I arrived in Amiens at the start of June, when spring is slipping quietly into summer. The air was fresh, with just enough warmth to make long walks inviting without the heaviness of July heat. The city was alive but not crowded—students lingering on café terraces, couples walking hand-in-hand along the Somme, and locals buying strawberries and asparagus at the Saturday market.

I had come to Amiens for its cathedral, its floating gardens, and its connection to Jules Verne. But I also came with one particular goal: to walk the city. I wanted to feel it under my feet, to take in its streets slowly, to let my shoes carry me not just to monuments but into the rhythm of daily life.

Walking Amiens is one of the greatest pleasures of visiting, but it requires preparation. The cobblestones, the unpredictable weather, the sheer number of hours I ended up spending on foot—these things taught me the value of having the right gear. In this article, I’ll share the routes I took, the sights I loved, the mistakes I made, and the equipment that saved me.

The Joy of Walking Amiens in June

June in Amiens is magic. The days are long—the sun doesn’t set until almost 10 p.m.—so every walk stretches out like an invitation. The light has that particular softness you only find in northern France: golden, diffuse, illuminating the cathedral in a way that makes the stone glow.

Temperatures hovered around 18–22°C during my stay, perfect for walking. A light jacket in the mornings, short sleeves by noon, and maybe a scarf in the evening. The weather was moody, though: sunshine one moment, drizzle the next. This unpredictability shaped my packing list and became a theme of my days.

First Steps: From the Train Station to the Cathedral

I arrived at Gare d’Amiens, the central train station, after a smooth ride from Paris (tickets I booked on Trainline—fast, simple, and cheaper than buying on-site). Stepping out with my backpack, I decided to walk to my hotel rather than grab a taxi. It was only 15 minutes, and it turned into my first introduction to the city.

The streets led me toward the cathedral, which appeared suddenly at the end of Rue de la République. Its façade was so enormous that I literally stopped mid-step. This moment, when the cathedral first revealed itself, was proof that walking is the best way to arrive anywhere.

Gear that mattered: my comfortable walking shoes. The cobblestones were uneven, and I silently thanked myself for leaving my fashionable but impractical shoes at home.

Footwear: The Foundation of Every Walk

If you take only one piece of advice from me, let it be this: bring good shoes. Amiens is walkable, but the streets will punish poor footwear.

I brought two pairs:

• Lightweight trail shoes: breathable, cushioned, with enough grip for cobblestones and even muddy paths along the Somme.
• Simple leather sneakers: for evenings when I wanted to look less like a hiker but still stay comfortable.

By alternating them, I avoided blisters and gave each pair a chance to air out. Early June can be humid, and damp shoes are misery.

Pro tip: pack blister plasters. Even with great shoes, long days can rub your feet raw.

Exploring the Cathedral Quarter

Most visitors start with Notre-Dame d’Amiens (Place Notre-Dame, 80000 Amiens). I spent hours circling it, sitting on benches, watching the way light changed across its façade. Every crack in the stone seemed alive.

Walking around the cathedral, I found small cafés tucked in side streets, each with a view of the towers. This area is best explored slowly, weaving through Rue Cormont and Rue Flatters. On foot, you notice details: iron balconies, carved doorways, children playing football against old stone walls.

Gear that mattered: a lightweight daypack. Mine held a refillable water bottle, a scarf for modesty inside churches, and my camera. I prefer packs with waist straps—it saves your shoulders during long days.

The Hortillonnages: Floating Gardens by Foot

From the cathedral, I walked 15 minutes to the Hortillonnages (Boulevard Beauvillé). These are floating gardens crisscrossed with canals, cultivated since medieval times. You can take a boat tour (about €7, booked easily on GetYourGuide), but what I loved most was simply walking the surrounding paths.

The air smelled of damp earth and flowers, and the water reflected the sky in a painterly way. Herons startled from the reeds, dragonflies zipped past, and every corner looked like it belonged in an impressionist painting.

Gear that mattered: a waterproof windbreaker. The skies opened suddenly one afternoon, and while others scrambled for cover, I kept walking, dry and happy. Early June showers are brief but intense.

Saint-Leu: Amiens’s Beating Heart

A short walk from the cathedral is the Quartier Saint-Leu, the city’s historic district. Narrow streets, half-timbered houses, and canals that give it a Venetian feel. This was my favorite place for evening walks.

The cobblestones here are uneven, so again: shoes matter. I stopped often at terraces along Quai Bélu, where restaurants line the river. The smell of grilling fish and cheese drifted across the water. I ate dinner at Le Quai (17 Quai Bélu), watching the cathedral lit up in the distance.

Gear that mattered: a light scarf. Evenings cooled quickly, especially near the water. My scarf doubled as warmth and a makeshift cushion when I sat on stone ledges.

Jules Verne’s House: A Literary Pilgrimage

From the cathedral, I walked about 10 minutes to the Maison de Jules Verne (2 Rue Charles Dubois). For €7.50 (tickets booked on Tiqets), I wandered through the rooms where Verne imagined submarines and space travel.

The creaking stairs, the globes, the shelves stacked with books—it felt intimate, as if the writer had just stepped out. Walking there on foot gave me a sense of his world, the Amiens he knew.

Gear that mattered: a small notebook. I jotted impressions constantly, inspired by Verne’s spirit.

Market Walks: Place Parmentier

On Saturday morning, I walked to Place Parmentier, where the weekly market was in full swing. Cheese stalls overflowed, fishmongers shouted prices, strawberries glistened in the sun. I bought cherries and sat by the fountain, eating them one by one as juice stained my fingers.

Markets are best explored without a plan—just wander, taste, and talk to vendors. Walking makes you part of the flow, not just an observer.

Gear that mattered: a reusable shopping bag. I carried cheese, bread, and tomatoes back to my Airbnb. If you like picnics, bring a small folding knife too.

Weather and Clothing in Early June

Packing for Amiens in June is tricky. The weather changes quickly, but the temperatures stay mild. My strategy: layers.

• Breathable T-shirts: for daytime walks.
• A light fleece: perfect for mornings and evenings.
• A windproof, waterproof jacket: essential for sudden rain.
• Convertible trousers: I wore long pants that could zip into shorts when the sun came out.

I also carried a small umbrella, though honestly, my jacket and hood were usually enough.

The River Somme: Evening Strolls

One of my favorite rituals became walking along the Somme River at sunset. The water mirrored the sky, and locals jogged or cycled past. I followed paths eastward, away from the center, where it grew quiet and green.

Birdsong mixed with the sound of bells drifting from the cathedral. These moments, simple and unplanned, were why I travel.

Gear that mattered: a headlamp. It stayed light until late, but on one walk I lingered until nearly 11 p.m., and the path grew dark. My headlamp kept me steady on the way back.

Accommodation for Walkers

Staying central made walking easier. I booked a boutique hotel near Place Notre-Dame on Booking.com, waking up each morning with the cathedral as my neighbor. For variety, I also tried an Airbnb apartment near the Somme, which let me cook my market finds and step directly onto riverside paths.

Both options were excellent, and booking platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb gave me flexibility to choose based on mood and budget.

Eating Between Walks

Walking builds an appetite. I used TheFork (LaFourchette) to reserve tables in Amiens. It was a lifesaver: easy booking, occasional discounts, and guaranteed spots at busy places like Le Vivier (22 Quai Bélu).

After long walks, I wanted hearty northern French food: ficelle picarde (savory crepes stuffed with mushrooms and ham), carbonnade flamande (beef stewed in beer), and pungent Maroilles cheese. Each meal felt like a reward for my miles.

Booking Tools That Helped Me

Traveling in Europe has taught me the value of digital tools. For Amiens, these were indispensable:

• Trainline: booking trains from Paris to Amiens.
• Skyscanner and Omio: comparing flights into Paris and connecting travel.
• Booking.com and Airbnb: choosing hotels and apartments.
• TheFork: reserving restaurants.
• GetYourGuide and Tiqets: pre-booking tickets for attractions like the cathedral towers and Jules Verne’s house.

These platforms saved me time and, often, money—more resources to spend on cheese and wine.

My Walking Routine in Amiens

Over a week, I built a rhythm:

• Morning: an early walk to the cathedral, watching light hit the façade.
• Midday: exploring museums or the hortillonnages.
• Afternoon: market strolls or side streets, ducking into cafés when rain came.
• Evening: riverside walking, dinner in Saint-Leu, and sometimes the cathedral’s light show.

Each day added up to 15–20 kilometers, but with good gear, it never felt exhausting. Instead, it felt freeing.

Why Walking Matters Here

Amiens is not a vast metropolis. It’s a city that reveals itself slowly, step by step. Walking allows you to notice things you’d miss by car or bus: a door knocker shaped like a lion, a child’s chalk drawing on cobblestones, the smell of fresh baguettes drifting from a bakery at dawn.

In early June, when days stretch long and the air is kind, walking is not just transportation. It’s the way to belong, if only for a little while.