A picnic

on a stream, a beach, a mountain
on top of that ancient site
in the desert or woods, at a fountain
keeps your body and mind right

The best spots for picnicking:
often found by serendipity

either arrange for a makeshift picnic
provided you find a shop nearby
or, on another day, come back
fully prepared with drink and snack

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Admission

Restrooms

Parking

Great view

Snacks/restaurant

Shop

Bus stop

Mountain/city

Cable car

Swimming

Hiking

Museum/monument

Beyond the blanket

Some spots qualify as ideal picnic spots in the classic sense — benches, picnic tables, waste bins, public toilets and a great view. But that’s not all these places are about.

There are places filled with magic, energy, and mystery — power spots that invite you to stay, linger and soak up their atmosphere. These are often ancient sites like Stonehenge, Uluru, or Machu Picchu, though overtourism has taken its toll on many of them. Pompeii is the real deal as far as archaeological sites go, yet you wouldn’t particularly enjoy munching on your sandwich among the crowds there. Fortunately, there are still plenty of under-the-radar gems where you can enjoy some serenity — places to lose yourself in a book, play a game or simply sit and contemplate the view.

Some of these places are sacred and not picnic spots in the sense of spreading out a blanket and firing up a barbecue. Yet such spiritual, ancient sites are included here because they are worth sitting down and taking a break — and no god will hold a grudge against you for having a sip of water or eating an apple. At UNESCO World Heritage Sites there are often designated rest areas, or at least some benches or conveniently shaped stones.

The idea for this collection was sparked in Turkey — a stunning country with ancient temples and theaters like Ephesus, just smaller and far less crowded.

A picnic, as understood here, is a simple thing. A couple, perhaps with children, taking a rest after wandering or hiking. A drink, a piece of fruit, something grabbed at a local store or brought along if the day was planned. A bench, a rock, or a patch of grass. No barbecue required.

Picture yourself by a creek in a National Park, at a UNESCO Site, in a botanical garden, a zoo, a beach or high in the mountains. Picnicking opportunities are everywhere — just open your eyes and get inspired by the spots featured below.