- Amiens
Popular camping styles for Amiens
Top camping destinations
Camping near Amiens guide
Overview
Amiens does history and nature with equal panache. Marvel at the UNESCO-listed Amiens Cathedral, wander between the half-timbered houses of the Saint-Leu medieval quarter, and peek inside the former home of Jules Verne, then follow the snaking canal ways out through the city’s famous floating gardens and markets. Beyond the city, the tree-lined banks of the Somme River provide a delightful backdrop for canoeing, fishing, and camping, as well as discovering the region’s WWI memorials. Paris, Lille, and the Channel port of Calais are all within two hours, making Amiens a strategic base for British campers to explore the North.
Where to go
Pas-de-Calais
North of Amiens, the department of Pas-de-Calais is peppered with WWI battlefields, memorials, and museums chronicling the notorious Battle of the Somme. Arras and Lens are the region’s most notable destinations, where highlights include the WWI tunnels, a UNESCO-listed citadel, and the Louvre-Lens museum.
Opal Coast
The Somme River empties out into the Channel at the medieval seaport of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, above which the Opal Coast stretches north in an expanse of sandy beaches, dunes, and white-chalk cliffs. Coastal campers will find plenty of spots around Boulogne-sur-Mer, Wimereux, and Équihan-Plage, from where you can hit the beach or head inland to explore the Caps et Marais d’Opale Regional Natural Park.
Rouen and around
The elegant capital of Normandy, Rouen, is a feast of medieval architecture and Gothic spires, just a 1.5-hour drive from Amiens. Right on the doorstep, there’s great hiking, cycling, and horse riding in the forests and marshlands of the Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Natural Park. Alternatively, follow the Seine River west to the chic beach resort of Honfleur.
When to go
Amiens comes alive through the summer and over the festive season, when the famous cathedral serves as a backdrop for a dramatic light show, as well as the city’s popular Christmas Market, one of the largest in the region. Camping season, as in the rest of France, runs from April through October, but winter campers will still find a few spots open year-round.
