This week, I’m thrilled to take you on a one-day tour of Amiens to discover 5 things to see in Amiens! Nicknamed the Little Venice of the North, Amiens was a lovely surprise, located just an hour from Paris by train.
Too little known and clearly underrated, the capital of Picardy boasts a beautiful cathedral and the fascinating home of Jules Verne. But what really sets Amiens apart are the pretty streets of the picturesque Saint Leu district and its hortillonnages (floating gardens) hidden in the meanders of the Somme River. What’s more, Amiens is very easy to visit on foot!
So let me take you on a one-day tour of Amiens to discover the exceptional things to see in Amiens that make it a city like no other!
THINGS TO SEE IN AMIENS – PRACTICAL TIPS
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How to get to Amiens?
Amiens is located 1.5 hours north of Paris and south of Lille, in the Picardy region. By train, it takes 1 hour and 10 minutes from Paris and 1 hour and 20 minutes from Lille.
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Where to stay to visit Amiens?
Here are several suggestions for accommodation in Amiens: there are many options right in the heart of Amiens!
Find your accommodation in Amiens!
3 recommended accommodation to discover all the things to see in Amiens
UNE MAISON EN VILLE
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- Wonderful B&B
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- With a spa, in Amiens center
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- From €250
MAISON D’HÔTES GINKGO
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- Rated 9,3/10
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- In Amiens center
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- From €140
APPARTEMENT LE COCON
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- Whole flat with a parking spot
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- Up to 4 people
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- From €110
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How to get around in Amiens?
If you come to enjoy the most beautiful things to see in Amiens, you’ll be pleased to know that visiting Amiens on foot is very easy, as the city center is small.
The hortillonnages (floating gardens) are also accessible on foot, 10 minutes from the city center. If you want to travel outside the city, however, you will need to rent a car.
Compare car rentals to find the best price in Amiens!
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How long to stay to enjoy all the things to see in Amiens?
One day is enough to visit Amiens and enjoy these 5 things to see in Amiens; and you’ll have time to make the round trip from Paris or Lille.
Allow 2 to 3 hours to walk around the cathedral and the Saint-Leu district, and 1 hour for the Jules Verne house. As for the hortillonnages, the boat trip takes 45 minutes.
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What to bring back from Amiens?
Macarons d’Amiens, a Picardy specialty made with almonds and honey, are a must-try in the region. You can find them at Jean Trogneux, on the cathedral square. Also worth trying are the gâteau battu and pavés de la cathédrale (chocolates).
#1 THINGS TO SEE IN AMIENS: THE CATHEDRAL AND THE HISTORICAL CENTER
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Notre Dame d’Amiens Cathedral
Let’s start our tour of Amiens with the majestic white cathedral that dominates the city. Like those in Reims and Paris, Amiens Cathedral is one of France’s most legendary buildings. And with good reason, as it is the largest cathedral in the country, measuring 145 meters long.
From the outside, you can admire its silent beauty, the dizzying height of its towers—which are open to visitors—and the harmonious decorations on its façade. The Amiens Cathedral then surprises visitors with its unusual interior decorations. On the floor, a superb black and white checkerboard and a two-tone labyrinth cover the nave.
The choir is also astonishing with its imposing Gothic wooden stalls, which are very rare in France. Another unusual feature is a choir screen that was installed in the 16th century to protect the canons from the noise of pilgrims. These painted and colored stones are truly beautiful!
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The historical center : one of the top things to see in Amiens
Now I invite you to take a stroll around the cathedral in the historic district, which has some lovely surprises in store for you. The city is dotted with beautiful facades with striking details. Don’t miss the Amiens belfry on the Place au Fil, or the Renaissance-style facade of the Malmaison. Closer to the cathedral, the intriguing Dewailly clock (19th century) allowed the poorest residents to know the time so they wouldn’t miss their train.
Now head to the bottom of the cathedral, in the narrow streets that line the canals. This surprising neighborhood adds to the charm of Amiens. The picturesque houses are built right on the water, and their residents sometimes have to use a footbridge to get home.
Right next door, you’ll discover other narrow streets with wooden houses. Their horizontal slats reminded me of Norwegian or Canadian houses! The pretty rue du Hocquet, for example, is very colorful, and the wood blends beautifully with the red brick of the North!
SAINT LEU DISTRICT, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO SEE IN AMIENS
Let’s now cross the Somme to visit the very picturesque Saint Leu district. Undoubtedly the best known in Amiens, it’s definitely worth a visit as it is one of the most beautiful things to see in Amiens! In the Middle Ages, it was a working-class neighborhood surrounded by narrow canals. I loved its red brick alleys with their varying shades and brightly colored shutters. In fact, they reminded me in some ways of the streets of Old Lille!
The neighborhood has a unique charm and character that you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll definitely want to spend some time strolling along its cobblestone streets, looking up at the buildings…
The Saint-Leu neighborhood is also a very lively area, with many bars, restaurants, and craft shops. Head to Quai Bélu, for example, for a break on a terrace. This is also where the floating market takes place every Saturday morning, supplied by the market gardeners of the hortillonnages!
THE HORTILLONNAGES, THE GREENEST THINGS TO SEE IN AMIENS
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History of the hortillonnages
Visiting Amiens brings its share of surprises, and I must say that this one was a big one! So let me take you to discover the jewel of Amiens: its hortillonnages. To me, it is one of the most spectacular things to see in Amiens !
The tour is done by boat, accompanied by a fascinating boatman guide who tells us the story of these unique floating gardens. Nestled in the meanders of the Somme River, they were already there in Roman times, when the Romans had set up raised vegetable gardens by hand. Today, there are 300 hectares of gardens, around which the city of Amiens has been built.
If you come to visit Amiens on foot, it’s very easy to get there from the city center! I was struck by how close the city is to the hortillonnages: just a few steps from the historic center, you discover another world that you would never suspect before entering! The only way to explore them is by boat, and only the towpath along the Somme offers a glimpse of them, with its graceful footbridges spanning the canals.
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Boat trip through the hortillonnages
The guide takes us through the 65 km of hortillonnages (we only cover a few, of course!), which are very varied.
In some places, it feels like gliding through a dense forest, where majestic trees and numerous birds welcome us. In other parts of the canals, the view is more open, revealing pretty raised gardens, some overgrown with wild flowers, others immaculately maintained. Some residents also enjoy decorating their houses or gardens with great care. The gardens are dotted with numerous huts, often tiny and passed down from generation to generation. There is no running water or electricity, so no one lives here.
The walk is bucolic and truly relaxing, as only birdsong and the lapping of paddles break the silence. The hortillonnages are a real breath of fresh air in the heart of the city and an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Amiens!
And if you’re passing through on the third Sunday in June, don’t miss the parade of market gardeners who travel down the Somme in boats wearing traditional costumes!
Boat trip in the hortillages of Amiens: open in the afternoon from 1:30 p.m. €10 (€9 reduced rate). Pier: 54 Boulevard Beauvillé.
THE JULES VERNE HOUSE, ONE OF THE LOVELIEST THINGS TO SEE IN AMIENS
To visit to Amiens would be complete without a stop at the Jules Verne House, where the brilliant writer once lived. The author of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth died in Amiens.
On the ground floor of his house, you will find the beautiful living rooms of the Verne family, with a lovely winter garden that lights up the surrounding rooms. Then you will discover Jules Verne’s works, from short stories published in magazines to the red-bound volumes published by Hetzel. It is a beautiful collection that immerses you in the fantastic world of the author.
Visitors will enjoy traveling between the original editions preserved in the house, the tiny office where Jules Verne loved to write, and the travel items belonging to the writer, who had his own boat. At the top of the house, the tour ends in a huge attic filled with treasure chests.
The entire world of Jules Verne and his film adaptations can be found here. The most ingenious objects born of his imagination, as well as some amazing merchandise, await you. More than 100 years after his death, Jules Verne still invites us to dream and travel.
Maison Jules Verne: open every day in summer (closed on Tuesdays in winter) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (opening hours vary, check here). Admission: €9 (free for children under 18).
OTHER THINGS TO SEE IN AMIENS AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
Naours (20 minutes away): the underground city of Naours is one of the region’s must-see attractions. Over the centuries, these former chalk quarries have become underground shelters that can now be explored!
Beauvais and the Oise (45 minutes away): located south of the Somme, the Oise department is full of hidden gems! Famous for its castles and forests, it is also worth a visit for its many villages and unusual attractions. Check out my 9 favorite places to visit in the Oise, my article on Chantilly, and a bike trip in the Compiègne forest!
Saint Valéry sur Somme (50 minutes away): this magnificent village is located on the edge of the Baie de Somme, the jewel of the department. Check out my article dedicated to visit Baie de Somme!
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
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