12 Best Parks in Paris

Jardin des Plantes is a botanical garden that’s home to greenhouses, artwork, archives, libraries and a zoo. Located 12 minutes from the city centre in the 5th arrondissement, Jardin des Plantes was originally designed as a medicinal garden in the 17th century.

The primary focus of the garden is the greenhouses, which hold plant samples, botany exhibits and regional plants. You’ll also find 4 museums with exhibits on mineralogy, zoology, paleontology and botany. The garden itself has different zones, such as alpine, winter and Australian gardens, as well as a rose garden.

Parc Monceau is a public park that spans 8.2 hectares and features an English style with follies, children’s play neighbourhoods and statues of famous figures. Located about 18 minutes from the city centre in the 8th arrondissement, Parc Monceau is a popular park for residents and visitors alike.

The English style of the park is characterised by an informal design, curving walkways, and follies, or scaled-down architectural features. Some of the unique follies include a Chinese fort, Corinthian pillars and a Dutch windmill. You’ll also find several statues of French figures, such as Ambroise Thomas and Charles Gounod.

Bois de Vincennes is one of the largest parks in Paris and offers gardens, a zoo, a hippodrome, a velodrome and other attractions. Located about 30 minutes from the city centre, the park is next to the former royal residence known as Château de Vincennes.

The park has a lot to see and do, such as the English landscape garden with recreational lakes and a colourful botanical garden. You’ll also find an arboretum with over 2,000 trees and shrubs, including heritage apple and pear trees. Another highlight is the Paris Zoological Park, a popular zoo with global wildlife like Indian elephants and rainforest species.

The Jardin des Tuileries (the Tilery Garden) takes its name from the gardens of the Queen Catherine de Medici’s 16th-century Palais des Tuileries, built on the site of a tile factory. The beautiful garden lies between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, and offers a charming spot for locals and visitors to enjoy a leisurely walk and immerse themselves in Parisian culture.

The works of Maillol, Rodin and Giacometti are all on display, and you’ll find two tranquil ponds for relaxation during your stroll. Art lovers will enjoy the renowned Musée de l’Orangerie, a showcase of Monet’s masterpieces on the south-western side of the garden.

The Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) is a public garden that borders the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. In 1612, Queen Marie de Medici ordered that a grand park be laid out. Today, this vast outdoor space is split into English and French-style gardens.

More than 100 statues are scattered throughout this vast green space, which also boasts an orchard, apiary, woodland and pond. Landmarks within the park include the magnificent Medici fountain, Pavilion Davioud and the Orangerie. Kids will love the finger puppet shows at its Théâtre des Marionnettes.

Parc Floral de Paris is a park and botanical garden within Bois de Vincennes that’s home to flower gardens, a lake, water features, a concert stage and other attractions. The park is about 30 minutes from the city centre and hosts several major flower shows throughout the year.

Small flower gardens are found throughout the park, showcasing rhododendrons, irises, dahlias, azaleas, culinary herbs, cacti and Japanese bonsai plants. You can also see the lake and ponds with lotus flowers and lily pads. Other park attractions include a concert stage, a cafe, exhibit halls, an art gallery, a miniature railroad and a children’s playground.

Parc de Belleville is a vast park on the hill of Belleville with walking paths among flower gardens, a wooden children’s playground and an open-air theatre. Located in the 20th arrondissement about 15 minutes from the city centre, Parc de Belleville is perched on the hill of Belleville and provides panoramic city views.

Some of the park’s prized displays include over 1,200 trees and shrubs, a towering waterfall, recreational lawns and numerous flower beds with annual blooms. If you have the kids with you, the park has recreation options like Ping-Pong tables, a wooden playground and a small museum dedicated to environmental conservation.

Parc Montsouris is an urban park with a variety of flowers, shrubs, and trees, wide lawns, a lake, a theater and other attractions. Located 26 minutes from the city centre in the 14th arrondissement, the park is one of several urban parks located at the cardinal points of the compass in Paris.

One of the notable landmarks in the park is a stone monument that marks the Paris meridian, a line that passes through the centre of the city. You’ll also see a variety of native flora and fauna, including weeping beech and buttonwood trees, honey locusts and Mahonia shrubs. The lake provides a habitat for turtles, geese, herons and ducks.

Promenade Plantée is an elevated park and green walkway that stands above the Viaduc des Arts and offers stunning city views. Located in the 12th arrondissement about 33 minutes from the city centre, the park is unique in that it’s constructed on top of old railroad infrastructure.

A cherished landmark, the park is elevated 10 metres above the street and boasts tree-lined corridors and spectacular city views. You can access the park via staircases and elevators along the way, giving you a chance to shop in the artisan shops along the Viaduc des Arts before venturing into the park.

Parc André Citroën is a vast park on the left bank of the Seine with a variety of gardens, greenhouse pavilions and a tranquil reflecting pool. Located about 30 minutes from the city centre in the 15th arrondissement, the park was constructed on the site of a former automobile manufacturing plant.

Visiting the garden is a treat for the senses. You’ll find dancing fountains and a massive canal and reflecting pool with a suspended walkway and 2 adjacent gardens, each with its own landscape design. The other gardens in the park have different themes associated with the senses, days of the week, and states of water.

Bois de Boulogne is a woodland park that features botanical and landscaped gardens, a zoo, an amusement park, recreational lakes and other attractions. Located about 30 minutes from the city centre in the 16th arrondissement, the park is one of the largest in the city and hosts many events and festivals.

Some of the highlights of the park include an English landscape garden with a cascade and lakes, smaller botanical and landscaped gardens, and a historic chateau. You can also visit the complex of greenhouses that hold a variety of plants, or take the kids to the zoo and amusement park for pony rides, puppet theater and carnival games.

Parc du Champs-de-Mars is a vast green space with classical buildings, memorial statues, and walkways among wide lawns and tranquil trees. Located about 20 minutes from the city centre, the grassy park was originally used as a parade ground for military cadets.

You can still see the 18th-century École Militaire, a French-classical military academy building, in the park. From Champ-de-Mars Park you get a completely unrivalled view of the Eiffel Tower. Along with sightseeing, the park is a great spot for a summer picnic.