Lille

Although it might get freezing, Lille is a great spot to come to in the winter because it has great art museums and delicious local food. The average daily temperature from December through February ranges from the mid-30s to the mid-40s Fahrenheit. There are many days of rain and a chance of light snowfall each month during the winter.

The Palais des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museums), which displays masterpieces of European art from the 12th through the 20th centuries, the Grand Place with its exquisite Baroque Flemish architecture, and the Musée du Louvre-Lens, an off-site location of the Louvre Museum in Paris, located in a sleek contemporary-style gallery space about a 30-minute drive or train ride from Lille, are all must-see tourist attractions. The Estaminet au Vieux de la Vieille, which serves classic Flemish (northern French) cuisine in a charming dining room with a wood-beamed roof, and L'Estaminet Gantois, which specializes in regional cuisine, are two recommended brasserie restaurants to try. In an old dining room, L'Estaminet La Vieille France also serves regional food. Every year from mid-November through December, Lille organizes a bustling Christmas Market. Numerous wooden chalets selling holiday treats, nativity scenes, Christmas decorations, and handcrafted items are featured at the event, along with seasonal lighting and décor, amusement park rides, and holiday illuminations and decorations. While browsing the gift items, visitors can try gingerbread and hot spiced beverages.