Lens sits at the junction of the A1, A21 and A26 motorways, 40 minutes from Lille by train and just over an hour from Paris by TGV high-speed train.
| From | By train | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | Direct TGV from Paris-Nord in about 1 hr 10. Direct trains are few: otherwise, change at Arras or Lille. | A1 then A21, about 2 hrs |
| Lille | TER regional train from Lille-Flandres, about 40 min | A1 then A21, about 30 min |
| Brussels | Train to Lille-Europe (under 40 min), then TER from Lille-Flandres | About 1 hr 30 |
| London | Eurostar to Lille-Europe (about 1 hr 20), then TER from Lille-Flandres | Channel Tunnel or ferry to Calais, then A26 and A21, about 1 hr from Calais |
| Opal Coast | Via Arras or Lille | A26, about 1 hr 30 |
Timetables and services change often: check on SNCF Connect. Within the region, most sites are easier to reach by car or by bike.
Lens-Liévin Hénin-Carvin tourist office, 16 place Jean-Jaurès in Lens. Guided tours, Bollaert Tour (stadium tour), Art Deco walks.
On the Place des Héros, beneath the town hall. This is the starting point for tours of the boves (underground tunnels) and the belfry.
The whole département, from the Opal Coast to the Mining Basin.
lens-tourisme.fr is a personal, non-commercial website with no advertising, run by Sébastien Deneux on a voluntary basis. It has no connection with the town of Lens, the tourist office or Louvre-Lens. It was created in 2005 to follow the museum's arrival and was completely rebuilt in 2026.
The practical information was checked in October 2026. Opening times, prices and closures change: always check the venue's official website before you travel. Spotted a mistake, have a suggestion or a photo to share? They are all welcome.
Photo credits, detailed sources, acknowledgements and the legal notice are on a dedicated page.