The short answer: yes, but not just any way
The general regulations for the parks, gardens and green spaces of the City of Paris, in force since 20 December 2018, are clear: picnics are allowed, provided the area is kept clean. Entry to the City's gardens is free.
The main limits to know:
- No alcohol in municipal parks and gardens, except at authorised refreshment stands and restaurants.
- No barbecues, and no other fires either.
- Lawns: open except during rest periods indicated by a sign.
- No smoking: public parks and gardens have been smoke-free since summer 2025.
- Groups of more than 30 people: prior authorisation is required.
- Opening hours: most gardens are closed at night, and staff start clearing them before the posted time.
Open lawns and lawns "au repos"
According to the City of Paris, access to the lawns of parks, gardens and squares is in principle allowed from 15 April to 15 October and forbidden for the rest of the year. The regulations also provide for regeneration periods, shown by a specific sign at the edge of the lawn: this is the "pelouse au repos" sign. A lawn closed off by a sign or a low barrier is not to be used, even in the middle of summer.
A few useful details:
- Dogs are not allowed on the lawns, only on the paths and on a lead.
- Swimwear is allowed, but only on the lawns, and as long as it does not disturb public order.
- Camping is forbidden: no tents for the night.
Outside the season, think of benches, the chairs provided in some gardens and the banks of the Seine, which do not depend on the lawn calendar.
Alcohol, glass and tobacco: what the rules say
Alcohol in parks and gardens
The City's regulations leave no room for doubt: drinking alcoholic beverages is forbidden in parks and gardens, except in authorised establishments (refreshment stands, restaurants, kiosks) and at events that have obtained permission. A bottle of wine on the picnic blanket is therefore against the rules in a municipal garden, even if the rule is enforced unevenly. The rules for the street and the quays are set out in our guide can you drink alcohol in the street in Paris?.
On the quays and along the canal
The quays are not enclosed gardens, but the police prefecture can ban alcohol there by order. In June 2026, for the Fête de la Musique and during the heatwave, it banned drinking alcohol on the banks of the Seine and along the Canal Saint-Martin (quai de Jemmapes and quai de Valmy); according to the press, the measure also covered drinks in glass containers, with a fine of €135. The prefecture has not publicly stated how long all of these measures last: check the signs on site, because a local order applies even if you are unaware of it.
Glass bottles
The Paris park regulations contain no general ban on glass. However, the orders issued for major events (Fête de la Musique, 14 July) often target glass containers. Reusable plastic cups and bottles, or a water bottle, avoid any argument. To fill it up, see our guide to tap water in Paris.
Smoking
Since the decree of 27 June 2025, smoking is forbidden in public parks and gardens, across France as in Paris. The details and fines are in our guide where to smoke in Paris.
Barbecues, music and large groups
- Barbecues: forbidden in all parks and gardens, "like all other fires", including disposable barbecues. Firecrackers and fireworks are also forbidden.
- Music: playing amplified music is forbidden without prior authorisation, as is noise that is disturbing because of its volume or duration. A small speaker turned up full blast may therefore earn you a word from park staff.
- Large groups: a picnic of more than 30 people, or one that needs particular logistics (tables, set-up, partial privatisation), requires an authorisation request to the City.
Park opening hours: watch out for closing time
Enclosed gardens have opening hours that follow the sun: according to the City of Paris, the closing time changes six times a year. In midwinter, some gardens close as early as 5 pm; in summer, you can stay until 9:30 pm. Nearly a quarter of green spaces are open 24 hours a day, and around ten gardens stay open until midnight in the warm season.
The regulations specify that the posted time is when the last gate closes: clearing can start a quarter of an hour earlier. Opening hours are posted at every entrance and on the venue's page on the City's website.
The large parks (Monceau, Montsouris, Buttes-Chaumont, Clichy-Batignolles – Martin-Luther-King) open at 7 am all year round. In early October 2026, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont closes at 8 pm and the Parc Montsouris at 7:30 pm.
Rubbish: take everything with you
The regulations require you to take your rubbish away or put it in the bins provided, and to sort it where a sorting system exists. The City has installed large containers for picnickers in the parks. According to the City of Paris, dropping litter is punishable by a €135 fine. Cigarette butts must never be thrown on the ground.
Bring a bag for your rubbish, especially on the quays, where the bins overflow quickly on summer evenings. For the nearest toilets, see our guide to public toilets in Paris.
The best places for a picnic
The Champ-de-Mars
This is the postcard picnic: wide lawns at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The Champ-de-Mars park (7th arrondissement) is open 24 hours a day, with entrances from quai Branly, avenue de La Motte-Picquet, avenue de La Bourdonnais and avenue de Suffren. The City is carrying out a renovation of the paths and lawns there, voted through the participatory budget: some areas may be closed. On summer evenings it gets very crowded.
The banks of the Seine and the square du Vert-Galant
The Parc Rives de Seine offers pedestrianised riverbanks right by the water; the City particularly recommends the stretch between the Pont-Neuf and the Pont Marie. At the tip of the Île de la Cité, the square du Vert-Galant (place du Pont-Neuf, 1st arrondissement) is open 24 hours a day, but closed in strong winds or bad weather. There are no toilets on site. To explore both islands, see our guide to the Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.
The Canal Saint-Martin
The quai de Valmy and quai de Jemmapes (10th arrondissement) are the meeting point for evening picnics, sitting at the water's edge near the locks and footbridges. This is also the area where the prefecture restricted alcohol in 2026: check the signs. See our page on the Canal Saint-Martin.
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Its 25 hectares of sloping lawns (19th arrondissement) make it one of the best parks for a picnic. In early October 2026, part of the park is closed for works: the island and the Temple de la Sibylle, the small and large waterfalls and a section of the path around the lake. See our page on the Buttes-Chaumont.
The Parc Montsouris
In the south of Paris (2 rue Gazan, 14th arrondissement), the park has three large lawns, a lake, toilets and drinking water points. The T3a tram stops at Cité Universitaire. See our page on the Parc Montsouris.
The Jardin du Luxembourg: different rules
The Jardin du Luxembourg belongs to the French Senate and has its own regulations, revised on 2 December 2025. They are stricter than the City's:
- it is forbidden to sit, lie down or picnic on the lawns, except on one or more of the three so-called "Observatoire" lawns, when the signs at their ends allow it;
- chairs and armchairs must not be placed on the lawns; when it is busy, only one chair per person;
- alcohol is forbidden outside the licensed areas (refreshment stands), as is smoking;
- opening hours follow the sun: in early October, the garden opens at 7:45 am and closes at 6:45 pm; in June, it closes at 9:30 pm.
With a sandwich on the green chairs, on the other hand, you are within the rules.
Other good spots
The City also recommends the Parc de Bercy (12th), the Parc André-Citroën (15th), the Jardin de Reuilly (12th), the Parc de la Villette (19th), the square Louis-XIII on the place des Vosges (4th) and the Parc Monceau (8th).
Where to buy picnic food
A baguette, some cheese, some fruit: a bakery and a grocer's are all you need. Our selection of the best bakeries in Paris gives verified addresses. Two handy markets before a picnic:
- Marché Bastille, boulevard Richard-Lenoir between rue Amelot and rue Saint-Sabin (11th), on Thursday from 7 am to 2:30 pm and Sunday from 7 am to 3 pm; metro Bastille.
- Marché couvert des Enfants Rouges, 39 rue de Bretagne (3rd), Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm (9:30 pm on Thursday) and Sunday from 8:30 am to 5 pm, closed on Monday. Takeaway dishes and fresh produce in the Marais.
Summary of the rules
| Question | City parks and gardens | Jardin du Luxembourg | Quays and canal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picnics | Allowed, if you keep the area clean | Forbidden on the lawns, except on the signposted Observatoire lawns | Allowed |
| Lawns | In principle from 15 April to 15 October, except lawns "au repos" | Closed, except the signposted Observatoire lawns | Not applicable |
| Alcohol | Forbidden outside authorised refreshment stands | Forbidden outside licensed areas | Allowed unless an order applies (June 2026: forbidden) |
| Glass | No general ban | No general ban | Often forbidden during major events |
| Barbecues and fire | Forbidden | Forbidden | Best avoided |
| Smoking | Forbidden since June 2025 | Forbidden | Depends on the spot |
| Group of more than 30 | Authorisation required | Special authorisation from the Senate | Not applicable |
| Opening hours | Follow the sun, clearing 15 min before | Follow the sun | Open access |
Information checked in October 2026, based on the City of Paris park and garden regulations (2018), the Jardin du Luxembourg regulations (2025) and the police prefecture orders.
Further reading
Picnicking is one of the free pleasures of Paris: our selection of free things to do in Paris suggests more. For hot days, our guide to Paris in summer gathers the right habits. And to end the evening, see the best free views of Paris.
