Parc Monceau
Paris has some of the best city parks in the world. I could fill volumes writing about all of them, but these are my top 8 picks.
1. Le Bois de Vincennes (12e)
Metro: Porte de Charenton, Porte Doree, Liberte
Le Bois de Vincennes, home to the Chateau de Vincennes, is a sprawling park in the eastern part of Paris. With its zoos, museums, four lakes, and sporting arenas, the park attracts visitors from all over Paris.
2. Jardin des Plantes – Botanical Gardens (5e)
Metro: Censier-Daubenton, Monge, or Gare d’Austerlitz
Opened to the public in 1650, the Jardin des Plantes is located in the heart of Paris. The space contains a botanical garden, the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, a zoo, an aquarium, and several gardens. It is a great place for families to visit in Paris.
3. Le Bois de Boulogne (16e)
Metro: Porte Dauphine, Porte Maillot
Spanning over 2,000 acres, Le Bois de Boulogne is one of the largest parks in Paris. The park was developed by Napoleon III in the 19th century on what was formerly a royal hunting ground. The Bois de Boulogne is popular for jogging, boating, and family activities during the day, but its popularity as a gathering place for prostitutes in the evenings makes it best to be avoided at night.
4. Jardin des Tuileries (1er)
Metro: Tuileries
The Jardin des Tuileries, once the garden for the Tuileries Palace which burned down in 1871, is located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. The Tuileries is a perfect place to rest or have a picnic after a visit to the Louvre.
5. Jardin du Luxembourg (6e)
Metro: Odeon, RER: Luxembourg, Port Royal
The beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg surrounds the Luxembourg Palace, which was constructed in the 17th century by Salomon de Brosse for Marie de Medici. The Luxembourg Gardens, as they are known in English, feature colorful flowers, sporting areas, and even beekeeping units.
6. Place des Vosges (4e)
Metro: Bastille, Chemin Vert, Saint Paul
The Place des Vosges is the city’s oldest square. It was built in the early 17th century by Henri IV and was initially called the Place Royale. Today it is a peaceful park that is a great place to sit and watch the world go by.
7. Parc Monceau (8e)
Metro: Monceau
Park Monceau was built in the 18th century by the Duke of Chartres, Phillippe d’Orleans. The park is full of Romantic-era ruins, sculptures, ponds, and gardens, and is a great place to relax on a sunny day in Paris.
8. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19e)
Metro: Buttes-Chaumont
Located away from the bustle of the Paris city center, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is one of the best romantic spots in Paris. The Buttes-Chaumont was laid out in the English style by Baron Haussmann in the 1860s.
The park is complete with a man-made lake and waterfalls, a Roman-style temple, and steep hills offering beautiful panoramic views of the Paris skyline.