10 Gorgeous Parisian Gardens That Will Almost Make You Forget About the Eiffel Tower
One of my absolute favorite things to do when visiting the City of Light is stroll through the beautiful gardens and parks of Paris. Paris really has some of the best parks and gardens of any city in Europe.
I’ll often grab food for a picnic and bring it to the parks – it’s really easy to grab something from a nearby boulangerie or grocery store and enjoy your food in one of these lovely spots.
Plus, Parisians love hanging out in parks, so if you want a true local experience, head to the gardens! Here are 10 of the very best:
1. Jardin de Luxembourg
Set in 6th arrondissement of Paris, adjacent to the Latin Quarter, the Jardin du Luxembourg is one of Paris’s largest and most beloved parks. It’s especially popular with students, families, and early morning joggers who come for a bit of calm in the middle of the city.
The park was commissioned by Queen Marie de Medici in the early 1600s as part of the grounds of her new residence, the Palais du Luxembourg. The palace still stands today, serving as the seat of the French Senate, while the surrounding Italian-inspired gardens were opened to the public in the late 1600s.
The garden is best known for its large central basin, where kids (and plenty of adults) rent small wooden sailboats and push them across the water with sticks—a tradition that’s been going strong for nearly a century.
Green chairs are scattered throughout the park, perfect for sitting by the water, reading under the trees, or watching the world go by. You’ll also find walking and jogging paths, tennis and basketball courts, pony rides for children, and a playground tucked into the back corner.
Sculptures are everywhere, including a small replica of the Statue of Liberty and dozens of classical figures scattered through the grounds.
From the eastern entrance, you’ll also get a great view of the Panthéon rising over the rooftops of the Left Bank.
And don’t miss the Medici Fountain on the east side of the palace—it’s one of the prettiest spots in the park.
2. Jardin des Tuileries
Stretching between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, the Jardin des Tuileries is a fan favorite in Paris.
The garden takes its name from the tile factories (tuileries) that once stood here before Queen Catherine de Medici built the Tuileries Palace in 1564.
Though the palace is long gone, the royal gardens remain, and in the 1660s, celebrated landscape architect André Le Nôtre (the same man who did the gardens of Versailles) redesigned them into the classic French formal style you see today.
Strolling through the Tuileries is just a delight. A mix of manicured lawns, colorful flower beds, and carefully trimmed hedges are dotted with classical statues and fountains, all set against the backdrop of the Louvre’s grand façade.
There are several large basins surrounded by the park’s iconic green chairs, perfect for lounging in the sun and people-watching.
The central section of the garden, known as the Grand Couvert, forms a “forest” of evenly spaced trees with hidden fountains and statues tucked inside.
Finally, you get an incredible view straight down the central axis—where the obelisk at Place de la Concorde lines up perfectly with the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.
The garden feels effortlessly elegant and so very Parisian.
3. Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is the long, grassy park stretching up to the base of the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to its location, it’s one of the most famous green spaces in Paris—and easily one of the best spots for unbeatable views of the Tower.
Lined with trees and open lawns, the park has a more relaxed feel than the city’s formal gardens—no prominent fountains or flower beds here, just wide stretches of grass perfect for lounging or a picnic.
And honestly, having a picnic here is almost a rite of passage. You can grab everything you need along nearby Rue Cler, a charming market street with a boulangerie, fromagerie, grocery stores, wine shop, and fruit stands.
It’s also one of the best places to watch the Eiffel Tower light up at night: glowing after dusk and sparkling for five minutes every hour after dark.
4. Parc Monceau
Parc Monceau is a local favorite in the upscale 8th arrondissement and one of Paris’s most elegant green spaces. The park was first created in the late 1700s by the Duke of Chartres, a cousin of King Louis XVI, who wanted to design a garden meant to surprise and delight its visitors.
Unlike most of Paris’s formal French gardens, Parc Monceau was designed in the English style, with curved walkways, natural landscaping, and whimsical architectural features scattered throughout.
You’ll find scaled-down “follies,” including an Egyptian pyramid or a small Dutch windmill. The highlight of the park is a small pond flanked by Corinthian columns, a weeping willow, and a picturesque stone bridge.
You enter the park through ornate wrought-iron gates topped with gold, and can walk the wide walking paths lined with shaded benches, or enjoy relaxing or playing on the open lawns.
There’s also a rotunda by the main entrance, statues dotted among the trees, a carousel, a playground, puppet show house, and a small waterfal that add to the park’s charm.
When I did a semester in Paris, I lived about 10 minutes from Parc Monceau and absolutely fell in love with it. So, I might be biased, but to me this is THE most beautiful park in all of Paris.
You can get a nice view of the Arc de Triomphe through the gate at the east end of the park.
5. Place Des Vosges
Place des Vosges is a small but incredibly charming garden square in the Marais neighborhood of Paris.
It’s the oldest planned square in the city and completely unique, with identical red-brick and beige-stone buildings surrounding a perfectly symmetrical park. You won’t find another spot in Paris that looks anything like it.
Inside, the square is peaceful and green, with tree-lined paths, four fountains in the corners, and open lawns where people sprawl out to read or catch up with friends— and it feels more local than touristy.
Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, once lived in one of the apartments here, and his former home is now a free museum.
Around the edges, the covered arcades are lined with cozy cafés, art galleries, and boutiques that make this one of the most beautiful corners of Paris to explore.
6. Palais Royal
The Palais Royal is a beautiful, peaceful spot tucked just a couple of blocks from the Louvre. Originally built in 1628 by Cardinal Richelieu (the powerful prime minister to King Louis XIII) it later became home to the royal family, including a young Louis XIV.
Today, the garden of the Palais Royal feels like a smaller, quieter version of the Tuileries, with rows of trees, flower beds, statues, and a central fountain surrounded by plenty of green chairs for lounging.
In the main courtyard, the Cour d’Honneur, you’ll find Les Deux Plateaux (better known as the Buren Columns), a contemporary art installation. 260 black-and-white striped columns are arranged in a grid at different heights.
It’s a striking spot, with the modern design contrasting against the palace’s classical architecture.
When they were first installed, the columns were quite controversial, but today they’re a favorite Paris landmark — a playful spot to explore, climb, or snap photos.
7. La Coulée Verte
La Coulée Verte is a charming elevated walkway in the 12th arrondissement, built along a former railway line that operated from 1853 to 1969 before being transformed into a green space. Interestingly, the High Line in NYC was inspired by this “Promenade Plantée” in Paris.
The paved path stretches for 4.5 km is lined with trees, flowers, and benches, offering great views over the streets below. It’s a favorite among locals for a peaceful and scenic Parisian stroll — a true hidden gem in the city.
8. Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in Paris, located in the Latin Quarter.
The garden was founded in 1635 as the Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants under King Louis XIII (with the king’s physician put in charge of the gardens), and now grows more than 10,000 plant species. You’ll find everything from tropical greenhouses and a rose garden to a winter garden and an alpine garden.
The main walkway, lined with flower beds leading up to the grand Natural History Museum, is especially beautiful any time of year (but particularly in spring when the cherry blossoms bloom).
The grounds also include a small zoo and additional museums dedicated to Evolution, Mineralogy and Geology, Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy.
9. Rodin Museum
The Musée Rodin is one of my favorite museums in Paris, showcasing the masterful sculptures of Rodin and some of his students.
You might wonder why a museum is on a list of gardens—but the property is actually a former mansion surrounded by sprawling, beautifully landscaped grounds.
The museum flows seamlessly between indoors and outdoors, with many of Rodin’s most famous sculptures displayed in the gardens.
You’ll find The Thinker tucked between towering hedges and The Gates of Hell set dramatically against the garden wall. The lawns, flower beds, wooded areas, and archways create a peaceful setting, making it easy to wander slowly and take in both the art and the nature.
While you do need a ticket to enter, the museum and gardens are often calm and uncrowded, creating a lovely oasis right in the city.
Entrance Fee: €13 (or is included in the Paris Museum Pass)
10. Versailles
The Chateau of Versailles is about a 45 minute train ride southwest of the city of Paris, and it is one of the most well-known landmarks in France, with one of the most well-known gardens in all of France! As beautiful as the chateau is, the grounds are just as stunningly intricate and groomed.
The park and gardens are actually free to enter (on days when there is not a musical fountain show, check the schedule for the dates), and there are a few gates where you can access the grounds directly.
The easiest way is by entering on the left hand side of the front of the palace, through the Courtyard of the Princes.
You can stroll down the Tapis Vert, or explore the many manicured groves off the Tapis Vert. Each grove has paths winding through it and a focal point in the middle – be it a large fountain, statues, or even a mini-amphitheater.
Continue walking towards the back of the estate and you’ll hit the Grand Canal, which is in the shape of a cross. This canal extends deep into the grounds, and you can find many walking paths along or near the canal. Alternatively, you can rent a rowboat and experience Versailles from the water!
The grounds of Versailles are truly spectacular and are for sure worth a visit.
Gardens Cost: Free, except on Musical Fountains days, cost of ticket to the palace starts at 18 euro.
Map of The Best Gardens in Paris
Here’s a handy dandy map of where to find each of these beautiful parks and gardens:
The Wrap Up
Some of these gardens are very well-known and popular, while others are more off the beaten path. Whichever ones you choose, an exploration of a few of these best Paris parks is definitely a must-do on your vacation to the City of Love!
