When I first walked through the streets of Amiens, I thought only of its cathedral, its canals, and the gardens. Shopping was not the first thing that came to mind. But as the days unfolded, I realized that Amiens is not just about Gothic spires and quiet waterways—it’s also a city where shopping plays a surprisingly central role in daily life. From modern malls to charming boutiques tucked away in cobbled alleys, Amiens offers a mix of global brands and local treasures that tell stories of both tradition and modernity.
In this guide, I want to take you through the shopping centers and brand choices that I discovered in Amiens. If you’re visiting for the first time, I’ll give you the strategies, tips, and personal experiences that helped me make the most of every shopping trip. And because Amiens is smaller and more intimate than Paris or Lille, shopping here feels more personal—less about consumerism, and more about the joy of discovering something new.
The Charm of Shopping in Amiens
There is something distinctly different about shopping in a mid-sized French city compared to the capital. In Paris, you’re swept up in the whirlwind of crowds, queues, and high-end brands that sometimes feel overwhelming. In Amiens, I found myself wandering at a slower pace, actually talking to shopkeepers, asking about the origin of fabrics, or hearing stories about how a family business had been around for decades.
The shopping centers here aren’t just practical—they’re places where locals gather, where students meet after classes, where families spend Saturday afternoons. And yet, Amiens also has its fair share of recognizable international brands, meaning you don’t miss out on the essentials.
The Main Shopping Centers in Amiens
Before we dive into strategies, let me introduce the main shopping hubs where you’ll likely spend your time:
- Les Halles du Beffroi – A central, modern shopping center right by the historic belfry, with a mix of local shops and international labels.
- Centre Commercial Amiens Nord – Larger, with supermarkets, fashion brands, and useful for practical needs.
- Centre Commercial Géant Glisy – Located slightly outside the center, but excellent for big-name brands and department store-style shopping.
- Rue des Trois Cailloux – The main pedestrian shopping street, lined with boutiques, clothing stores, shoe shops, and well-known brands like Zara, H\&M, and Sephora.
- Quartier Saint-Leu Boutiques – Smaller, independent shops, artisanal products, and one-of-a-kind finds.
Each of these places has its own atmosphere and personality, and I learned quickly that how you shop in Amiens depends a lot on where you go.
Tip 1: Start on Rue des Trois Cailloux
The beating heart of Amiens shopping is Rue des Trois Cailloux, a wide pedestrian street that stretches through the city center. On my first day here, I started with a coffee at a nearby café, then slowly walked down the street, window-shopping as locals hurried past with shopping bags.
This street has all the familiar international brands—Zara, H\&M, Mango, Sephora—but what I loved was how it also had French chains that feel distinctly local, like Etam for lingerie or Fnac for books, electronics, and music.
If it’s your first time in Amiens, I recommend starting here. It gives you a good overview of what’s available in the city, and you can compare prices before venturing into the malls.
Tip 2: Discover Local Boutiques in Saint-Leu
Just a short walk from the cathedral, Saint-Leu is the colorful, picturesque district with canals, pastel houses, and student cafés. But tucked between the bars and restaurants are small boutiques that sell everything from handmade jewelry to locally produced clothing.
I stumbled into a tiny boutique here where a designer was selling scarves inspired by the Hortillonnages gardens. It was something I couldn’t have found in Paris or on Rue des Trois Cailloux. Prices were fair, and the shopkeeper told me exactly how the fabrics were dyed.
My advice: set aside at least half a day to wander Saint-Leu not just for sightseeing, but for shopping local and supporting artisans.
Tip 3: Use Les Halles du Beffroi for Practical Shopping
For something more modern and structured, head to Les Halles du Beffroi. This shopping center has a clean, bright design and offers a good mix of clothing stores, shoe shops, and everyday essentials. When I needed a new travel charger and some comfortable shoes, this is where I went.
What I liked most is that it feels manageable—you can walk through in less than an hour, yet you’ll find both mid-range French brands and international names. It’s also located right by the historic belfry, so you can combine sightseeing with shopping.
Tip 4: For Larger Brands, Visit Centre Commercial Géant Glisy
If you’re craving the bigger brands or a more suburban shopping experience, Centre Commercial Géant Glisy is worth the short trip. This is where I found larger department stores, supermarkets, and brands like Decathlon for sportswear, Kiabi for affordable fashion, and Géant Casino for groceries and household goods.
I recommend this center especially if you’re staying longer in Amiens and need practical purchases—whether that’s luggage, sports gear, or beauty products in bulk. It’s not as charming as the city center, but it’s efficient.
Tip 5: Look for French Brands That Aren’t Everywhere
One of the joys of shopping in Amiens is finding brands that may not be as widespread outside France. I discovered:
- Promod – A stylish, affordable French fashion brand.
- Pimkie – Trendy clothing for younger shoppers.
- Maisons du Monde – Home décor with a French touch.
- Jacadi – High-quality children’s clothing.
These aren’t luxury brands, but they give you a taste of French fashion and lifestyle without breaking the bank.
Tip 6: Plan Your Shopping Around Sales Season
If you’re visiting Amiens in January or July, you’ll hit the French sales seasons known as les soldes. These are state-regulated, meaning shops across the country participate with deep discounts. When I visited in July, I found discounts of up to 70% at Mango and Promod, and even some artisanal boutiques in Saint-Leu had sales.
My suggestion is to time your shopping trips around these dates if possible. Amiens becomes a paradise for bargain hunters.
Tip 7: Take Breaks in Cafés
Shopping can be exhausting, but in Amiens, it’s also an opportunity to pause and soak in the atmosphere. Along Rue des Trois Cailloux and in Saint-Leu, I often stopped for a coffee or a pastry in between shops. This rhythm—shop, pause, people-watch, then continue—made the experience more enjoyable.
One of my favorite stops was Café Pinson, a cozy spot near the shopping street where I enjoyed an espresso and watched locals go by with shopping bags full of spring outfits.
Tip 8: Mix Shopping with Sightseeing
What makes Amiens special is that the attractions and shopping areas are intertwined. The cathedral is just minutes away from Rue des Trois Cailloux, and Saint-Leu’s boutiques sit alongside its canals. My advice is not to treat shopping as separate from sightseeing—blend them together.
For example, after visiting the Maison de Jules Verne, I walked into a nearby bookstore and found a beautifully illustrated edition of his works. Souvenirs don’t always come from souvenir shops—they often come from regular stores connected to the city’s identity.
Tip 9: Know Where to Find Luxury and Where to Find Bargains
Amiens isn’t Paris, so don’t expect Avenue Montaigne-style luxury shopping. But you will find mid-range brands, good quality French fashion, and a few high-end boutiques scattered around the city center.
For bargains, look at factory outlets just outside the city, or even day trips to nearby outlet villages in northern France. When I was staying in Amiens, I used Omio to check regional buses and trains to reach one such outlet, where I scored a discounted Longchamp bag.
Tip 10: Use Online Platforms to Plan Your Shopping
While walking through Amiens is the best way to discover shops, I also relied on a few online platforms to plan. For example:
- Booking.com – I used it to choose a central hotel near Rue des Trois Cailloux so I could walk to most shops.
- Trainline – Helped me book trains into Amiens and out to outlet villages.
- GetYourGuide – While mainly for attractions, I noticed it sometimes included shopping tours or combined cultural visits with shopping experiences.
- TheFork (LaFourchette) – Perfect for booking restaurants after a long day of shopping, often with discounts.
These platforms made the logistics of my trip smoother, so I could focus on enjoying the actual shopping.
A Day in My Shopping Life in Amiens
To give you a sense of how this all comes together, here’s one of my favorite shopping days in Amiens:
I started on Rue des Trois Cailloux, buying a spring jacket at Promod. Then I wandered into Saint-Leu, where I found handmade ceramics in a boutique that I couldn’t resist. I took a coffee break by the canals, then headed to Les Halles du Beffroi for some practical purchases—new shoes and a travel adapter.
In the evening, I returned to the cathedral square, where I sat on a terrace with a glass of wine, my shopping bags at my feet, watching the golden light of the setting sun reflect off the Gothic façade. It was not just shopping—it was living the rhythm of Amiens.
Shopping in Amiens is not about excess or luxury. It’s about balance: a mix of practical purchases, small indulgences, and authentic local finds. For first-time visitors, my strongest advice is this: don’t just chase the big brands—take time to explore the smaller boutiques, especially in Saint-Leu, where Amiens’ true shopping spirit resides.
By blending modern shopping centers with artisanal shops, by using platforms like Booking.com, Trainline, and TheFork to streamline your logistics, and by pacing your days with café breaks and sightseeing, you’ll discover that shopping in Amiens is as much a cultural experience as it is a practical one.
And when you leave, whether with a scarf inspired by the floating gardens or a bag from a French mid-range brand, you’ll carry a piece of Amiens’ character home with you—something that feels both stylish and deeply personal.
