Cycling and Picnicking: the 8 Most Bike-Friendly Lawns in Paris

Sunday morning. Sun blazing. The fridge holds a quiche and two bottles of cold water. The question is unavoidable: where do you spread the blanket? Paris is full of magnificent lawns. But actually accessible by bike? With a decent place to lock up? Without fighting a hundred families for one square metre of grass? That’s a different story. We did the legwork. Here are the best 8.

Comparison Table

The 8 Spots Explained

1. Bois de Vincennes — Prairie de la Pelouse

Distance: 12 km from Notre-Dame via the right bank banks path, then the green way along avenue Daumesnil.
Cycling accessibility: excellent. The 8-kilometre green way on avenue Daumesnil (inaugurated in 2006) drops you directly at the entrance to the woods. For families with cargo bikes, this is the definitive reference.

The Prairie de la Pelouse is the largest authorised lawn in Paris — several hectares of close-cut grass with no play equipment or kiosks eating into the space. Ideal for families who want to spread the blanket and throw a frisbee. Bike parking: stands are installed at the main entrances (porte Dorée, porte de Charenton).

Food: no shops on the lawn itself, but kiosks along the main woodland alleys. Better to come with your own basket. The Paul bakery at porte Dorée makes good quiches.

By cargo bike: the green way is suited to the dimensions of a front-loader or longtail as far as porte Dorée.

2. Bois de Boulogne — Pelouse de Longchamp

Distance: 11 km from Notre-Dame via the right bank quays and the woodland cycle path.
Cycling accessibility: good, but the woodland path is shared with joggers and can be busy at weekends.

The huge Longchamp lawn stretches between the racecourse and the bridle paths. Wind guaranteed (the Bois de Boulogne is Paris’s western lung), unlimited space. On fine days, expect several thousand people — but the surface is large enough to absorb the crowd.

Food: kiosks at the Chalet des Îles (reachable by rowing boat from the lake), or supermarket in Neuilly-sur-Seine, 10 minutes by bike.

By cargo bike: possible but the woodland alleys can be narrow and busy.

3. Buttes-Chaumont — Main Lawn

Distance: 5 km from République via rue de la Grange-aux-Belles.
Cycling accessibility: very good. Rue Manin runs alongside the park with a continuous cycle lane. Plenty of stands at the Botzaris entrance.

The lower lawn, facing the lake, is the most accessible by bike and the most convivial. Young, mixed, musical atmosphere at weekends. The park slopes — the lower section is flat and ideal for picnic blankets.

Food: market at place des Fêtes, 10 minutes by bike (Sunday mornings). Plenty of bakeries in the neighbourhood.

By cargo bike: entry via rue Botzaris is manageable. Note the park’s internal slopes.

4. Parc des Invalides

Distance: 3 km from Notre-Dame, directly along the left bank quays.
Cycling accessibility: perfect. The quay path leads straight to the foot of the park. Stands on rue Fabert.

The great central lawn of the Invalides, 28 hectares, sits at the heart of Paris. Advantage: you can arrive by bike from any arrondissement in a quarter of an hour. Disadvantage: touristy and packed from 11am on sunny weekends. Arrive before 10am to pick your spot.

Food: Grande Épicerie de Paris, 10 minutes by bike (rue de Sèvres). Cheese shops and delicatessens on rue Cler, 5 minutes away.

By cargo bike: ideal — flat trajectory from the quays, compatible widths.

5. Parc de Bercy

Distance: 6 km from Notre-Dame via the right bank banks.
Cycling accessibility: excellent. The right bank banks path passes in front of the park. Direct cycling entrance from the Seine side.

A modern park (opened in 1994), Bercy is less well known to tourists than the Invalides or Vincennes. Its lawns are carefully maintained and less crowded than the other spots on this list. Ideal for those who like quiet.

Food: Bercy Village (open-air shopping centre) adjoins the park — many food shops, wine merchant, caterer.

By cargo bike: the banks are perfectly suited.

6. Parc de la Villette — Prairie du Triangle

Distance: 5 km from République via the Canal Saint-Martin.
Cycling accessibility: perfect. The canal path drops you 200 metres away.

The Prairie du Triangle is the Villette park’s great lawn, often used for open-air concerts. Festive and cultural atmosphere. A large number of bike stands are found in front of the main gate.

Food: many food trucks and restaurants in the park, Villette market at weekends.

By cargo bike: impeccable. The Villette forecourt is one of the few Parisian spaces dimensioned for large cargo bikes.

7. Parc André-Citroën — Central Lawn

Distance: 8 km from Notre-Dame via the left bank quays.
Cycling accessibility: good. Continuous path from Invalides to the park. Stands at the east entrance on rue Balard.

Radical landscape architecture, a vast flat central lawn, views over the Seine. The Parc André-Citroën is less visited than its competitors despite its size. The tethered hot-air balloon (a commercial operation) gives children a fun visual landmark.

Food: few options in the park. Supermarket 10 minutes into the 15th arrondissement.

By cargo bike: excellent accessibility, flat ground and wide entrances.

8. Parc de Saint-Cloud

Distance: 14 km from Notre-Dame, mixed route via banks and road.
Cycling accessibility: partial. Accessible by bike via the pont de Sèvres and the climb to the main entrance — but one section is on a shared 50 km/h road. Less suited to families with young children or cargo bikes.

But what a setting. The domaine national de Saint-Cloud, 460 hectares, is one of the most beautiful parks in Île-de-France. Its English-style lawns overlook the Seine valley. You feel a hundred miles from Paris, yet you’re only 40 minutes by bike.

Food: one restaurant in the park (La Grille royale). Otherwise, come well stocked — there is no supermarket within easy reach.

By cargo bike: not recommended — the climb from Sèvres is steep (approximately 50 metres of elevation in 1 km).

Tips for Coming by Cargo Bike with Children

• Prioritise Vincennes (Prairie de la Pelouse), the Invalides and Bercy: flat routes, wide paths.
• Avoid Saint-Cloud and Buttes-Chaumont (slopes, narrow entrances).
• Bring an extra U-lock to secure the cargo bike to stands — the unusual dimensions of cargo bikes make them hard to lock with a simple cable.
• Wider parking spots for three-wheel cargo trikes: Bercy and Villette both have larger bays near the main entrance.

Conclusion: A Lawn for Every Rider

Paris is fortunate: it has the Seine, the parks, the lawns. And now, it has the cycle paths to reach them. From the nearby and lively (Invalides, Buttes-Chaumont) to the distant and wild (Saint-Cloud), there is something for every profile. The one rule: go early on Sunday. Fresh grass doesn’t wait.

— Samir K.