Paris is a veritable treasure trove of good food, from typical French fare like crepes and croissants, to international staples like pizza and sandwiches. But like in any major city, dining in can be a toll on anyone’s budget. Luckily, Paris is also a city full of lovely parks, gardens and other great picnic spots, and it’s not uncommon to see these places full of people during meal times when the weather is good. All you need is some food, some drinks, maybe a blanket or two and you’re all set to venture off to one of these spots to have a Parisian picnic.
Champ de Mars
If you’re looking for a place to picnic with a view, Champs de Mars is a top choice. It’s a large public green space right in front of the city’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. Before it was a park, it was a public agricultural site where Parisians could plant, grow and harvest their own crops, which explains why the park is so flat.
Because of its size, it is easy to wander around the park and find a place where you can spread a blanket and enjoy a meal. The park also has several playgrounds for parents looking to entertain their children. Be sure to take a stroll down Rue Cler before you go to the park, as it’s one of the best market streets in the city and has no shortage of good food that you purchase and enjoy in the park.
Whether you come during the day to enjoy the greenery and a clear blue sky, or at night when you can admire the Eiffel Tower all light up, Champs de Mars is sure to give you a great picnic experience.
The Banks of the Seine
Paris is divided into the Right Bank and the Left Bank by the famous River Seine. Though it’s distinctly less green than other spots on this list, the banks of the Seine are a great place to have a picnic if you enjoy being near the water. There are many, many sets of stairs which serve as access points all along the river, and all you need to do is walk down, find a nice spot and voila, you have a riverside picnic.
The riverbanks are also comparatively less crowded and much quieter, so if you’d rather not be around too big of a crowd, this is just as good an alternative. It’s also more accessible, given that it technically spans the city, so as long as you’re close by to the Seine, you could plan to enjoy your lunch or a snack whilst watching boats cruise along the river.
Coulée verte Réne-Dumont
Coulée verte Réne-Dumont, also known as the Promenade Plantée, is an elevated park built on an obsolete stretch of railway line which opened in 1993. This park can be accessed via staircases or elevators along the 4.7km stretch, and is roughly 10m above street level, providing visitors with an elevated view as they stroll along from the Opera Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes.
If you’re entering the park from the Bastille end, take a gander around the shops before venturing up to the park proper. Known as the Viaduc des Arts, some 40 shops are built into the brick archways, selling wares such as glass-blown sculptures, flowers and more.
The park is almost seamlessly woven into the fabric of the city, and is a unique bit of nature in a city full of green spaces. All along the stretch you’ll find benches and little nooks where you can sit and enjoy a snack whilst enjoying a unique perspective of Paris. If you’d rather spread out to have a ‘proper picnic’ instead, you can do so at the end point of Bois de Vincennes, a gorgeous park which boasts four lakes and a Temple of Love.
Canal St Martin
Once part of a system of canals that first brought fresh water in the city, the Canal St Martin is now listed as a historical monument, and is a popular spot with youths, who can usually be found sitting by the canal side, enjoying a meal from one of the shops across the street.
The canal was featured in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 Amélie, as one of Amélie, the main character’s, favourite things to do is to walk down to the canal and skip rocks across the clear surface, which is the result of regular draining and cleaning done every 10 to 15 years.
If you’re in the mood for pizza, consider ordering a pie from Pink Flamingo Pizza. This pizzeria is a hidden gem along the canal, and a favourite amongst locals. After placing their order, customers will be given a bright pink balloon to tie around their wrist, making them visible to everyone but especially the pizza deliverers, who cycle up and down the canal, bring you your order, fresh out of the oven.
In a city of people who love being in the moment, it’s no wonder that Paris has so many great spots to take a break, whether it’s to have a meal, a drink or just to people-watch. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you a head start on where to go if you’re looking for a different and more budget friendly option for meals with a view.
