There is nothing quite as French as bringing a dry sausage, a baguette or two, a white and red checkered tablecloth and drinks to have a quiet seat on the French capital pitches.
Yes, but you have to find the perfect spot, ideal to meet with your family, lover or friends. And this is where we step in, let’s show you all of our favorite spots to picnic in Paris all this summer long!
The jardin de l'Arsenal follows the water. It has shady corners, arbors and sunny spaces. It links the canal Saint-Martin to the Seine, between the Quai de la Rapée and the place de la Bastille. It used to be a cargo port that became in 1983 a marina. Today, it is part of the Parisian canals network and is a border between Paris 4th and 12th arrondissements. Stormed by young people as soon as the sun comes out, you better not take your time to find a spot on the grass.
The parc des Rives de Seine is a golden mine for those who want to seat and picnic. Here is the Jardins de l’Archipel des Berges de Seine Niki-de-Saint-Phalle covering 1,800sqm. These floating gardens are set by the Seine between the Pont des Invalides bridge and the Pont de l’Alma bridge. There are 5 islands on which you can play, lay in the sun and picnic from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Famous and legendary large public garden, entirely open and set in Paris 7th arrondissement, between the Eiffel Tower in the North-East and the École militaire in the South-Est, the Champ de Mars enjoys a bicentenary story. Very touristy and quite enjoyed by Parisians, you’ll have to make your own way on sunny days.
Paris largest green space since the Second Empire: an artificial hill to climb, beehives, vineyards, pitches, pools, playground areas for children, pony rides, merry-go-rounds and table tennis tables… In other words, this is a place of life and relaxation for picnic fans who particularly enjoy this park for its entertainments and tranquility.
Among the largest green spaces in Paris, there is the Bois de Vincennes, its pitches and 38 picnic tables. Covering 995 hectares mainly filled with trees and 4 lakes, this is the perfect place for a charming picnic by the water (naked or not).
Themed gardens, a small forest, exhibition lodges and a fantastic playground area create a magical setting for lunches on the grass. Under the trees, near the slides, wooden tables allow big family to enjoy their already made salads, sandwiches and other menus. This year, the lovely terrace of the Jardin Suspendu settles in with many picnic tables and food trucks to have a snack. Note you must pay €2.50 (full rate) to enter the park.
Inaugurated in 1867, this public garden is undoubtedly one of the most romantic one in Paris. A 12-hectare pitch on steep hills, enhanced with green bushes and flowerbeds. At the foot of the butte, a lake in the middle of which stands the lovely temple of the Sibyl. To Rosa Bonheur and Pavillon du Lac, visitors will prefer seating down with some food a few steps from a shady alley line with ancient trees or next to the cave housing a cascade.
Several picnic areas with tables and chairs are provided to visitors at the Jardin des Plantes. You can picnic on the pitch by the great greenhouses but note that the other pitches are banned.
Set in Paris 16th arrondissement, the Bois de Boulogne provides you with 850 hectares of relaxing greenery. It is one of the green lungs of the capital. There are many picnic areas to have a break and a good time.
Within the very Bois de Boulogne hides a magnificent landscaped park, the Jardin d'Acclimatation. Now turned into a theme park, the place remains perfect for picnics and games for children. Note that you shall pay the admission fee (€5 per person).
Set by the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area and the Latin Quarter, the Jardin du Luxembourg covers 25 hectares. The garden is divided into a French part and an English part. Between the two lies a geometrical forest and a large pool. This is the perfect spot for a picnic in the heart of Paris.
Designed by André Le Nôtre, this green space is a model of French elegance with symmetrical aisles made of gravel and beautiful lines of trees. As for comfort, it plays the picnic game wells with large pitches from where you can enjoy the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay and the Champs-Elysées.
South of Paris, the parc Montsouris is one of the richest in terms of fauna and flora and expects you for a quiet picnic on one of the large pitches, sheltered by the weeping willows. A stone’s throw from there, the Cité Universitaire park is a preserved place covering 30 hectares where it feels good to relax. Genuine city-garden, it offers a tour around the world with all the foreign pavilions: United-States, Italy, Morocco, Japan…
The Parc André-Citroën is set in Paris 15th arrondissement. This garden is a green walk in the middle of varied landscapes. Compared with the Tuileries or the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Parc André Citroën is very modern. Nothing very surprising since it has been inaugurated in 1992 in Paris 15th arrondissement. Even though it does not stand out because of its lack of history, this park remains exceptional on other grounds. Large pitches expect us for really delighting picnics facing the famous Air Paris hot-air balloon.
And around Paris
On the esplanade de la Défense, the Bassin Takis provides many picnic tables. Let’s have a seat by the water for a delicious break before walking and discovering works of the temporary Les Extatiques exhibition.
At the gates of Paris and reachable by train and metro, the parc du Domaine de Saint-Cloud unveils a large and green park. This is the widest tree-lined park in the Hauts-de-Seine department, covering about 500 hectares of forest and gardens. To lunch on the grass, the Domaine de Saint-Cloud offers a setting both royal and bucolic, between tall grass and landscape designed by Le Nôtre, for a drink, come and enjoy the view on the Eiffel Tower from the Terrasse de la Lanterne.
The Parc de Sceaux, at the gates of Paris, unveils 180 hectares of greenery to unwind for a royal picnic. We love the magnificent garden designed by Le Nôtre and the castel to visit. The place provides magnificent spaces in a very enjoyable setting.
Enjoy your picnic!
