains include Finnish sauna, steam room, cruising area, bar, restaurant, gym, smoking room, solarium, massage, lockers, sun terrace, etc.

Les Bains Gay Sauna Lille Terrace

Les Bains

One of the largest gay saunas in Northern Europe,...

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Gay Lille

Introducing Lille. Walk among beautiful historic brick townhouses, and enjoy the best of this northern French city's art, culture and gay nightlife

Where to Stay?

Ready to Play Harder?

Lille Gay Bars

Lille Gay Cruise Clubs

Lille Gay Saunas

About Lille

Gay-Friendly Nightlife in Lille

Experiencing Gay Pride in Lille

Community Organizations & Resources

Welcoming & Open City

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Privilege

Les Bains

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