12 Picnic Ideas from Cultures Around the World
What a spring picnic might look like across continents
There’s something quietly transcendent about eating outdoors in springtime. Perhaps it’s the pleasure of returning warmth on the skin, or the sound of birdsong as a backdrop to conversation. The table may be a blanket, the chairs nothing more than folded knees, but the meal itself—and the setting in which it’s shared—can be unforgettable.
Around the world, cultures have embraced their own versions of the picnic: informal, seasonal meals taken outside, often assembled from simple, transportable ingredients that carry the stories and flavors of a place. If you’re not sure what to pack for a picnic or simply just want some picnic food ideas, below we unpack what a spring picnic might look like across continents, drawing inspiration from the destinations we know and love.
1. France
Under the filtered light of the Jardin du Luxembourg or along the banks of the Loire, the French picnic is an art form. A crusty baguette still warm from the boulangerie; a wedge of Brie, its interior slowly softening in the sun; saucisson sliced into paper-thin rounds; a ramekin of râillettes or duck pâté; and always, something sweet—perhaps an apple tart, glossy with apricot glaze. Strawberries, fragrant and ruby-red, are a sure sign of spring, and a bottle of rosé is rarely far from reach.
3. Spain
A Spanish picnic is best shared—a true expression of the tapas tradition. Beneath the dappled shade of an olive tree, dishes are passed among friends: jamón ibérico with its nutty depth; manchego in sharp triangles; pan con tomate rubbed with raw garlic and sun-ripened tomato; and slices of Spanish tortilla, its golden layers still warm. Almonds roasted with sea salt, wedges of turrón, and a bottle of Rioja lend themselves to slow afternoons.
2. Italy
In Tuscany or on the Amalfi coast, a picnic isn’t merely a meal; it’s a slow afternoon among olive groves or limestone cliffs, accompanied by the rustle of cypress trees and the scent of lemon blossom. The basket overflows with ciabatta, torn by hand; buffalo mozzarella, cool and milky; thin ribbons of prosciutto and marinated artichokes glistening with oil. Cherry tomatoes burst between the teeth. Almond cantucci offer a crunchy conclusion, perhaps softened in a dip of chilled Vin Santo or Prosecco.
4. Portugal
Along the cliffs of the Algarve or tucked into the vineyards of the Douro Valley, Portuguese picnics speak to sea and soil. A loaf of dense, crusty pão anchors the spread. There might be tins of sardines, packed in lemony oil; slices of queijo da serra, soft and pungent; rounds of chouriço; and a pastel de nata or two, their custard centers still faintly warm. Vinho verde, with its slight fizz and green apple notes, adds freshness to each bite.
5. Greece
Picnics in Greece are saturated with sunlight and history. Whether perched on a hillside near Delphi or steps from a whitewashed chapel on a quiet island, the flavors are unmistakable: briny olives, creamy feta, and lemon-slicked dolmades tucked alongside pillowy pita. Tzatziki cools the palate. Charred souvlaki skewers, wrapped in parchment, recall yesterday’s backyard grill. For dessert, syrup-soaked baklava leaves fingers sticky. The scent of wild thyme carries on the breeze.
7. Argentina
In Buenos Aires, the park becomes a weekend ritual. Families gather beneath the jacarandas with checked blankets and picnic baskets filled with empanadas—still flaky from the bakery—grilled provoleta, and jars of chimichurri. Thinly sliced cold cuts, sweet medialunas, and alfajores dusted with coconut fill the gaps between conversation and mate, passed slowly from hand to hand in a shared gourd.
6. Sweden
In the cool, clear light of a Swedish spring, picnics carry the spirit of friluftsliv – a love of life outdoors. On a lakeside rock or in a birch-ringed meadow, crispbread is layered with Västerbotten cheese or gravlax. Pickled herring provides a tangy jolt, softened by slices of boiled egg. Lingonberry jam, earthy and tart, pairs unexpectedly well with almost everything. A cinnamon bun, still warm from a morning bake, and a glass of elderflower cordial close the meal.
8. Peru
In the Sacred Valley or high on a hill above Lima, a Peruvian picnic is an ode to the Andes. Kernels of choclo, giant and tender, are sprinkled with salt and lime. Causa, layered with avocado and chicken or seafood, arrives chilled. Ceviche, packed in containers over ice, is bright with citrus and a kick of aji. Chifles crunch beneath the teeth; lúcuma sweets add a caramel finish. And throughout it all, the deep purple of chicha morada stains fingers and lips.
9. Japan
During hanami, the fleeting cherry blossom season, entire families camp beneath the blooms, tarps spread, laughter rising. The picnic is precise, delicate. Onigiri wrapped in nori, filled with salted plum or flaked salmon; sweet tamagoyaki cut into neat slices; crunchy karaage; and speckled edamame pods. Strawberries, as perfect as lacquered jewels, sit beside matcha-dusted mochi. Green tea steams gently from thermoses, or sake is poured in quiet toasts.
11. Thailand
Under a banyan tree or by the sea, Thai picnics are vibrant and bright. Som tam delivers sour, sweet, and heat in every forkful. Grilled chicken, brushed with lemongrass, is eaten with sticky rice pressed into balls. Shrimp cakes offer crunch, mango with sticky rice a yielding contrast. The scent of jasmine rises from the tea, or maybe it’s fresh coconut, cracked open and shared.
10. Vietnam
In Vietnam, spring heat invites shade. Along the banks of the Perfume River or beside Hanoi’s West Lake, a picnic unfolds from a plastic bag or a bamboo basket. Bánh mì sandwiches, filled with pork and pickled carrot, are wrapped in newspaper; rice paper rolls with shrimp are dipped into hoisin-peanut sauce; mango salad tangles with fresh herbs and lime. Sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves sit beside chè in plastic cups, their layers of jelly and coconut milk clinking with ice.
12. India
Beneath temple spires or in the garden of a family home, Indian picnics are festive, abundant. Parathas stuffed with spiced potatoes or paneer are wrapped in cloth to keep warm. Samosas crunch at the edges; roasted nuts, dusted with chili and salt, invite repeat handfuls. Cubes of grilled paneer tikka glow orange with marinade. Ripe mangoes are sliced open, their juice running down wrists, and gulab jamun float in syrupy pools beside cups of masala chai, still hot from a thermos.
No two cultures prepare for a picnic in quite the same way, yet across continents, the spirit remains constant: a connection to place, to season, to the pleasure of good food shared outdoors. If spring is a time of renewal, then the picnic is its most delicious ritual.
We hope this journey through picnic ideas from around the world inspires your next al fresco afternoon—or perhaps, sparks curiosity about the destinations where we host our trips. After all, there’s no better way to understand a place than to eat as its people do, under the same open sky.
