Last Updated on January 28, 2025
When I travel I enjoy observing local culture and eating local foods. You can do both at these great places to picnic and people watch in 12 European cities…
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
By Jim Ferri
In my many years of travel, I’ve found that the two things I enjoy most are observing local cultures and tasting local foods. I then found that I could do both by picnicking in major European cities.
Whether it be a sandwich or something more substantial, all I need is a place where I can observe the local sights and people.
Many European cities are great grazing grounds for ad hoc picnics. The key is to know where to go to maximize your culinary and visual experience.
Putting It All Together
The culinary aspect is simple—find a small food shop in the area where you’ll have your picnic. This is usually much less expensive than dining in a restaurant or café unless you go really overboard with local delicacies. It also gives you more control of your time, something especially important if you’re just in a city for a day or two.
The “where” part is more difficult since, in an unfamiliar city, you usually don’t know where to go, especially if you’re on a tight budget or schedule.
While a chair or bench is excellent for a sit-down lunch—and a table is a major plus—there are times when steps will do just fine.
So the next time you’re in one of the cities listed below, grab your guidebook, map, and a good sandwich and explore. Just leave any place you picnic cleaner than when you arrived.
London
Picnic Along the Thames
Between the London Eye and Westminster Bridge you’ll find riverside benches on the bank of the Thames. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy a wonderful view of Big Ben and Parliament across the river.
An added bonus is that the promenade attracts musicians, mimes, and other entertainers on weekends. On weekends, you can also buy food in the nearby Southbank Centre food market, which offers street food and delicious items. At other times, you can find your sandwich or pasty in shops on local streets.
Paris
Picnic in Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden)
Located in the 6th arrondissement on the Left Bank on Boulevard Saint-Michel, this is a beautiful park with a small lake and castle where you can wander around before or after lunch. This is a wonderful place to take a walk in Paris, one of the best places to visit in France.
It was created in the early 17th century by Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France, to surround her Luxembourg Castle. Leave the main boulevard and wander the side streets to find a food shop. The nearest Metro stops are Odeon, Mabillon, Saint-Michel, and Cluny.
Rome
Picnic in Villa Borghese
You used to be able to have little picnics on the Spanish Steps, but no more. A law now forbids sitting on the steps, but that’s not a problem for picnickers.
Instead of sitting on the steps, walk up them, turn left at the top, and enter the beautiful Villa Borghese Park. It’s a great place to visit on a walk in Rome, and a favorite of many. The heart-shaped park is a mix of classic English and Renaissance design with acres of gardens and ponds. It’s a tranquil place right in the heart of Rome. And there’s a lot to do in the park and surrounding area after lunch. Mangia!
Lisbon
Picnic in Rossio Square
More formally known as Praça de D. Pedro IV, Rossio Square is a large square in the center of Lisbon that is home to the National Theater. It’s a beautiful square with fountains, one of the city’s main squares since the Middle Ages.
It’s thought that an ancient Roman hippodrome originally stood on the spot. Seating is on large stone blocks around the perimeter of the square. You won’t find any shops to buy food nearby, so plan in advance.
Madrid
Picnic in Paseo de Recoletos
The main boulevard that cuts across the central part of the city, Paseo de Recoletos, is a good place to picnic, especially if you’re on your way to the Prado, Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, or another great museum in the area.
While there are benches scattered about under the trees here, you’ll find many more (and much better people-watching) if you walk north up the boulevard for about 15 minutes.
Brussels
Picnic in the Petite Sablon
This is a wonderful place to relax and have lunch since it is a mini-park about a fountain dedicated to two counts who were symbols of resistance against the Spanish tyranny centuries ago.
The little park is adjacent to the famous Place du Grand Sablon, where you’ll find many renowned chocolate shops and cafés. The Petite Sablon is also quite near the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and several other fascinating museums, as well as the Royal Palace. You can easily spend the entire day in this area.
Amsterdam
Picnic Along Any Canal
You won’t find a lot of park benches along the avenues of Amsterdam or even in its parks. Don’t let that deter you, however, since every canal in the city is a ready-made picnic spot.
For the best experience and mix with the Dutch, you’ll want to get away from the Central Station and Dam area. If you’d rather get away from the canals, head for the vast green space of the Museumplein, perhaps visiting one of the three major museums after lunch.
Dublin
Picnic in St. Stephen’s Green
The 22-acre St. Stephen’s Green is a beautiful Victorian park, the largest in Dublin. It is a wonderful place to enjoy a break. Since it’s adjacent to Grafton Street, one of Dublin’s main shopping streets, you’ll find numerous shops in the streets surrounding the park.
You can buy sandwiches and other items there. Its central location also makes it a good starting point for several non-shopping afternoon excursions.
Stockholm
Picnic with a Harbor View
Stockholm is known for two things: its spectacular harbor and it is a foodie heaven. Combine the two, and you’ve got the makings of a great picnic. One of the best places to enjoy your moveable feast is on Södra Blasieholmskajen, on the east side of the harbor near the National Museum. There are benches along the water there that provide a great view.
You can also continue walking across the bridge (Skeppsholmsbron) to the neighboring island for another beautiful view.
Helsinki
Picnic on the Esplanade and the Harbor
The broad gardens in the center of Helsinki’s Esplanade, the beautiful boulevard that stretches from the famous Stockmann’s Department Store to the harbor, are the focal point of the roadway.
The walkway is lined with benches, perfect for picnicking and people-watching. In the famous Market Square on the harbor, several vendors offer a variety of foods, and seats and tables are nearby.
Venice
Picnic on Dorsoduro
Venice isn’t an easy place to find a picnic spot, although you’ll often find benches in small neighborhood squares off the main arteries. For a great view, on the other hand, take a vaporetto across the Grand Canal to Dorsoduro, the home of the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.
Head to the island’s far end, where you can have lunch while enjoying a great view across from St. Mark’s Square. You won’t find many benches here, but the view will compensate for that.
Copenhagen
Picnic in Rosenborg Castle Gardens
There are plenty of food shops and benches scattered about Copenhagen which provide the makings for a good urban picnic.
But for a really interesting picnic venue enjoy your lunch in the beautiful park and gardens around the 17th-century Rosenborg Castle in the middle of the city.
You’ll love it.
While I very rarely have an opportunity to “picnic” while on travel, I always pick up street food or sandwiches from a salumeria or charcuterie and just stop somewhere – even if it under a tree or small pocket park – and imagine I’m local 🙂 I’ve got my favorite spots in many of the cities you mentioned — there’s a vaporetto stop at Giardini at Rivi dei Martiri (Venezia) …. away from tourist crowds of Venice … in Vienna, there’s a grassy area between the country’s two “national” museums at MariaTeresa Platz
Hi Donna,
I’ve got a lot of additional ones, as well, but I tried keep it down to 12 to prevent the list from becoming too unwieldy. Perhaps we should get a group of readers together and put out our list of 100 Best Places to Picnic!