Which place is cheaper, Lille or Nantes?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nantes or Lille, 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.
Nantes is a friendly, historical, and beautiful city. The beauty of Nantes is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Nantes travel costs.
Lille is a friendly, historic, and under-rated city. With stunning beauty, Lille attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Lille travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Lille. Although Nantes and Lille are roughly the same size, Lille has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lille is more popular for its historical sights and shopping, while Nantes is known for its museums and attractions. Nantes is popular for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens. Lille is popular for its beautiful architecture, excellent shopping, and world class food scene. It is also home to Grand Place (Place du Général de Gaulle).
Grand Place (Place du Général de Gaulle)
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lille and Nantes. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Nantes is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Lille is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Nantes can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Lille. 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.
Dining out at restaurants in both Nantes and Lille can be an enjoyable experience.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Nantes is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).
Many restaurants in Lille have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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.
The superb nightlife scene is relatively similar in Nantes and Lille.
Nantes has a large number of nightlife venues. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.
Lille is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.
Lille is a very popular place for its historic old town charm. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.
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 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.
Many visitors go to Nantes to see the historical old town. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.
Lille is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Nantes 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.
Nantes is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.
You'll find a similar quality of superb scenery and beauty in both Nantes and Lille.
With stunning beauty, Nantes attracts visitors from all around. The beauty of the surrounding countryside merges with the historical sights of the city center. You'll find many parks and gardens as well as impressive architecture and quaint streets.
Lille is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. The city is all about the historic architecture, which give it a lot of beauty. The buildings in the old town have very ornate details.
Nantes is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Lille is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
Nantes is a very kid-friendly city. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.
Lille is a family-friendly city. 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.
Nantes is notable for its romantic activities. Also, Lille is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.
Nantes is a very popular place to visit for couples. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.
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.
Lille is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Nantes is lacking in good options 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.
Nantes is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't as many hostels as you would expect in the area, so finding an affordable and social place to stay may be a bit challenging.
Lille is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.
Lille is a great city to visit as a student. 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.
Nantes is popular with students. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.
Visitors will find superb public transit in both Nantes and Lille.
The public transit in Nantes can get you to most places easily. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).
Visitors to Lille can move around easily with public transportation. There is a metro as well as trams and buses throughout the city.
Lille is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its 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.
Nantes is very walkable. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.
For even more information, also check out Is Nantes Worth Visiting? and Is Lille Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nantes and Lille. In our opinion, Lille has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Lille than Nantes. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Nantes, and 1-3 days is enough time in Lille.
Families should spend more time in Nantes than Lille. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Nantes, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Nantes than Lille. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Nantes that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lille than Nantes 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.
In Nantes, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this welcoming destination offers. Lots of people come for the food. This city 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.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Lille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nantes. 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.
Lille is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Nantes is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Nantes. Lots of people come for the food. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lille. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful destination of Nantes. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Lille. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 2-Week Tours in France, and The Best River Cruises in France.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nantes is €128, while the average daily cost in Lille is €146. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nantes and Lille in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Nantes or Lille? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Nantes, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lille:
Prices for flights to both Lille and Nantes 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lille are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lille.
For Nantes, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lille are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nantes:
Also in Lille, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Nantes and Lille, we can see that Lille 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nantes Expensive? and Is Lille Expensive?.
Lille has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Nantes. When comparing the sizes of Nantes 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Nantes as well as Lille. The summer months attract visitors to Nantes because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lille this time of year.
In July, Nantes is generally a little warmer than Lille. Daily temperatures in Nantes average around 19°C (67°F), and Lille fluctuates around 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 Nantes this time of the year. In the summer, Nantes often gets more sunshine than Lille. Nantes gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 202 hours of full sun.
Nantes usually gets less rain in July than Lille. Nantes gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lille receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Lille and Nantes are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nantes this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Lille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Nantes is around the same temperature as Lille in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nantes averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Lille fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Nantes usually receives more sunshine than Lille during autumn. Nantes gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Nantes usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lille. Nantes gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Lille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Lille and Nantes during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nantes for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Lille in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Lille can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Nantes is much warmer than Lille. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nantes in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Lille averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Nantes often gets more sunshine than Lille. Nantes gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 47 hours of full sun.
Nantes usually gets more rain in January than Lille. Nantes gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Lille receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nantes and Lille. Many visitors come to Nantes in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Lille for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Nantes is generally a little warmer than Lille. Daily temperatures in Nantes average around 11°C (51°F), and Lille fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Nantes usually receives more sunshine than Lille during spring. Nantes gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Nantes usually receives more rain than Lille. Nantes gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lille receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Nantes | Lille | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 6°C (42°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
Apr | 11°C (51°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
May | 14°C (57°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |