The parks at a glance
| Park or garden | Area | Hours found (autumn-winter) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxembourg Garden | Latin Quarter (6th) | About 8 am to 5 pm in November and December, per one guide; the Senate sets the hours | A classic stroll, green chairs |
| Tuileries Garden | Louvre, Concorde (1st) | 7:30 am to 7:30 pm in November per several sources; free access | After the Louvre or the Orangerie |
| Parc Monceau | 8th | Opens at 7 am all year (paris.fr); closes around 8 pm in winter per listings | Colonnades, joggers, families |
| Buttes-Chaumont | 19th | Opens at 7 am all year (paris.fr) | Hills, belvedere, open-air café |
| Parc Montsouris | 14th | Opens at 7 am all year (paris.fr) | Lawns, calm, RER B |
How the hours work
The City of Paris moves the closing time of its gardens six times a year to follow the average sunset: some close at 5 pm in midwinter, and you can stay until 9:30 pm in summer. Nearly a quarter of the 550-plus municipal parks, gardens and squares are open 24 hours a day, and about ten stay open until midnight in the warm season. The Tuileries and the Luxembourg are not run by the City (the Louvre and the Senate): check their own sites. Parks close in high winds or, exceptionally, during demonstrations, as the Luxembourg did on 24 October 2026.
Free, picnics, children
- Free: entry to these five gardens is free. For more ideas, see free things to do in Paris.
- Picnics: allowed on the lawns that are open (signs at the gates); take your rubbish with you. Our picnic in Paris guide lists spots.
- With children: the pond and toy sailboats at the Luxembourg, rides at the Tuileries, the cave and waterfall at Buttes-Chaumont; more in Paris with kids.
- Quieter corners: a bike tour of Paris's hidden nooks passes through streets and gardens off the usual routes (check the duration and the day's price on the listing).
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most beautiful park in Paris? Opinions differ: the Luxembourg for a classic stroll, Buttes-Chaumont for its relief, Monceau for calm.
What time do the gardens close? It depends on the season: from about 5 pm in December to 9:30 pm in summer. Check the sign at the gate or the garden's page on paris.fr.
Are dogs allowed? Rules vary from garden to garden and are posted at the entrance.
To go further, see our pages on the Luxembourg Garden and the Tuileries Garden.
