The Best Parks And Gardens To Enjoy Spring In Paris

Even if you’ve visited Paris many times, don’t underestimate it. It will surprise you when you explore it from a different angle. Beautiful parks, squares, and gardens fill every district of this city.

Explore the most beautiful secret gardens and parks with unique stories, purposes, or exclusivity. Escape crowds by seeking out hidden green spaces for a treasure hunt experience. Discover the best parks and gardens in Paris on my Map.

Jardin des Bambous (Bamboo Garden in Parc de la Villette)

211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 19th arr., Metro: Porte de Pantin

Alexandre Chemetoff designed an exotic oasis as one of ten themed gardens in Parc de la Villette. The curved path passes among these gardens. The sunken garden sits 6 meters lower than its surroundings.

The garden features a public art installation called Le Cylindre Sonore. Bernard Leitner, a sound architect, invented this cylindrical, double-walled sound pavilion. Leitner always found the relationship between space and sound fascinating.

Le Cylindre Sonore is located below the park’s level and can be accessed via a staircase lined with water cascades leading from Parc de la Villette to Jardin des Bambous. It consists of two cylinders with a space in between, forming a resonance chamber that shapes the sound.

When visitors stand inside, they hear the water flowing to a pool under the floor and the sound from the loudspeakers installed on the cylinders.

Spring in the Bamboo Garden Paris is special for its vibrant renewal, as bamboo shoots emerge and lush foliage flourishes, painting the landscape with vivid green hues.

Interesting facts:

• Parc de la Villette has been designed as a part of an urban redevelopment project and replaced former slaughterhouses and meat markets.
• Did you know there are 1500 bamboos spiecies? In Parc de la Villette you can find 30 species!

Key reasons to go:

• Experience the unique sound architecture of Le Cylindre Sonore for an unparalleled auditory adventure.
• Three metal walkways provide varying perspectives of the bamboo garden.
• Explore nine other themed gardens of Parc de la Villette: The Dragon, White, Mirror, Treillage, Perennial, Snake, Childhood, Labyrinth Garden and The Garden of Stars.

What’s near:

• The Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (500 m) is unique for its role as the largest science museum in Europe, offering interactive exhibits and educational programs on a wide range of scientific and industrial topics.
• The Paris Philharmonic (1.3 km) is unique for its striking contemporary architecture and innovative acoustic design, offering a world-class venue for musical performances and cultural events in the heart of Paris.
• The Villette Basin (1.2 km), Paris’s largest lake, originally constructed in the 19th century to provide drinking water to the city, now serves as a multifunctional space where locals gather to engage in activities such as playing petanque and table tennis, running, renting small motor boats, or socializing over drinks.
• The Canal Saint-Martin (1.5 km) with its series of locks and bridges, alongside its picturesque tree-lined banks, creating a charming and tranquil urban waterway.
• The Canal de l’Ourcq (1.5 km) transformated from an industrial waterway into a vibrant cultural and recreational hub, featuring picturesque waterside promenades, diverse flora and fauna, and numerous leisure activities for locals and visitors alike.
• Le Point Ephémère (1.5 km) stands out for its multifunctionality as an arts center offering concerts, art exhibitions, meetings, a small dining option, and a rooftop terrace, providing a dynamic cultural space.
• A small bar Kermes well rated by google reviewers (450 m)

Les Jardins du Ruisseau

83 Boulevard Ornano, 18th arr., Metro: Botzaris or Porte de Clignancourt

Citizens initiated Les Jardins du Ruisseau in 1998 as part of the former railway route’s redevelopment, La Petite Ceinture, aiming to educate local youth on sustainable gardening, foster social bonds, and provide access to art and culture. Volunteers and local schools currently maintain it, but it’s open for everyone to enjoy strolling through.

In the former Ornano Railway station, across the tracks, lies a hidden gem, La REcyclerie, a leisure area with a bar and restaurant that not only offers food and drinks but also hosts DIY workshops, teaching tricks for recycling timeless objects.

Visit Jardins du Ruisseau to experience their educational initiatives and enjoy food, drinks, and the scenic view of the modern garden.

Interesting facts:

• At Jardins du Ruisseau, sustainable initiatives like the Henhouse, Aquaponics, Apiary, and rainwater harvesting system are actively in place alongside opportunities for drinks and picnics.
• In the Jardins du Ruisseau, none of the gardening parcels are private, as the principle here is collective gardening.
• Every July, the Jardins du Ruisseau hosts the Clignancourt Festival, featuring contemporary dance shows, classes, and performances on the tracks.

What’s near:

• Sensas Paris is an entertainment venue that offers immersive sensory experiences and escape room challenges for groups.
• Les Petroleuses (1.3 km) is a designer shop offering fashionable clothes, ceramics, jewelry, baby accessories, stationery, and soaps.
• Marché Malassis (1.5 km), unique for its antique and vintage offerings, attracting visitors with its eclectic array of treasures and collectibles.
• Marché Vernaison (1.2 km), one of the oldest and most renowned flea markets in the city, offering a diverse range of antiques, vintage items, and collectibles.
• Marché Paul Bert Serpette (1.3 km), known for its vast selection of high-quality antiques, vintage items, and collectibles, attracting collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
• Marche Le Passage (1.3 km), renowned for its antique and vintage treasures, housed within covered passages, offering a unique and charming shopping experience.
• The Musee de Montmartre (1.2 km), once the residence of artists such as Valadon, Utrillo, and Galanis, holds significant historical importance in the art world. The museum features a bucolic and green garden with Café-terrasse Renoir open to everyone in summer (you have to pay 5€ for the entrance)
• Le Clos Montmartre (Vigne du Clos Montmartre) (1.2 km) one of the few remaining vineyards within the city of Paris, cultivating grapes and producing wine in the heart of Montmartre.
• Le Petit Joseph Dijon (1.2 km) in Paris is a cozy bar frequented by locals.
• Au Lapin Agile (1.3 km) is a renowned cabaret nestled in Montmartre.
• The Dalida Statue in Paris commemorates the iconic singer Dalida and is located on Place Dalida in Montmartre.
• Square Marcel-Bleustein-Blanchet (1.5 km) offers a blend of sculptural artworks, serene greenery, and interactive installations

Le jardin Sauvage Saint-Vincent

2-4 Rue Saint-Vincent, 18th arr., Metro: Lamarck – Caulaincourt

For many years, it was abandoned and became overgrown with elderberries, foxgloves, brambles, ivy, and wild grasses. The city currently closes an unusual wild park to public viewing. Due to the park’s fragility, guided tours organized by the city are the only way to visit it, with tours scheduled for April and October 2023.

Wind and birds have literally brought a variety of wild flora to the park, including hogweed, white nettle, burr chervil, wood avens, spreading pellitory, common sorrel, common soapwort, common mugwort, and cleavers.

Square Marcel-Bleustein-Blanchet / Turlure Parc

1 Rue de la Bonne, 18th arr., Metro: Lamarck – Caulaincourt, Jules Joffrin

Explore the many small green spaces in the 18th arrondissement. The terraced Square Marcel Bleustein, also known as Turlure Park, provides stunning views of Sacré-Coeur, zinc Paris rooftops, and the Montmartre district.

The square, formerly named Park Turlure after a former windmill on site, terraces and offers some of the Sacré-Coeur’s best (and perhaps most unique) views.

The main reasons to visit Park Turlure would be in my opinion for its relaxed atmosphere despite being in a bustling neighborhood. It’s an ideal spot for picnics or evening drinks. Plus, you’ll discover beautiful wisteria blossoms in spring and summer.

What’s near:

• Sacré-Coeur Basilica (1.2 km): A stunning landmark offering panoramic views of Paris.
• Place du Tertre (1.2 km): A bustling square known for its outdoor artists and lively atmosphere.
• Musée de Montmartre (3.5 km): Learn about the history and culture of the Montmartre area.
• Le Mur des Je t’aime (1.3 km): A beautiful wall featuring “I love you” in over 250 languages.

Le Jardin l’Univert – Eco-friendly, communal, sustainable gardening

33-35 rue Polonceau, 18th arr., Metro: Métro Barbès

The Univert, situated at 33-35 rue Polonceau within an interior courtyard of a Paris Habitat residence in the heart of the 18th arrondissement in Paris, serves as a collective garden for social integration and sharing. Its aim is to foster communal gardening and establish a space for well-being and social gatherings in the Goutte d’Or district.

Events are regularly organized at Jardin l’Univers throughout the year, with most of them being announced on the initiative’s official Facebook channel.

The Alpine Garden in Paris Botanical Garden – Alpine scentscape

57 Rue Cuvier, 5th arr., Metro: Jussieu or Gare d’Austerlitz

You can access it through a hidden underground passage. It’s visible below the walkway, located between the Menagerie and the Grandes Serres in the Jardin des Plantes. 

In 1930, someone raised the idea of creating a place to showcase mountain plants in central Paris. The challenge was to bring mountain flora to life and transport plants from the Mediterranean. Plants have diverse origins and requirements, including light, heat, humidity, and soil type.

Interesting facts:

• the garden gathers more than 2000 mountain plant species from all over the world
• the garden is situated three meters below ground to create a microclimate that can sustain the mountain plants within to mimic the native environment of the plants were arranged in a more naturalistic arrangement

Key reasons to go:

• less touristy place
• original mountain flora

What’s near:

• Grande Mosquée de Paris (2.5 km) and the Restaurant La Mosquée de Paris (2.5 km)

Jean Doornik Garden – Serene, historic, lush

33 Bd Flandrin, 16th arr., Metro: Porte Dauphine, opening hours: 8am-5pm

On the roof of the RER C, Square Jean Doornick boasts flower baskets, grass and fern compositions, and banana trees. Flowering pear trees and climbing roses also adorn the square.

Square Jan Doornick offers a stroll among annual and biennial flower baskets, grass and fern compositions, and various perennial beds. Flowering pear trees line the promenade, while climbing roses adorn the pergola and clematis cover the trellises. A pond fosters wetland fauna and flora, promoting biodiversity.

Key reasons to go:

• a walk right above the RER C where in 20th century the former Auteuil line was running ( a part of the line Petite Ceinture)
• it’s a good place for a casual run

What’s near:

• Bois de Boulogne (1.5 km)
• Arc de Triomphe (1.5 km)
• Tour Eiffel (2.5 km)

Square du vert galant – Riverside, historical, picturesque

15 Place du Pont Neuf, 1st arr., Metro: Pont Neuf, opening hours: 24 hours

It’s a tiny park at the western tip of the island Ile de la Cité. The square is located 7 meters below the Ile de la Cité, exactly like it was in 17th century.

In the 17th century, Henry IV permitted the construction of the Square du Vert Galant. A century later, district baths occupied the area, followed by its transformation into a dancing area with a café. Only in the 19th century did it become a public park.

Square du Vert Galant is a great and romantic picnic spot. It offers perfect views of the River Seine, Pont-Neuf bridge, and the Pont des Arts. It serves as a departure point for 1-hour guided boat tours by Bateau mouche and Vedettes du Pont Neuf.

The impressive selection of tree species decorates the squares lawn: chestnuts, tamarisks, weeping willows, lilacs, walnut, maple and a Ginkgo biloba.

Square du Vert Galant was the location for one movie scene in “An Education” (2009) with Alfred Molina and Emma Thompson.

What’s near:

• Pont Neuf (280 m) the oldest bridge in Paris
• Notre Dame (1.4 km), to be reopened for visitors in late 2024
• Place Dauphine (0.6 km)

Le jardin de l’Hôtel Particulier – hidden garden of Montmartre

23 Av. Junot Pavillon D, 18th arr., Metro: Opéra, Lamarck – Caulaincourt,

A true haven of peace hidden in the heart of the 18th arrondissement of the capital, the Hôtel Particulier Montmartre is famous among celebrities like Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. It boasts the largest hotel garden in Paris. Before, it served as the Hermes family residence.

For the occasion, the restaurant, the tea room, and the bar are set up outdoors to welcome everyone in a bucolic setting, away from prying eyes.

You can indulge in teatime from Wednesday to Friday, enjoy the cocktail or Tapas bar from Tuesday to Sunday (no reservations required) or Sunday brunch and Tuesday to Saturday dinner (reservation necessary)

What’s near:

• Sacré-Cœur (3.5 km)
• Square Louise Michel

Promenade Plantée/ La Coulée verte

Read the whole article about La Coulée verte to learn more.

Nouvelle France Garden – Rustic, charming, historical, lus.

23 Av. Junot Pavillon D, 18th arr., Metro: Opéra, Lamarck – Caulaincourt, opening hours: 24 hours

Av. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 8th arr., Metro: Invalides or Franklin D. Roosevelt

Located behind the Grand Palais, this park offers a relaxing city escape. Visitors can enjoy the soothing sound of a small waterfall and the delightful chirping of birds while sitting among the small pond.

The Nouvelle France Garden in Paris, formerly known as Jardin de la Vallée Suisse, underwent a transformation inspired by the French colonial era in North America.

It now features thematic elements evoking the landscapes of Quebec and Louisiana, including indigenous plants and rustic architecture. Visitors can immerse themselves in the historical narrative of French colonialism through this uniquely designed garden.

The garden, teems with trees, a waterfall, a pond, a wooden footbridge, and pathway benches. It resembles a grand wooded park in miniature. The Seine feeds the pond, which is shadowed by a century-old weeping beech tree and a small waterfall, its banks adorned with plantings. Garden steps ascend to the street-level section. The picturesque purple smoke bush on this level enhances the garden’s idyllic charm.

What’s near:

• The small café in the Petit Palais (900 m) with a choice of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts.
• Pont Alexandre III (300 m)
• Champs-Élysées (1.4 km)

Atlantic Garden – Green oasis Montparnasse adjacent

1 Pl. des Cinq Martyrs du Lycee Buffon, 15th arr., Metro: Montparnasse-Bienvenue, opening hours: 10 am – 8 pm.

Perched atop the Montparnasse railway station in Paris, Jardin Atlantique stands as a remarkable feat of urban design. Designed in the 1990s, it serves as both a functional garden and a symbol of innovative urban planning.

The garden plan draws inspiration from the historical significance of Gare Montparnasse (formerly Gare de l’Ouest), which connected Paris to Brittany and the Atlantic Ocean.

Themes include a ship’s design, with lampposts resembling masts and elevated walkways mirroring ship bridges. Visitors are intended to feel like cruise ship passengers amid a circle of office buildings.

Evergreen pines dominate the garden’s welcoming appearance. Perennial plants in shades of white, mauve, and blue evoke the azure ocean. Two rows of trees encircle the central lawn, representing countries bordering the Atlantic. There are oriental plane trees and hackberry trees from Provence populate the eastern side, while American lime trees and hackberry trees from Virginia dominate the western side. The undulations of the ground suggest ocean waves.

From the elevated walkway, you gain an intriguing perspective directly into the windows of people’s offices or homes. Check the immersive view of the garden provided by Google Map on your mobile.

What’s near:

• Jardin du Luxembourg (1.8 km) with beehives located near the Medici Fountain, on the western side of the park.
• Catacombs of Paris (1.4 km)
• Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (2.4 km)

Square Jehan Rictus & Love-themed mural haven

14 Pl. des Abbesses, 18th arr., Metro: Abbessess, opening hours: 8 am – 5.30 pm.

The small but cosy Square Jehan Rictus typically sees a considerable crowd gathered around the Wall of Love (Le Mur des Je t’aime) featuring “I love you” in over 311 languages.

Built on the site of the former town hall of Montmartre, then the 18 arr., this unusual green space also offers visitors a garden of medicinal plants surrounded by a pergola, with a fountain in its center.

Sainte-Périne Park – Tranquil, green, spacious, scenic

41 Rue Mirabeau, 16th arr., Metro: Chardon Lagache, opening hours: 8 am – 9 pm.

This hilly and large park provides an ideal environment for relaxation and observing numerous plant species. Its landscape boasts over seventy exotic trees, complemented by plane trees, maples, ash trees, and lime trees. Gardeners replant colorful flowers several times each year to maintain its vibrant allure.

The sloping grassed areas are popular for sunbathing. Children can enjoy two play areas, while athletes can utilize fitness equipment for training.

What’s near:

• Trocadéro Gardens (2.4 km) and Eiffel Tower (2.4 km)
• La Ruche (3.2 km), a historic building where many famous artists, including Modigliani and Chagall, lived and worked
• Musée Marmottan Monet (2.0 km)

Jardin d’agronomie tropicale René-Dumont 

45 Av. de la Belle Gabrielle, 75012 Paris, France, 12th arr., Metro: Nogent-sur-Marne, opening hours: 9.30 am – 5 pm.

The tropical agronomy garden is located at the northeast end of the Bois de Vincennes on the border of Nogent-sur-Marne.

In 1899, a colonial trial garden was established in Bois de Vincennes to coordinate agronomic experiments and reintroduce exotic plants to new production sites. Plants such as coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and banana trees were cultivated in greenhouses and then shipped to various colonies.

From May to October 1907, the site hosted the Colonial Exhibition of Nogent, featuring the construction of several pavilions and the presentation of various attractions.

During the Great War, the colonial garden served as a hospital for colonial troops and closed on May 1, 1919. After World War I, the site became a place of remembrance with several monuments honoring colonial troops who died for France.

The 4-hectare garden today, divided into two main sections representing Asia and Africa, provides a captivating journey. On the Asian side, you’ll find an Indochinese atmosphere with a pagoda, a reconstructed village, rice paddies, and a diorama showcasing famous landscapes.

The African side showcases villages from Sudan, Congo, and Madagascar, along with a Tuareg encampment. Following the exhibition, the garden evolved into a production and teaching center, with certain pavilions converted into laboratories or classrooms.