Paris is not just the Eiffel Tower or the Champs-Elysées. The City of Light is also full of beautiful parks and gardens where you can walk, relax, or have a picnic. Here are our favorites:
1 – Jardin du Luxembourg
Created by Marie de Médicis around her palace, this famous garden covers 22 hectares. It has colorful flowers, orchards, greenhouses, and many statues, including a small Statue of Liberty and sculptures of French writers.
2 – Square des Batignolles
This calm park in the 17th district was built by Napoleon III in English style. It has rare trees from around the world, plus a river, cave, and lake where ducks and swans live.
3 – Parc des Buttes Chaumont
This big park (25 ha) in northeast Paris was built on an old quarry. It has hills, great for walking or jogging, and a lake with the Temple of Sybille on a small island.
4 – Jardin des Plantes
Founded in 1635, this park is also a botanical garden with thousands of plants. The greenhouses show tropical and desert species. Don’t miss the rose garden and the small zoo, one of the oldest in Europe.
5 – Parc Monceau
In the 8th district, Parc Monceau is romantic and elegant. It has a pond with a colonnade, winding paths, and statues of Chopin, Maupassant, and Musset.
6 – Parc Montsouris
This 14th district park opened in 1869. It has a lake with swans and parakeets, plus 1,500 old trees. The meteorological observatory is also here.
7 – Jardin des Tuileries
The oldest garden in Paris, in the 1st district. It has flowerbeds, ponds, and statues, and is next to the Louvre and Jeu de Paume art center.
8 – Parc Bagatelle
Located in the Bois de Boulogne, this park is famous for its rose gardens with 9,000 plants that bloom in June. It was built in just 64 days after a bet with Marie-Antoinette.
9 – Parc George Brassens
In the 15th district, this park honors singer Georges Brassens. It has an old vineyard that still produces wine, an apiary, and gardens with aromatic plants.
10 – Parc de la Butte du Chapeau-Rouge
This small park in the 19th district opened in 1939. It has lawns, shady trees, and a big fountain.
11 – Champ-de-Mars
The park under the Eiffel Tower, in the 7th district. People come here to walk, picnic, and watch the Tower sparkle every hour at night. It’s also used for big events like Bastille Day fireworks.
12 – Parc floral de Paris
In the Bois de Vincennes, this large park (30 ha) has thousands of flowers, especially tulips and irises. Peacocks walk freely here. Entry is paid from April to September.
13 – Parc de Belleville
Since 1988, this park in the 20th district offers lawns for picnics, fountains, and many types of trees. Vines were also planted to remember the old winemaking tradition here.
14 – Jardin d’Acclimatation
In the 16th district, this park mixes gardens with an amusement area of 40 attractions. It also has a small farm, animals, and a Korean garden.
15 – Parc de Bercy
This 12th district park has three parts: a romantic garden with ponds, an area for flowers and vineyards, and meadows for picnics. It’s close to Bercy Village and AccorHotels Arena.
16 – Square Jean-XXIII
Right behind Notre Dame on Île de la Cité, this small square offers benches, trees, and views of the cathedral. It has a neo-gothic fountain in the center.
17 – Parc Clichy-Batignolles – Martin-Luther-King
In the 17th district, this modern park was built on old train tracks. It has lawns, sports grounds, a skate park, and an orchard. A quiet place away from the crowds.
18 – Parc André-Citroën
This riverside park (15 ha) was built in 1992 on a former Citroën factory. It has lawns, two greenhouses, and the Ballon de Paris, a hot-air balloon that gives views over the city.
19 – Parc Cité internationale universitaire
This large park (30 ha) in the 14th district is part of the student campus. It has rare trees and many birds, including some uncommon species. A calm spot for walks.
20 – Jardin du Palais-Royal
Close to the Louvre, these gardens were made in the 1600s. They have neat alleys, fountains, and