Camping in Picardy
Why we love holidays in Picardy
Family holidays to Picardy offer so much, so close to home. From the windswept beaches of the Opal Coast to the tranquil canals of the Somme Bay, Picardy offers a real French holiday without the long drive! For many, this northern French region is like a living museum of European history, where medieval cathedrals stand alongside sobering World War battlefields.
But the present is very much alive here too. The dramatic white cliffs, vast sandy beaches, and serene countryside all offer endless days of fun and adventure, whether you’re playing on the golden shores of the Côte d'Opale, exploring the wonders of Amiens or enjoying the region’s terrific seafood at a harbourside restaurant.
The essence of Picardy
Coastal splendour
The Opal Coast (Côte d'Opale) stretches along Picardy's shoreline, offering dramatic scenery where white cliffs reminiscent of home meet golden beaches. From the wild beauty of the Somme Bay to the family-friendly resort towns like Le Portel and Camiers, this coastline provides endless opportunities for seaside relaxation and adventure.
Historic depth
Few regions in France bear such visible markers of European history. From Gothic cathedrals and medieval citadels to moving WWI memorials and battlefields, Picardy is where centuries of pivotal events have shaped the continent, and our world. The landscape itself tells stories of ancient conflicts and artistic triumphs.
Natural diversity
Picardy's varied terrain encompasses coastal wetlands, rolling countryside, dense forests, and river valleys. The Somme Bay nature reserve showcases this diversity perfectly, with its unique ecosystem where land and sea merge in a constantly shifting panorama that attracts diverse wildlife and nature enthusiasts alike.
Our favourite beaches in Picardy
Families will especially love Picardy's coastline. It offers an impressive variety of beaches - easily making visiting a different beach every day possible. Camiers-Sainte-Cécile is a vast expanse of fine golden sand that stretches for kilometres, backed by impressive dunes and offering excellent conditions for wind and water sports. Le Portel presents a more sheltered family-friendly beach with safe swimming areas and charming beach huts adding a touch of nostalgic seaside character.
The beaches around Saint-Valery range from wild stretches of sand accessible only at low tide to more managed areas perfect for relaxation and picnicking. Berck-sur-Mer combines wide, flat sands ideal for land yachting with a therapeutic sea air that has attracted visitors since the 19th century. Seeking seclusion? We recommend heading to the beaches between Ault and Mers-les-Bains.
Our favourite things to do Picardy
Fun days out
There’s lots of things to do for families in Picardy. Nausicaá in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Europe's largest aquarium, offers an immersive ocean experience with thousands of marine species, perfect for a rainy day. The medieval walled town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme combines history with charming seaside ambiance – take a vintage steam train journey through the Somme Bay for unforgettable views.
Parc Bagatelle near Camiers delivers amusement park thrills with rides and water attractions for all ages. The Somme Bay also offers seal-watching excursions where you can observe these captivating creatures in their natural habitat.
Getting active
Picardy's flat coastal plains and gentle hills create ideal conditions for cycling, with well-maintained routes including the scenic Trans-European Cycle Route connecting to Belgium. Water sports enthusiasts flock to beaches like Camiers and Le Portel for sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing, taking advantage of the region's consistent winds.
The Somme Bay offers unique kayaking opportunities through its maze of channels and marshlands, allowing close encounters with local wildlife. Hiking trails abound, too, from coastal paths atop dramatic cliffs to forest walks through the ancient woodlands of Crécy and Compiègne.
Cultural hotspots
Amiens Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands as one of the largest and most complete examples of High Gothic architecture in France. The floating gardens of Amiens, known as hortillonnages, provide a unique cultural landscape of market gardens accessed only by small boats along a network of canals.
The Historial of the Great War in Péronne offers moving insights into WWI through personal objects and multi-national perspectives. Even sleepy Guines has its own fascinating cultural history: check out the 1000 year old Viking-built hill, with its 1700’s clock tower - and you can watch a film about it sitting in a Viking longship at the museum! Brilliant!
Our favourite things to see in Picardy
Historic sites
It’s a hard visit, but an essential one, we think. The Somme Battlefields bear solemn witness to one of history's most devastating conflicts, with cemeteries, memorials, and preserved trenches offering powerful reminders of WWI's human cost. Château de Chantilly presents a fairy-tale vision with its stunning castle, formal French gardens, and impressive art collection housed in the former stables.
The medieval citadel of Montreuil-sur-Mer, which inspired scenes in Les Misérables, features remarkably intact ramparts providing panoramic views of the countryside. Near Guines, the Column of the Grande Armée commemorates Napoleon's planned invasion of England, standing tall on the landscape as a reminder of this ambitious military endeavour.
Cities and towns worth seeing
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is one of our Picardy must-visits, with its medieval upper town, vibrant fishing harbour, and bustling waterfront promenade framed by colourful fishermen's houses (the houses are colourful, not the fishermen!).
Amiens combines Gothic grandeur with a vibrant modern city, its floating gardens and lively restaurants creating a unique urban experience. Guines, though small, offers fascinating insights into cross-Channel history and serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding countryside and nearby coast. Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, however, is an elegant resort atmosphere with its Art Deco architecture, broad sandy beaches, and sophisticated shopping. It’s where wealthy Parisians once holidayed - and you can tell!
Natural wonders
The Somme Bay Nature Reserve represents one of France's most important wetland ecosystems, where shifting tides create an ever-changing landscape of channels, mudflats, and salt marshes teeming with migratory birds. The Opal Coast features dramatic white cliffs reminiscent of Dover, particularly at Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, where panoramic views stretch across the Channel to England on clear days.
The Forest of Crécy, one of the oldest in France, offers ancient woodland walks under towering beech and oak trees, with seasonal displays of wildflowers carpeting the forest floor. The Authie Bay, just north of the Somme, provides a less visited but equally beautiful coastal sanctuary where you can go seal spotting.
Travelling to Picardy
Nearest airports
- Paris Beauvais
- Lille Airport
Nearest train stations
- Amiens
- Haute-Picardie TGV
Nearest ports
- Calais
- Dieppe
All parcs in Picardy
PC011 Le Bien Assise Campsite
PC012 Domaine de Drancourt
PC022 La Dune Blanche
PC023 Le Phare d'Opale
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