# Amiens

Amiens is the capital of the northern French region of Hauts-de-France. As well as its own attractions, the city makes a practical base from which to explore the area of the First World War's Western Front located nearby.

## Get in

140 km (87 mi) north of Paris. On the intersection of the A16 Abbeville - Beauvais and the A29 Rouen - Saint-Quentin (Aisne) and Reims. Providing direct access from the port of Le Havre and Calais, and an indirect but closer route from Dieppe.
* 49.8905562.3083331 Gare d'Amiens. Trains from Paris at least hourly, normally about €18 each way. Journey time one hour ten minutes for fast Corail trains, slightly longer for stopping TER services.

## Get around

There are many signs (direction, tourism, car parks). However, the city center is pedestrianized, it is advised to park a little farther, or in the numerous underground parking lots of the city center.
Amiens has a decent bus system (€1.40 for a ticket which is valid one hour) and a community bicycle system but bicycles are not in useful areas.

## See

* 49.8952.3022221 Amiens's cathedral (Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens). one of the major works of the French Gothic style, with a fine façade and interesting sculptures. The cathedral is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. An impressive piece of architecture being the tallest and the greatest interior volume cathedral in France.
* 49.8966152.311322 The Hortillonages (Hortillonnages d'Amiens), 54 Boulevard de Beauville, ☏ +33 3 22 92 12 18. market gardens and allotments separated by small canals connected by private bridges, are visitable by boat from available at Maison des Hortillonnages.

## Do

* 49.88792.3021 Jules Verne Museum. The author's well-preserved 19th century home has become the small but cosy Jules Verne Museum, well worth a visit for those who are interested in literature.
* 49.88842.295462 Amiens Circus. The Circus building is quite unique in France and Europe, even from the outside. If you can, try to get a seat for one of the events taking place there.
* Football: Amiens SC play soccer in Ligue 2, the second tier in France. Their home ground Stade de la Licorne (capacity 12,100) is 3 km west of city centre.

## Buy

There are a couple of tourist gift shops on the south side of the Place Notre Dame. The main shopping area is around Rue des Trois Cailloux.
* Macarons d'Amiens, small, round-shaped biscuit-type macaroons made from almond paste, fruit and honey.

## Eat

Quai Belu on the north bank of the Somme has a good selection of restaurants, and some pleasant street seating. Quality food as catering for the locals but there is enough tourist trade that most have English menus available.
* 49.89432.3015651 Big Ben, 12 Rue Cormont, ☏ +33 3 22 52 98 49. (updated Jul 2017)

## Drink

The area between the cathedral and the river Somme around Rue des Bondés is a popular area for drinking with indoor and outside seating. There are also a few possibilities around the Place Gambetta and near the rail station.
* 49.8955362.3035881 Baobar, 2 Rue des Bondés, ☏ +33 3 22 72 94 20. (updated Jul 2017)
* 49.890872.3061642 Tower's Pub, 5 Place Alphonse Fiquet, ☏ +33 3 22 91 84 48. (updated Jul 2017)

## Sleep

* 49.8914792.3074511 Holiday Inn Express Amiens, 10 Boulevard d'Alsace Lorraine, ☏ +33 3 22 22 38 50. Small but well furnished rooms. Can get hot in summer as no air-conditioning. Reasonable free breakfast. (updated Jul 2017)
* 49.8910322.3011852 Hôtel Marotte, 3 Rue Marotte, ☏ +33 3 60 12 50 00. (updated Jun 2017)
* 49.8911042.3041753 Grand Hotel De L'Univers (Best Western), 2 Rue de Noyon, ☏ +33 3 22 91 52 51. (updated Jul 2017)

## Go next

* Albert and the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme
* Saint-Quentin (Aisne)
* Abbeville
* Rouen
* Beauvais