The parks in Paris, France aren’t why most people travel to the City of Light. But the parks and gardens here are beautiful and perfect for relaxing, picnicking, people-watching, running, and so much more.
As a Paris, France local of ten years, I’m still discovering Paris’s greenspaces. But some Paris parks really stand out. This guide contains the top Paris parks I think you should visit, as well as some personal favorites and hidden gems.
After all, some of these parks are among the best things to do in Paris!
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13 Best Parks in Paris
Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden)
Paris’s oldest park, in the 1st district, is home to two Paris museums and kid-friendly attractions.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Tuileries Website
The Tuileries Garden is Paris’s oldest park. Landscape designer André le Nôtre redesigned the 16th-century garden during the 17th century.
“The Tuileries” as locals say, is the most central park in Paris and most visitors come across it during their stay. For example, you’ll cross the Tuileries Garden if you’re walking between the Place de la Concorde and Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s also right next to the Louvre Museum!
The landscaped gardens in the Tuileries offer more than just a view of a French formal garden. The Tuileries is the perfect park to visit with kids in the summer. The northern edge of the gardens turns into an amusement park. Pony rides and a carousel provide extra entertainment.
Art lovers will enjoy the Tuileries year-round. The gardens are home to two of the best Paris museums, the Jeu de Paume and the Musée de l’Orangerie. You can also see beautiful statues here.
Jardin des Plantes
Paris’s botanical gardens feature unusual flora and exotic greenhouse plants.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Jardin des Plantes Website
The Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in the 5th district is one of my favorite year-round destinations. These 17th-century gardens have 19th-century greenhouses you can visit on cold days. Exotic plants live here—some of which you won’t find elsewhere in Paris.
Don’t plan on picnicking here. Instead, visit the Jardin for its unusual flora. The rose garden (Roseraie) is especially worth seeing if you visit Paris in the summer. 390 types of roses bloom during this time of year. The large on-site zoo makes the Jardin des Plantes a great destination for families, too.
The Jardin des Plantes is truly a “hidden gem” in plain sight. You’ll find it just east of the Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood.
Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens)
This Left Bank oasis has everything from a botanical garden to decorative fountains.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Luxembourg Gardens Website
The Jardins du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden) might be the most famous park in Paris—and for good reason. This Left-Bank garden is a huge stretch of greenspace located south of the popular Saint Germain des Prés and Latin Quarter districts.
The Medici Fountain and its ducks are a highlight of the beautiful gardens and a good place for a picnic. Children can sail boats on the large “Grand Bassin” pond. There is also a playground, a puppet theater, and an apiary. Walkers will enjoy the English landscape garden near the orchard at the south end of the garden.
Runners will appreciate the external paths of the garden, which make a good route. Basketball courts and chess tables provide even more recreation opportunities. Overall, it’s a top park to add to your Paris itinerary.
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Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
This green oasis outside the city center has romantic scenery, places for recreation, and even bars.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Buttes-Chaumont Website
Buttes-Chaumont Park is one of the most beautiful parks and gardens in Paris. In the 19th district, the park is off the beaten path for visitors. However, you can get here in about half an hour from central Paris by subway.
There are a ton of activities to enjoy within Buttes-Chaumont’s 62.5 acres. This is my favorite place in Paris for a picnic. The romantic scenery makes it a great date spot. The small lake is perfect for a walk or run. Buttes-Chaumont Park is a welcoming park for dog owners, too.
Buttes-Chaumont is the best Paris park for nightlife. The Rosa Bonheur bar serves patrons between Thursdays and Sundays. It’s best to visit in summer for the outdoor terrace, which takes on a lively beer garden energy.
Champ de Mars
Combine a visit to Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower with a picnic in this nearby “field.”
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Champ de Mars Website
The Champ de Mars park is the most convenient Parisian park in the city center. A park probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Eiffel Tower. However, this “champ” (field) at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is the biggest public park in central Paris.
This is a great place to picnic or hang out. I often ate my lunch here on warmer days when working in the neighborhood. Keep a close eye on your belongings, though. Because it’s in front of the biggest attraction in Paris, France, the park does draw pickpockets.
📚 Related Reading: Safety in Paris
Bois de Boulogne
Get back to nature in this multi-use park home to numerous gardens, recreational spaces, and attractions.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Bois de Boulogne Website
The Bois de Boulogne is the perfect sunny day destination for active families. This Paris park is the second biggest park in the metropolitan area, located on the western edge of Paris. It’s home to more than 2,000 acres packed full of smaller parks and gardens of all kinds.
Gardeners will love the English landscape garden, featuring boating lakes. There are also two botanical gardens to explore. Finally, the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil has greenhouses with 100,000 plants.
Families with children should head to the Jardin d’Acclimatation in the north of the park. Here, you’ll find amusement park rides and a zoo.
You’ll also find sporting attractions at the Bois de Boulogne, including the Roland Garros Stadium, which hosts the French Open at the end of May each year.
Parc de la Villette
A sprawling park outside the center of Paris, home to museums, music venues, and family-friendly attractions.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 La Villette Website
The Parc de la Villette in the 19th district is the ideal park for culture lovers. Here, explore everything from science to music.
You’ll find the biggest science museum in Europe, the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (City of Science and Industry) as well as the Cité de la Musique (City of Music), a museum of music history. There are various concert venues, too.
“The Parc” as locals call it, is also a great date spot in Paris. Keep an eye open for the open-air theatre in summer, which screens films for free at the Prairie du Triangle.
Kids will also enjoy the Parc de la Villette attractions. You can ride horses at the Centre Équestre or visit the IMAX theater inside the huge “Géode” dome.
Bois de Vincennes
A diverse park in the 12th arrondissement that contains wooded areas, gardens, a castle, and more.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Bois de Vincennes Website
The Bois de Vincennes is the eastern bookend to the Bois de Boulogne Park. The Bois de Vincennes is just outside of Paris’s 12th arrondissement (district). Here, you’ll find many different parks and gardens, so plan your itinerary accordingly.
Kids will adore the Parc Floral de Paris, which has everything from mini golf to ping pong. The Parc Floral has a zoo that is also a big draw, as is the farm, “Ferme de Paris.”
Nature lovers will adore the tropical greenhouse pavilions in the Jardin d’Agronomie Tropicale. Meanwhile, architecture fans should check out the Château de Vincennes, a medieval castle open daily.
Canal de l’Ourcq
Picnic or take a boat ride along this fresh-air canal in northeastern Paris.
The Canal de l’Ourcq is a canal beginning in northeastern Paris. It’s the best place to picnic in the fresh air. Start at the Bassin de la Villette and wander down the canal for great people-watching.
Rent a boat here and sail down the canal. A boat ride will grant you a glimpse into local Parisian life. Return your boat and spend some time exploring the nearby Parc de la Villette for the perfect combination of adventure and culture.
Parc Monceau
This gem of a garden will fascinate adults and kids alike with its hidden treasures.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Parc Monceau Website
The Parc Monceau is my favorite hidden gem. This Paris Park is located in a fancy neighborhood in the 8th arrondissement, not far from the Arc de Triomphe. Yet, the natural features of this intimate green space make it one of the best parks and gardens in Paris.
Wander the peaceful wooded settings with hidden treasures among the trees, from tiny waterfalls to an Egyptian pyramid. The park also has playgrounds for children and it’s dog-friendly, too.
The Parc Monceau is great for runners, with paths cutting through many directions. I ran here all the time when I lived in the 8th arrondissement. However, the Parc Monceau is not great for picnics, as the grassy areas can get crowded.
Square des Batignolles
This haven of greenery in a trendy neighborhood in the 17th district offers true relaxation.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Square des Batignolles Website
The Square des Batignolles provides much-needed green space in an up-and-coming Paris neighborhood in the 17th arrondissement. This is a great relaxation spot amidst the bustling surroundings. It even has designated sunbathing areas.
You’ll find more than just greenery in the Square des Batignolles. Beyond the lawns, there’s a koi pond with hundreds of duck species. You can bring your dogs, too. Just be careful not to disturb the wildlife around the ponds.
“The Square” as locals call it, is a great destination for children, as well. There are playground areas and an antique carousel. Older children may enjoy the skate park here.
Coulée Verte René-Dumont
Dive into a hidden side of old Paris on this former train line turned pedestrian walkway.
📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Coulée Verte Website
The Coulée Verte René-Dumont is a hidden, elevated park. It runs from Bastille in east-central Paris out to the Bois de Vincennes. It’s the perfect scenic route for long-distance runners and walkers, though. Follow it all the way east for a 1.9-mile trek, then keep going in the Bois for a longer route.
The “Promenade Plantée” (planted walkway) was once a railway line. Now, the walkway has three sections with green space above Paris. Just note that dogs are not allowed in the most central area, above the Viaduc des Arts.
Trocadero Gardens
Take part in the best people-watching in Paris at this bustling central garden.
The Trocadéro Gardens are a great alternative to the Champ de Mars if you’re looking to have a picnic with a view of the Eiffel Tower. These gardens are also a great place for runners looking for stairs or an incline for training, which can be hard to find in Paris.
The gardens feature more than just great views. You’ll find sculptures dotting the greenery, as well as a large fountain. The Art Deco building behind the gardens has several important museums, including the Musée de l’Homme, an anthropology museum.
The Trocadéro Gardens’ location between the Eiffel Tower and these museums makes it a great rest stop on a long day of sightseeing.
FAQs About Paris Parks
What are the biggest public parks in Paris?
The biggest public parks in Paris, France are the Bois de Vincennes (2,459 acres), the Bois de Boulogne (2,155 acres), the Parc de la Villette (137 acres), and the Champ de Mars (60 acres).
What are the closest parks to downtown Paris?
The closest parks to downtown Paris, France are the Jardin des Tuileries and the Jardin du Luxembourg. These Paris parks are in the 1st and 6th districts, respectively.
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The parks in Paris are truly wonderful places to run, relax, or simply indulge in Paris’s atmosphere. Have you been to any of these parks? Let us know in the comments below. Lastly, these parks are located all around the city, including near some of the best places to stay in Paris!
