5 Picture-Perfect Picnic Spots

It’s almost July, otherwise known as National Picnic Month (yes, that’s a thing). Picnicking is one of the UK’s most enjoyable summer traditions. But why restrict ourselves to the UK? Green grass, good weather and good food might seem like the ideal set-up for a picnic, but throw in a feast for the eyes and it’ll be extra special.  Ahead of National Picnic Month, we’ve narrowed down the five most picture-perfect picnic spots around the globe, all in cities accessible by cruise. 

Al-Azhar Park, Cairo

Once a 30-hectare expanse of dust and rubble, Al-Azhar Park is now listed as one of the world’s sixty great public spaces by the Project for Public Spaces. The park is frequented by locals and visitors and brimming with manicured gardens, playgrounds, restaurants, and cafés. The main outdoor seating area is located in the northernmost section of the park and capitalises on the views of the medieval city.  For many visitors, a highlight of Al-Azhar Park is the Ayyubid wall, built by the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, Saladin, more than 800 years ago.  The park is also home to El Geneina, a 500-seat, semi-open-air theatre. Between April and November, the venue holds around 60 concerts. The theatre is also a primary venue for the annual Spring Festival. AmaWaterways is the only cruise line that operates sailings to Cairo. Still, with an impressive fleet of twenty-six ships and cruises to Egypt almost every month, there are plenty of opportunities to visit this incredible city and go for a picnic in Al-Azhar Park. 

Central Park, New York City

Spanning 843 acres, Central Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world, with a billion-gallon reservoir and 30 pedestrian bridges, including the iconic Bow Bridge.  For easy transportation, rowboats are available to rent for $20 per hour, or sit back and enjoy a 30-minute Venetian gondola ride for $45. Bicycle tours and pedicab tours are also offered daily. Central Park is home to some of the city’s most famous attractions, including Strawberry Fields - a memorial to former Beatles member John Lennon - and an 11-foot bronze statue of Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Belvedere Castle offers sweeping panoramic views of the New York City skyline, and Bethesda Terrace draws in some of the city’s most talented musicians and street performers. Most cruise lines travel to New York, so there are ample opportunities to enjoy a picnic with your loved ones in the Concrete Jungle’s green jungle.

Champ de Mars, Paris

Visit Champ de Mars to enjoy Paris the way all Parisians do - this urban park has been charming French families for generations. Champ de Mars is a great place to unwind after a morning of sightseeing. The park’s 2500-foot lawn provides the perfect venue for a picnic with an unbelievable view of the Eiffel Tower. What’s also remarkable about Champ de Mars is its size. Even on the most crowded summer days, you will only have to walk a few minutes before finding a quiet little corner you can call your own. In addition to providing a tranquil retreat in the heart of the French capital, Champ de Mars features four playgrounds, a basketball court, a puppet theatre, and a beautiful antique hand-cranked carousel, making it the perfect urban oasis for people of all ages. Several river cruise lines offer voyages to Paris, including AmaWaterways, Emerald Yacht Cruises and Scenic River Cruises.

Kongens Have, Copenhagen

Restricted for royal use for over 100 years, Kongens Have - which translates to The King’s Garden - is now visited by around 3 million people each year. Kongens Have is less than half the size of the smallest park on this list. Nevertheless, it is an excellent spot for a picnic away from the hustle and bustle of the Danish capital (unless you’re visiting during the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, which takes place nearby). The park is also home to Rosenborg Castle, built by Christian IV in the 1600s. The castle is certainly worth visiting, housing some of Denmark’s greatest treasures, including the Crown Jewels.  Kongens Have also features an impressive Renaissance garden with several benches for picnicking, an adventure playground, and a puppet theatre open every day except Mondays between June and September.  Most cruise lines sail to Copenhagen, so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a picnic fit for a king in Kongens Have. 

Villa Borghese, Rome

Many parks offer green grass, open space and fresh air (that’s kind of a given), but few feature ancient Roman ruins! Villa Borghese is a 200-acre park offering maze-like gardens where visitors can meander past ancient statues and fountains, a Shakespearean Globe Theatre with a robust summer schedule, and several world-renowned museums showcasing an enviable collection of Bernini sculptures and Caravaggio paintings.  Like Central Park, Villa Borghese features a lake. For just €3, visitors can hire a rowboat and get a closer view of the Temple of Aesculapius. For the little ones, there are several playgrounds, electric train rides and segway tours. There is also a zoo and a cinema in the vicinity. Again, most cruise lines offer cruises to Rome, so there are ample opportunities to enjoy a picnic in the Italian capital’s ‘green lung’. To find out more about cruising to any of the destinations mentioned above, please call our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677.