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Voykit pocket guide · France
Lens
Spend a half‑day to one full day in Lens: see the Louvre‑Lens museum, the Vimy Memorial and a quick match at Stade Bollaert‑Delelis.
Lens is a small industrial city in Hauts‑de‑France, about 1 h 10 min by TGV from Paris. Its main attractions – the Louvre‑Lens branch, the World‑War‑I Vimy Memorial and the RC Lens stadium – fit comfortably into a single day, making it a good stop‑over or a brief day‑trip from Lille or Arras.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited opening hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire 18 · Medical 15 · EU emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €2–3 |
| Croissant | €1–2 |
| Beer (pub) | €4–6 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | €12–15 |
| Louvre‑Lens ticket | €12–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LIL · Lille‑Lesquin Airport
- Closest major airport, about 30 km (19 mi) northClosest major airport, about 19 mi (30 km) north
Typical fares
- Paris → Lens TGV (2nd class)
- about €45, 1 h 10 min (check)
- Lens station → Vimy Memorial (taxi)
- ≈ €12, 15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Lens has a bus network (Tadao) and a planned tram line. Most sights are reachable on foot from the station; a short taxi ride (≈5 min) gets you to the stadium.
See and do
Known for
- Louvre‑Lens museum
- Vimy Memorial
- Stade Bollaert‑Delelis
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arras | TER train, about 15 min from Lens station | ≈30 min total |
| Lille | TER train, 30 min | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- City centre hotels
- Within walking distance of the station and museum; good for 1‑night stays
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moi / Pardonexküzé mwa / pardón |
| Thank you | Mercimɛʁsi |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?se kɔ̃bjɛ̃ |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?u sɔ̃ le twalɛt |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- TGV tickets from Paris can fill up; book early (check SNCF).
- Vimy Memorial is a 1‑hour walk from Lens station; consider a taxi if short on time.
Lens is generally safe; stay aware of pickpockets on trains and keep an eye on traffic near the stadium on match days.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lens yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Louvre‑Lens museum
- Vimy Memorial
- Stade Bollaert‑Delelis
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Official Lens city website: villedelens.fr
- Wikivoyage: Lens, revision 5222611 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5222611
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/lens). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.