Paris is a city of stone, but it breathes through its parks. Some are formal gardens laid out for kings, some are wild-looking hills and lakes built in the 19th century, and two are proper woods on the edge of the city. Here are the ten worth knowing, what each is like, and which one suits your day.
Short on time? Walk the Tuileries between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, and spend an hour on a green chair in the Luxembourg Gardens.
Want space and locals? Head to Buttes-Chaumont for a picnic with a view, or to the Bois de Vincennes to rent a rowing boat on the lake.
1. Jardin des Tuileries
1st arrondissement · between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde
The classic Paris garden: gravel avenues, clipped trees, statues and two large ponds ringed with green chairs, redesigned in the 17th century by André Le Nôtre, the gardener of Versailles. It links the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées, so most visitors cross it without stopping — stop. At its western end, the Musée de l’Orangerie shows Monet’s Water Lilies.
2. Jardin du Luxembourg
6th arrondissement · Left Bank
The favourite of Parisians: the Luxembourg Palace (home of the French Senate), the Medici Fountain, flowerbeds, tennis courts, a puppet theatre and the Grand Bassin, where children push model sailboats with sticks. Grab one of the metal chairs, turn it to the sun and do nothing for an hour — it is the most Parisian thing you can do.
3. Bois de Boulogne
16th arrondissement · western edge of Paris
A huge wood on the western edge of the city, with lakes where you can rent rowing boats, cycling paths, the Parc de Bagatelle and its rose garden, the Jardin d’Acclimatation for children, and the glass sails of the Fondation Louis Vuitton. It is too big to see in one go: pick one corner. Like many big city woods, parts of it are best avoided after dark.
4. Bois de Vincennes
12th arrondissement · eastern edge of Paris
The largest green space in Paris, on its eastern edge. Lac Daumesnil has rowing boats and islands, the Parc Floral is a garden within the wood, the Paris Zoo is here too, and the medieval Château de Vincennes stands at its northern edge. It is where Parisian families go on Sunday, and it feels far from the tourist city.
5. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
19th arrondissement · north-east Paris
Built in the 1860s on old quarries, Buttes-Chaumont is the most dramatic park in the city: steep lawns, a lake, a waterfall in a grotto, a suspension bridge and a small temple on top of a rocky island cliff. The slopes fill with picnics on sunny evenings, with views across the north of Paris.
6. Parc Monceau
8th arrondissement · near the Arc de Triomphe
An elegant English-style park surrounded by grand mansions, with a colonnade by a pond, a small pyramid and other follies. Monet painted it several times. It is a calm detour from the Champs-Élysées and a favourite of joggers and nannies from the neighbourhood.
7. Jardin des Plantes
5th arrondissement · near the Seine
The city’s botanical garden since the 17th century: long avenues of trees, themed gardens, large glasshouses and a small zoo, next to the Natural History Museum and its Grand Gallery of Evolution. A good choice on a day with children, combined with the Latin Quarter.
8. Coulée verte René-Dumont
12th arrondissement · from Bastille towards Vincennes
An elevated walkway planted on an old railway viaduct — the model that later inspired New York’s High Line. It runs above the streets from near the Bastille towards the Bois de Vincennes, with roses, bamboo and views into Parisian windows. Walk a section of it rather than the whole length.
9. Champ de Mars
7th arrondissement · beneath the Eiffel Tower
The long lawns stretching from the Eiffel Tower to the École Militaire. Not a quiet park, but the classic place for a picnic with the tower above you, especially at dusk when the tower lights up and sparkles for a few minutes each hour.
10. Parc de Belleville
20th arrondissement · east Paris
A hillside park with terraces and one of the best free panoramas over Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It is in a lively, multicultural neighbourhood that few visitors reach — combine it with a walk down the Rue de Belleville.
Practical tips
Chairs are free. The green metal chairs in the Tuileries and the Luxembourg are there for everyone — move them where you like.
Lawns have rules. In the formal gardens some lawns are closed to rest, especially in winter; the signs tell you which. In the bigger parks and woods, picnics on the grass are part of the culture.
Hours follow the daylight. Most parks open around sunrise and close around dusk; the times are posted at each gate.
Day trip: Versailles. The gardens of Versailles are the grandest of all, and best seen on a fountain show day — see our guide to the Versailles fountain show schedule.
Toilets and water. Larger parks have public toilets and drinking fountains, but not every small square does — plan ahead with children.
Paris parks FAQ
Are Paris parks free?
Yes, almost all of the city’s public parks and gardens are free to enter, including the Tuileries, the Luxembourg Gardens, Buttes-Chaumont and the two big woods, Boulogne and Vincennes. Some attractions inside them, such as the zoo or certain gardens and museums, charge for entry.
What is the biggest park in Paris?
The Bois de Vincennes on the eastern edge of the city is the largest green space in Paris, slightly bigger than the Bois de Boulogne on the western edge. Both are more like woods with lakes than formal parks.
Can you sit on the grass in Paris parks?
In many parks, yes — Buttes-Chaumont, the Champ de Mars and the big woods are made for picnics. In the formal gardens (the Tuileries, the Luxembourg) some lawns are closed to rest, especially in winter: follow the signs and use the famous green metal chairs instead.
When are Paris parks open?
Most parks open around sunrise and close around dusk, so hours change with the seasons. The exact times are posted at each entrance gate.
Planning the rest of your days? Our Paris city guide covers neighbourhoods and getting around, and how many days you need in Paris helps you fit it all in.