Pas-de-Calais district, Hauts-de-France, France

Places to visit near Lens

Lens is a town in Pas-de-Calais district, Hauts-de-France, France, home to about 38,265 people. Within 50 km by road there are 99 places to visit — 23 churches, 29 forts & heritage, 16 museums and 6 hill stations & viewpoints. The must-see places are Louvre Lens (2 km), Monument Aux Victimes de la Catastrophe de Courrières (3 km) and Chapelle du Monastère de la Sainte-Croix de Riaumont (4 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Lens on the map

Lens, Hauts-de-France
Lens, Pas-de-Calais district, Hauts-de-France, France. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Lens at a glance

Location
Pas-de-Calais district, Hauts-de-France, France
Population
about 38,265
Coordinates
50.4330° N, 2.8279° E
Places within 50 km
99 (99 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and museums

Top places to visit near Lens

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Lens: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Lens

Things to see near Lens, by type

Churches near Lens

105 churches within 100 km of Lens. The closest is Chapelle du Monastère de la Sainte-Croix de Riaumont (4 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Hauts-de-France →

Forts & heritage near Lens

88 forts & heritage within 100 km of Lens. The closest is Monument Aux Victimes de la Catastrophe de Courrières (3 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Hauts-de-France →

Museums near Lens

31 museums within 100 km of Lens. The closest is Louvre Lens (2 km). Best time: year-round.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Lens

20 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Lens. The closest is Canadian National Vimy Memorial (9 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Hauts-de-France →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Lens

15 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Lens. The closest is Jardin de la Faculté de Pharmacie (31 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Hauts-de-France →

Parks near Lens

11 parks within 100 km of Lens. The closest is Parc d'Olhain (22 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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A one-day trip from Lens

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 30 km on the road.

  1. Start in Lens
  2. 2 km Louvre Lens · museum, Pas-de-Calais
  3. 9 km The Ring of Remembrance - Notre Dame de Lorette International Memorial · monument, Pas-de-Calais
  4. 5 km Canadian National Vimy Memorial · monument, Pas-de-Calais
  5. 5 km Chapelle du Monastère de la Sainte-Croix de Riaumont · church, Pas-de-Calais
  6. 6 km Monument Aux Victimes de la Catastrophe de Courrières · monument, Pas-de-Calais
  7. 3 km Back to Lens

Plan a longer trip from Lens — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Lens

No traveller has reported from around Lens yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Lens

    All places near Lens by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Lens by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches23105Chapelle du Monastère de la Sainte-Croix de Riaumont (4 km)
    Forts & heritage2988Monument Aux Victimes de la Catastrophe de Courrières (3 km)
    Museums1631Louvre Lens (2 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints620Canadian National Vimy Memorial (9 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens715Jardin de la Faculté de Pharmacie (31 km)
    Other attractions1014Monchy-le-Preux Newfoundland Memorial (23 km)
    Parks511Parc d'Olhain (22 km)
    Mosques & dargahs13Mosquée Al Imane (32 km)
    Buddhist sites22Abbaye de Belval (43 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs01Dikkebusvijver (54 km)

    Lens: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Lens?

    Louvre Lens (museum, about 2 km), Monument Aux Victimes de la Catastrophe de Courrières (monument, about 3 km), Chapelle du Monastère de la Sainte-Croix de Riaumont (church, about 4 km), Canadian National Vimy Memorial (monument, about 9 km), The Ring of Remembrance - Notre Dame de Lorette International Memorial (monument, about 11 km), Notre Dame de Lorette French National War Cemetery (viewpoint, about 11 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Lens?

    99 places on Spotwander: 23 churches, 29 forts & heritage, 16 museums, 6 hill stations & viewpoints, 7 wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Which is the nearest church to Lens?

    Chapelle du Monastère de la Sainte-Croix de Riaumont, about 4 km by road; Église Saint-Martin (11 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Lens?

    Monument Aux Victimes de la Catastrophe de Courrières, about 3 km by road; Mont St. Éloi Abbey Ruins (17 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest museum to Lens?

    Louvre Lens, about 2 km by road; Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Arras (20 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Lens?

    Start in Lens, visit Louvre Lens, then The Ring of Remembrance - Notre Dame de Lorette International Memorial, then Canadian National Vimy Memorial, then Chapelle du Monastère de la Sainte-Croix de Riaumont, then Monument Aux Victimes de la Catastrophe de Courrières, and drive back — about 30 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Lens?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and museums.

    Towns near Lens

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Lens’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Lens on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.