Getting Around the Braderie de Lille 2027

Public transport

The automatic Lille metro (two lines) is the most convenient way to reach the city centre during the Braderie. The Rihour, République Beaux-Arts and Gare Lille Flandres stations drop you in the heart of the Braderie area. The Ilévia network (metro, tram, bus) runs on extended hours throughout the Braderie weekend, with more frequent services.

The tram also serves several access points to the braderie. Please note: some bus routes are diverted because the city centre is pedestrianised. Check the Ilévia website or mobile app for up-to-date routes on the day.

Coming by car: access and car parks

The centre of Lille is fully pedestrianised during the Braderie, so it is impossible to drive or park within the braderie area. The best option is to use the park-and-ride car parks (P+R) on the outskirts, which are free and connected to the metro. The main P+R sites are: 4 Cantons (line 1), CHR B-Calmette (line 1), Saint-Philibert (line 2) and Porte des Postes (line 1).

For a complete guide to parking solutions, see our article Free parking and smart parking for the Braderie de Lille 2027.

Coming by train: TGV and TER

Lille is very well served by the rail network. Lille Flandres station is right in the heart of the braderie area, and Lille Europe station is a few minutes’ walk away. TGV high-speed trains link Lille to Paris (1 hour), Brussels (35 minutes), Lyon (3 hours) and Marseille. TER Hauts-de-France regional trains serve the whole region, with more frequent services over the braderie weekend.

Remember to book your tickets in advance: trains to Lille on the first weekend of September quickly sell out.

Getting around by bike

Lille’s network of cycle paths is well developed, and the V’Lille bike-sharing service has many stations around the centre. Please note: cycling is prohibited in the pedestrian area during the braderie’s opening hours. Bring a good lock and leave your bike at the edge of the area.

Accessibility and reduced mobility

Both automatic metro lines have lifts at every station. Buses are low-floor. Parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities are maintained in the underground car parks that stay open. For more details on accessibility, see our guide for seniors and accessibility.

Practical tips for getting around

Wear comfortable shoes: even if you only visit part of the area, you will easily walk between 5 and 15 kilometres. Public transport runs all night from Saturday to Sunday. And don’t forget to check our last-minute checklist before you set off!

Metro during the Braderie: hours and useful stations

In the 2026 edition, the Ilévia metro ran non-stop through the night from Saturday to Sunday. The exact hours for each edition are published by Ilévia a few days before the Braderie: check them on ilevia.fr or in the Ilévia app.

• Rihour (line 1): in the heart of the Braderie, a stone’s throw from the Grand’Place.
• République – Beaux-Arts (line 1): southern area, boulevard de la Liberté.
• Gare Lille Flandres (lines 1 and 2): connections with TGV and TER trains.
• Gare Lille Europe (line 2): Eurostar and international trains.

The railway station metro stops are busiest on Saturday between 9 am and 11 am. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid queues at the machines: in 2026, Ilévia offered a 1-day Pass at €5.70, valid on the metro, tram, bus and TER within the metropolitan area.

As for the flea market itself, the first stalls are set up at dawn on Saturday and the Braderie ends on Sunday in the late afternoon: see the dates and hours of the Braderie.

Bus, tram and V’Lille: what changes during the Braderie

Buses do not cross the Braderie area: their routes are diverted. In 2025, lines L1 and L5 ran all night from Saturday to Sunday and several other lines were extended until 2 or 3 am. The tram (lines R to Roubaix and T to Tourcoing) ran without interruption from Saturday morning to Sunday evening. For cyclists, 35 V’Lille stations in the centre were closed from Thursday to Monday morning: use the ones outside the area.

Coming by train from Paris, Brussels or London

• From Paris: TGV to Lille Flandres in about 1 hour; the station is a 5-minute walk from the Braderie. To arrive for the opening, aim for a train between 6 am and 8 am on Saturday.
• From Brussels: about 35 minutes to Lille Europe, a 10-minute walk from the Braderie area.
• From London: Eurostar to Lille Europe in about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Trains on the first weekend of September fill up very quickly: book 2 to 3 months ahead for the best fares, and plan your return on Sunday after 4 pm so you can enjoy the end of the Braderie.

Coming by car: which park-and-ride to use depending on where you are coming from

• From Paris (A1) or Belgium (A27): 4 Cantons P+R, at the end of line 1, then metro to Rihour.
• From Dunkirk and the Côte d’Opale (A25): Lomme Saint-Philibert P+R (line 2) or CHU-Eurasanté (line 1).
• From Valenciennes (A23): Porte des Postes or Porte d’Arras P+R.

In 2025, these park-and-ride sites, along with Les Prés – Edgar Pisani, Pont de Neuville and La Cerisaie, stayed open all night. Allow 30 to 60 minutes more than usual on the ring road on Saturday morning and Sunday evening. Carpooling is also widely used from Paris, Brussels, Amiens and Valenciennes: arrange to meet your passengers near a P+R rather than in the city centre. Full details in our guide to parking at the Braderie de Lille.