A local’s guide to pretty floral places in Paris for pictures and memories of the Parisian vibe – some of the city’s most instagrammable places!
Walking around Paris, discovering secret villages and neighborhoods tucked away from the curious eye, and coming across unexpected gardens has to be one of my favorite things to do in town.
Whether you’re spending spring or fall in Paris, you’re bound to find floral places which make for perfect photo spots, and these are precisely places I love stumbling upon.
From the Rue de Buci in the Quartier Latin to the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, find here some of the floral places I’ve come across in the past few months, which turn into gorgeous streets and parks at the dawn of autumn.
Floral Paris: 8 Pretty Places in Paris From Spring to Fall
While I lived in Paris for no fewer than five years before moving to London, then Rome, Barcelona, Istanbul, Rome again and then Paris again a few months ago, I never saw the city for the beauty that it really is.
Isn’t it always the case when you work in a city and don’t really have, or take the time to appreciate all the beautiful neighborhoods and gorgeous buildings in all their detailed splendor?
Becoming a full-time blogger has allowed me to have much more time to experience each and every city I choose to settle down at for a few months, as was the case a couple of months ago when I came back to Paris.
Without further ado, here are some of my favorite floral places in Paris, with parks, gardens, streets and cafes galore!
Floral Places in Paris: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, located in the 19th arrondissement, is one of the prettiest parks you’ll find in Paris, and one as beautiful during the spring as it is during the fall.
We have there winding paths, small waterfalls, and plenty of pretty sculptures scattered around the park, blending in oh-so-nicely with the colorful flowerbeds and the odd cafe/restaurant.
The area around the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, notably around the Danube metro station on line 7bis, makes for one of the most secret villages inside Paris, complete with cobblestone streets, gorgeous villas and climbing ivy at all times of the year.
Read: Cloître des Billettes, A Secret Photo Spot in Paris’s Marais
Floral Places in Paris: La Défense
La Défense, in addition to being one of the best shopping areas in Paris (well, right outside of Paris and reachable with both the metro and the RER), also offers, on the Parvis, a really cute garden surrounded by small cafes and avant-garde sculptures.
That’s also one of the places I love to take some time to walk around because you will get some completely free views of Paris from this garden located right outside Les Quatre Temps shopping center, notably of the Arc de Triomphe.
If you walk closer to the Arche de La Défense, a huge, square and white building, and take a right before the arch, you will also come across a quirky sight; that of a thumb sculpture towering over the square. Gorgeous.
Read: The Most Instagrammable Places in Paris
Pretty Floral Places in Paris: Rue de Buci
The Quartier Latin, on the other side of the Seine river when coming from Rue de Rivoli, makes for one of the quaintest neighborhoods in Paris, and filled with small cafes, boutiques and pretty bookshops like Taschen and Shakespeare and Company.
That’s also where we will find Rue de Buci, which, with its many cute cafes, makes for a beautiful floral spot and gives a fresh yet homely village vibe to a Parisian day out.
Read: Paris’s Stravinsky Fountain: Secret Street Art & Sculptures
Floral Places in Paris: Jardin Saint-Lazare
Located in the 10th arrondissement, close to both Gare de l’Est and Château d’Eau metro stations, the Jardin Saint-Lazare is a place I only discovered earlier this year, and instantly fell in love with.
Inside the building pictured above is now a library perfect to do some work and established inside what used to be a prison.
Read: The Most Beautiful Bookstores in Paris
The winding paths, palm trees and arched windows all participate in giving us that ‘wow’ effect, and believe me when I say that there are very few floral places in Paris, or at least natural places, that beautiful in that part of town.
Read: Les Marronniers Paris Review, The Full Parisian Breakfast Experience
Floral Places in Paris: Sentier Area
The Sentier neighborhood, located close to Châtelet, is one easily walkable and filled with tiny restaurants, coffee shops and independent boutiques you’d do well to pop by at some point.
Flower shops, plant-covered buildings and street art at every corner: that’s what you’ll find in that beautiful spot, where the streets, when they reach the Rue Réaumur, becomes even wider and posher.
The flowers pictured above come from Luvbox, a super instagrammable store located on Rue Bachaumont.
The store is close to the famous Rue d’Aboukir, and offers perfect bouquets to treat yourself to, along with some macarons from the Stohrer bakery on Rue Montorgueil, only a few minutes’ walk away.
Read: The Best Makeup Stores in Paris For Beauty Addicts
Pretty Places in Paris: Cour du Commerce Saint-André
If there are many secret passageways in Paris, few come close to the Cour du Commerce Saint-André in terms of beauty and picturesque-ness.
The cafes, restaurants and independent jewelry shops there are for the most part decorated with a vintage element, whether it be the ice cream shop with its red and white shopfront or the Pub St Germain and its floral garlands.
We’re close to both Rue de Buci mentioned before and the Boulevard Saint-Germain, on which are located two of Paris’ most instagrammable cafes; Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots, along with some incredible clothing shops.
Read: 9 Aesthetic Streets in Paris To Wander Around and Snap Shots
Floral Places in Paris: Place Gaillon
A stone’s throw away from the famous Palais Garnier is located a small village-like square between Rue Saint-Augustin, Rue de Port-Mahon and Rue de la Michodière.
On this tiny square called Place Gaillon, you will find a gorgeous fish and seafood restaurant, La Fontaine Gaillon, decorated with plants, flowers, and even a beautiful fountain you would probably only expect to come across in places like Rome.
We are close to the Japanese quarter near Pyramides, and one of my favorite Japanese bakeries in Paris, Aki Bakery.
But, if you would like to stay near the picturesque Place Gaillon, then try Kintaro Cafe and their sesame and raspberry cakes along with a hot matcha latte – unforgettably tasty is the word.
Read: 7 Wonderful Lipsticks to Buy in Paris for that French Pout
Floral Places in Paris: Square Alban Satragne, 10th Arrondissement
About two minutes’ walk away from the Jardin Saint-Lazare I mentioned at the beginning of this guide is located another secret garden, the Square Alban Satragne, also in the 10th arrondissement.
This oh-so-quiet garden offers not only chess tables, but also a mosaic fountain of the kind you’ll only find in this garden, and plenty of seats gathered around this colorful fountain perfect to reflect on life or read a good book.
What I usually do is come early in the morning, since I currently live at the end of the street, walk around these two gorgeous areas, and then go for some coffee in one of the many cafes around Château d’Eau – a must-visit is the White coffee shop down the road.
Read: 14 Best Cafes To Work in Paris & Study (Laptop Friendly!)
Floral Paris: 8 Pretty Places in Paris From Spring to Fall
There you have them, some of the prettiest floral places in Paris, of the kind only locals can really share with you.
Plus, some of these double as beautiful streets you absolutely have to visit to do some shopping or have a cup of joe with friends, on your own, or with a great book (my current fave: Bel-Ami by Maupassant!).
Then, when you’re done visiting these beautiful places, why not go on and visit some interesting Parisian museums like the Petit Palais or Musée Carnavalet?
They’re both completely free and will blow your mind!