Best Things To Do in Amiens, France

This article lists the best things to do in Amiens, France, so you know what to visit. From iconic Amiens attractions to hidden gems, you have it all! If you are in a hurry, jump to the Amiens things to do list here.

Nicknamed the “Venice of the North” for the charming canals and the colorful buildings, the lovely city of Amiens is one of the best places to visit in Northern France, 120 km north of Paris.

Amiens is on the banks of the Somme River, in the heart of the Picardy historical region, and it’s surrounded by a quiet and lovely countryside. However, Amiens boasts an important historical and cultural heritage, making it a perfect holiday spot for both those seeking a tranquil weekend and history lovers.

There are many reasons to visit the city, so here’s a list of the best things to see and do in Amiens.

What to Do in Amiens

Amiens is an easy train ride from Paris. Trains from Paris depart from Gare du Nord regularly, and it only takes one hour. Amiens is also a great destination for a weekend getaway from London: hop on the Eurostar train and get off at Paris Gare du Nord, then catch the train to Amiens that leaves from the same station.

Wondering what to do in Amiens for a day or a weekend getaway? This list of things to do and what to see in Amiens includes historical sites, cultural attractions, and natural wonders.

1. Visit the Amiens Cathedral
2. Quartier de Saint-Leu
3. The Hortillonnages of Amiens
4. Jules Verne House in Amiens
5. Musée de la Picardie
6. Explore the Banks of the River Somme by Bike
7. Visit the Landscaped Cemetery of La Madelaine
8. Jardin des Plantes
9. Take a Day Trip from Amiens

TIP: History lovers will love this Amiens private walking tour, which explores Amiens’ rich history from the first settlements to its key role in World War 1.

1. Visit the Amiens Cathedral

One of the Grandes Cathédrales – best Gothic Cathedrals in France –, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens is an unmissable masterpiece. A UNESCO-listed monument, the Cathedral was built during the Middle Ages between 1220 and 1270, and it boasts a harmonious architectural style, which is quite unusual for buildings of the period.

The Amiens Cathedral has an impressive length of 145 meters and a surface of 1,54 Ha. Did you know that inside Notre Dame d’Amiens, you could fit two Notre Dame of Paris Cathedrals?

Remarkable is the Cathedral’s main façade, which features three doorways decorated with 750 statues. The intricate details can also be found on the inside, with the stained-glass windows. and the choir stalls. Made of light oak in the late Flamboyant style (1508 and 1522), the choir stalls of Notre-Dame d’Amiens are exceptional, representing the largest collection of cabinetmaking that Gothic art has left us, featuring more than 3,650 figures.

You will hardly forget the grandiose Amiens Cathedral!

Address: 30 Place Notre Dame; Opening times: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

TIP: If you speak French, the guided visit of the choir stalls, by passionate volunteers, is very interesting. Actually, this is the only way to get a closer view inside. Ask for the visit hours inside the Cathedral.

2. Wander around the Saint-Leu Neighborhood

The medieval neighborhood of Amiens, Saint-Leu, displays a mix of historic charm and a trendy vibe. Wandering around the narrow cobblestone streets while admiring the colorful half-timbered houses lined along the Somme banks will make for a beautiful day!

Saint-Leu is full of things to do! Stop by one of the lovely cafés, many of which have views of the Cathedral, for a coffee break or indulge in a traditional lunch in a good riverside restaurant.

Continue exploring the neighborhood by visiting the small yet well-structured art galleries and shopping in the numerous bookstores, antique shops, and locally owned boutiques.

Take a boat tour of Saint-Leu’s canals and end your afternoon of exploration with a delicious apéritif.

3. Explore the Hortillonnages of Amiens (Floating Gardens)

Amiens has a special attraction, the Hortillonnages d’Amiens, 300-hectare floating gardens right on the canals between the Somme and Avre rivers. The Hortillonnages have a unique ecosystem thanks to the swamp landscape.

The origin of the Hortillonnages of Amiens dates back to Roman times. Since the Middle Ages, these floating gardens have been cultivated by hortillons (gardeners) who used gondola-like boats to transport fresh products to the market in town.

You can visit Les Hortillonnages on guided tours in French by traditional boats. These tours sell out quickly, so I recommend booking your spot well in advance (here).

Another great way to explore the floating gardens is by biking or walking through the Chemin de Halage. We have explored the Hortillonnages by boat and bike, and I recommend both ways! There’s a (super cheap) bike rental service at Amiens’ train station, located downstairs below street level.

If you visit Amiens anytime between May and October, don’t miss the Hortillonnages International Festival, during which the gardens are transformed into an open-air museum with art installations, music concerts, circus acts, and poetry performances.

4. Visit Jules Verne’s House in Amiens

The famous French novelist Jules Verne had a special tie with the town of Amiens. Born and raised in Nantes, he married a woman from Amiens, and the pair moved to Amiens after living in Paris for some years. Verne seemed to have loved Amiens’s calm and town-feeling atmosphere while being close to the cultural Paris, and he was very involved in the cultural and political life in Amiens.

One of the best things to do in Amiens is to visit Jules Verne’s House. This is the perfect chance to visit one of the typical houses of the 19th-century bourgeoisie in Amiens and get a glimpse of Jules Verne’s family life. Inside, you will find the small study where the author used to work on his novels and the impressive library featuring Verne’s favorite books, although my favorite part was the winter garden, so typical of these houses in Northern France.

The Jules Verne House also boasts an impressive collection of flying machines created by Verne himself, which predate the invention of planes. And of course, there’s a bookshop where you can buy his most famous novels (mostly in French).

Address: 2 Rue Charles Dubois; Opening times: Wednesday to Monday, from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

5. Visit the Musée de la Picardie

Another must-see in Amiens is the Musée de la Picardie, the first museum in France built specifically to house works of art.

Opened in 1867 under Napoleon III, the Musée de la Picardie showcases an eclectic collection that includes archaeological pieces from Gallo-Roman times to ancient Greece and Egypt; medieval artifacts; Fine Art items dating from the 16th to 19th centuries; and modern and contemporary artistic expressions, such as photographs and art installations.

Besides the incredible collection that will surely catch everyone’s eyes, the museum’s building was listed as a historic monument in 2012 for its beauty and importance! The museum also has a lovely garden, open to everybody, perfect for a short break during your sightseeing in Amiens.

Address: 2 Rue Puvis de Chavannes; Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

6. Explore the Banks of the River Somme by Bike

Amiens is located in the Véloroute Vallée de la Somme (Somme Valley), which puts it in the middle of the Ham à Saint-Valery-sur-Somme path, which stretches for 160 km following the river. The path crosses Amiens from east to west and can be either walked or biked.

What’s fantastic about the path is that it is mostly flat and people can discover the natural and cultural richness of the Somme Valley.

We decided to bike along the western part of the Ham à Saint-Valery-sur-Somme path for some kilometers and visited the Jardin des Plantes and the Cimitière de la Madelaine on the way (more on this in the following chapters).

If this sounds like something you would enjoy doing, you can rent bikes for the day at the train station for a meager price.

7. Visit the Landscaped Cemetery of La Madelaine

On the northwestern outskirts of Amiens is the landscaped Cemetery of La Madelaine, which is worth a visit. La Madelaine is the resting place of Jules Verne and other illustrious citizens of Amiens.

Created in the 19th century on the site of an old lazaretto (leper hospital), the graveyard spans 18 hectares of hilly woodland and features many ornate tombs and funerary statues belonging to wealthy families in the city.

Verne’s memorial has been recently restored and is the highlight of the cemetery. The tomb has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1995, and you will be astonished by the marble sculpture created by the renowned sculptor Albert Roze (I find it a bit scary!).

The cemetery is quite far from the center, so here’s another excuse to rent a bike in Amiens. If you love peace and quiet, surrounded by great art, the Cemetery of La Madeleine is one of the best places to visit in Amiens.

Address: 474 Rue Saint-Maurice; Opening times: every day from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

8. Explore the Jardin des Plantes in Amiens

Among the best things to do in Amiens is to visit the Jardin des Plantes, one of the oldest botanical gardens in France.

A place full of history, the Jardin des Plantes was designed in the 18th century, and it was the site of botany courses thanks to the rich plant collections. In the 20th century, the garden began to be used to produce plants for the flowering of Amiens.

Today, the Jardin des Plantes is a great spot in the city for a relaxing afternoon walk and learning about different plants. The Alpine rock garden and the botanical collections with food plants and medicinal herbs are particularly remarkable, and you will surely love them!

Address: 60 Boulevard du Jardin des Plantes; Opening times: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

9. Take a Day Trip from Amiens

If you have a spare day in Amiens, there are some beautiful cities in Northern France that are easy to reach by train. The most popular day trip from Amiens is Lille, the capital city of the Hauts-de-France region, but Arras and Saint-Quentin are also worth exploring. You can check train timetables and prices here.

The most popular day trip from Amiens is, however, the Somme Battlefields. There are many day tours from Amiens led by expert guides, and they are usually focused on a specific country:

• Vimy, the Somme: Canada in the Great War
• Australian Imperial Force on the Somme in WW1
• New Zealand in WW1 on the Somme and Artois
• Battle of Cantigny: First American Offensive WW1
• Battle of the Somme: WW1 Battlefields (general)

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