Parc du Champ de Mars – Eiffel Tower (A scenic picnic spot)
Picnicking in Paris is a romantic idea many travelers have in mind when visiting this beautiful city. It’s important to know that not every grassy expanse in Paris allows picnicking, or even foot traffic, but there are a still quite a few parks and surrounding seating areas that permit lounging and picnicking, many even allowing alcoholic beverages for lunch-time gatherings. We saw a large group of young people one evening having a low-key but fabulous time with food and wine on the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge. Picnic spreads were laid out on the benches, somebody was practicing the 3 guitar chords they knew, one girl was painting the night view accented with a surprise Super Moon, and most everyone stopped to wave and hoot at each lumbering tour boat that passed under the bridge.
Epoisses Cheese – Paris Picnic at the Champs de Mars
We had the simplest of picnics, and probably our most memorable ever, at the Champs de Mars. The menu was just an extremely fragrant (aka stinky) Epoisses cheese from the renowned Barthélemy cheese shop, paired with bread from the famous Boulangerie Poilâne. For us, as cheese fanatics, it doesn’t get any better than this. We sat on a quiet bench on a path just steps away from the Eiffel tower savoring every minute of our Paris cliché, with Parisian pigeons pacing impatiently around us, waiting for crumbs that never fell.
Here are more images showing easily portable foods that can be purchased at the many Paris Markets that are open daily. Please visit our post on Paris Markets to see even more photos along with a list of markets we loved visiting!
Poulet Rôti et Pommes de Terre (Rotisserie Chicken and Potatoes)
Banks of the Seine River – a popular site for picnicking in Paris
Bread at a Paris Market – a Must-Have for any Paris Picnic
Sausages at a Paris Market
We’re Nuts for Paris Markets!
Dried Fruit at a Paris Market
Olives at a Paris Market
Marché Saxe-Breteuil – Market shoppers stroll toward the Eiffel Tower
