14 Of The Best Parks In Paris
Paris is a city that spoils its residents and locals in so many ways. In this post, we’ll visit the best parks in Paris and see where you can have that perfect picnic lunch, or just grab a break from all that walking in the City of Lights.
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I had the privilege of spending three memorable months in Paris and what I loved the most about Paris, is that the city is made for people to live in it. Every neighborhood has everything its residents need: from schools to bakeries to beautiful green spaces.
I’ve listed my favorite Parisian parks in this post and you’ll find a link to the park’s neighborhood guide in nearly all the listings. The best thing is to visit these parks as you explore the neighborhood – so whenever you need a break, know that you’re never too far from one of these urban gems.
Before we head out to explore the most beautiful parks in Paris, it’s important to note that most parks shut their gates when night falls. It’s a good idea to avoid Parisian parks as it gets dark outside, but during the daytime, you will have no problems. Paris is a big city after all, with big-city dangers – so just use your common sense.
Bois de Boulogne – Western Paris
Metro Station: Porte Dauphine
Modeled after London’s Hyde Park, the Bois de Boulogne is a place that Parisians flock to if they want to visit the countryside without leaving town. Miles and miles of tracks snake their way across this massive park, which seems more like a forest at times. The highlight is no doubt renting an old fashioned rowboat and hanging out with the baby ducks in the giant lake. During May & June, you might even hear the roar of the crowd as Rafael Nadal makes another impossible shot, next door at the Roland Garros. The only things to watch out for are the poison ivy during the summer months and the drug dealers during the night.
Parc Montsouris – Southern Paris
Metro Station: Glacière
A creepy surprise awaits you as you enter Parc Montsouris from the Rue Liard entrance. Right beneath you, is an ominous-looking abandoned railroad track. This is Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture (‘little belt railway’), a railway that was constructed in the mid 19th century to connect all the major stations in Paris. It has been abandoned since the 1930s but is still a popular sight. There’s something about abandoned tunnels that just fires up our imagination. Maybe in this case it’s because it is rumored that you can secretly enter the Catacombs from here…
The park itself was opened up in 1869 as the designated large green space for the southern residents of Paris. It was built on the site of a former quarry with the added complexity of having miles of Catacomb tunnels right beneath. Dissected in the middle by one of the RER lines, Parc Montsouris offers wide stretches of grass to relax on and a lake that makes you forget you’re in the middle of Paris. The park itself is not a ‘must-see’, but if you’re exploring the Butte aux Cailles, this will be a nice spot to end the day.
Have a look at this Montparnasse & Southern Paris itinerary and see what else is around the park.
Parc des Buttes Chaumont – Northeastern Paris
Metro Station: Buttes Chaumont
One of the best parks in Paris, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is another masterpiece created out of a disused quarry. Opened in 1867, the park’s main feature is the towering rock coming out of its central lake. You can get there via a suspension bridge or even rent a boat to chill out in the water. It’s a popular spot for the area’s residents and you won’t find too many tourists around here, as the major tourist attractions are a 15-minute metro ride away. Grab a spot on the grassy hill overlooking Paris and enjoy the views!
Champs de Mars – Eiffel Tower District
Metro Stations: La Motte-Picquet–Grenelle, École Militaire, Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel
Extending from the Ecole Militaire to the Eiffel Tower, the Champs de Mars is one of the most popular photo spots in Paris. On a fine day, grab a spot on the grass, lie down – and enjoy the view of the Eiffel Tower right in front of your eyes. This grassy field was used back in the day for military drills and after the French Revolution, was the site of festivals celebrating the new freedom. As a rule of thumb, the further away you walk from the Eiffel Tower (in the direction of Ecole Militaire), the less you’ll be bothered by touts selling you cheap souvenirs.
Esplanade Jacques Chaban-Delmas – Eiffel Tower District
Metro Stations: Saint-François-Xavier, Sèvres – Lecourbe
Still in the Eiffel Tower district, the Esplanade Jacques Chaban-Delmas is worth stopping by en route to the Rodin Museum. You might even have this narrow park all to yourself, with a great view across to the Eglise du Dome – where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried under a giant dome.
The Rodin Museum – Eiffel Tower District
Metro Station: Varenne
Not technically a park but worth a mention, the Rodin Museum has one of the prettiest gardens in all of Paris. The museum is a beautiful mansion dedicated to the famous French sculpture, but you can just hang around in the gardens for a mere €2 if you feel like you’ve got museum phobia. This ended up being one of the highlights of my 3-month visit to Paris. The gardens are simply beautiful and scattered across the property are famous ironworks likes the Gates of Hell and The Thinker. It’s the perfect spot to laze around for a few hours on a sunny day.
The Eiffel Tower district is one of my favorites in Paris. Check out this travel guide for the 7th arrondissement.
Parc Monceau – 8th Arrondissement
Metro Station: Monceau
Lined with unbelievably fancy mansions on its perimeter, you can easily tell that Parc Monceau was designed as the playground for the wealthy aristocrats of the 8th arrondissement. Built in 1779 by the Duke of Chartres, beautiful gilded gates greet you as you enter, and from the western end, you can even catch a glimpse of the Arc de Triomphe. Check out the rotunda and the other architectural highlights in the park, or just grab a spot with the rest of the locals and kill a few hours. Popular with joggers and families, if you’ll come during the week you’ll see schoolchildren playing at lunchtime and if you come during the weekend, picnics are the signature mark of the park. Not too many tourists make it here, but with one of the best markets in Paris just 5 minutes away at Rue de Levis – a picnic in one of the most beautiful parks in Paris is not a bad idea.
Continue to the next page to see the rest of the best park in Paris!
