From the top of the high Belfry Tower, you’ll have stunning views of the surrounding historic city of Lille! Although this town in Northern France is mostly industrial in nature, you’ll still find that the gilded storefronts and ornate streets transport you to a time long gone.
When strolling down the cobbled streets of Lille, travellers will be given a showcase of all the best 18th and 19th architecture. From the La Vieille Bourse to the Citadel of Lille, this historic town’s roots burrow deep into history and tradition.
Lille’s open-air markets and antique charm makes it the jewel of the Hauts-de-France region. While it won’t take much to convince you to add this mesmerizing city to your Euro trip itinerary, you may begin to feel your heart break a little when you start looking at hostels. With dorm rooms practically non-existent in the city, should you strike Lille from your travel plans?
Don’t unpack your bags too soon! We created a list of all the best hostels in Lille so you can find the hostel that perfectly fits how you like to travel in as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Pull out your guide books and get ready to travel back in time to the old city of Lille!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Lille
- Overall Best Hostel in Lille – Gastama – The People Hostel
- Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Lille – Eklo Hotels Lille
- Best Hostel for Couples in Lille – Best Western Urban Hotel & Spa
- Best Party Hostel in Lille – Campanile Lille Sud
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Lille – Hotel Lille Europe
The Best Hostels in Lille
Backpacking through France and you’re into arts, chill vibes and charming cites? Then Lille will be perfect for you! Before you know it, you’ll be strolling through the art museums and seeing the artistic classical houses of Lille for yourself!
But first, let’s find that perfect home away from home for you in this historic town. There are many amazing hostels in France, but the ones in Lille are truly special. With everything from hostels to budget hotels, be sure to keep your eyes open for the stay that best fits how you like to travel!
Best Overall Hostel in Lille – Gastama – The People Hostel
- $$
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Terrace
Being one of the only backpacker’s hostels in all of Lille, Gastama – The People Hostel, is the go-to place for all you travellers looking for a spot to kick back and mix with other guests. Much of this hostel is focused on socializing. With a spacious outdoor terrace and a lounge, there’s no better place in Lille to open a bottle of wine and share travel stories than Gastama!
Lille has literally hundreds of bars lining its historic streets, but if you’re looking to stay a bit closer to home, this budget backpacker’s hostel has its very own bar and restaurant. Offering the cheapest beds in town and an atmosphere unlike any other, Gastama – The People Hostel is the best youth hostel in Lille!
Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Lille – Eklo Hotels Lille
- $$$
- Breakfast 6 USD
- Bar
- Restaurant
Although Eklo doesn’t have a dorm room, this budget hotel offers cosy single rooms and an atmosphere better than you’d find at most youth hostels! With an outdoor patio and a spacious indoor lounge, you’ll find yourself rushing back to Eklo Hotel after a long day of exploring to grab a seat and chill over a glass of wine and a meal.
You can always go out to eat at one of the many cafes around the old city, but this budget hotel in Lille has its very own restaurant and bar, serving up the best drinks and dishes you can find! Complete with a shared kitchen, games, a library, and even bike rentals, this hotel goes above and beyond to make sure you have everything you need to feel right at home in Lille.
Best Hostel for Couples in Lille – Best Western Urban Hotel & Spa
- $$$
- Breakfast 12 USD
- Spa
- Bar
Even backpackers need to treat themselves every once in a while. Especially if you’re a couple travelling on a budget, you’ll need to find that perfect hotel to cosy up in for a few nights to rekindle the romance. Giving you an upgrade from the dorm rooms but still well within the budget of a backpacker, Best Western Urban Hotel will have you lounging in the spacious private rooms and soaking in the hot tub!
Not only will you have cheap rooms to choose from, Bes Western even has an onsite spa where you can relive all that stress built up on the road. With an onsite bar and even a restaurant, you’ll be practically staying at a backpacker-friendly resort!
Best Party Hostel in Lille – Campanile Lille Sud
- $$$
- Breakfast 11 USD
- Bar
- Restaurant
Being a lively University town, Lille probably has just as many bars as it does museums! But if you really want to have a stiff drink always on hand, there’s no better place to book yourself into than Campanile Lille Sud. Although you may be located just a bit outside the downtown, you’ll still have the Lille-CHR Train Station and several metro stations nearby to take you right into the heart of the city.
What will really have you travellers falling in love with Campanile Lille Sud is the cheap private rooms and, of course, the onsite bar! After a night of drinking, you’ll want to head straight to the hotel’s restaurant, where you can get a hot cup of coffee and a meal to help nurse that pesky hangover!
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Lille – Hotel Lille Europe
- $$$
- Breakfast 12 USD
- Restaurant
- Garden
If you’re living out of your backpack as a digital nomad, you’ll eventually need to find a budget hotel where you can get back to work in peace and quiet. Hotel Lille Europe will hook all you working travellers up with upscale rooms complete with a desk, so you can edit and write in comfort.
But no one wants to be stuck in their hotel room all day – Hotel Lille Europe also has a spacious lounge and dining room perfect for spreading out into and putting some finishing touches on that next article. With its onsite restaurant keeping you full and fueled throughout the day, Hotel Lille Europe makes the perfect home for budget backpackers.
Best Cheap Hostel in Lille – Deffrennes
- $$
- Garden
- Shared Kitchen
- Games
We know travelling in Europe isn’t exactly cheap. So while you’re in Lille, let’s help you out and save a few extra Euros by having you check into Deffrennes! This budget homestay will show you a different side of France by putting you in a more local neighbourhood of Lille. But just because you’re staying in a more quiet area of the city doesn’t mean you won’t be close to all the best sights of Lille.
With Porte de Douai Metro Station just a few steps away from your door, you’ll be able to visit any corner of the city with ease! Top it off with a shared kitchen in the home to help you shave a few extra Euros off your daily expenses, and Deffrennes makes for the perfect home away from home for budget travellers.
Deffrennes is one of our favourites in Lille but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More of the Best Hostels in Lille
Haven’t found the right hostel for you yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got more coming your way! There’s a comfy bed and a chance to meet like-minded travellers waiting for you!
Première Classe Lille Centre
- $$
- Breakfast 6 USD
- Cafe
- Central Location
If you’re looking for one of the cheapest hotels in Lille, you’ve found it! Premiere Classe Lille Centre is a refuge for all you backpackers needing a place to call home while saving money in the heart of the old town. Putting you just a few steps away from the Lille Flandres Train Station and the metro station, you’ll be well connected to the whole city and beyond. Y
ou’ll even be right by some of the most famous sights in town, such as the Saint-Maurice de Lille Church and Lille Opera! Feeling hungry? Premiere Classe Lille Centre also has its very own cafe serving up a delicious breakfast every morning!
Hotel Continental
- $$$
- Breakfast 10 USD
- Cafe
- Lounge
Putting you in the heart of Lille overlooking the beautiful Gare de Flandres, you’ll find no better location than that of Hotel Continental. With the metro station waiting literally outside your door, getting around Lille will be a breeze!
All the excitement isn’t just outside the hotel; Hotel Continental will also hook you up with budget rooms cheaper than you would find at most backpacker’s hostels! With a small lounge and even a cafe serving breakfast every morning, this is one budget hotel in Lille that checks all the boxes!
Hotel Du Moulin d’Or
- $$$$
- Breakfast 13 USD
- Cafe
- Lounge
At Hotel Du Moulin d’Or, you can enjoy a luxurious stay without totally breaking the bank. This budget hotel located right by the business district and Lille Flandre Train Station will have you calling the heart of the old city of Lille home. With the old stock exchange and the Saint-Maurice de Lille Church waiting outside your door, there’s no better place to kick off your adventure!
At the hotel, your jaw will drop once you see the stunning decor of each and every room. What’s really the icing on the cake is the onsite cafe serving up a delicious breakfast every morning!
Hôtel Saint Maurice
- $$$
- Breakfast 9 USD
- Cafe
- Central Location
Last but not least on our list of top backpackers hotels in Lille is Hotel Saint Maurice. This budget hotel will check all the boxes of any traveller. With its cheap rooms and location right by Saint-Maurice de Lille Church, you’ll be enjoying breathtaking views right from your hotel window!
Right outside of the hotel, you’ll also have the Lille Flandres Train Station and several metro stations keeping you connected to every corner of Lille! The best way to get your day started right is by stopping at the onsite cafe. Here, you can grab a meal and a hot coffee before you start exploring all the sights of the city!
What to Pack for your Lille Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why You Should Travel to Lille
The life of the open-air markets in Lille has a certain energy that you can’t find in any other place in France. With the busy city squares, massive art museums, and history transporting travellers to a time long gone, you’ll be embarking on an adventure unlike any other!
So, will you party it up in a backpacker’s hostel or kick back and relax in one of the boutique hotels? Finding that perfect stay in Lille is easier said than done. We can understand if you’re still torn between two or three great stays, so if you’re looking for a little extra guidance, take our advice and book yourself into Gastama – The People Hostel, our pick for the best hostel in Lille!
FAQ about Hostels in Lille
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Lille.
Travel Safety Tips for Lille
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
Wander and gaze upon masterpieces at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, browse the stalls of the largest open-air market in France at Braderie de Lille, and be taken back in time with the historic buildings of old Lille. It’s not just the architecture that will blow you away; the energy of the markets and bars will also have you experiencing a more candid side of French life.
With a fraction of the tourists that you’d find elsewhere in France, you can enjoy all the beauty and culture of this unique town without having to worry about pushing and shoving your way through the crowds. The charming gabled buildings of Lille await on this one of a kind adventure!
The hard thing about travelling to Lille isn’t deciding where to visit first, but which hostel to book into. Sadly, there are not too many dorm rooms to be found in the old city, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your plans for exploring the cobbled streets! With our list of all the top hostels in Lille, you’ll be back to planning your holiday in no time!
Have you ever travelled to Lille! We would love to hear about your trip! Tell us in the comments below if there are any great hostels we may have missed.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
