Tips for a perfect picnic experience in Paris
Spring and sunshine have arrived in the city and perhaps you’d quite fancy a nice afternoon with your friends under Paris’ sunny sky ? There’s just one problem… The terraces of all your favorite bars are full! So, why not have a picnic? Here are some Lodgis tips for a perfect picnic in Paris…
MoodTape Picnic par Lodgis
Things to bring for a perfect Parisian picnic
You already know where to buy the best baguette in Paris. But what else do you need to bring for your first Parisian picnic? A few handy suggestions:
- a fresh bottle of water or rosé
- cream cheese and French cheeses (the smellier, the better!)
- cherry tomatoes
- crisps and crackers
- biscuits and sweets
You see, picnicking in Paris isn’t exactly a Master Chef competition, is it? It’s more a way of saying “we’ve been through 5 months of winter, so now we want to enjoy every single ray of light while it lasts. But on a budget”.
Lodgis’ tips: “Picnic season” usually begins around March. To check whether you’ll be in luck next weekend and the weather will be picnic-friendly, here is an accurate site for the weather forecast: Météo de Paris.
Best spots for a picnic in Paris
Any spot in Paris would be a great place for a picnic, but we recommend…
- The jardin du Luxembourg in the VIth district of Paris (but the best spot is not on the grass, so you’ll have to embrace a picnic in the dust)
- The Bois de Boulogne in the XVIth district of Paris (it’s easy to reach if you live in the west and if you’re looking for a quiet green space)
- The Parc Monceau in the VIIIth district of Paris (a great kid-friendly place)
- Buttes Chaumont in the XIXth district of Paris (if you like climbing and fancy watching the sunset from the top of a hill)
Locals’ favorite picnic spots
And for those who like to think on a grand scale, don’t hesitate to read our post on Paris’ biggest parks and gardens!
If you want to kill two birds with one stone (enjoy a picnic with your friends and meet guys without having to go to a club), the banks of the Seine are perfect. This golden stretch runs from the Musée d’Orsay down to Saint-Michel and from just east of the Louvre to the Île de la Cité. You can bring your own food and drink, take off your shoes, sit on the river bank and watch the boats full of tourists pass you by. Here on the riverbank you can admire many beautiful landmarks all at once, such as the Grand Palais, the Pont des Invalides (Alexandre III Bridge), Notre Dame and the Louvre.
You’ll find plenty of nice bars along the bank between Musée d’Orsay and Concorde (however, these can be quite pricey, so bringing your own food and drink might be a good idea). Sometimes if you’re lucky, there is even music for dancing!
If you go down the bank as far as Bercy, you will find some lovely restaurants disguised as canal boats.
