Paris has a high number of greenspaces throughout the city. In this post, I’m sharing the most beautiful, best parks and gardens in Paris.
Paris, often celebrated for its romantic streets and iconic landmarks, is also a treasure trove of parks and gardens that offer a refreshing escape from urban life.
In this article, we will guide you through some of Paris’s most captivating parks and gardens—each with its distinct charm and story waiting to be uncovered.
The 15 Best Gardens and Parks in Paris to Visit
Here are some of the best gardens and parks in Paris, which are spread out through many different arrondissements. As you will see, these parks all have unique aspects to them, but they are all beautiful areas in which to relax.
1. Jardin de Luxembourg
The Jardin de Luxembourg is more than just a green paradise in the heart of Paris; it’s a living tapestry woven from centuries of history and culture.
As you stroll through its manicured lawns and winding paths, you’re surrounded by over 100 statues, fountains, and ornamental ponds that echo the elegance of its 17th-century origins. The Queen Mairie de Medici commissioned this garden in the 1600’s. She intended to use the palace as her second residence, but the grounds opened as a public park in the late 1600s.
This garden is known for its large basin, beautiful sculptures, and pretty flower beds. Each corner offers a new perspective on beauty—a hidden nook where the light filters through the chestnut trees or a vibrant patch blossoming with seasonal flowers that could inspire even the most jaded artist.
Beyond its serene landscapes lies an enchanting symphony of sounds and sights: the laughter of children at play near the pond, chess pieces clacking as strategists engage in intellectual duels, and conversations wafting from nearby café terraces.
In the summer, you can rent little boats to sail in the ponds. Numerous tennis courts, a basketball court, a cafe, and other smaller gardens are tucked away in the back corners of the garden.
This park is particularly popular with students and early-morning joggers.
2. Jardin de Tuileries
The Jardin de Tuileries is right along the major tourist line in Paris gardens. The garden starts at the Louvre and ends at the Place de la Concorde and Champs Elysées. While it used to be a private garden for the royal family, it became a public park after the French Revolution.
There are so many amazing views in this park! You can see the Louvre, walk along the bank of the Seine, and see the Eiffel Tower peeking out above the buildings and trees.
My favorite viewpoint, though, is from the Grand Allée, the main thoroughfare, which has the obelisk of the Place de la Concorde framed by the Arc de Triomphe.
There are several larger basins with lots of green chairs for resting (you aren’t supposed to sit on the grass here), and you’ll find sculptures scattered around, spanning from the 1600s to the 1900s.
It’s a popular garden with locals and tourists alike, and for good reason.
3. Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is the long Paris Gardens, a grassy area that leads up to the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to its proximity to the ToTowerit, it’s one of the most famous parks in the city and is certainly the best for spectacular views of the tower.
This park is lined with trees and is much more chill (no fountains or sculptures or flowers), but the grass is open for relaxing and enjoying a picnic.
In fact, it really would be a crime not to enjoy a picnic lunch on the Champ de Mars before heading up to climb the tower. You can pick up a variety of picnic foods at the nearby Rue Cler. This market street has a boulangerie, fromagerie, wine shop, and several fruit stands.
While you absolutely can come back here at night to watch the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle, I actually prefer watching the light show from the Trocadero platform across the river on the other side of the toTowerThe way the ledge perfectly frames the base of the toTowchef’sf’ss kiss*.
4. Parc Monceau
Parc Monceau, a hidden gem in the heart of Paris and beautiful Paris gardens, invites visitors to explore its unique blend of natural beauty and artistic heritage.
Unlike the bustling Paris gardens often frequented by tourists, this serene park is a living canvas adorned with eclectic sculptures and charming pavilions that show the city’sy’ss rich history.
As you stroll along the winding paths lined with sycamores, please take a moment to appreciate the architectural details of its colonnades and vintage bridges that transport you back to 18th-century France.
The gates around the park are a fancy black wrought iron with gold tips at the top, and there are numerous interesting features in the park.
Parc Monceau serves as a vibrant social hub where locals engage in various activities, from dancing to meditation practices amidst its lush greenery. This dynamic energy reflects a community deeply connected to its surroundings while inviting outsiders to experience daily Parisian life beyond mere tourist attractions.
Bonus: You can get a magnificent view of the Arc de Triomphe through the gate at the east end of the park.
5. Parc des Buttes Chaumont
This is another favorite local park, and this time, it is located even farther out in the 19th arrondissement.
This park is a little bit less “fancy” than other Parisian parks -fewer sculptures and landscaped features. But it is still beautiful. You’ll find a large pond and a bridge with a towering cliff face, but most of the park has grass, trees, and walking trails.
It’s a great spot for a relaxing picnic and to get a feel for a local Parisian experience, and because the park is set on a hill (the butte), you get a unique view of the city.
6. Père Lachaise Cemetery
As a cemetery, this may be the most odd park on this list, but hear me out! While Père Lachaise is a cement, it’s also a very peaceful, beautiful, and nature-centric cemetery.
At 110 acres, there are a lot of lovely, cobblestoned, tree-lined paths to walk, and the old, ornate, above-ground tombs and sepulchers make for interesting scenery.
There is no grass or benches to sit on; if you’re looking for a peaceful, relaxing spot to stroll through, Père Lachaise delivers.
7. Bois de Boulogne
On the southwest edge of the city, on the edge of the 16th arrondissement, you’ll find a VERY large park –it’s just over 2000 acres of land! Unsurprisingly, there is a LOT to do in this park.
You’ll find 10 lakes and ponds, plus 3 streams. You can rent a boat on the Lac Inferieur.
There is an English garden, a zoo, and a series of greenhouses. A horse track and tennis complex are also found on the grounds, where annual horse races and the French Open occur.
Of course, like any public park, there are numerous trails for walking, biking, or jogging and lots of grassy areas to relax on.
8. Bois de Vincennes
As massive as the Bois de Boulogne is, the Bois de Vincennes is just slightly bigger. This park is located on the southeast edge of the city, essentially opposite from Boulogne.
In the Bois de Vincennes, you can explore 4 different lakes, each with different features (like a cave or the “temple of Love”). You can tour the old Château de Vincennes and visit a small botanical garden, a zoo, and a greenhouse.
The Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes have a lot of similarities, and I would say both of them are great options for really escaping city life and feeling like you are immersed in nature.
9. Versailles
The Chateau of Versailles is about a 45-minute train ride southwest of the city of Paris. It is one of the most well-known landmarks in France, and it has one of the most well-known Paris gardens. As beautiful as the chateau is, the grounds are just as stunningly intricate and groomed.
The park and gardens are actually free to enter (on days when there is not a musical fountain show, check the schedule for the dates), and there are a few gates where you can access the grounds directly.
The easiest way is to enter the left-hand side of the front of the palace through the Courtyard of the Princes.
You can stroll down the Tapis Vert or explore the many manicured groves off the Tapis Vert. Each grove has paths winding through it and a focal point in the middle – be it a large fountain, statue, or even a mini-amphitheater.
Gardens Cost: Free, except on Musical Fountains days, the cost of a ticket to the palace starts at 18 euros.
10. La Coulée Verte
La Coulée Verte is a charming elevated walking path in the 4th arrondissement (Le Marais) that is located on an old railway line. This railway line was in use from 1853-1969 and then was converted to a green space.
It has a paved walking trail and fantastic views of the Parisian cityscape. This is a local favorite, and at 4.5 km long, you can spend a lot of time enjoying this walking path, which is a total hidden gem in Paris.
11. Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main Paris garden. It is located in the Latin Quarter (the 5th arrondissement), right along the Seine.
As a botanical garden, the Jardin des Plantes has gorgeous flower and tree displays, plus areas like an alpine garden, a menagerie, and a greenhouse. A natural history museum is also on the premises.
This Parisian garden is gorgeous any time of year but is absolutely stunning in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom!
Entrance Fee: 6 euro
12. Place Des Vosges
Place des Vosges is a small but absolutely charming garden square in the Marais area of Paris.
It’s the oldest planned square in Paris and is unique in that it’s perfectly symmetrical, with regularity in the buildings that line the square. These buildings are made with red bricks and beige stone, a style unlike anything else in Paris.
The entirety of the square (apart from the road on the perimeter) is filled with this little park. Place des Vosges is very symmetrical, with two gates on either end, four fountains in each corner, trees in the center, and paths between the fountains.
There is also an abundance of grass that is open for people to relax on, which makes it a very popular hangout spot for friends to meet up and enjoy the afternoon sun. This is one of the best Paris gardens for getting off the tourist track and hanging out with locals.
Place des Vosges features the apartment of Victor Hugo (the writer of the famous works Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame), which is now a free museum in Paris.
13. Palais Royal
Palais Royal is a charming little garden in a large courtyard, and with a long, manicured row of trees, sculptures, a big basin, potted plants, and green chairs, it almost feels like a mini-Tuileries garden.
Don’t miss the nearby Buren Columns, another courtyard filled with an art installation of black and white striped columns.
14. Rodin Museum
Just behind Les Invalides, and not far from the Eiffel Tower, is the Musée Rodin. While not the most famous, this is actually one of my favorite museums in Paris! Rodin was a sculptor, and the museum is filled with pieces that he and his students created.
So why is this listed as a park? While it is a gorgeous art museum, the property is actually an old estate with lovely grounds. Indeed, the museum moves fluidly from indoors to outdoors, with many beautiful statues and the most well-known works (The Thinker) displayed outside in the Paris gardens.
You’ll find The Thinker tucked in the center of some very tall walls and the Gates of Hell (another impressive and really massive sculpture) standing proudly along the edge of the garden wall.
Entrance Fee: 13 euro (or is included in the Paris Museum Pass)
15. Square Louise Michel
Set in the shadow of the Sacré Coeur basilica, the Square Louise Michel has a lawn and stairs to sit on (and lots of people love relaxing on the stairs here), plus a carousel. Because this square is on the hill of Montmartre, you get a great vantage point out and over the city of Paris.
This square gets very busy during the day, so get here early if you want a more peaceful experience. This spot is also a great starting point for spending a day exploring Montmartre.
Map of The Best Gardens in Paris
Beautiful Parks in Paris – The Wrap-Up
Some of these gardens are very well-known and popular, while others are more off the beaten path. Whichever ones you choose, an exploration of a few of these best Paris parks is definitely a must-do on your vacation to the City of Love.