A collection of the most magical gardens in Paris, and beautiful parks to visit absolutely to relax, read, and take pictures of hidden sculptures, ponds and bridges!
As I’m currently living in Paris for the next couple of months before I – again – move to London or Rome, I thought the time had come to share some of my favorite gardens in the city.
From Parc Monceau and its ruins to the hidden Saint Lazare Garden, the city is constellated with small gardens and gorgeous parks you’d do well to visit at some point…
Especially if you’re looking to avoid the crowds.
These make for amazing photo spots, especially the gardens in which are lost some antique arches and columns, or colorful flowerbeds, and are great if you’ve popped by a pastry shop before and would just like to enjoy a tasty moment French-style!
17 Magical Gardens in Paris and Gorgeous Parks To Visit
You’ll find in this guide some of the most instagrammable places in Paris, and if you’re traveling to France on a budget, these will come in handy.
It does rain in Paris, a lot, but if you catch a good moment, you’ll love taking lazy strolls in one of these secret gardens.
It’s a way to visit Paris off the beaten path, away from tourists, and just be able to stay still with your thoughts for a while.
Beautiful Gardens in Paris: Saint Lazare Garden
Nestled close to the Chateau d’Eau metro station, the Saint Lazare Garden is one I’ve only recently discovered, and one that gives off strong vibes of Rome’s secret cloisters.
The Médiathèque Françoise Sagan is housed in the building surrounding this cute quiet garden, which means if you’d like to see what a Parisian library is like, you can do so after a moment walking around the garden.
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Beautiful Gardens in Paris: Promenade Pereire
In the 17th arrondissement, one of the poshest areas of Paris, the Promenade Pereire is a local garden in which you’ll find pergolas and blooming roses – it’s especially gorgeous during the spring.
If you’re ever looking for romantic date ideas in Paris, this spot, near which I lived years and years ago, is completely free to access and a great spot for picnics or a read.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is another one of the most magical gardens in Paris, but given its size, it would be more suitable to call it a park.
Located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, this park includes all kinds of features you wouldn’t think of finding in Paris.
I always get lost in this park, as it’s really huge, and you’ll find hidden gems tucked away at every corner.
Really.
The Belvédère and Temple de la Sibylle offer free views of Paris, which is always welcome given how expensive it is to visit Paris.
The winding paths, waterfalls, the lake and the grotto all make the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont something even more magical, and it’s clearly a top spot to have a romantic date in Paris.
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Beautiful Gardens in Paris: Petit Palais Garden
Those of you who would be looking for free museums in Paris would do well to pop by the Petit Palais, located close to Concorde and the Champs Elysées.
From painted ceilings to sculptures galore, the Petit Palais is one of my favorite places to find classical art in the city, and the garden is just as much of a must-visit, complete with a cute cafe, ponds, and columns.
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Beautiful Gardens in Paris: Jardin Résilient, Parc de la Villette
While I’ve been spending time at the beautiful – and lively! – Parc de La Villette since I was a child, I only discovered the Jardin Résilient, grown with ashes, a couple of days ago.
In the middle of this very secret garden, located a stone’s throw away from the buried bicycle pieces, are located a couple of benches on which you can sit to reflect a little bit about life, or eat a well-deserved picnic after walking around the huge park.
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Beautiful Gardens in Paris: Square Alban Satragne
If you ever decide to pop by the Saint Lazare Garden, don’t forget to walk around the Square Alban Satragne about forty seconds away.
With its mosaic fountain, it’s one of Paris’s best hidden gems, and a place I’d never thought I’d come across when walking around my neighborhood.
It gives off slight vibes of the Jardins des Tuileries, with its metal chairs, and is a perfect spot to enjoy some nature in Paris with a view on the city’s buildings.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Tea Garden, Grand Mosque of Paris
I used to study at the Sorbonne Nouvelle university, which happens to be located just minutes away from the Grand Mosque of Paris and the cute Tea Garden.
There is no more magical garden in Paris than the Tea Garden with its greenery, water games and mosaics.
The Grand Mosque of Paris still operates as a religious building, but also hosts a tea room, a restaurant and a hammam.
If you are not coming to pray, chances are you will have to pay to visit the garden (2 euros), but it’s honestly one of the best things to do in Paris – hands down.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Garden at the Musée Carnavalet
If there are many things to do in Le Marais in Paris, a visit to the Musée Carnavalet seems like a priority.
Le Marais is filled with cute coffee shops and bakeries, as well as artisan shops and has retained a big part of Parisian history.
The Musée Carnavalet is dedicated to the history of Paris and its inhabitants, and you’ll find there various exhibits showcasing architecture, fashion, sculptures, decorative arts and everyday elements.
The garden attached to the Musée Carnavalet is one of the best-curated in town, and probably one of the best photo spots in Paris overall.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Fontaine de Medicis, Jardins du Luxembourg
If you’re looking for utterly magical gardens in Paris, the Jardin du Luxembourg is probably one of the most famous.
It’s wide, oh so wide, and oozes sculptures, fountains and lush greenery.
If there’s one hidden gem you should see in Paris, it is the Fontaine de Médicis, commissioned by Queen Marie de Médicis and completed in 1630.
Mythological character Polyphemus from Greece, a one-eyed giant, shares the spotlight with sea nymph Galatea, giving an ethereal aesthetic to the Fontaine de Médicis.
In the Jardin du Luxembourg, you will also find the French Senate, and it is probably one of the most Parisian-feeling gardens you’ll come across.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Square Georges Cain
Square Georges Cain is another one of the prettiest gardens in the Marais district, and was named after art historian and sculptor Georges Cain.
Although this is clearly not the biggest park in Paris, the Square is surrounded by historic architecture, shops, bakeries and cafes you’ll want to pop by at least once.
The small pond at the center of Square Georges Cain is one of the highlights of this secret garden, and looks stunning when adorned with water lilies.
The bronze female statue is another highlight of the garden, and since the Musée Carnavalet is located a stone’s throw away, you could visit both in one afternoon.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Square du Temple, Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born American writer and a Nobel laureate, and the Square du Temple, also located in the Marais district, pays homage to his powerful work.
There are really some amazing things to see in Paris around Le Marais, with one of my favorites being observing the details of the architecture, so elevated and refined.
The Square du Temple is named after the medieval fortress that used to stand on the site, which was associated with the Knights Templar, so another big piece of history right here.
In the background, you can witness the crisp Parisian architecture, which makes for an amazing background if you want to snap a few shots.
And if you’d like to find some good cafes in the Marais for some breakfast or brunch, I would recommend La Favorite in Saint Paul – pink, utterly cute, and delicious.
Or, if you’d want to find some proper breakfast in Paris, Les Marronniers in Rue des Archives is another one of my go-tos.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Jardin des Plantes
Whoever loves finding amazing natural spaces will very much enjoy a stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, in the 5th Arrondissement of Paris.
It’s actually located really close to the Great Mosque of Paris and the Tea Garden I told you about at the beginning of this guide.
From greenhouses to Natural History Museums, a zoo and countless plant collections, the Jardin des Plantes promises, and delivers.
It is one of the most famous and oldest botanical gardens in the world, and no place feels like the Jardin des Plantes.
When I was still living in France, I would often walk in this huge garden, which is one of the best hidden gems in Paris, if you want my two cents.
Especially because it’s one of the top spots to see cherry blossom in Paris when spring comes about!
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Jardin des Tuileries
There is another one of the most magical gardens in Paris located close to the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde, at the very end of the Champs-Elysées.
Here, you have one of the best photo spots in Paris, and the crispness of the landscape is admirable – so very French.
This kind of spot definitely makes me proud to be French, and when you see the number of ponds, fountains, and sculptures there are in the Jardin des Tuileries, you’ll be sold.
The atmosphere here is very serene and since the garden is located on the border of the Rue de Rivoli, you have lots of places to go shopping nearby.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Parc Monceau
One of my favorite parks in Paris is the Parc Monceau, which dates back from the 17th century, and is planted in the heart of one Paris’s poshest areas.
The 8th arrondissement of Paris is indeed one of the most magical, and boasts incredible architectural elements.
The Parc Monceau is, in one word, utterly incredible.
The variety of paths, bridges, and architecture styles from all kinds of eras makes it one of the most secret places in Paris, and one you have to visit at least once.
From an Egyptian pyramid to Corinthian pillars, a Chinese fort to a Venetian bridge, Parc Monceau makes you travel as you stroll.
Parc Monceau is also a famous park which used to be the background of talks amongst intellectuals and writers, and really reflects posh Parisian creativity – a must-visit!
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Café Renoir, Musée de Montmartre
The Musée de Montmartre is a museum located in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, one of the trendiest and most artistic in town.
Winding streets fleeing upwards, a Dalida statue, a super instagrammable coffee shop with La Maison Rose, art shops… Montmartre has it all.
And at the Musée de Montmartre, what you’ll also find is one of the most secret gardens in Paris.
Pop by the museum to check out their permanent collection, which revolves around Montmartre’s history and cultural heritage.
The Café Renoir at the museum offers a few seats on which you can relax, take some time to write, read, and really just enjoy how beautiful life is.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Jardin de l’Observatoire
The Jardin de l’Observatoire is located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris near the Paris Observatory, and makes for an awesome relaxation spot.
From there, you have beautiful views of Paris and the garden is adorned with beautiful sculptures and statues, some of which are science-related.
You’re really close to the Jardin du Luxembourg, so you could visit both in one go.
Where some of the most magical gardens in Paris carry a strong connection to history and architecture, the Jardin de l’Observatoire revolves around science, bringing a breath of fresh air to a trip to Paris.
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Magical Gardens in Paris: Arènes de Lutèce
The Arènes de Lutèce are one of the best hidden gems in Paris, and most locals aren’t even aware of their existence.
Also known as the Lutetia Arena, the Roman amphitheater is located in the 5th arrondissement de Paris, and exceptionally well-preserved.
Whenever I come across something even remotely Italian, I get very excited as the history and culture of the former Roman Empire are amongst the richest in the world.
That’s why when I live in London, I pop by Italian cafes as much as I can.
And when I’m in Paris, I pay a visit to the Arènes de Lutèce.
The arenas were built in the 1st century AD during Roman occupation of the area, which used to be known as Lutetia – hence the name of the amphitheater.
Walking around means feeling relaxed and ready to tackle on the day, and really is something unique to see in Paris!
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17 Magical Gardens in Paris and Gorgeous Parks To Visit
There you have them, all the most magical gardens in Paris and gorgeous parks to stroll in, read, have a picnic, relax…
Hopefully, you’ll have found here some parks and gardens you didn’t know about.
There are many more in Paris – the Jardin des Rosiers, the Square de Montsouris, the cute Clos Montmartre and the Jardin Anne Frank…
Allow yourself to get lost in the city and find some utterly cute hidden gems every step of the way!