If you’re looking for cute hidden gardens in Paris, here is my local’s guide of the 10 best green spaces I loved to relax in when I lived in Paris !
The streets of the capital city are often bustling, crowded, noisy… Paris is often criticized for its frenetic pace, which leaves little room for calm and greenery. But there are still many places in Paris where you can recharge your batteries surrounded by a little bit of nature or a flower stall.
These small green spaces in the heart of Paris are much smaller than the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, but they have the advantage of being in the city center, just around the corner… Here are my 10 favorite hidden gardens in Paris!
To continue exploring Paris, check out my travel guides:
3 Days in Paris Itinerary by a French Girl
The Best Latin Quarter Self-guided Walking Tour
Stroll through the Butte aux Cailles, with street art and flower gardens
PRACTICAL TIPS TO ENJOY THESE HIDDEN GARDENS IN PARIS
All of the places listed below (except the Guimet Museum) are free to visit. Only the opening hours vary depending on the season.
Where to stay in Paris?
Paris is, of course, brimming with accommodation options, from private apartments to hotel rooms, in all styles, conditions, and price ranges! However, I recommend staying in central Paris if you are visiting for two, three, or four days to save time during your stay!
Below is a selection of my favorite places to stay in Paris, based on the neighborhood you prefer and your budget!
Find your accommodation in Paris !
3 recommended accommodation for you in Paris
HÔTEL OFF PARIS SEINE
- Sleep on the Seine !
- With a pool
- From €150
HÔTEL DES ARTS MONTMARTRE
- Rated 9,6/10
- Quiet and with a view !
- From €180
HÔTEL JOSÉPHINE BONAPARTE
- In the heart of Paris
- In an old convent
- From €300
JARDIN NATUREL PIERRE EMMANUEL, THE MOST NATURAL OF THE HIDDEN GARDENS IN PARIS
A strange garden hides behind the Père Lachaise cemetery, which I mentioned in my article on the 9 best photo spots in Paris…
Here, you really feel like you’re in the middle of nature! The place is actually left in its natural state; nothing is planted, mowed, or modified. Everything is wild and reminiscent of the different environments found in the Île-de-France region. To me, it is one of the most beautiful hidden gardens in Paris
You’ll find a meadow, an urban wasteland, a pond, a pretty undergrowth, and trellises. In this rather quiet neighborhood of Paris, the natural garden is truly a place apart, where no noise filters through except for the singing of birds.
Ⓜ Alexandre Dumas (L2)
COULÉE VERTE RENÉ DUMONT – THE HIGHEST HIDDEN GARDENS IN PARIS
The former “promenade plantée” crosses eastern Paris for 4.2 km and connects the Bastille district to the Bois de Vincennes. The first part of the promenade is not very wide and resembles an aqueduct adorned with greenery, trees, and bamboo forests.
I really like the different perspective you get here on Paris. Although the sounds and silhouettes of the buildings remain, you see the city from a different angle when you’re up high. You find yourself among the trees at the height of the top floors of the buildings, and you can’t help but enjoy the view of the rooftops with their typical Parisian architecture. It’s the perfect place to rediscover the neighborhood in a different way!
Ⓜ Bastille (L1,5,8)
THE ALPINE GARDEN OF JARDIN DES PLANTES
In the middle of the famous Jardin des Plantes is a somewhat hidden garden: the alpine garden. Have you been dreaming of a getaway to the mountains? Then I suggest you immerse yourself in 2,000 plant species native to mountainous regions around the world.
The alpine garden was created in the 1930s to preserve and display these unique plants. Here you will find species from the Alps, Japan, the Himalayas, and more. Each area has its own microclimate, depending on its exposure to the sun. I highly recommend a visit; the intertwining of sometimes surprising plants amid rockeries, streams, and wooded areas is well worth the detour.
Ⓜ Gare d’Austerlitz (L5, RER C) ou Jussieu (L10)
“LA CAMPAGNE A PARIS” NEIGHBOURHOOD
“The Countryside in Paris” is the real name of this charming neighborhood in the 20th arrondissement, located right next to the Porte de Bagnolet. While it is not surrounded by nature, it truly feels like a village in the countryside.
La Campagne à Paris consists of several converging cobbled streets located on a small hill. Its detached houses have a lot of character, with stone facades covered in pretty wisteria and surrounded by lush plants. It’s impossible to guess that you’re in Paris, such is the calm that reigns here!
Ⓜ Porte de Bagnolet (L3), Tramway T3b
PARC DES BUTTES CHAUMONT
It’s my favorite park in Paris! With its 25 hectares, the Parc des Buttes Chaumont is a bit like the green lung of northeast Paris. Did you know that it has been around since 1867, when it was inaugurated for the Universal Exhibition in Paris?
Calm reigns in the middle of the park, and only a few distant sounds from the city remind you that you are still in the heart of Paris. Much of the park is very hilly, and its terrain gives it a special character. What’s more, it is full of treasures!
At the bottom, its pretty lake surrounds the Belvedere Island, which is actually a former gypsum quarry. At the top, the Temple of Sibyl dominates the surroundings. You can reach it via a bridge or a suspended footbridge that leads to the upper level. Don’t hesitate to walk under this brick bridge known as the “Suicide Bridge”—it’s impressive because it seems so high! And right next to it is the waterfall, which can also be viewed from several levels.
Ⓜ Buttes Chaumont ou Botzaris (L7bis)
LA MOUZAIA NEIGHBOURHOOD
La Mouzaïa is a relatively unknown neighborhood in the 19th arrondissement, nestled in the hills surrounding Buttes Chaumont Park. Its narrow parallel streets contrast with the towers of Place des Fêtes that tower above them. They are called “villas” and have evocative names…
There is Villa Danube, Villa Renaissance, Villa du Progrès, and Villa des Lilas. The stone houses are hidden behind colorful iron gates. Their residents enjoy a tranquility that few people in Paris can appreciate, with narrow pedestrian streets covered in vegetation…
Ⓜ Danube (L7bis)
La Butte aux Cailles, in Paris’s 13th arrondissement, also offers beautiful hidden streets covered in greenery! It’s another neighborhood that’s great for strolling, which I invite you to discover through my Walk in La Butte aux Cailles!
LA PETITE CEINTURE
I really enjoy walking along this old disused railway line. Some sections have been developed to bring them back to life and welcome the general public.
The longest section is in the 14th and 15th arrondissements. However, most of the track (which circles Paris for 32 km!) is only accessible via more or less hidden locations, as it is off-limits to the public and subject to fines. It has become a favorite spot for urban explorers.
Ⓜ Balard (L8), Porte de Versailles (L12, T3a)
PARC MONTSOURIS
Crossed from one end to the other by the RER B train lines, Montsouris Park is a pleasant green space in the middle of the 14th arrondissement. I really like its small lake and pine trees, which give it a feel reminiscent of the south of France. To the east of the park, you can also see part of the Petite Ceinture (closed to the public) with the entrance to a tunnel that passes under the park.
And just opposite the park, on the south side, I recommend venturing into the Cité Universitaire. It is home to many foreign students, often grouped by nationality, in buildings each symbolizing a country. The historic buildings and gardens make for a very special setting!
Ⓜ Cité Universitaire (RER B)
ELISABETH II FLOWER MARKET, THE MOST COLORFUL OF THE HIDDEN GARDENS IN PARIS
It is a little corner of paradise for flower lovers, nestled in the heart of the Île de la Cité, a stone’s throw from the cathedral. It’s lovely to stroll among the colorful flower stalls gathered under the green market halls.
You’ll find a wide variety of flowers in the different shops, and even the orchid house, which displays some huge specimens! This little square, overflowing with flowers, retains all its charm despite the tourists who also love it…
Ⓜ Cité (L4)
MUSÉE GUIMET GARDEN, THE MOST ASIAN OF THE HIDDEN GARDENS IN PARIS
The Guimet Museum garden offers a real change of scenery in the heart of Paris’s most beautiful neighborhoods! It is home to a Buddhist pantheon with a Japanese garden featuring a magnificent tea pavilion. Tea ceremonies are even held there regularly.
It is definitely one of the most unique hidden gardens in Paris!
Ⓜ Boissière (L6)
Musée Guimet : Every day except Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – admission €11.50 (€8.50 reduced rate) during exhibition periods, otherwise €8.50 (€6.50 reduced rate). Free for visitors under 26 and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. All ticket purchases include a second free visit within 14 days of purchase.
I hope these few ideas have helped you discover some new hidden gardens in Paris!
To continue exploring Paris, check out my travel guides:
3 Days in Paris Itinerary by a French Girl
The Best Latin Quarter Self-guided Walking Tour
Stroll through the Butte aux Cailles, with street art and flower gardens
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