Paris’ 20 Must-See Gardens and Parks

Luxembourg Gardens

Located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, this is a unique garden with its own charm and warm atmosphere.

Founded at the request of Queen Marie de’ Medici in 1612, it features two styles spread over more than 25 hectares: one English-style and the other French-style.

The two styles are separated by a large basin and a geometrically shaped woodland.

It is also decorated with around 106 statues distributed throughout the park.
Iconic monuments of the capital are found here, such as the Senate, the Davioud Pavilion, the great Medici Fountain, and the Orangery.

You’ll also find a beehive for discovering beekeeping, a rose garden, greenhouses, and an orchard with numerous apple varieties.

Multiple fun activities are provided for visitors, children as well as adults: carousels, slides, remote-controlled boats, and puppet shows for kids.

And for parents, there are places to play chess, tennis, or bridge.

Finally, the life of this garden is punctuated by free photography exhibitions and concerts.

This garden features in our Saint-Germain-des-Prés treasure hunt.

Tuileries garden

Surely one of the most visited gardens in France, it owes its name to its location: it stood in a district of the capital where tiles were made.

Created at the request of Catherine de’ Medici in 1564 to have a green space next to the Tuileries Palace (which has since disappeared).

With a history full of twists and turns, the garden was redesigned by the famous André Le Nôtre, the king’s gardener, in 1664, and its style has been preserved to this day.

With a French formal style, it is the central place linking two major Paris landmarks: Place de la Concorde and the Louvre Museum.

This 26-hectare garden is filled with water features and greenery as well as sculptures (177 works), including pieces by Rodin and Giacometti, to the great delight of visitors.

Chairs are placed around the basins so you can relax; the Musée de l’Orangerie is open to the public to discover Monet’s works (guided visits are even organized from March to December).

Finally, part of the Tuileries Garden turns into a funfair with rides and thrills during the summer holidays.

This garden appears in our Napoleon treasure hunt.

Parc Monceau

Located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, this 8-hectare park was created in 1852 at the request of the Duke of Chartres.

In the image of its neighborhood, it is one of the most beautiful and elegant parks in the capital.

Starting right at the entrance with its magnificent wrought-iron gate enhanced with gold, you’ll find multiple statues, a Renaissance arcade (referencing Paris City Hall), spectacular trees, large basins, statues (in honor of the great writers and musicians of the Second Empire such as Chopin, Maupassant, and Musset), an Italian-style bridge, a cascade, a grotto, the naumachia (monument pictured above), and even a pyramid.

Located in a luxurious area, it is surrounded by upscale buildings and hotels, as well as the Cernuschi Museum, which highlights Asian art.

Visited by many people—whether to stroll, enjoy a lunch break in this calm and peaceful place, or go for a run—one thing is certain: this spot attracts many curious visitors.

Parc Montsouris

Parc Montsouris is located in the 14th arrondissement between Rue d’Alésia and the Cité Universitaire; it’s very popular with students looking to relax and forget about classes for a moment.

Created under Napoleon III, it was inaugurated in 1869 and has since been one of the largest inner-city green spaces.

In this park you’ll find unusual trees such as a Chinese parasol tree or a kaki (persimmon), the Pavillon Montsouris restaurant, a lake, and many bird species.

You can also discover the Montsouris Meteorological Observatory and the Mire du Sud stele marking the location of the Paris Meridian.

Events are organized here, such as free concerts from May to September at the bandstand, and once a year an exhibition lets you discover the Montsouris water reservoir during the European Heritage Days.

Jardin des Plantes

This is the botanical garden at the cutting edge of research, created over four centuries ago.

Its 2.5 hectares contain so many treasures to discover: pathways lined with statues, remarkable and historic trees such as its old pistachio tree present for more than 315 years, and various areas with multiple varieties of plants from all over the world.

Cultural sites also showcase all these floral varieties: the Museum of Historical Galleries (which traces all the issues of biodiversity and geodiversity), the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, and the Galleries of Paleontology, Mineralogy, and Geology.

You can also see the large greenhouses that house the tropics of Paris and the Ménagerie (zoo) of the Jardin des Plantes.

Parc de Beleville

Located in the 20th arrondissement of the capital, this 4.5-hectare park was founded on a small hill in 1988.

This butte offers visitors a splendid panoramic view of the entire capital thanks to its belvedere.

In keeping with its surroundings, this area is very calm and was built on former wine-growing land.

140 vines are still present in this park.

Parc de Belleville is a small and charming place to introduce to your children.

Kids will love its playground and slides.

Parc Clichy-Batignolles – Martin Luther King

This park exudes freshness and novelty; it was created in 2007 and has been expanded several times to reach 6.5 hectares of green space.

Located in the 17th arrondissement in the Batignolles district, it was redeveloped on former SNCF railway land.

It bears the name of the famous American pastor Martin Luther King (the reason is not known).

This park features a landscaped water area with aquatic plants along the water’s edge (water lilies, irises, …), a children’s playground, and sports spaces including a basketball court and a skate park.

Palais Royal garden

A historical symbol among Paris gardens, it was created at the request of Cardinal Richelieu in 1633.

This garden is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris a few meters from the Louvre Museum; it hosted royal families until the construction of Versailles.

This 2-hectare green space is very popular for its various contemporary sculptures, including one in particular that catches everyone’s eye: Daniel Buren’s Columns.

The artist was commissioned to create 260 octagonal columns with black and white stripes.

They were then placed in the courtyard, near the garden and the Ministry of Culture.

These columns—like the garden—have become a true tourist jewel of the capital.

This garden features in our treasure hunt through the covered passages.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Located in the northeast of Paris, this park is surely one of the largest green spaces (25 hectares) and the most original (built on a former quarry).

Its slopes offer magnificent viewpoints over Paris, especially the Montmartre district.

Added to this are features such as caves, waterfalls, a suspension bridge, a lake, an island, and finally a lookout perched on the belvedere.

Exotic trees are also present to welcome different animal species that like to gather near this artificial lake.

The lake isn’t just for animals—it is designed for strolling.

Parc floral

This magnificent park lies in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes and extends over more than 35 hectares.

Founded in 1969 on the occasion of the third International Floralies, this place is home to more than 3,000 species of natural plants.

A splendid garden for lovers of floral art and leisurely walks.

It is very close to the Château de Vincennes and offers four landscaped areas.

It is a place for exchange and encounters, with exhibitions organized there.

A garden much appreciated by children, with its various play areas, including its own 18-hole mini-golf, with a miniature of a Paris monument on each hole.

Finally, it is also a garden that hosts free summer events such as the Paris Jazz Festival, Les Pestacles (music festival), and Classique au Vert.

Parc de Bagatelle

This park was built in 1775 following a bet between Queen Marie-Antoinette and her brother-in-law, the Count of Artois.

The château and the garden were completed in just two months.

It is a calm place conducive to walking and relaxation.

This romantic park has numerous small bridges, reflecting pools, grottos, a varied flora, rocks, and artificial waterfalls.

A 19th-century Chinese pagoda was even erected to attract many curious visitors.

The park’s rose gardens contain nearly 10,000 rosebushes from more than 1,200 different species.

Finally, this lovely green space hosts exhibitions and events such as music concerts every summer.

Archives Nationale Garden

Located in the famous Marais district in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, they are well hidden behind prestigious mansions (hôtels particuliers).

An 8-hectare area where a gentle, calm, and romantic atmosphere reigns.

You’ll find beautiful landscapes across the gardens of the Hôtels Rohan, d’Assy, de Breteuil, de Fontenay, and de Jaucourt.

There’s also a stream, umbrella pines, and privet hedges—all pesticide-free areas, which made it possible to install a beehive on the roof of the Chamson building.

This garden features in our Marais treasure hunt.

Parc George Brassens

Located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, a few steps from Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, this park is very pleasant and calm.

Created in 1987, it spans more than 8.7 hectares.

Its name pays tribute to the famous French singer and poet Georges Brassens, who lived not far from the park.

This peaceful place has a stream, a belvedere, statues, beautiful trees, a bridge, a vineyard, and a beehive, whose honey is sold on site one Saturday per month.

It is also attractive for children with its playground, pony rides, and puppet theaters.

The park comes alive thanks to the Monfort Theater, which hosts dance, circus, and theater performances.

Finally, the large market for old and second-hand books attracts fans of vintage books every weekend.

Serres d’Auteuil Garden

The Serres d’Auteuil Garden was built in 1761 under the reign of Louis XV and has since been arranged around a vast French formal parterre.

This garden brings together rare and remarkable plants and trees, a palmarium, an aviary, …

This unusual place is admired by many visitors thanks to tours organized by the City of Paris, and a classical music festival is held there every year.

Finally, since 2019, six new contemporary greenhouses have appeared near the Simone-Mathieu tennis court.

Parc de Bercy

Located in the heart of the 12th arrondissement between Gare de Lyon and Cour Saint-Émilion, Parc de Bercy has preserved some aspects of its past, such as a vineyard (it was built on former wine-growing land) and rails with tanker wagons from the period.

Not far away stands the large performance venue: the Accor Hotel Arena, better known as Bercy.

You’ll also find the Cinémathèque Française (designed by the American architect Frank Gehry).

The park is composed of basins, a small lake, and a small island.

The cultural offering is substantial, with the Maison du Lac (exhibitions on gardens, conferences, …), the Maison du Jardinage, and also the Chai de Bercy and the Orangery.

Parc de la Butte Chapeau Rouge

Located in the 19th arrondissement in bucolic Paris.

Created in 1939 on a former gypsum quarry, it extends over more than 5 hectares of greenery.

You’ll find concrete statues, three large lawns for playing and picnicking, a large children’s playground, and colorful flowerbeds.

This park offers a magnificent panorama over the entire northeast of the capital.

Parc de la Villette

This is the largest cultural park on our list, with 55 hectares, 35 of which are open-air.

This park is a blend of modern architecture and nature, leisure areas for children and adults, cultural venues, and performance halls.

The park runs along the Canal de l’Ourcq.

It is surrounded by many cultural buildings such as the Cité des Sciences, the Géode, the Zénith de Paris, the Musée de la Musique, and the Philharmonie de Paris.

It’s also animated by events such as the Jazz à la Villette festival, open-air cinema, concerts, exhibitions, and shows.

Parc André-Citroën

It takes its name from its location, as the former Citroën automobile factory was here.

Located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, it is one of the most recent parks in the capital. Inaugurated in 1992, it covers more than 14 hectares, offers a beautiful perspective on the Seine, and is the only green space that directly faces a river.

Designed by renowned architects (Alain Provost, Gilles Clément, Patrick Berger, Jean-Paul Viguier, and François Jodry), the park is divided into three parts:

• Jardin Blanc

• Jardin Noir

• Grand central park

Visitors can discover large trees, rare plants, two gigantic greenhouses, a playground, spring-mounted games, and the tethered gas balloon offering flights to more than 150 m to see Paris from above.

Trocadéro Garden

Surely the most famous gardens in the world—nearly every great traveler has passed through here right after admiring the Eiffel Tower.

Built in 1937, these 94,000 m² of green spaces offer a dazzling view of the most beautiful monument in the world.

At the center of the gardens is the famous Warsaw Fountain, equipped with 20 water cannons that create spectacular water shows, especially on summer nights with their play of colors.

A few sculptures—such as the gilded horses, the bull’s head, L’Homme de Traverse, and La Femme de Becqué—decorate this historic garden of the capital.

Acclimatation Garden

Located between Porte de Neuilly and Porte des Sablons and very close to the Bois de Boulogne, this garden is the ideal place for children who want to have fun and relax.

Part of the garden’s architectural heritage dating back to Napoleon III was restored in 2018.

This allows the garden to have two styles: one preserving the Napoleonic historic heritage, and the other a modern era with multiple attractions, each as entertaining as the next.

Nearly 40 rides have been installed, including four large roller coasters, there are about 400 animals to discover, and 12 dining spots have been created so you can spend a pleasant day.

The magnificent Fondation Louis Vuitton—a jewel of modern art—stands in this garden.
It exhibits the finest collections of contemporary art worldwide.