The 10 best Paris parks and gardens to visit

Few cities in the world have the sheer number of public parks and gardens that Paris does. 

There are almost 500 Paris parks and gardens, all of which are distinct, diverse and fascinating.

Centuries-old Italian-inspired gardens designed by the Medici family. Triumphant feats of landscape design commissioned by the Emperor Napoleon. Modern green spaces that overlook the city rooftops.

Paris’ parks and gardens each have their own unique story to tell. 

Let’s take a look at 10 of our favourite Paris parks and gardens that you need to visit at least once.

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1. Parc Monceau

Address: 35 Boulevard de Courcelles, 75008, Paris.

Arrondissement: 8th. 

Opening hours: Daily. 7am-9pm (may change according to season). 

Price: Free.

Nearest Paris Metro station: Monceau (entrance to Metro at Parc Monceau main entrance). 

Parc Monceau is a magical spot that spans just over 20 acres. The land was originally purchased in 1769 by a French duke and close relation of Louis XVI,  and he had French writer and artist Louis Carrogis Carmontelle design the park. Later, Monet would actually use Parc Monceau as the setting for a number of his famous paintings. 

Today Parc Monceau is a winding assortment of curved paths, immaculate grounds, ornate footbridges that cross over the park’s central pond, and is home to many birds and plant species. Paris’ oldest and highest maple tree is also located in Parc Monceau. It was planted in 1853 and reaches 30 metres high! 

The park is still very much presented in its original “fantasy” aesthetic imagined by Carmontelle. There are still a number of his original unique additions that are nods to international architecture, including an Egyptian pyramid, Dutch windmills and a Chinese fort.  

Parc Monceau also has a number of children’s play areas, plus a stunning carousel which is a permanent feature. 

Visit Parc Monceau: https://www.paris.fr/equipements/parc-monceau-1804

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2. Parc Montsouris

Address: 2 Rue Gazan, 75014, Paris.

Arrondissement: 14th. 

Opening hours: Daily. Monday to Friday: 8am-8:30pm. Saturday and Sunday: 8am-5:45pm. (Subject to seasonal change). 

Price: Free. 

Nearest Paris Metro station: Glacière (also located near Cité Universitaire RER station.)

Napoleon ordered a number of urban Paris parks during his reign, and Parc Montsouris was one of them. Spanning just under 40 acres, the park was designed to replicate the style of a traditional English garden, and it officially opened in 1869. 

The park is considered one of the city’s largest green spaces, and is the ideal place to spend some time in nature away from the hustle and bustle of daily life in Paris. 

Major landmarks include a stone monument that marks the location of the original Meridien of Paris, and a large number of historic sculptures and statues can be seen across the park. Parc Montsouris is also home to a large number of towering trees, some rare, and a restaurant.

On sunny days in Paris, Parc Montsouris is a magnet for Parisians and tourists alike. Joggers tread the well-worn paths, students from the nearby Cité Universitaire take study breaks here and visitors simply enjoy the peaceful tranquility of this superb Paris park.

Visit Parc Montsouris: https://www.paris.fr/equipements/parc-montsouris-1810

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3. Jardin des Plantes

Address: 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris.

Arrondissement: 5th. 

Opening hours: Daily. 7:30am-8pm (subject to seasonal change). 

Price: Free (entry fee applies for access to museums). 

Nearest Paris Metro station: Quai de la Rapée or Jussieu (nearest RER station is Austerlitz). 

The Jardin des Plantes (‘Garden of Plants’) is situated on Paris’ Left Bank, spans 70 acres and has been a central Parisian landmark since its inception in 1635 under Louis XIII. 

The Jardin des Plantes is home to the esteemed The National Museum of Natural History Paris, spanning five large buildings. 

The garden contains four museums related to different topics – evolution, geology, palaeontology and botany – and each has its own permanent exhibitions. 

It is also home to a botanical school, a zoo, a formal garden that borders the Seine, numerous greenhouses, an alpine garden, a rose garden, an amphitheatre, fountains and so much more. There are tens of thousands of plants cultivated and on display on the site.

The Jardin des Plantes is a complete experience all of its own, and over 1.5 million visitors pass through its gates annually to simply wander, or to visit its many museums.

Visit the Jardin des Plantes: https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/fr

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4. Cité Universitaire

Address: 17 Boulevard Jourdan, 75014, Paris.

Arrondissement: 14th.

Opening hours: Daily. 7am-10pm (subject to seasonal change).

Entry: Free (grounds). 

Nearest Paris Metro station: Glacière (also located near Cité Universitaire RER station.)

When visiting Cité Universitaire Paris you could be forgiven for thinking that you had stumbled across a grand French chateau in the French capital. Its expansive grounds, ornate buildings, and intricately manicured gardens have an elegant charm, but it is indeed an operational university with its own private gardens open to the public. 

While Cité Universitaire may be a university campus, it also encompasses a popular Paris park that should be on the itinerary of any extended visitor to Paris or expat moving to the city. The campus, established in 1925 and located on the southern edge of Paris, spans over 70 acres and is like its own little village nestled on the outskirts of the city. 

Here, locals run through the picturesque grounds, picnic or read on the lawns in the sunshine, or enjoy the crisp cooler seasons when the campus is shrouded in fog.

The university’s buildings are simply superb, and the historic library is open to the public. Each year, the campus hosts over 12,000 students from over 140 countries across the world. The design is fascinating. Each student house was built by a different country to house their international students. For example, there is an Indian, Japanese, American, Canadian, British and Spanish house. Each represents the architecture of that specific country.

Parc Montsouris (number 2 on our list) is right next door, should you wish to make a day of it!  

Visit Cité Universitaire Paris: http://www.ciup.fr

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5. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Address: 1 Rue Botzaris, 75019, Paris.

Arrondissement: 19th. 

Opening hours: Daily. 7am-10pm (may change according to season). 

Price: Free. 

Nearest Paris Metro stations: Buttes Chaumont, Jean Botzaris and Laumière. 

Tucked in the northeast of Paris, the 60 acre Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is one of the city’s largest public parks and is a relaxing location to spend a sunny afternoon in the city. 

The eye-catching Temple de la Sibylle is what makes Parc des Buttes-Chaumont so unique, an Italian-inspired temple sitting on a towering gypsum clifftop island overlooking the park’s lake. 

The lake itself is actually artificially built – spanning almost 4 acres – and there is a waterfall in a carefully-crafted grotto, a large suspension bridge, three restaurants on-site, two halls and two theatres for special events, and is wifi enabled, as are most public parks across Paris. 

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont opened in 1867 under Emperor Napoleon, and since then has grown to host almost 50 species of plants and trees, some native to Europe and some from further abroad. 

Visit Parc des Buttes-Chaumont: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71468/Parc-des-Buttes-Chaumont

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6. Coulée Verte René-Dumont

Address: 1 Coulée Verte René-Dumont, 75012, Paris.

Arrondissement: 12th. 

Opening hours: Daily. From 8am (9am on weekends) to 5:30pm (winter) or 9:30pm (summer).

Price: Free. 

Nearest Paris Metro stations: Depending on where you want to start on the route, the nearest stations are Gare de Lyon Station, Dugommier, Daumesnil or Bastille. 

A more modern Paris park established in 1988, Coulée Verte René-Dumont is also sometimes referred to as La Promenade Plantée. It is situated on what was once a railway viaduct (now disused) and spans almost 5km in Paris’ east.

The unique Paris park begins as a leafy pathway, bordered by stunning fruit trees, plants and flowers. It offers charming views of the quintessentially Parisian rooftops of local neighbourhoods, before descending into an underground tunnel of sorts, home to waterfalls and thick foliage. 

There are beautiful grassed areas along the way, like the Jardin de Reuilly, where you can take a breather on your journey. 

Coulée Verte René-Dumont is one of the city’s best kept secrets and the best Paris parks and gardens, and a relaxing green space that is a unique discovery in this busy city. We absolutely recommend spending some time here! 

Visit Coulée Verte René-Dumont: https://www.paris.fr/equipements/coulee-verte-rene-dumont-1772

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7. Bois de Boulogne

Address: 75016, Paris. 

Arrondissement: 16th. 

Opening hours: The woods are open 24/7. Jardin des serres d’Auteuil is open 8am or 9am – 6pm, 7.30pm or 8.30pm (depending on the season). The Jardin d’Acclimatation is open from 10am-7pm April to September and 10am-6pm October to March. Parc de Bagatelle is open 9.30am-5.30, 6.30pm or 8pm (depending on the season).

Price: The woods and Garden des serres d’Auteuil are free to access for all. Other gardens and attractions have an entry fee.

Nearest Paris Metro stations: Porte-Dauphine, Porte-d’Auteuil, Porte Maillot (nearest RER is Porte-Maillot).

The sheer size of Bois de Boulogne is one of its most surprising characteristics. The park covers over 2000 acres of land in Paris’ west, which makes it larger than Central Park in New York City. As a result, this is an outdoor lovers paradise, a place Parisians and visitors to Paris rub shoulders while walking, exploring, sunbathing, picnicking and simply enjoying themselves. 

This was once the site of the Rouvray Forest, and in 1852 Napoleon’s decree to build more parks open to the public in Paris led to its redesign as an expansive green space. 

Today, Bois de Boulogne has something for everyone. Children will love the Jardin d’Acclimatation, which is home to a wildlife sanctuary and amusement park. You can also hire a boat and paddle on the lakes within the Bois de Boulogne, dine at one of its restaurants, meander through the manicured gardens, visit a museum exhibition or see some outdoor theatre. The park is also home to two racetracks. ive types make use of the many walkways and 15km of cycling routes at all times of the day and night.

In winter, there are ice skating rinks within Bois de Boulogne. There is also a botanical garden, tennis stadium and much more. The Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson actually resided in the one private residence on the entire site, which they lived in for decades. 

Bois de Boulogne would take days or a week to explore in its entirety, so if you plan to spend time here during your time in Paris, make sure to carve out enough time in your itinerary. It’s well worth it!

Visit Bois de Boulogne: https://www.paris.fr/pages/les-bois-parisiens-4900/

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8. Jardin des Tuileries

Address: Place de la Concorde, 75001, Paris.

Arrondissement: 1st.

Opening hours: Daily. From the last Sunday in September to the last Sunday in March: 7.30am to 7.30pm. The last Sunday in March to the last Saturday in September: 7am to 9pm. 7am to 11pm in June, July and August.

Price: Free.

Nearest Paris Metro stations: Concorde or Tuileries.

If you visit Paris and head to some of the most famous landmarks, the odds are that you will find yourself wandering through the Tuileries Garden. Located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, the spectacular 70 acre public garden dates back to the mid-16th century, when Catherine de Medici commissioned them in the style of the gardens in her home city of Florence, Italy. In fact, the Jardin des Tuileries was the first garden in Paris to open to the public in 1668.

During the French Revolution, the Tuileries Palace and gardens were attacked and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were held captive here. Many deaths at the guillotine took place next door at the Place de La Concorde. The palace was ultimately destroyed in 1871, but thankfully, the Tuileries Gardens remain. 

Today, the gardens are one of Paris’ must-visit destinations. Along the paths of the distinct gardens within the site, make sure to stop and take in the many French sculptures, plants and flowers and to rest in the chairs overlooking the ponds and fountains. The Jardin des Tuileries is also home to a seasonal Ferris wheel (a Paris cityscape landmark), a number of cafes and children’s playgrounds, a carousel, kids trampolines and the famous “little boats” of the Grand Basin. The grounds regularly host events throughout the year.

The Jardin des Tuileries is also home to the Musée de l’Orangerie, famous for being home to Monet’s iconic Waterlilies. 

Visit the Jardin des Tuileries: https://www.parisinfo.com/musee-monument-paris/71304/Jardin-des-Tuileries

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9. Jardin du Luxembourg 

Address: Rue de Médicis – Rue de Vaugirard, 75006, Paris. 

Arrondissement: 6th.

Opening hours: Daily. Opens between 7.30am and 8.15am, and closes between 4.30pm and 9.30pm, depending on season. 

Price: Free (gardens). 

Nearest Paris Metro stations: Odéon or Notre-Dame Des Champs.

One of the diamonds in Paris’ crown, the Jardin du Luxembourg is a 60 acre green oasis in the heart of the city. Situated between the buzzing Latin Quarter and the hip neighbourhood of St-Germain-des-Prés, the Luxembourg Gardens date back to the early 17th century. 

Featuring both English and French garden designs, while giving firm nods to Florence’s Boboli Gardens, these public gardens are home to an array of plants and flowers, an orchard, a rose garden and greenhouses. Many consider the Jardin du Luxembourg the most beautiful of Paris’ many parks and gardens. 

If you’re looking for culture, the Jardin du Luxembourg features over 100 fascinating statues, while there is a historic fountain and a pond to enjoy a sunny afternoon by. There is an orangery here, as well as the chic Musée du Luxembourg, which is well worth a visit. 

The family-friendly gardens also feature a range of attractions to keep the little ones entertained, including a carousel and playground amenities, in addition to a range of restaurants and food kiosks throughout.

Visit Jardin du Luxembourg: http://www.senat.fr/visite/jardin/index.html

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10. Parc du Champ-de-Mars

Address: Quai Branly – Avenue de la Motte Picquet, 75007, Paris

Arrondissement: 7th. 

Opening hours: Daily. 10:30 am – 06:30pm (subject to seasonal change).

Price: Free (park). 

Nearest Paris Metro station: Bir-Hakeim.

With a backdrop that is arguably Paris’ most famous (and one of the most identifiable in the world), the Parc du Champ-de-Mars (Field of Mars) is a spot you are guaranteed to find yourself visiting during any trip to Paris. 

The public Paris park stretches 780 metres, starting at Paris’ esteemed Military School and finishing at the Eiffel Tower. Year-round, the Champ-de-Mars is a revolving door of Parisians and tourists – picnicking on the grass, catching up with friends, taking photos and gathering here at night to see the Eiffel Tower’s glittering hourly light show. 

There are outdoor events held here year-round, including live music concerts and fireworks displays. There are a range of food and coffee kiosks here, or you can dine at one of the restaurants within the Eiffel Tower.

The Champ-de-Mars opened to the public in 1780, and transformed from a public space where locals sold fresh produce, to a symbol of victory for Parisians. Right across the Seine is the equally magnificent Trocadero Gardens, a sprawling public park and home to the Chaillot Palace. These are iconic landmarks of the Paris of the past and present, as well as being two of the best Paris parks and gardens.

Visit the Champs-de-Mars: https://www.paris.fr/equipements/parc-du-champ-de-mars-1807#acces

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