France, Paris and wine! They are inseparably connected. And in social nets, we only see Parisians and tourists blissfully drinking white, pink and red wines in restaurants, on terraces, in parks and on the embankments. Picnic is actually a French word! However, in Paris in many places outside of cafes, it is illegal to drink alcohol in public.
There is a fine for drinking in the wrong place. And the most unpleasant thing is that there are no uniform rules for parks and embankments. Each county or park owner can set its own bans. How can you become a part of French culture without harming your wallet and mood? Let’s talk about the most popular places.
Tuileries Gardens and Carousel
How to get there
Metro: Concorde, Tuileries, Palais Royal — Musée du Louvre
This landscaped area with neat lawns, marble statues and trimmed trees is located in the heart of the city. The garden offers a beautiful view of the Louvre, the Quai d’Orsay with the museum of the same name and the Eiffel Tower. And it seems that this is a wonderful place for a picnic, but … Tuileries Gardens and Carrousel are private property of the Louvre, and drinking alcohol is prohibited here.
» READ MORE – The 33 best tourist attractions in Paris
Palais Royal garden
How to get there
Metro: Palais Royal — Musée du Louvre
This garden is located in the courtyard of the Palais Royal. A quiet corner in the very center of Paris, sadly, does not belong to the city at all, but is a national monument. You definitely shouldn’t drink alcohol here. But you can sit on the grass and enjoy the view, everyone here does it.
Luxembourg gardens
How to get there
Metro: Odeon
The park is very big, but picnics are only allowed on the south lawn towards the observatory. These gardens belong to the Senate, which sits in the Luxembourg Palace. Alcohol can only be drunk in the cafe.
» READ MORE – 10 best palaces and castles in Paris and its suburbs
Champ de Mars
How to get there
Metro: École Militaire, Champ de Mars, Tour Eiffel
Yes, right here, in front of the Eiffel Tower, you can’t drink wine either. In social networks, there are many photos of romantic picnics on the background of the of Paris main symbol. But no one writes about which fine was paid for it. We just do not recommend you to repeat this.
However we confidently recommend you to take a cruise on the Seine on a sightseeing boat. This event breaks all records for the degree of romance. And among the offers of river cruises there are different ones: a cruise with lunch, with dinner by candlelight, with aperitif at sunset when the lights are on … That is the best way to combine business with pleasure! But it’s very important to book tickets in advance (you can do this using the links in the text).
» READ MORE – Lunch and dinner on the Eiffel Tower
Parc Monceau
How to get there
Metro: Monceau
This quiet and picturesque park is off the beaten track. It is not recommended to drink alcohol there, at least because there are many kids walking here.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
How to get there
Metro: Buttes Chaumont
Buttes-Chaumont is a beautiful landscaped park with lakes, lawns, waterfalls and grottoes. You can walk, enjoy nature and take pictures here as much as you like, but alcohol is allowed only in cafes and restaurants on the territory.
Quai de Conti and Pont des Arts
How to get there
Metro: Pont Neuf
On the 6th district embankment (left bank) and on the pedestrian bridge of the Arts, you can sometimes drink a bit, but not always. By decision of the mayor’s office from May 1 to October 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. it is possible. But if you suddenly find yourself with a bottle of rose in this area at the wrong time, hurry up to the right bank. Everything is possible on the embankment of the 4th district. They also organize a beach there in summer.
» READ MORE – Where to stay in Paris. A complete guide to all neighborhoods
Avenue de Breteuil
There is a fantastic view of the House of Invalides from this street. It is worth having a picnic here after visiting the Eiffel Tower, if it is too crowded directly below it on the Champ de Mars. Avenue Breteuil will be quite empty at the same time. But drinking alcohol can cause problems. However, the prefecture of the 7th district assures that everything is not so strict here and there is «tolerance» (means the punishment will not be as severe as if on the Champ de Mars).
It may seem that a law-abiding person has nowhere to drink wine in Paris, only in a cafe. And this is actually the country of winemaking! But there is also good news. If you drink calmly, do not shout and do not pester passers-by, the police will just give you a warning and ask you to clean up your garbage after. It is quite unlikely that you will be taken to jail or fined right away. But this, of course, is no reason to sit with a bottle of wine right on the porch of Notre Dame.
We wish you a pleasant stay in Paris!
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rente42 / flickr.com / CC0
Catalina Rete / unsplash.com
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