If you’re looking for an easy-to-visit city just an hour from Paris, Amiens is the perfect destination.
Let’s take stock of this stay.
The city
Amiens is far from having the reputation of being one of the most beautiful cities in France, but that’s a nuanced notion.
Indeed, once you get away from the city center, it’s not very glamorous, to say the least. But the historic center and the old town are lovely and picturesque, not to mention the famous Cathedral, which alone makes the trip worthwhile.
Let’s just say that as a tourist you’re going to concentrate on a very small part of the city that’s quite pretty, and that’s where you’ll find the 5 or 6 sites you’ll want to see on your visit to Amiens.
The rest is much less appealing, but you have no reason to see it.
Transportation
It takes just over an hour by regional train to reach Amiens from Paris, and for around 50 euros round-trip, it’s a trip you can organize at the last minute on a whim.
It also allows you to go for the day without having to take a hotel there, but I’d still recommend doing so to give yourself a safety margin and to try at least one restaurant on site.
On the other hand, there’s no need to plan two nights as I did, unless you have an interest in accumulating hotel nights or want to explore the local gastronomic scene.
Hotel
I tried the Moxy Amiens and wasn’t disappointed, as I know the Moxy chain well and knew what to expect. The hotel is recent, modern, clean, with a nice design and a sober but solid service.
Restaurants
I have to admit that, much to my surprise, it was easier to find good gourmet restaurants here than in Rouen!
I really enjoyed the two restaurants I tried, Les Orfèvres and Ail des Ours, and found nothing to reproach them for, even if the former charges almost Parisian prices for its tasting menu, twice as much as the latter, which I don’t think is entirely justified.
Bottom line
A destination that’s easily accessible from Paris and can be visited very quickly on a minimal budget.
The articles about this stay in Amiens
| # | Type | Post |
| 1 | Diary | Preparing a trip to Amiens |
| 2 | Train | Paris-Amiens TER HDF (no post) |
| 3 | Hotel | Moxy Amiens |
| 4 | Restaurant | Les Orfèvres, Amiens |
| 5 | Restaurant | L’Ail des Ours, Amiens |
| 6 | Diary | Visit Amiens in two days |
| 7 | Train | Amiens Paris TER HDF (no post) |
| 8 | Diary | Debriefing my stay in Amiens |
