Hauts-de-France is France’s most underrated region. Just an hour from Paris and London by train, it combines lively Flemish-style cities, some of Europe’s finest Gothic cathedrals, the dunes and cliffs of the Opal Coast and the memorials of the First World War. This Hauts-de-France travel guide shows you where to start.
Why visit Hauts-de-France
The north is known for its warm welcome, its beer and its festivals. It has UNESCO-listed belfries, the great cathedrals of Amiens and Beauvais, the château of Chantilly and miles of beaches facing England.
Top places to visit in Hauts-de-France
Lille
Lille has a beautiful old town of Flemish brick façades, the Grand-Place, the Palais des Beaux-Arts and a famous flea market, the Braderie, every September.
The Opal Coast and Le Touquet
The Côte d’Opale runs from Dunkirk to the Bay of Somme: the cliffs of Cap Gris-Nez and Cap Blanc-Nez, and the elegant resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.
Amiens and the Bay of Somme
Amiens Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in France, and the city’s hortillonnages are floating gardens explored by boat. The Bay of Somme is home to a colony of seals.
Chantilly and Compiègne
The Château de Chantilly and its Grandes Écuries (great stables), and the imperial palace and forest of Compiègne.
Remembrance sites
The Somme battlefields, the Canadian memorial at Vimy and the Ring of Remembrance at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette recall the First World War.
Best time to visit Hauts-de-France
May to September offers mild weather for the coast and the battlefields. September brings the Braderie de Lille, and December the Christmas markets. The climate is oceanic: pack a jacket all year.
Getting to and around Hauts-de-France
Lille is about 1 hour from Paris by TGV and 1 hour 20 minutes from London by Eurostar. Lille airport has domestic and European flights, and Paris-CDG is close to the south of the region. A car is useful for the coast and the battlefields; regional TER trains cover the main towns.
Hauts-de-France itinerary ideas
- Weekend in Lille, with a day trip to the Louvre-Lens museum.
- Opal Coast road trip: Dunkirk, the two Caps, Boulogne-sur-Mer and Le Touquet.
- Gothic and gardens: Chantilly, Amiens and the Bay of Somme.
What to eat in Hauts-de-France
Carbonnade flamande (beef in beer), potjevleesch, welsh (cheddar and beer on toast), moules-frites, Maroilles cheese and waffles from Lille. The north is also beer country, with many small breweries.
Hauts-de-France travel tips
- Book Lille hotels early for the Braderie (first weekend of September).
- Check tide times on the Opal Coast and in the Bay of Somme.
- Use the TER trains: many towns are linked to Lille in under an hour.
Hauts-de-France FAQ
What is Hauts-de-France known for?
Lille, the Opal Coast, Amiens Cathedral, Chantilly and the First World War memorials.
Is Lille worth visiting?
Yes – it has a beautiful old town, great museums and a lively food and bar scene.
How far is the coast from Lille?
The Opal Coast is about an hour and a half by car.
