Are you craving nature, but find Parisian parks too crowded for your taste? Here’s a selection of truly magnificent parks and gardens to explore all year round without spending a penny!
A park perched 162 m high with a breathtaking view of the entire capital. If you’re looking for a free spot to get a bird’s-eye view, head to Jacques-Baumel Park. Perched on Mont-Valérien at 162 m, this 25-hectare park offers wooded trails, a 2.5-km loop, and walking areas for both athletes and casual strollers. A special mention goes to the Fécheray terrace, which offers a panoramic view of Paris (the Eiffel Tower, La Défense, Sacré-Cœur). And to extend your walk, you can also visit the Memorial to the French Resistance and the American Cemetery.
A 2-km-long green terrace offering spectacular views of Paris—and it’s completely free. For a green getaway just outside the capital, head to Saint-Germain-en-Laye: a vast 2-km-long green terrace, designed by André Le Nôtre, offers spectacular views of Paris (La Défense, the Seine, and—on clear days—the Eiffel Tower or Montmartre). Good news: it’s free to visit year-round.
If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air without leaving the Paris region, head to the Saint-Cloud National Estate: a free, princely park on the outskirts of Paris, designed by André le Nôtre. There, you can enjoy remarkable gardens, the 17th-century Grande Cascade hydraulic waterfall, and a lookout point offering a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower.
A free and peaceful French-style garden in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Sens. For a break in nature right in the heart of Paris, head to the Monica Vitti Garden, located in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Sens in the Marais. This free French-style garden charms visitors with its trimmed boxwoods and yew sculptures. Very peaceful and open daily, it offers breathtaking views of the medieval building and paths perfect for reading.
In the heart of the Latin Quarter, this 4 0,000 m² medieval garden has reopened and offers a peaceful getaway, perfect for clearing your mind between weekend outings. Head to the Cluny Museum Garden: it spans 4 0,000 m² accessible to everyone, with flower beds, relaxation areas, and a playground. From the garden, the Hôtel de Cluny and the ancient thermal baths also offer a superb historical panorama. An ideal spot for a breath of fresh air (and culture) right in the heart of Paris!
The Carnavalet Museum and its 1,337 m² garden are free all year round. For a cultural outing that extends into the great outdoors, head to the Carnavalet Museum: dedicated to the history of Paris, it houses over 600,000 works and artifacts and offers free access to a large portion of its collections. Bonus: It also features a 1,337 m² French-style garden open to visitors during regular hours, with a special 24-hour opening until July 13 inclusive.
A 13-hectare historic garden, open 24 hours a day, every day, and completely free. For a green escape without leaving the city center, head to this historic garden spanning about 13 hectares, redesigned during the Second Empire and located very close to the Champs-Élysées. Here you can enjoy twelve green spaces, sculptures, and amphitheaters. Free to enter and open 24 hours a day year-round, it’s also a refreshing retreat that’s still relatively undiscovered by Parisians.
A free 3.5-hectare green oasis above the Montparnasse train station. For a green getaway without leaving the city, head to the Jardin Atlantique, a 3.5-hectare hanging garden located atop the Montparnasse train station and inaugurated in 1994. Free and open daily, it offers lovely walks, ping-pong tables, and even a tennis court accessible to everyone.
A vast, free 14-hectare green space in the heart of Paris. For a break in nature without leaving the capital, head to Bercy Park: a vast, free 14-hectare green space located in Paris’s 12th arrondissement, built on the site of a former vineyard. With its lawns, water gardens, vineyards, sculptures, and historic remnants (cobblestone streets, old railroad tracks), it has everything you need to relax away from the hustle and bustle.
A free 3.3-hectare rose garden with over 200 varieties of roses, just a few minutes from Paris. For a floral escape from the hustle and bustle of Paris, head to Lebaudy Park on the Île de Puteaux: a free 3.3-hectare rose garden home to more than 200 varieties of roses. The garden is open from April 1 to September 30, daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
A place steeped in history transformed into a spectacular media library—admission is free! For a peaceful break (and even a little green space) in the heart of Paris, head to the former leprosarium and prison that has become the Françoise Sagan Media Library. Designated a historic monument, it features a remarkable 4,000 m² space that has been renovated and is open to the public. On site: over 100,000 documents, a Mediterranean garden, free exhibitions, and workspaces.
A vast 10-hectare park in the heart of the 17th arrondissement, ideal for strolling, relaxing, and observing nature in the city. For a green retreat away from the hustle and bustle, head to Martin Luther King Park in the 17th arrondissement near Clichy. This large 10-hectare green space features a natural pond, lawns, playgrounds, a skatepark, a pétanque court, and a lookout offering a varied view of the city. It is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at 147 Rue Cardinet, 75017 Paris.
From a height of 120 meters, the view of all of Paris is breathtaking! If you’re looking for a free spot to get out into nature right near the capital, head to Butte d’Orgemont. A former quarry transformed a year ago into a natural park covering about 40 hectares, it offers lovely walks, heat-resistant tree species, and a panoramic view of Paris from a height of 120 meters.
A free natural lookout point offering breathtaking views of Paris. If you’re looking to get some fresh air without spending a penny, head to the Butte des Châtaigniers in Argenteuil: a wooded hill spanning nearly 18 hectares that offers panoramic views of Paris (La Défense, Sacré-Cœur, Eiffel Tower) and is part of the Buttes de Parisis Regional Nature Area. Admission is completely free, making it ideal for picnics, walks, and outdoor activities.
A vast green oasis at an elevation of 156 meters with a spectacular 360° view of Paris. For a nature getaway without traveling too far, head to Jean-Moulin Park — Les Guilands: about 30 minutes from Paris (Saint-Lazare station), this 26-hectare natural area features large lawns, an orchard, an educational garden, a pond, wooded areas, a track and field, and a dog park. And since it’s perched at 156 meters, it offers a 360° view of Paris.
A 6-hectare terrace offering a unique view of Paris—free and just a stone’s throw from the capital. Want to get some fresh air while enjoying an exceptional panorama? This lush, 6-hectare terrace, located in the heart of the Meudon National Estate, offers an unobstructed view of Paris and its iconic landmarks. The site, designated a historic monument, is free to visit and perfect for strolls on sunny days.