Lille absent from the list of the rainiest cities
Contrary to popular belief, it's not in Lille that it rains the most, and certainly not continuously. According to Holidu's 2025 ranking, which analyzes precipitation in major French cities for over 10 years, Lille doesn't even make it into the top 10. Villeneuve-d'Ascq, on the other hand, is in 9ᵉ place, but far behind cities we wouldn't suspect such as Grenoble, Annecy, or Mulhouse.
In short: if you really want to avoid the rain, don't head to the Alps, but rather to Perpignan or Marseille. Yes, people from Lille often carry an umbrella in their bags, but it's just for occasional use, not as a survival mode!
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Why does this cliché have such a long life?
The image of Lille under pouring rain mainly comes from the number of rainy days, which might be a bit higher than elsewhere. But here's the twist: it rains often, but rarely a lot. Unlike Lyon or Bayonne, where showers are less frequent but absolutely torrential, Lille mostly gets light drizzles that barely make you raise an eyebrow. So, no need to take out the boat.
In reality, it rains more in Biarritz than in Lille over the year, but who would dare to say that the Basque coast is cursed by the weather?
Lille in the rain has its own vibe
So yes, there’s sometimes drizzle and a few showers, but that’s part of the charm. The wet cobblestones of Old Lille, the terraces under the heating lamps, the smell of waffles wafting through the air… And if we…Was it really necessary to demonize the rain to appreciate the ambiance it brings?
And honestly, who wants to live in a city where it's 35° in the shade for six months of the year? Not us, that's for sure.
Check out the full ranking here