Paris is the city of love, lights, and fashion. With its dazzling architecture and numerous museums, it’s easy to understand why so many people fall in love with the French capital. Many visitors spend their days wandering through exhibits, dining on delicious cuisine, and strolling the city streets. While there are many things to see and do in Paris, one of the best ways to spend time like a local is to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in one of Paris’s best parks. This is a great way to unwind and enjoy a city break, especially if you’ve traveled a long way to get to France. Traveling to Paris is quite easy as there are many direct flights from abroad. As long as you have the right travel documents, such as a passport and visa (if required), your trip to this wonderful city should be seamless.
While there are many green spaces and gardens throughout Paris, there are some favorites you should consider visiting. Each park is a little different, and if you have limited time in the city, be sure to visit the right one.
Just a few blocks from the Pantheon in Paris lies the ever-beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg. This stunning 17th-century park boasts formal gardens for strolling, tranquil fountains, and numerous statues that evoke thought. The Jardin du Luxembourg, also known as the Luxembourg Gardens, was inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence and was built by the widow of King Henry IV, Marie de Medici, in 1612. The gardens are divided into two sides, one in French style and the other in English style. Visitors can wander through the geometric forest, enjoy a cup of coffee in the shade of trees next to the Fontaine Médicis, or take a walk in the apple orchard.
There is plenty to see and do in this park even with children. Visitors can rent small electric boats to sail on the pond or watch a puppet show. There are also carousels and slides and even an apiary where visitors can learn more about beekeeping. For adults, there is chess, tennis, and bridge to participate in. What makes this park even better is that there is a free art segment where tourists can admire a free photography exhibition along the garden tracks. There are often free concerts in the park as well.
Jardin du Luxembourg is located between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, in Paris’s 6th arrondissement. There are many bus stops nearby, and the closest metro station is Odéon. Nearby attractions include the sculpture museum Musée Zadkine, the National Museum of the Middle Ages, and the Musée du Luxembourg.
On the north side of the city lies a less formal park, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. This beautiful 19th-century green space was once a quarry before it was transformed into one of Paris’s best parks.
The park extends over about 25 hectares and offers hilly landscapes where visitors can enjoy incredible views of the city. In this beautiful green space, visitors will find caves to explore, waterfalls, an artificial lake, and exotic and native trees. This is a great area to sit for a picnic and enjoy the fine French weather. Note that while you might spot locals with a bottle of wine or beer in the park, alcohol consumption in parks is illegal and the law is sometimes enforced.
There are many other notable landmarks within the park, including an old iron railway bridge, a puppet theater, and a playground for children. If you’re in the mood for a coffee or snack, there are also some restaurants and bars inside the park to stop by while exploring the area.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is located in Paris’s 19th arrondissement, in the northeast part of the city. The Buttes Chaumont metro station and Botzaris metro station are right at the park entrance, and there are also many bus stops nearby.
Parc Monceau, on the northwest side of the city, is one of the most beautiful parks in Paris. Entering this incredible wooded park, visitors will pass through a series of large, elegant iron gates and find themselves surrounded by lush, vibrant gardens that have been well maintained. Throughout the park are many captivating landmarks and statues, the most notable being the semicircular Roman columns surrounding a large pond. Visitors will also find the former Renaissance arch of the Paris city hall, a beautiful arch bridge, and children’s rides such as a carousel. There is also a playground and a puppet theater for children. This is a great park for a romantic walk with your partner or to bring your camera and take some fantastic photos.
Parc Monceau is located on the edge of Paris’s 8th arrondissement. The nearest metro stations are Monceau and Courcelles, and there are many bus stops nearby. Famous nearby attractions include the Musée Nissim de Camondo, Musée Cernuschi, and Musée Jacquemart-André.
This beautiful green space is the largest park in Paris. Bois de Boulogne spans about 2,090 acres and was formerly the royal hunting grounds for the French kings.
Bois de Boulogne lacks no activities for tourists and locals alike. Visitors can rent bicycles and take a scenic ride through the park or rent rowboats and enjoy a romantic ride on the lake. There are picnic areas for packed lunches and playgrounds where children can run and have fun. The park also hosts Jardin d’Acclimatation, an amusement park with horse rides, carousels, and games for young and old. Also in the green space are the Fondation Louis Vuitton art museum, a racecourse, gardens, soccer fields, a golf course, campgrounds, restaurants, and a theater. Visitors can enjoy cycling over 15 kilometers of trails or horseback riding along 28 kilometers of bridle paths.
There is so much to see and do in this park that fitting it all in a day would be truly impressive. While there are many things to see and do, you can also stop at one of the park’s restaurants or cafes to recharge with some caffeine and continue your adventures through the park. If you happen to visit from May through September, then go to the Shakespeare Garden to catch a performance during the Festival du Théâtre.
This incredible park is located in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, near the Arc de Triomphe and the Albert-Kahn Museum and Gardens. There are many metro and bus stops nearby, and since this park is so large, try to choose a stop closest to the attractions you want to visit first.
Nestled between the Seine, Place de la Concorde, and the Musée du Louvre lie the classic French formal gardens of the Jardin des Tuileries. The park sits where factories once stood. In 1564, Queen Catherine de Medici built the Palais des Tuileries and the surrounding gardens, which were refurbished in 1664 by King Louis XIV’s gardener, André Le Nôtre. This is a peaceful place to rest while visiting some of the city’s main attractions. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee or read a book beside one of the two ponds or stroll among the beautiful statues throughout the park. The park also hosts the Jeu de Paume museum and the Musée de l’Orangerie art museum, where visitors can admire paintings by iconic artists like Monet. Visitors can also eat or drink something at one of the bars or pubs inside the park, then head to the Ferris wheel for a ride and a view of the city.
Every year, from late June to late August, the Fête des Tuileries festival takes place with numerous rides and games for people of all ages. From March to April, visitors can also take free guided city tours in French within the park.
Jardin des Tuileries is located in the heart of the city in the 1st arrondissement. Many of the city’s primary attractions are within walking distance of the park, including the Domaine National du Palais-Royal and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The nearest metro stops to the park are Tuileries and Concorde.
If you’re looking for a quiet park to hang out with your friends for a few hours or enjoy a pleasant walk, then consider checking out La Coulée Verte.
This modern park was built around an old railway line, along which grow many flowers and wild plants. The park boasts a mix of modern design and features open areas where visitors can sunbathe or play ball games with friends. Visitors can also walk along the old railway line, which is now a 4.5-kilometer pedestrian path that takes visitors past rose bushes, lime trees, and hazelnut trees, along with other notable buildings in the area. If you’ve ever been to New York City, you might find the area familiar as the Promenade Plantée was the inspiration for the treelined walkway, the High Line.
This is definitely a hidden gem in Paris that many visitors don’t know about, so it’s a great place to get a feel for local life. Nearby is a bakery and a few cafes where tourists can grab a bite or a drink to take with them to the park.
La Coulée Verte is located in Paris’s 12th arrondissement, just steps from Place de la Bastille and Paris Gare de Lyon train station. The nearest metro stops are Ledru-Rollin and Bastille, and there are many bus stops nearby.
The Parc de la Villette is where culture and nature find balance in a stunning 55-hectare green space. Visitors can reach this large park on foot, by metro, bus, or boat.
There are a series of themed gardens in this park that allow visitors to take a cinematic-style garden walk complete with sound elements. At night, a glowing dotted line guided visitors through all 12 gardens. There are also intimate spaces where visitors can reflect, read, or journal while enjoying nature’s tranquility. Throughout the park are several venues with live music, restaurants, rides, a playground, and an eco-garden where you can learn more about organic farming. After a walk through the park, visitors can head to the shopping center area within the park and visit the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie museum or discover the Argonaute submarine museum. The park also hosts numerous festivals, such as the outdoor cinema festival (Cinéma de Plein Air) and the Lantern Festival.
Parc de la Villette is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and is located in Paris’s 19th arrondissement, in the northeast part of the city. There are numerous tram and bus stops nearby, and the closest metro stations are Porte de la Villette and Porte de Pantin.
The Jardin des Plantes is one of Paris’s most famous public parks, and for good reason. This extraordinary nature refuge hosts both botanical and alpine gardens, along with a botanical school where visitors can learn about botany. The park is over 400 years old and was created as a place to study plants and teach the public about the diversity of trees and nature.
Visitors can stroll along colorful paths while enjoying nature’s tranquility or head to the Jardin des Plantes Zoo. Other park attractions include a restored 19th-century greenhouse, the Jardin des Plantes Maze, a tropical forest greenhouse, a wallaby enclosure, and restaurants. After a walk through the park, visitors can go to the National Museum of Natural History to learn more about rare plants and dinosaurs. This is truly a one-of-a-kind park, perfect for people of all ages. In addition to the National Museum of Natural History, the park also houses the Botanical Gallery, the Mineralogy Gallery, the Geology Museum, a virtual reality experience, and the Great Gallery of Evolution. There is also a carousel the children can ride and a reptile and amphibian laboratory.
This beautiful botanical garden in Paris is located in the 5th arrondissement, next to the University of Sorbonne Pierre and the Marie Curie campus. Nearby attractions include the Pantheon and the Arènes de Lutèce. The best way to reach the park is by tram, train, or metro via the Austerlitz station. There are also many bus stops nearby.
The Bois de Vincennes, also known as Vincennes Woods, is a huge park located on the southeast side of the city. With over 995 hectares of space, it’s no wonder this park is a favorite among tourists and locals alike.
Visitors can explore the park via bike paths, hiking trails, or by boat. The park is so large it would be impossible to explore in its entirety in one day, which is why many people return time and again. Some highlights within this incredible green space include a botanical garden, a zoo, lakes, a circus, and even a Buddhist temple. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant walk through the arboretum or head to the sports fields to play a game of soccer (football). Since the park is so large, it’s easy to find a secluded spot for you and your group to relax with a picnic or soak up the sun. Vincennes Castle is a breathtaking example of 14th-century medieval architecture and remains one of the park’s most important landmarks. It is open to the public for guided tours daily.
If you want to be more active in the park, head to Parc Floral, where visitors can play an 18-hole mini golf game, compete in a ping-pong match, or let the little ones run around in the playground. The park also hosts the We Love Green music festival every June.
Visitors can find Bois de Vincennes in Paris’s 12th arrondissement, not far from the Bercy-Pavilions Museum of Fairground Arts. The park has many entrances, so depending on where you plan to visit first, you should plan to find the nearest metro or bus stop. On the park’s north side, the closest metro stops are Fontenay-Sous-Bois, Bérault, and Château de Vincennes. On the south side, the closest metro stops are Joinville-Le-Pont and Liberté.
If you’re looking for a hilly park where you can relax with your partner or friends while enjoying incredible views of Paris, then Parc de Belleville is for you.
The area where the park is located was once a small village where humble farmers worked and raised their families. When Paris expanded, it swallowed this small town, and in 1988 Parc de Belleville was built. This park is a bit different from others, however, as it features a large playground area where children can climb, run, and slide on sleds. There is also a watercourse with waterfalls and streams where visitors can enjoy the subtle sounds of flowing water while reading a book. This is one of the best spots in the city to get a panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower and other Parisian landmarks, so be sure to bring your camera! One of the most interesting features of this landscape is the remaining evidence of the area’s wine production. Visitors will find over 130 grapevines throughout the park, which are harvested by the city.
This incredible hillside park is located in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. The easiest way to reach the park is by metro to the Pyrénées, Couronnes, or Belleville stops. There are also many bus stops nearby.
There they are: the best parks and gardens of Paris. With so many incredible green spaces in the city, we understand it’s hard to narrow it down to a few to visit during your vacation. However, we’re confident whichever of these parks you decide to visit, you’ll find them nothing short of breathtaking.
