Amiens is one of the laid back cities in the northern part of France. It is also one of the lesser visited cities but it isn’t because of the lack of things to do in Amiens. On the contrary, I think it’s one of the overlooked and underrated spots to put on your list.
We visited the city during spring break in February. The weather was not the best but there were hardly any tourists. Amiens formed a great base to explore the surrounding countryside, it was also a short train ride or drive to Paris. Best of all, the city offered an opportunity to unwind and relax. Something that both Shawn and I were craving for.
So if you are on the look out for a gorgeous city in France that is not too far from Paris but has its own charm, you will find that Amiens fits the bill. The fact that there are plenty of things to do in Amiens just makes it a perfect spot to consider.
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Table of Contents
Amiens Is Known For Jules Verne
One of the first things that you will realize is that almost every place that you head to in Amiens has something that is dedicated to Jules Verne in it. This incredible writer left a lasting mark on the city that he lived in and it wasn’t just with his books.
Jules Verne wrote Around the world in 80 days, Journey to the center of the Earth, 20,000 leagues below the sea, etc. These books were translated into many different languages and people began calling him one of the fathers of science fiction.
As a child I read through all of these. While I did not know much about Jules Verne back then, visiting Amiens was very enriching because these books inspired me to write back in the day.
Where To Stay In Amiens
Since Amiens is a pretty small city, it really doesn’t matter if you stay on the outskirts or in the city. What we loved is the fact that it was easy to get budget accommodation here which meant we could stay in Amiens for a pretty long time.
- Luxury – Maison Longuevie
- Mid-Range – Casa Dolce
- Budget – Ginkgo Maison d’hôtes
Things To Do In Amiens, France
1. Cathedral Notre Dame
The Cathedral de Notre Dame is probably the most notable landmark in Amiens. This building stands out as soon as you walk close by. The Gothic structure is magnificent both inside and out. It is also free to visit.
The large church has a high arched ceiling, a number of interesting paintings and while it is simplistically decorated compared to many other churches, the interiors will take your breath away.
An interesting fact is that it also houses the relic (head) of Saint John the Baptist. You can’t actually see the relic unless you visit during the exposition when it is removed.
2. Tourism Office Amiens
We quickly learned that the best place to use the restroom for free is in the Tourism office. That’s how we landed up visiting it. That however isn’t the only reason I would recommend visiting it.
The upper first and second floor of the building house a museum and exhibit which explains the history of the city and how it evolved over time.
There are loads of exhibits and many are aimed at young children so even our toddlers had fun. In my opinion, it is one of the underrated things to do in Amiens and one that many people miss.
3. Musee de Picardie
I was a bit hesitant about visiting the Musee de Picardie. The reviews that I had read through were mixed. Many said that it is the best museum in France outside Paris. On the other hand a number of people said that there was no English in the whole museum.
Given the fact that we had a full day of rain and that the kids love museums, we chose to do it and were glad that we did. The museum has a lovely layout and loads of exhibits. Sure there were no English signs but Google lens helped in translating everything we needed.
Unlike the Louvre in Paris, there weren’t hordes of tourists and it was super easy to navigate. Would I recommend it as one of the things to do in Amiens? Good weather or bad, it’s one of the activities that should be on your list!
4. Bibliothèque Louis Aragon
The Bibliotheque Louis Argaon is a very interesting building and is located right next to the Musee de Picardie. This means that it is easy to tick off your list because you can’t visit Amiens without visiting the museum.
As can be expected, this library is also linked with Jules Verne. It was after all his home city. He spent a lot of time researching in the building and even donated 40 of his own works to the library. Today, the building houses over 20,000 books, documents and artifacts.
5. Beffroi d’Amiens
This is a historical landmark that is located right in the center of the city. In fact, Amiens is so small that you can easily walk from one attraction to the next. The Beffroi d’Ameins is a tall tower that has history that can be traced back to medieval times.
You can actually take a tour through the Beffroi and learn about the history. When you reach the top, you will have a panoramic view of the city which is great.
Just make sure that you do this on a day with good weather otherwise it gets pretty windy and you won’t see far.
6. Try The Crepes At Creperie La Mangeoire
One of the things to do in Amiens that I highly recommend is trying out the crepes. We were walking around the city on a day with particularly bad weather when we stopped at the Creperie La Mangeoire. The restaurant was super quaint with really friendly staff. Their specialty was crepes (obviously!)
Anyways we were presented with a huge menu and could choose from dozens of both sweet and savory crepes. Shawn tried a savory one and it was huge! He loved every bite. My selection on the other hand was a sweet crepe. It was perfectly made and I would head back for it in a heartbeat.
7. Galleries De Lafayette
You’ve probably heard about the Galleries de Lafayette from Paris but did you know that there is one in Amiens too? It’s located pretty centrally, is easy to get and is one of the cool things to do in Amiens on a rainy day.
The store has three floors and has all kinds of stylish apparel for men, women and even children. It houses many of the best brands in it too. So if you want some of the famous stylish french clothes that the country is well known for, go here. Just know that they can be pricey too!
8. Walk Through Saint-Leu
Saint-Leu is the most scenic part of Amiens and is located towards the north of the city.The neighborhood is very colourful. Pretty houses line cobbled streets and you will even see canals here. These canals give the city of Amiens the nickname ‘Venice of France’.
9. Dive Into The World Of Books
One of the things that I noticed while walking around the city is the numerous book stores that it had. These were varied depending on the kind of book you are searching for.
My favourite store by far was the Martelle book store. The store is huge. It spans three floors and has loads of books for all ages. The downside is that the vast majority are in French.
The store even has a whole section dedicated to board games. Now we can’t resist portable board games so we spent a lot of time here and finally found one for kids that was not language dependent in terms of rules.
10. Jules Verne House
As I mentioned before, Jules Verne loved and grew up in this city. This is why one of the famous landmarks in Amiens is his house. Today the house is also a museum. Unfortunately for us, the museum was closed in winter so we didn’t get to see the interior of it.
We do pass by the city frequently on road trips so I’m pretty certain that this is one of the things to do in Amiens that I will tick off my list at a later date.
11. The Hortillonnages
If you really want to see Amiens in all it’s scenic beauty then head to the Hortillonnages. These waterways are filled with boats during the summer season and cruising down them is one the best ways to beat the summer heat.
In addition to being a great activity, you also get to take photographs at one of the most Instagramable places in the city. Picture flowers on all sides of the canals, old houses framing the view and the peaceful solitude that the Hortillonnages offers. Sounds perfect right?
This is why this is one of the popular things to do in Amiens in summer.
12. The Cool Playgrounds
I just have to include this in. Next to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens, there is a very cool playground that is themed after both Jules Verne and Amelia Earhart. It is a great place to stop at if you have young kids because they love the themed playground.
What’s in it for you? Well it is one of the scenic parts of the city so you get to sit down for a bit and take in the views.
Note: This is one of the things to do in Amiens for people traveling with kids.
There you have it. My list of all the things to do in Amiens, France. The city has a nice slow pace but the activity really picks up the moment the weather is good. With just a little bit of sunshine, you will find that people tend to congregate in the city center, enjoy meals outdoors, visit the Hortillonnages and just take day trips into the countryside.
Are there any things to do in Amiens that you’ve done and would like to see on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
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