8 must see parks in Paris

Known to be one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world, who wouldn't want to visit Paris? The France capital city has gained many nicknames including the Fashion Capital, the City of Love and the City of Light, and is best known for some of its landmarks like the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum and, of course, the iconic Eiffel Tower. Fantastic food, a rich history and unbeatable shopping opportunities are some of the other reasons that so many people choose to make this their travel destination.

If you're spending a few days in the city or are fortunate enough to call it home, we urge you to take a break from the busy city streets and go for a stroll in one of the many parks and gardens in Paris. Taking fresh air and spending time in nature is good for everyone, and there are lots of places where you can go biking or just sit for a picnic.

Drop off your picnic basket after your meal, and use bounce luggage storage in Paris. With several locations around the city, there's bound to be one not too far away from the park that you're visiting. We charge the same affordable price to store bags of any size, whether it's large or small. Enjoy Paris parks and the sights beyond without the burden of bags.

Jardin des Plantes

Let's start our journey through the beautiful parks in Paris at the Jardin des Plantes, a stunning botanical garden that dates back all the way to the 17th century when it was used as a medicinal garden for Louis XIII. Back then it was called the Jardin Royal des Plantes Medicinales, although the name has since been shortened.

Throughout the 24 hectare grounds, you'll find lush greenhouses, stunning artwork, historic archives and libraries, and even a zoo called La Menagerie. It's a great place to go if you're interested in learning more about plants and other similar topics with plenty of botanical related exhibits and fascinating plant samples to observe. Some of its greenhouses are called the Grandes Serres and have been used by the Ecole de Botanique since back in 1714. Enjoy 4 museums including the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle that can teach you about zoology, mineralogy, botany and paleontology.

You can spend quite a while exploring the park which is separated into different zones, like the peony and rose garden, Australian garden, and alpine or winter sections. During the spring visitors can admire Paris's biggest cherry blossom trees, and in the wintertime is when the Jardin des Plantes Light Festival is put on. Did you know? Some of Henri Rousseau's paintings were actually inspired by this park and are often displayed in the Musée d'Orsay.

Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is the largest of Paris's parks at 995 hectares in size and has an abundance of activities the whole family can enjoy. Take a walk through the gardens before checking out the velodrome and hippodrome, and finally stop by the on site zoo to see the cute animals before having a picnic in the shade of a tree. The Paris Zoological Park is home to more than 2,000 impressive creatures originating from all over, like species that are native to rainforests and even Indian elephants.

One of your favorite parts of the park will probably be the English landscape garden or the gorgeous Parc Floral de Paris which is complete with lovely lakes where you can go boating and a stunning botanical garden with beautiful flowers.

There's also an arboretum that is home to more than 2,000 individual trees including some apple and pear trees, and there's a playground that kids always enjoy. The park was previously used as royal hunting grounds until after the Revolution when it was taken over by the army, and eventually, Napoleon III gave the park to the city for all of its people to use in 1860. It's situated right next to the Château de Vincennes so you'll also have a pretty nice view of the former royal residence while you enjoy everything that the park has to offer.

Jardin du Luxembourg

This list wouldn't be complete without mentioning the Jardin du Luxembourg, or Luxembourg Gardens, which is one of the most famous of all the Paris parks. The grounds are owned by the French Senate and in the heart of the area, you'll find the Palais de Luxembourg. One of its most famous landmarks, the gorgeous Medici Fountain, can be found not too far away. The property was completed back in 1612 to act as a new residency for the widow of King Henry IV, Marie de Medici.

At only 57 acres it isn't one of the biggest parks in the city but is still definitely worth visiting, with something new to see and do in every season. It's a fantastic spot to spend a warm day on the tennis courts or go for a ride on the sailboats in the little pond. The park is undoubtedly a favorite among families offering pony rides, playgrounds and puppet shows that all kids love. There's lots for an older crowd to enjoy as well, like chess tables and plenty of statues that are found around the park including representations of royalty, a miniature version of the Statue of Liberty and another of Baudelaire, the famous writer.

The best time to visit is during the spring and summer months when the evergreen trees and colorful flowers are in full bloom in the English and French formal garden, and activities like bee-keeping courses are offered.

Parc Montsouris

When you want to get away from the concrete and buildings of Paris you can take a break in Parc Montsouris, a beautiful park featuring large green lawns and plenty of flora. This urban park is a nice place to go for a stroll among the flowers and trees, or for cooling off from the sun by sitting by the lake. Parc Montsouris features a French puppeteering theatre and many other attractions as well.

The green space isn't only enjoyed by humans but is also an important habitat for geese, crested tits, herons, ducks, swans, rose-ringed parakeets and turtles. If you know your plants then you'll be able to spot some notable tree species like buttonwood or weeping beech, plus honey locusts and Mahonia shrubs.

Locals and tourists can take a trip to the meteorology station to learn all about the atmosphere and its effects on our weather, and anytime you get hungry you can stop by the on site cafe. If you take a short walk around the 15 hectare grounds you're bound to spot the beautiful statues made of bronze and stone, plus the iconic monument which marks the exact location of the Parisian meridian.

Jardin du Palais Royal

This small yet romantic garden is a nice place for a coffee date or for cozying up and reading a book. This park has been around since 1633 when it was ordered by Cardinal de Richelieu and was also important during the time of the French Revolution. Even back in 1789, it was a popular gathering and meeting place for games, important speeches, and even political discussions.

With the Galerie de Valois, The Galerie de Montpensier and the Galeries Beaujolais within close proximity you have the perfect opportunity to do some shopping before or after visiting the park. In the heart of the garden is a fountain that is surrounded by stunning cherry blossom trees in the springtime, and the most photo-worthy spot in the park is the 260 striped columns that make the Jardin du Palais Royal recognizable.

Parc André Citroën

This 14 hectare public park is located in a residential area of the city and is much appreciated by the locals of Paris. It's home to wide lawns that are perfect for hanging out with friends at a picnic or throwing a ball, and there's a playground for the kids, too. If you visit on a hot summer day then the fountains will be the perfect spot to splash around and cool off in and, being situated on the left bank of the Seine, it's just a lovely spot to sit and relax in nature. There are also ping pong tables to play on and lots of different species of trees and plants.

Follow the suspended walkway across the calm reflecting pool to explore the different landscaped gardens, each of which has its own unique theme. By far one of the coolest things about this Paris park is the mini hot air balloon. Enjoy a ride up into the sky for unbeatable views of the city. Fun fact; the park was built on what used to be the manufacturing plant for Citroën automobile, and was named after the founder of the company.

Jardin des Tuileries

The beautiful gardens of the Jardin des Tuileries make it one of the best parks in Paris and the grounds span 28 hectares. It has a great location that makes it hard to miss, spanning all the way from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde. The public garden has been around since the 16th century and is a popular spot to go for a run or a leisurely stroll on a sunny day. The park has its own little cafes where you can grab a small snack or a coffee, and there are chairs and benches by the two artificially made ponds that are the perfect spot to sit and enjoy them.

The park itself is listed as part of the Seine UNESCO World Heritage Site since it was the very first public park in the city, and was made as part of the Tuileries Palace by Queen Catherine de Medici. It was constructed back in 1564 and opened to the public in 1667.

Such an important place makes for the perfect venue for events and celebrations, and often there are trampolines, carousels and Ferris wheels set up for the locals to enjoy. The garden fair, which is a sort of open-air museum with plenty of sculptures, as well as guided walking tours are put on here regularly. Before you leave the park, make sure that you stop by the Musée de l'Orangerie which is one of the two museums found inside the park and houses some impressive artwork by Monet.

Bois de Boulogne

Inside the Bois de Boulogne, which is the second biggest park in the whole city at 2,088 acres, you'll find the Parc de Bagatelle which is well known for its two rose gardens with over 9,000 flowers, roaming peacocks and incredible landscape with waterfalls. There's a restaurant on site so you don't even have to leave the grounds when you get hungry, and the rest of the Bois de Boulogne can take all afternoon to explore.

The property was formerly used as a royal hunting ground but today the locals take advantage of the lush greenery and natural beauty to be active on the walking and hiking trails, or to go boating on the lake. The opportunity for horseback riding and viewing plenty of monuments are other attractions that make people want to visit the park.

Some notable places to check out are the two horse racing tracks; the Hippodrome de Longchamp and the Hippodrome d'Auteuil, as well as the Jardin d'Acclimatation which has a zoo and amusement park, the Stade Roland Garros where you'll find the French Open, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation.

Enjoy nature in the French capital

Listed above are a few of the many public parks in Paris worth checking out and they're fantastic spots to go see exotic plants and various trees, or to just relax by the water features and on the wide lawns. If you're looking for similar places to spend time outdoors you can also visit the Parc du Champ de Mars, the Parc de la Villette, Parc de Belleville, Parc des Buttes Chaumont, the Parc Monceau or the Parc de Bercy.

Looking for somewhere to explore with a bit more of a challenge? Paris has some fantastic places to go hiking and trekking. If you're someone who prefers to take it easy you might want to decide on beaches near Paris that you'd like to visit instead.