Northern France Tours: 13 to Choose Between

1.Entrance Ticket Nausicaa, the biggest aquarium in Europe

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 1,135 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $36Our pick

Spend 4 to 6 hours at Nausicaá, the National Sea Centre, with admission to 85 aquariums, tanks and terrariums. You’ll see around 58,000 creatures from 1,600 species, including giant manta rays, sharks, penguins and sea lions. The voucher is in English, but you may need to exchange it at the ticket desk before entering.

“Raie impressionnante, BEAUCOUP trop d'écran. par contre le système de billetterie en ligne a revoir car nous devons faire la queue comme ceux qui achète sur place.”

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2.Lille Driving Tour by Convertible Citroen 2CV

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 711 reviews · 30 - 90 minutes · from $34

Meet at Place Rihour for a private chauffeur-led tour in a classic convertible Citroen 2CV. Your English- or French-speaking guide points out Lille’s monuments, architecture, and old streets, with time for photos and local restaurant tips. Choose 30, 60, or 90 minutes, and roll back the roof when weather allows.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable about the city and this was a great way to orientate ourselves. He pointed out great restaurants and places to visit as well as providing us with interesting historical and cultural context in a fun and lively way.”

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3.Nausicaá National Sea Center: Full-Day Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 541 reviews · 365 days · from $35

Spend about 4.5 hours at Nausicaá National Sea Center in Boulogne-sur-Mer, exploring 70 aquariums and three major exhibitions. You’ll see grey reef sharks, manta rays, penguins, sea lions, and 1,600 species. Your ticket includes animal presentations, feeding sessions, a visitor app, and skip-the-ticket-line entry. An audioguide costs €4.20.

“very good all round , facilities good , well managed , not too overcrowded, would definitely visit again with grandchildren”

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4.Unique Tour of Lille by Convertible 2CV – 1h00

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 470 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $54Top rated

Explore Lille with a private driver-guide in a vintage convertible Citroën 2CV. In one hour, you’ll pass Place Rihour, the old town, Lille Cathedral, Hospice Comtesse, Porte de Paris, and the Town Hall Belfry while hearing local stories. Guides such as Raphy, Lilian, Anne, and Charlie add humor and useful tips for the rest of your visit.

“A birthday surprise for my husband which was a great success. Nicholas our chauffeur was fun, engaging and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended.”

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5.Somme Battlefields Small-Group Day Trip with John Monash Centre from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 270 reviews · from $294

Leave Paris early for an 11-hour, English-language minivan tour of the Somme. With guides such as Regis, Honoré, Heniere, or Julian, you’ll visit Australian and British memorials, wartime cemeteries, trenches, Lochnagar Crater, the Sir John Monash Centre, and the Historial in Péronne. Food is not included.

“Being Australian! There was so much interesting things to see and enjoy and so much that we need to be thankful for. Thank you for all who went to war”

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6.Somme Battlefields from Paris with Australian memorial & Amiens Cathedral

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 228 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $278

Spend about 11 hours tracing the Somme battlefields in a minivan limited to eight people. Visit Thiepval, Lochnagar Crater, Beaumont-Hamel, Pozieres, Villers-Bretonneux, and the Sir John Monash Centre, with lunch at Le Tommy and a final stop at Amiens Cathedral. Guides such as Aaron, Etienne, and Philip are praised for bringing the sites to life.

“Pierre is such a great guide. Very knowledgeable, kind, good humor when it's appropriate as well. I was a US American on a tour with quite a few Aussies and after checking with me he restructured the itinerary slightly for them and I thought that was so cool. The Aussies were instrumental in WW1 and their monument is almost a religious experience. The guide was great and the sites are tear jerking, worth every penny.”

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7.24, 48 or 72-Hour City Pass & 24-Hour Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 205 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $41

Pick a 24, 48, or 72-hour Lille City Pass and receive free entry to more than 20 museums, parks, tours, and family sites, plus 24 hours of metro, bus, and tram travel. Choose a 75-minute panoramic bus tour or a two-hour Old Lille walk, then use the pass for art, heritage, science, and nearby attractions.

“Very good. There was more to do in Lille than I expected, and lots of interesting buildings.”

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8.Private guided tour by electric bike taxi

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 168 reviews · 1 hour

Meet your guide at Lille’s tourism office for a private one-hour ride through the city center. You’ll reach Old Lille, the Grand Place, Porte de Paris, the belfries, and narrow lanes that cars cannot enter. Guides including Valentin, Juan, Florian, and Davide offer tours in French, English, or Spanish. Drop-off is anywhere in central Lille.

“What a fabulous tour! Highly recommend as you see so much you would miss walking or on a bus. Really let us get up close and personal with these incredible sights.”

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9.Private Round Trip Transfer to Vimy Ridge from Arras

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 164 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Michel Bernard of RMB Transports drives your private group of up to four from Arras to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and back. Expect a 20-minute ride, bottled water, hotel or station pickup, and time to explore the trenches, tunnel, cemeteries, interpretation centre, and monument on your own. Extra cemetery stops may be possible.

“Michel was an excellent driver. Good communication in advance and met us promptly at both meet up times. He also took the time to speak to my relatives in English while conversing with me in French (and being patient with my errors!) Also took the time on the way back to show us some of the nearby cemeteries and monuments and to share his knowledge of the local area and its history and his experiences with the Vimy site. Highly recommend!”

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10.WWI Somme Battlefields Day Trip from Paris

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 111 reviews · 11 hours · from $271

Leave Paris in an air-conditioned minibus for the Somme, with an English-speaking guide and a maximum of eight people. Visit Thiepval, Lochnagar Crater, Beaumont-Hamel, Villers-Bretonneux, the Sir John Monash Centre, Pozieres, and Amiens Cathedral. Guides such as Will, Aaron, Matthew, and Olivier are praised for personal stories and thoughtful pacing.

“Will was an amazing guide and very knowledgeable about locations and history of the sites and the conflicts that took place. It’s been my third time to the Somme and I learn something new every time. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the tour as well and gained a deeper understanding of this particular part of history.”

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11.Musee Somme 1916 Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 105 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $9Best value

At the Musée Somme 1916 in Albert, you enter a 250-meter tunnel 10 meters underground, then follow fifteen trench-war scenes, 25 display cases, sound and light effects, and a Gallery of Heroes. Information is available in English, French, German, and Dutch, with a free app included.

“It’s a great experience, which is really well put together. Very atmospheric in the underground tunnels. Best in mind the venue is not in Amiens which I thought it was. It’s 20 miles past Amiens. Really well worth the trip.”

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12.Private battle of Dunkirk Operation Dynamo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Explore Operation Dynamo with a private guide such as Emmanuel, Elise, Fred, or Onno. Visit the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery, Malo-les-Bains beach, and Dunkirk’s East Mole, with transport from Dunkirk and time for questions. Add the Dunkirk Museum separately for a fuller understanding of the evacuation.

“Emmanuel gave an amazing tour! He was so knowledgeable and had a passion for Dunkirk. We learned so much and really enjoyed it.”

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13.NO DIET CLUB – LET’S GET THICK IN Lille !

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 93 reviews · 3 hours · from $77

Explore Lille through food on a three-hour tasting walk led in English or French by guides such as Raphy, Thomas, Tom, or Célia. Visit local eateries and bakeries for Maroilles fries, burgers, charcuterie, cheese, pastries, pralines, and macarons. Groups are limited to eight, and vegetarians are welcome.

“We mistakenly thought this was a “walking”tour with food 🤦‍♂️ Thomas was a fabulous host and made sure all of the group was included. Not sure the restaurants and choice of food was the best that Lille could offer though.”

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