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English guide
Amiens proudly houses France's largest Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site that dominates the skyline with its awe-inspiring 42-meter-high nave. This northern French city developed around the winding Somme River, creating a unique landscape where water and architecture blend seamlessly in the famous hortillonnages – floating gardens that have supplied the city with fresh produce since medieval times.
As you wander through Amiens, the gentle sound of water lapping against the banks of the Somme creates a peaceful soundtrack to your exploration. With Amiens walking tours on your smartphone, you'll discover stories behind the intricate cathedral sculptures and learn why Jules Verne chose to spend the last 34 years of his life here. Discover the city in one day with comprehensive self-guided tours in Amiens that let you truly experience both famous landmarks and hidden corners at your own rhythm.
Besides our audio guides, there are many other ways to discover Amiens. Here are some suggestions that can enrich your visit:
Amiens Cathedral Tour - Explore this UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece with an expert guide who'll reveal the history and secrets behind its stunning façade and remarkable interior. Perfect for understanding why this is considered one of France's most impressive cathedrals.
Hortillonnages Boat Tour - Glide through Amiens' floating gardens on a traditional flat-bottomed boat. These 300 hectares of market gardens crisscrossed by small canals offer one of the must-see places in Amiens for nature lovers.
Jules Verne House - Visit the home where the famous author wrote many of his most celebrated works. The period-furnished rooms and personal artifacts provide fascinating insights into his life and creative process.
Saint-Leu Quarter - Wander through this charming medieval neighborhood with colorful houses lining the canals. It's one of the best areas to explore in Amiens, filled with restaurants and boutiques.
Picardy Museum - Discover one of France's richest regional museums with collections spanning archaeology, fine arts, and local history. The museum provides excellent context for understanding Amiens' cultural heritage.
Amiens Food Tour - Sample local specialties like macarons d'Amiens, duck pâté, and the famous ficelle picarde (savory crêpes). A delicious way to experience the city's culinary traditions.
Samara Archaeological Park - Just outside the city, this open-air museum recreates prehistoric and Gallo-Roman settlements. Great for families wanting to understand how people lived thousands of years ago.
Amiens Christmas Market - If visiting in December, don't miss one of northern France's largest Christmas markets, with over 130 chalets selling crafts, food, and gifts against the backdrop of the illuminated cathedral.
Cycling Along the Somme - Rent a bike and explore the scenic Somme Valley on well-maintained cycling paths. It's a perfect way to see Amiens without a guide and discover hidden gems in Amiens' surrounding countryside.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and summer (April to September) offer the most pleasant experience in Amiens, when the Hortillonnages gardens burst with colorful produce and flowers. June is particularly magical with the cathedral light show evenings, while December transforms the city with one of France's most atmospheric Christmas markets. Autumn brings beautiful colors to the riverside districts and fewer tourists.
Accessibility
Amiens is conveniently located just 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris by TGV high-speed train, with regular departures from Gare du Nord. If driving, the A16 and A29 motorways provide easy access, with several parking garages available near the city center. Within Amiens, the compact center is perfect for walking, though the efficient bus network (AMETIS) can help reach outlying attractions.
Opening Hours and Holidays
Most shops in Amiens open from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, though many smaller businesses close for lunch between 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM. Museums typically close on Tuesdays. The cathedral is open daily from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM (5:15 PM in winter). Be aware that many attractions have reduced hours on public holidays, particularly November 1st, May 1st, and August 15th.
Comfortable on the Go
Wear comfortable walking shoes as Amiens' historic center features cobblestone streets, particularly around the cathedral and Saint-Leu quarter. The weather in northern France can change quickly, so carry a light rain jacket even on sunny days. Bringing a power bank is recommended if you'll be using your phone for navigation and photography throughout the day.
Local Customs and Etiquette
Greeting shop owners with "Bonjour" when entering and "Au revoir" when leaving is considered polite in Amiens. When visiting the cathedral, modest dress is appreciated, and voices should be kept low out of respect. If dining out, be aware that the French typically eat dinner later (around 7:30-8:00 PM), and tipping is not expected as service is included in menu prices.
Yes, the tour can be shared with the people you are travelling with. Check the app for the current sharing options and any available group discounts.
The tour is written for adults, with content on Gothic architecture, Jules Verne and the history of the Somme region. Children aged around 12 and up generally follow along well. Younger children can still enjoy the walk — the Cathedral's scale and the Hortillonnages boat tours tend to impress visitors of all ages.
Plan around 2 hours for the walking tour through Amiens' historic centre. The route covers the Cathedral, the Saint-Leu quarter with its canals, the Hortillonnages area, the Place Gambetta and the Jules Verne connection — all at your own pace.
Amiens combines two things almost no other French city has: the largest Gothic cathedral in France rising above a quarter of medieval canals, and the Hortillonnages — over 300 hectares of vegetable and flower gardens on islands in the Somme, navigated by flat-bottomed boats. Jules Verne wrote most of his major works here, and the city sits at the edge of one of the most significant WWI landscapes in Europe.
CityAppTour routes are built by content makers who have actually walked the city, researched local history and gathered input from people who know the place well. For Amiens, that means telling the full story — the medieval cathedral builders, Jules Verne's study, the floating gardens and the landscape of the Somme that still carries the weight of the First World War.
Yes, the tour works fully offline after downloading. Download it on Wi-Fi before you travel and you have access to all audio, maps and points of interest throughout the day without using any mobile data.
One full day is enough to cover the main highlights: the Cathedral, a boat tour through the Hortillonnages, a walk through the Saint-Leu canal quarter and a visit to the Maison Jules Verne. If you want to visit the Somme battlefields nearby or explore at a more relaxed pace, two days works well. Amiens is also an excellent stop between Paris and the Channel.
A CityAppTour audio tour lets you explore Amiens entirely at your own pace. You can spend as long as you like inside the Cathedral, time your visit to the Hortillonnages around the boat schedules, or linger in the Saint-Leu quarter without a group. No booking required and the tour works offline from the moment you download it.
Entry to the Cathedral itself is free. The light show projected onto the cathedral's façade in the evening — which recreates the original medieval polychrome colouring — runs seasonally and is also free. Some specific areas inside, such as the treasury, may have a small entrance fee. The Hortillonnages boat tours are ticketed separately.
There is no established free walking tour in Amiens of comparable quality or regularity. Amiens is less touristified than Paris or the Loire Valley, which means fewer organised tour options. CityAppTour offers a fixed-price route you can start at any time — including on arrival from the train station, which is a short walk from the Cathedral.
Yes — Amiens is well worth visiting, particularly for anyone interested in Gothic architecture, waterways or WWI history. The city has the largest Gothic cathedral in France by interior volume, a unique network of floating market gardens along the Somme, and a charming medieval canal quarter. It is less than 70 minutes from Paris by TGV and is seriously undervisited for a city of its quality.
Amiens is famous above all for its Cathedral of Notre-Dame — the largest Gothic cathedral in France and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, taller and more voluminous than Notre-Dame de Paris. The city is also known for the Hortillonnages, a network of floating market gardens on the Somme unique in Europe, and for being the home of Jules Verne, who lived here for over 30 years. The Battle of Amiens in August 1918 marked the turning point of the First World War.
"De verhalen over de bouw van de kathedraal en de drijvende tuinen waren fascinerend! Geweldig om de geschiedenis van Amiens zo levendig verteld te krijgen terwijl je er middenin staat." — Thomas, België
"Enfin une visite à pied où je pouvais prendre mon temps pour faire des photos et goûter une ficelle picarde. L’audioguide m’a emmenée dans des endroits que je n’aurais jamais découverts autrement." — Marie, France
"De combinatie van de indrukwekkende kathedraal en de rustgevende Hortillonnages maakte deze stadswandeling door Amiens tot een perfecte dagtrip vanuit Parijs. De app werkte vlekkeloos!" — Joost, Nederland
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