The sun is shining, the birds are singing and you’ve got a fresh baguette and some cheese but no where to go!
Now that the weather is warmer, Parisians and tourists alike will be heading outdoors to enjoy the green spaces that Paris has to offer. We’ve compiled a list of the best parks (where you can sit on the grass!) in Paris for your spring picnics.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is located in the 19th arrondissement and is one of the biggest and original green spaces in Paris. The park was once a quarry, and today it is characterised by its many hills, towering trees and winding paths. The Temple de Sybille, found on a an island in the man-made lake, offers stunning views over the city and the grassy slopes of the surrounding hills make for an excellent picnic spot.
Closest Metro: Buttes Chaumont (Line 7bis), Laumière (Line 5)
Parc Montsouris
The only park on this list based on the Left Bank, Parc Montsouris was designed to bring life to a part of Paris that had been abandoned and forgotten. The park’s English garden design of large areas of uninterrupted grass make this a wonderful spot for an afternoon in the sun listening to music from the band stand. It’s easy to see why the park is so popular with students from the nearby Cité Internationale Universitaire.
Montsouris is also home to a meteorological observatory and the mire du sud, a stone marking the Meridian of Paris, the beginning point for measuring longitude for all French maps until 1884.
Closest Metro: Cité Universitaire (RER B)
Parc floral in the Bois de Vincennes
Bois de Vincennes
A large forest and gardens in the east of Paris, the Bois de Vincennes has its own lakes and a zoo. The floral gardens are similar to gardens found in the centre of Paris but the woods are far more natural and wild. After your picnic, you can hire a rosalie (a four person pedal car) and ride around the floral gardens. It’s a great place to enjoy a slice of the countryside within reach of the city!
Closest Metro: Chateau de Vincennes (Line 1), Porte de Charenton or Liberté (Line 8)
Parc Monceau
Located on the border of the 8th and 17th arrondissement, Parc Monceau reflects the luxury of the surrounding area. The park has a large pond, an ornate wrought iron gates and a number of scaled-down architectural features such as Corinthian pillars (pictured above). The mainly flat, grassy park is ideal for a weekend picnic, and is popular with Parisians and tourists alike.
Closest Metro: Monceau (Line 2), Malesherbes (Line 3)
Bois de Boulougne
The Bois de Boulougne, the western twin of the Bois de Vincennes, is a former royal hunting ground on the edge of Paris complete with woods, boating lakes, 15km of cycle paths and a Chateau. It is also home to the Bagatelle rose gardens and the Fondation Louis Vuittion – a temporary art exhibition space. Find out about other sights of contemporary architecture in Paris in this article!
Closest Metro: Ranelagh (Line 9), Neuilly- Porte Maillot (Line 1), Porte Dauphine (Line 2)