Paris is lovely during the sunny months and nothing better than to be outside after so much rain and clouds! Having a Picnic in Paris is one of our favorite activities, not only because it’s cheap but also because you get to be outside and enjoy the day with friends, food and music.
Paris is perfect for picnics because it has tons of parks all over the city (it was build that way so people have a better quality of life), so you don’t have to look far for a perfect spot. Go to the nearest supermarket on your way to the park, buy some cheese, baguette, carrots, humus and wine and enjoy! Bringing a wine bottle opener is handy but chances are the people next to you at the park will lend you one if you forget yours (they know the struggle haha). We love bring table cloths, scarfs and out favorite sarape to sit on.
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Here is a list of our favorite spots for picnics in Paris so you can explore the city a bit more and feel like a local.
12. Jardin du Luxembourg
This one is for a classic picnic in Paris. Its gardens are perfectly groomed and decorated so you can feel like you travelled back in time. Most of the grass is off limits and you have to sit on chairs, but in front of the castle, near there rose garden there is a patch of grass where you can have your picnic (as shown in the photo).
At the main fountain you can rent toy boats to play and push around. It’s mostly for kids but we wont judge you 😉 . There are also lots of spaces to play petanque (that French game where you throw metal ball from one end to the other) so you can submerge even more in the culture.
Note: this game is usually associated with elderly men from the south of France…but who cares right?
- Hours: 7:30 – 21:00
- How to arrive: Stop Luxembourg or Saint Michel RER B. Buses number 38, 82, 84, 85 and 89
11. Parc Monceau
We would call this one a “grown up park”. By this we mean that you can only sit on chairs and there are few places where you can play or run around. It’s really beautiful and lovely for a walk after you are done with your picnic. It is one of the best preserved and classical/historical parks in the city.
- Hours: 7h – 22h
- How to arrive: stop Monceau line 2 or bus number 30
10. Jardin des plantes
This place is amazing! It is a botanical garden so you can walk around seeing all the different plants and species they have. The lawn is at the back next to the main building but there are chairs everywhere for you to choose your favorite spot if grass or sitting on the floor is not for you. After your picnic you can visit all the science museums they have like the National History Museum. There is also a small zoo in the park if you are into that. (don’t forget to bring your student id)
- Hours: 7:30 – 20h
- How to arrive: stop Gare d’Austerlitz line 10 and RER C. Buses number 24, 57,63, 89 and 91
9. Square René Viviani
This one is more of a romantic picnic in Paris type of park. It’s between Notre Dame and Shakespeare and Co. It has rose arches and a historic fountain in the middle. If you want to enjoy a quiet park with a view this one is definitely for you. It is also close to the next picnic spot if you want to visit more than one on the same day (about 10 min walk).
- How to arrive: stop Saint Michel Notre Dame line 4/RER B/ RER C. Buses number 24 and 47
8. Square du vert galant or anywhere along the river
The river is just the best place to visit during the hot months, not only because the temperature is cooler but also because it’s where all the activities and fun things happen. This picnic spot is at the end (or beginning?) of one of the islands the river has, which makes it even better! You can stay there as long as you want and as night approaches you can see all the boats and lights come on to make Paris look even more magical.
- How to arrive: Stop Pont Neuf line 7. Buses 21, 24, 27, 58, 70 and 81
7. Canal St. Martin
If you are into trendy places, then this is the spot for you! The canal is one of the top places where young people hang out both during the day and night (be warned, it can get rowdy at times). The water makes the temperature much nicer and since it’s not as big as the river it has a “familial” feeling to it.
Also… if you don’t want to buy food at the supermarket, near the canal there are tons of unique restaurants so you can take the food to go and have it next to the water.
The best part is between Rue Léon Jouhaux and Rue de Marseille.
Fun fact: when they drained the canal a few years ago, they found bikes and scooters at the bottom (who would though that?).
- How to arrive: stop Republique line 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11. Bus number 75
6. Esplanade des Invalides
One of the classics. This place is just perfect for picnics because it’s a huge lawn of impeccable grass where you can lay down and enjoy the sun! We could say it’s where a lot of locals and expats go for “fancy picnics” since you have both the museum and Pont Alexandre giving you a beautiful backdrop.
- How to arrive: stop Invalides line 13 and RER C. Buses numer 63,69, 83 and 93,
5. Champ de Mars
Eifel Tower… We don’t think there is much to say about this super «traditional picnic in Paris» spot. It’s perfect at anytime of the day and pretty much any spot you pic will have an amazing view. We do advise to sit if the middle part, near rue Grenelle towards École Militaire. It’s the best view, specially to the get the whole tower in one photo without struggling (because if you don’t take a photo where you even there?). But we DO recommend that you set to explore the other parts of Paris that are equally as beautiful.
- How to arrive: Stop École Militaire line 8, Champ de Mars RER C. Buses number 42, 69, 82 and 87
4. Jardin des roses
This picnic spot is lovely. It’s a small garden fully decorated with roses. It is a semi-private garden which means it’s small and it fills up fast, but if you don’t like crowds or loud places this is perfect! We like it for romantic picnics too because the roses just make you feel like you are in a romantic novel or medieval castle.
As spring arrives but you still have to get some work done you can get the best of both worlds at this place.
- How to arrive: stop Saint-Sebastien Froissart or Chemin Vert line 8. Buses 20 and 65
3. Jardin de Reuilly-Paul Pernin
We would say this is where you can find mostly locals. Few people know about this park because it’s under the Coulée Vert- an old railway that was made into a park that connects Bastille and Vinecennes (kind of like the highline in New York). We love this place because you can walk from Bastille though the Coulée Vert and enjoy the freshness the plants bring. You almost forget you are in the middle of Paris because of how green and different it is.
- Hours: 8:30 – 21:30
- How to arrive: stop bastille line 1, 5 and 8. Buses 20, 65, 87 and 91
2. Palce des Vosges
This picnic spot has a special place in our hearts because we spend many days here last summer with our friends (it was also next to our beloved house in Paris). It is so pleasant because the grass is perfect and since it’s surrounded by buildings it feels secluded. The only problem is that there are no bathrooms near by so in case of an emergency you have to go to the nearest starbucks 10 min away haha!
This is park is a bit small so it can get crowded at times, but it is easily one of the most beautiful spots in Paris.
- How to arrive: stop bastille line 1, 5 and 8. Buses 20, 29, 65, 69 and 76
1. Buttes Chaumont
Not only was this the first surrealist park in Paris, it is also the only one with natural hills and a suspension bridge. This park has everything you could ask for in picnic spot. There are hills, flat parts, rocks to sit on, chairs, a waterfall and a view point of the city! Honestly, this park is perfect and if you look there is a zone for everyone- meaning: families, elderly, teens and even potheads (only a small part and not to obvious if you don’t want to be near them).
- How to arrive: buses number 26, 48, 60 and 75
Bonus: Cité Universrité or parc Montsouris
These two are one in front of other. There is not much around them which means not many people visit, but since they are small it is nice to have more space. They are very different from each other: cite université feels like a college campus with a forest and Montsouris feels like a private noble garden. Make sure to visit them if you have time, that way you can also explore the 13 (the Asian part of the city).
- How to arrive: stop Cité Universitaire RER B. Buses number 21, 88 and 216
Hope you discover a new picnic spot for this year! Let us know if you have any other suggestions for the list and what your favorite picnic food is!
Joa
marzo 25, 2019 at 12:41 pmWanna go to Paris!!!!!