The best parks in Paris

One of the most central gardens in the capital, close to the Panthéon, the Luxembourg garden, which is also referred as the Jardin du Sénat (Senate Garden), is the perfect place to relax, enjoy lush lawns, watch children playing with boats by the pool, play some pétanque or some tennis with friends, and even head to the théâtre des marionnettes (puppet theater) if you’re looking for some distractions for your kids. It is without a doubt a very diverse garden, which offers plenty of options to have some fun and relax in sunny Paris. Besides, there are many additional places you will be able to enjoy nearby, such as the Luxembourg museum, the Luxembourg palace, and the Odéon theater.

Probably one of the most impressive in terms of topography, the Buttes-Chaumont is a 25 hectare park, which is both hilly and rocky, with beautiful grottos, a suspended bridge and waterfalls. One of the most impressive sights there probably is the Temple de la Sibylle, which is a miniature of the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, which is located on the top of a cliff that is overlooking the artificial lake of 1.5 hectares. With its many exotic trees and beautiful architecture, it is the perfect place to enjoy the first days of spring in Paris. Besides, the park also features a modern version of the guinguette called Rosa Bonheur - a restaurant and dance venue, which is perfect to have some fun.

There are two huge parks on both sides of Paris - the Bois de Boulogne to the west and the Bois de Vincennes to the east, but we have to say that Vincennes is our favorite one. With an incredible size of 995 hectares, it is actually three times the size of Central Park and the largest public park in the city. Besides, it features very large woodlands, numerous lakes such as the Lac Daumesnil, which is incredibly charming thanks to its rawboats and swans, as well as smaller gardens like the Parc floral and the Jardin tropical de Paris. It is a great place to enjoy some sun with friends and family, to go cycling or play some games, as well as admire the beautiful architecture of the Château de Vincennes, or enjoy some theater at the wonderful stage ensemble that is the Cartoucherie de Vincennes.

Originally thought as a medical herb garden, the Jardin des Plantes is the most important botanical garden in Paris, and is home to a botanical school, greenhouses for exotic plants, as well as the National Museum of Natural History, and even a ménagerie (a zoo), an Alpine garden and a rose garden. For that reason, it is a great place to visit if you want to learn more about botany, history and evolution. With all these impressive elements, it is no wonder that the garden has been classified as a national historical landmark. And if you enjoy original walks, you can get lost in the Grand Labyrinth, which goes to the top of the Butte Copeaux - a hill overlooking the garden.

Probably the park with the biggest local vibe on our list, the Parc de Belleville is located in the 20th district of the city on the hill of Belleville, which rises at 108 meters, making it the highest park in Paris. For that reason, it offers a panoramic view of the city and is the perfect place to watch the sunset on the French capital, which should be a very romantic moment with your partner. Besides, the park offers plenty of family-friendly activities, such as a waterfall fountain (which is the longest in Paris), a wooden playground for children, ping-pong tables and an open-air theater. Afterwards, also make sure to walk through the colorful and multi-ethnic neighborhood of Belleville, and to enjoy its numerous and typical restaurants and bars there.

Probably the most romantic park in Paris, Monceau Park is home to the beautiful ruins of the Temple to the Goddess Diana, making it a pretty dreamy place, which has even been painted more than five times by famous artist Claude Monet. It has a pretty unusual layout for France due to its "English" style, with curved walkways and statues. Besides, it also features some scaled-down extravagant architectural elements, such as an Egyptian pyramid, a Chinese fort, a Dutch windmill, and Corinthian pillars. The park is recognizable for its famous rotunda at the entrance, and is equally popular with families thanks to its numerous play areas for children.