The 22 best parks and gardens in Paris

If the hustle and bustle of the Louvre and the arcades of the Palais-Royal are overwhelming, take a break in the garden. This two-hectare space boasts a central pond surrounded by four double rows of lime and chestnut trees, along with around 500 other trees and flower beds redesigned in the 1990s by American landscape architect Mark Rudkin. As for sculptures, you can’t miss the iconic and controversial Colonnes de Buren, and Adolphe Thabard’s Snake Charmer, Paul Lemoyne’s Shepherd and Goat, and Pol Bury’s fountain with spheres. It’s like a small outdoor exhibition. 

The garden at the National Archives? It’s a real hit. Planted at the start of the 18th century in the heart of the Marais, it wasn’t fully opened to the public until 2011, after a complete makeover by landscape gardener Louis Benech. And what a transformation: the majestic ‘Parisian quadrilateral’ covers 8,000 square metres, featuring French-style flowerbeds, patches of lawn to chill out on, and a whole lot of very nice plants. 

Welcome to the VIP section. The Place des Vosges, a sculptural square 140 metres on each side, was one of the five royal squares before the Revolution. Adorned with its distinctive red houses, it hosts the most Parisian of Parisian gardens. Though the space isn’t the biggest (finding a spot on the grass is as competitive as real estate in the area), this park is seriously peaceful, with its fountains, flower beds, and symmetrical rows of trees. It’s the perfect park to relax in between visiting galleries or before grabbing a drink at the trendy Serpent à Plumes restaurant/bar/club.

Every now and then, take a look at the horizon while relaxing on the tiered lawns of Parc de Belleville: there’s no doubt that Belleville Park offers one of the most spectacular views of Paris. It’s a panorama best enjoyed at sunset from the top of the belvedere (ah, those open-air events of the 2010s): the Pantheon, Notre Dame, Montparnasse, Concorde, and the Grand Palais. During the sunny days, the atmosphere is quite family-friendly, but as the day progresses, lively gatherings take over the grassy areas, carried by the carefree spirit that has always radiated from the Belleville hill.

On the banks of the Seine, in the heart of the historic Marais, the Forney Library is located in the Hôtel de Sens and houses an astounding collection of books specialising in fashion, decorative arts, crafts, and their techniques. While the building itself, reminiscent of Hogwarts, is worth a visit, its small garden is also impressive, featuring meticulously trimmed French-style boxwood hedges and reader-friendly benches. For history buffs, take a close look at the main entrance facade: you’ll find a cannonball embedded in the wall, fired during the Revolution of 1830.

Found in the 8th district, Parc Monceau is one of the most elegant and largest green spaces in the area, covering 8.25 hectares. Encircled by a lush barrier of greenery, the park is filled with a variety of architectural whimsies, thanks to its various extravagant owners. You’ll find a river, a naumachia, a pond surrounded by Corinthian columns, grottos, a greenhouse, a winter garden, and a rotunda similar to the one in Stalingrad. For a dose of art, visit the nearby Cernuschi Museum, renovated in 2021, which boasts an impressive collection of Asian art.